15 Aug Exercise bike week: Time to re-discover the exercise bike

If you’re looking to get back into shape, or break out of an exercise rut, it may be time to get back on the exercise bike.
There have certainly been a lot of high-tech pieces of exercise equipment to come along since the exercise bike became a popular household item.
However, despite all the advancement few pieces of equipment can offer better results for a large section of the population that the exercise bike.
Maybe you still have one stashed in the garage, attic or back of a bedroom that could be re-conditioned and put back into use.
Or maybe it’s time to go to a quality fitness store and get a new exercise bike. You can choose bikes from the simple to the high-tech, complete with video screens to map out courses.
When you’re beginning an exercise routine, it’s important to find something you enjoy and is easy to do. That’s what makes the stationary bike or recumbent bike an ideal choice, especially for the novice exerciser or someone with back, knee, or joint problems that make running or walking more difficult.
A stationary exercise bike is very easy on the joints, and also easy to use compared to say a treadmill or elliptical machine. There are two main variations of exercise bikes:
Upright exercise bikes look more like bikes we grew up riding, while recumbent bikes put riders in a more reclined, ergonomically correct position and are gaining in popularity. See more on the differences between these styles later this week:
Having a bike indoors can also offer great freedom to ride when you want and also stay out of the elements. You can ride watching TV or listening to music, day or night.
Even for highly fit individuals, an exercise bike can still be a great way to get loose, change up the cardio routine or cool down.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com