Want to workout on an exercise bicycle, but don’t have enough space in your home? Then give the mini exercise bike a try. Read the FitnessVigil article to learn about its pros and cons, and how you can get a good deal on the equipment.
The Mini Bike for Weight Loss
Many sport brands and companies have come up with their version of a mini exercise bike. Right from the friction resistant, magnetic resistant to the motorized bikes, you can find these bikes lined up in sport stores. Many people, just like you and me, have busy schedule which keeps them glued to their seats for hours at a time. This definitely affects our health in a negative way because there is no physical activity happening. And after work, mustering the strength to hit the gym is simply nonexistent, or tough. In such cases, a mini bike can be very helpful. But before we go any further, it is important to know both sides of the story.
Pros
- Compact, which means it can be stored anywhere in the house or office.
- You can exercise while watching television or working at your desk.
- The friction resistance can be easily adjusted to keep the stress off your joints.
- The bike is less expensive than working out at the gym.
- You can work your arms with the machine as well (place it on the table).
- The range of motion for your upper and lower body joints increases tremendously.
- Machine doesn’t make a lot of noise, so people around won’t be aware of it.
- Many models have built-in display that records distance traveled, calories burned, repetitions, and time on the machine.
Cons
- These bikes don’t come with handrails that can be used for support while working out.
- Few models have narrow or too wide base; this can make paddling a bit tough or wobbly.
- Some high-end models can be really expensive.
- The machine can get a bit noisy with prolonged use.
- Few models won’t go beyond a certain fitness level making it difficult to get a complete workout.
- Not all models are ideal to lose large amount of weight or pounds.
- Few models can be jerky when they reach at the maximum resistance point.
- The resistance levels can alter after using the machine for sometime.
- Can’t provide the same type of cardiovascular workout as a treadmill, other bikes, or workouts.
How to Purchase a Mini Exercise Bike
After weighing the pros and cons, if you still decide to purchase a bike, then here are a few guidelines to be considered before you make a purchase.
- Visit more than one or two sports stores and departmental stores. Here you can find a wide range of bikes.
- Along with going to physical stores, also do an online search. The Internet may provide you with more choices.
- Read as many reviews of different models and brands as possible before you finalize a specific machine.
- Keep the pros and cons (mentioned above) of these machines in mind while browsing through different machines.
- When at the sports store or departmental store, take a test run on different machines. This way you will get a feel of them.
