Upright Exercise Bikes

Get fit in the comfort of your own home

We all know we need to do more exercise, the difficulty is quite simply finding the time to do it. After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is go to the gym, go for a run or jump on a bike. If this sounds all too familiar to you, then perhaps an upright exercise bike is the answer to your problems!

Upright exercise bikes offer an easy, safe and convenient form of exercising. Simply set one up in your home or garage and you can exercise regularly in the comfort of your own home - no need to travel anywhere, no expensive gym membership... no excuses!

For some there's nothing quite like getting outdoors and enjoying the scenery on a push bike, but exercise bikes do have their advantages over the real thing. They are obviously much safer; they require little in the way of maintenance; they can be programmed to perfectly suit your requirements (depending on the workout you need and the time you have available), and they enable you to train in the warm and dry.

Upright exercise bikes can also be set up in front of the television, so instead of spending every evening on the sofa you can actually get some exercise whilst catching up on your favourite TV programmes. The most important thing is to ensure you enjoy the cycling sessions, as in turn you'll find yourself coming back for more and establishing that all-important routine.

This web site looks at the many different models of upright exercise bikes available, and the features to consider when you are buying. There is also plenty of information on how to get the best out of an exercise bike along with the health benefits to be enjoyed from owning one of these machines.

Features of Upright Exercise Bikes

What to look for

Upright exercise bikes have quite an array of features, so it is worth considering these before you jump in and buy one. Some of the main things to look out for are console screens, heart monitors, different workout programmes, the number of resistance levels, adjustable seats and even TV screens, DVD and laptop interfaces. We will look at some of the most significant features in more detail below.

One of the most basic features, yet one of the most important, is the resistance levels. The resistance levels make the bike harder to ride as you go up through the levels, giving you a more varied riding experience and enabling you to increase the workout level as you get fitter and stronger. Some of the more affordable bikes may not have a range of resistance levels, so this is worth taking into consideration. The more expensive bikes may have as many as 40 different resistance levels that can be incorporated into a hill climbing ride, giving you a more varied and challenging riding experience.

Hill climbing is one of many programmes that middle and top of the range bikes can offer (if you spend over £250 most bikes will feature a number of different exercise programmes). Other workout programmes include mountain, fat burn, muscle tone, incline and intervals. Bear in mind that some of the less expensive bikes (i.e. under £250) may not include pre-programmed training routines; if the bike features only manual control of the resistance levels this means you can change the level of resistance by hand only.

Many upright exercise bikes feature a heart monitoring system so you can keep an eye on your heart rate while you are exercising. These heart monitors vary depending on the bike you decide to go for; the most basic form is the hand grip heart monitor, which measures your heart rate through electronic pads that are placed where your hands grip the handlebars. A more accurate version clips to the rider's ear lobe and more advanced still is the wireless heart monitor, which works via a device strapped around the rider's chest that sends signals to the bike's computer.

When selecting your upright exercise bike, it is important to choose the right one for you. Some individuals may prefer a simple, no nonsense exercise bike that is easy to use and cheap to buy. Others will be looking for the extras - some bikes even have a DVD or lap top interface, so you can surf the net while you are doing your workout! Take a look at the range of products on our where to buy page for a selection of popular upright exercise bikes.

Who Makes Upright Exercise Bikes?

The Manufacturers

There are a number of companies that manufacturer upright exercise bikes, some of the most popular being Marcy, Reebok, Life Fitness and Vision.

Marcy is one of the most prolific manufacturers of upright exercise bikes and a huge range of other gym equipment, such as treadmills and home gym machines. The Marcy exercise bikes cover the most basic products (The Marcy CL203 can be purchased online for as little as £109.00) to much more expensive bikes that cost thousands of pounds. Buying a Marcy product is reassuring as they really are the experts when it comes to gym equipment.

Reebok are of course well known for their trainers and sports clothing, but they also produce a number of upright exercise bicycles. Although they don't have a huge array of products on offer, their mid - high range products (£200 - £800) are well made and look great. Also, there is something quite cool about having a piece of Reebok exercise equipment in your house.

Finally, Life Fitness and Vision are responsible for some of the truly top of the range upright exercise bikes. Although these companies do produce a number of mid-range products (£500+), they are most well-known for their innovative exercise bikes (which can set you back thousands). If you want a bike with a DVD player, an impressive screen or a huge variety of resistance levels and pre-programmed exercise regimes, then look out for these manufacturers.

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Summer will be here before you know it. If you need to get in shape for your holiday then why not invest in an upright exercise bike?

You can work out in the comfort of your own home - position your bike in front of the television and away you go!

Resources

Bodybuilding Supplements - We carry only the best supplements that really work.

Marunde Muscle - Hints and tips on working out from Marunde Muscle.

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Fitness bodybuilding software - Home Exercise Equipment and Commercial Fitness Gym Equipment.

Heavy Sports Inc - The Online Home for Strength Athletes.

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Marcy Upright Exercise Bikes

Top quality, affordable upright exercise bikes from Marcy.