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