An upright bike, also known as an exercise bike or a spin bike, provides excellent cardiovascular and muscular training with reduced physical strain. Upright bikes are a great way to exercise indoors at a gym or in the comfort of your own home. Indoor exercise bikes consist of two styles, an upright exercise bike or an indoor cycling bike (also known as a spin bike). Each bike offers multiple advantages and different training perks to suit your goals.
Riding a bike is a fun and exciting way to improve cardiovascular exercise while in the comfort of your own home or within the comradery of a gym. Indoor upright exercise bikes have become very popular because of the reduced strain on the body like you would experience with an elliptical or treadmill. There are two types of indoor cycles: the upright exercise bike and the spin bike. Both types of bikes will provide overall benefits such as:
What is an Upright Exercise Bike?
An upright exercise bike keeps you in a conventional riding position similar to sitting in a chair. Upright bikes are well-suited for individuals who want a gentle workout on a comfortable bike seat but don’t need continuous high-intensity training. Also, upright bikes tend to have a variety of accessories and easy-to-use displays that can track resistance, speed, time, distance and calories burned. Some models may include built-in programs to keep your workouts fresh and ever-changing.
One such example is the space-saving X-Bike Stationary Indoor Exercise Bike that offers multiple resistance levels, an LCD screen providing real-time exercise feedback and a very comfortable foam padding seat.
Another example is the CU900ENT Commercial Upright Exercise Bike by Spirit Fitness with 40 adjustable resistance levels and 10 preset programs, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a TV tuner with an HDMI input, a headphone jack and it also supports WiFi
What is a Spin Bike?
A spin bike offers fewer features than an upright exercise bike but does provide a closer experience to actual outdoor cycling. Spin cycles are designed for the user to sit or stand to mimic vertical climbing and other cycling maneuvers that are good for high-intensity interval training and fat-burning workouts. This type of spin bike is found in gym exercise groups or spinning classes. Spin bikes come with adjustable seating and handlebars to adjust to individual height and body type. Some spin cycles offer displays that track RPM, Kcal, time, distance, and speed but they are without built-in workout programs. Spin cycles use either a highly durable, quiet magnetic resistance system or a belt-and-chain-drive mechanism to alter resistance levels.
An example of a spin bike is the high-quality and durable Best Fitness Chain Spin Style Bike with a challenging 40-pound flywheel with a chain drive system and several custom adjustments.
The Endurance Spin Style Bike is another example of an extremely sturdy spin bike for the most extreme workouts.
What is the Difference Between a Spin Bike and an Upright Exercise Bike?
Both upright bikes and spin bikes engage the lower muscle groups with similar pedal motions. The key differences are found in the seated position.