The Benefits of a Stationary Bike
There are road bikes, recumbent bikes, and stationary bikes – and while none of them are alike they each have their own distinct benefits based on your exercise and training goals. It’s not really a matter of which is right or wrong, but which you’ll gain the most benefit from based on your current health and fitness needs, likes, and dislikes.
Burning Calories
The first benefit is of course the most obvious – burning calories. Just 30 minutes on a stationary bike can help a 155 pound person burn up to 260 calories while pedaling at a moderate pace. Your individual results will vary, of course, depending on your own weight and the intensity at which you choose to pedal.
A Healthy Heart and Your Joints
Any type of cardiovascular exercise done at the recommended 30 minutes per day, 5 times per week will have some benefit on your heart health. You’ll find you are generally healthier, have better endurance, have lower blood pressure, and have better regulated blood sugar levels.
The other benefit is that riding a stationary bike is a low-impact activity for your joints – especially your knees. According to the Cleveland Clinic, those who are more than 50 pounds overweight can benefit from starting on a stationary bike because it reduces stress on the ankles, hips, back, and knees. Many physical therapists recommend the use of a stationary bike after an injury or surgery because it is safer for those struggling with balance issues to use while still rehabilitating.
Convenience
Having a stationary bike in your home is incredibly convenient, giving you the option to pedal no matter what the weather. There’s no “boring” option, either. Listen to some music or watch TV while you pedal. Just don’t let what you’re watching distract you into being too slow.
Training for Outdoor Cycling
Because of the positioning of your body when using an upright stationary bike, you are able to strengthen some of the major muscle groups that support your back and legs – especially your hamstrings and thighs. While indoor cycling isn’t as intense, it will strengthen your muscles so that you can deal with uneven terrain if you decide to go outside at other times.
The upright stationary bike most closely mimics an outdoor bike in the way you’d hold your body during exercise, so if you’re a fan of the great outdoors you may want to choose this style over others for your indoor training. There are so many great options to choose from. Stop in your closest Push Pedal Pull store to check them out!