TIPS FOR THE BEST INDOOR CYCLING EXPERIENCE Choosing an Exercise Bike & Improving Your Indoor Ride
Cycling
through the great outdoors is great, no denying that. But let's face it, there
are many times you just can't, or don't want to, ride outside. Well, indoor
cycling, or stationary biking, is a great alternative for those days. Let's
see...it's too hot, it's too cold, it's snowing, it's dark, can't find my
sunglasses, out of sunscreen, etc, etc. The excuses and/or reasons are endless.
Well, there are many indoor cycling options available, so you can stop whining
and start riding!
Indoor
Cycles & Stationary Bikes There
is a large variety of exercise bikes, including upright cycles and recumbent
versions.This is completely personal
preference as to which is most comfortable for you.
Consider your budget.
Exercise bikes are available from $150 for a very basic model - $2000+ for
a loaded version.
Research features you
like, including "clipless pedals" or "cages", inbuilt
workout programs, onboard TV monitor, weighted flywheel, water bottle
cage, etc.
Among the wide variety
of exercise bikes available, a few are: Lemond Fitness, Nordic Track, Pro Form,
Life Fitness and CycleOps, which each host their own website.
You might try these
websites for sales and promotions on stationary cycles: ExerciseBikes.com,
healthstylesexercise.com, FitnessEquipmentandMore.com. You can find
reviews of virtually all indoor bikes on websites like: epinions.com.
Test ride a variety of
cycles at your local sporting goods store, before making your purchase.
Indoor
Cycling Trainers For
those of you asking about what you can do if you have a bike, but not an indoor
or stationary cycle, and want the option to ride indoors: there is an excellent,
affordable and space-saving option for you -- an indoor bike trainer for your
current bike!
Indoor cycling
trainers are easy to use -- just pop your back tire in and go!
You can likely pick up
a good quality trainer for $150-$200 or less.
There are many
companies that make indoor bike trainers, like Blackburn, Elite, Forza,
Minoura, CycleOps and Kurt Kinetic, available at many bike shops, sporting
good stores and online.
One good website with
many options is www.biketrainershops.com.
Blackburn Bike Trainer
Indoor
Cycling DVD's & Videos What's
to keep you from getting bored during indoor biking, without the ever changing
outdoor scenery? Well, there is a variety of cycling DVD's and videos available
to beat the same ol', same ol' indoor biking routine and keep you motivated to
ride.
Some virtual cycling
videos include training throughout the video by professional cycling
instructors, providing cues for pacing and proper form.
Others offer a choice
of different workouts for daily variety.
Some provide computer
generated cyclists to "ride" along with you on the virtual road.
Indoor cycling DVD's,
like those by Scenic Trex, offer
the experience of biking through an actual outdoor location -- not
computer generated images -- for the visual sensation of an outdoor trail
ride.
If you find a video's
pace too slow for your needs, you might try simply fast-forwarding your DVD
player or computer by a notch or two during your cycling workout. Some
indoor cyclists find this a helpful option for faster paced rides, like
Spinning cycling.
Check websites, like
Amazon.com, or your local bookstore, to find indoor biking DVD's and videos
that will keep you motivated to get peddling and ride longer.
Click here for more info about Scenic Trex DVDs, including sample video clips.
Improving
the Indoor Biking Experience Cycling in your home is not just like an outdoor
ride with varied terrain to maneuver and wind in your face. True. But, as we've
discussed, sometimes riding outside just isn't an option and you've gotta bring
it inside or you don't get to ride. There are, however, a few tips to make your
indoor cycling workout similar to riding outdoors. Indoor cycling workouts can be as
challenging and exciting as outdoor riding and are an equally effective
workout!
Play your fave music
on your mp3, while also listening to the nature soundtracks on the scenic
cycling videos, like those with Scenic Trex, hearing all the sounds you
would during an outdoor ride...without car horns and barking dogs.
Crank up the fan to
'high' and set it by the bike. Feel the "breeze" as you
pedal!
For the best cycling
workout, increase and decrease your resistance and pace throughout your
ride and rise in and out of the saddle. You'll simulate an outdoor ride
with hills and varied terrain, as well as burn the most calories and increase
your strength.
Copyright 2012 Scenic Trex. All rights reserved. Produced, packaged and printed in USA. Please consult your physician before beginning this or any exercise program.
