Before I begin this article, I should point out that I am not trying to put people off the idea of buying an upright exercise bike.
I myself have owned one for many years, and know they are extremely beneficial if you are looking to improve your cardiovascular fitness, lose some excess body fat and generally feel a lot healthier.
The goal of this article is simply to point out some of the main drawbacks of owning a traditional upright exercise bike, based on my own personal experience, so that you can decide whether or not this type of bike is right for you.
So here is a guide to some of the main drawbacks:
Heavy And Cumbersome
A lot of the entry-level upright bikes are very light and can be folded away really easily in some cases. However if you are buying a really strong well-made machine, you will often find that they are pretty heavy and can be very difficult to move around your home, even with transport wheels attached.
Uncomfortable
Even though I own an upright exercise bike myself, I will be the first to admit that they are not the most comfortable bikes that you can use. A lot of the time they will have a really uncomfortable seat and they obviously don’t have any kind of back support, which is not exactly a pleasant experience when you are working out for long periods of time.
Not Suitable For People With Mobility Issues
Following on from the last point, as well as being unsuitable for people who have any kind of back complaints, they are also not really suitable for people with mobility issues either. That’s because the seat is often quite high off the ground, which can make it hard for people to get on and off.
Can Only Cycle In A Seated Position
One of the main flaws of an upright bike is that you can only cycle in a seated position. Although it is technically possible to cycle standing up, you will find that it won’t generally feel very comfortable.
Cannot Be Used For Spinning Workouts
Interval and spinning workouts have become hugely popular in the last ten years or so, and subsequently you can now buy indoor cycling bikes for the home that are ideal for this purpose. That’s because they have a fully adjustable seat and handlebars, and feel just like a normal road bike. A traditional stationary bike, however, feels less like a road bike and isn’t really suitable for spinning-type workouts.
Unrealistic Riding Experience
If you are a keen cyclist who likes to train indoors during the winter, for example, then an upright bike isn’t really ideal because it doesn’t offer a very realistic riding experience. That’s because the positioning of the seat and handlebars are completely different to a standard road bike, as I mentioned above.
Boring Workout
Last but not least, you will generally find that a workout on an upright exercise bike can be pretty boring and monotonous. Unless you provide your own entertainment, you will find that a workout can get boring really quickly because all you can really do is adjust the resistance, whereas a spin bike, for example, enables you to do intervals of climbs, sprints and jumps, for instance, and is generally a lot more fun.
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