What is better exercise bike or treadmill? Best recumbent exercise bikes

Many people who do not have a great experience in workouts are hard to select a training equipment to train at home. When you go to the gym, you see two exercise machines: one imitates bicycling, and another – a run. As you see, this article will tell what exercise machine is better: a treadmill or a stationary bicycle for workouts in the gym or at home? Let’s consider each item step by step.

A treadmill or stationary bicycle is a very effective device for training of the cardiovascular system. Both types of the machines are rather popular, and are produced by many different companies. These products for workouts have a lot of functions to achieve one or another load depending on your level of training. Both training machines are equipped with sensors that show the heart rate during workout, and this is very important. However, before selecting the training equipment, it is important to know about the main differences that will influence on you. To find out what is better: a treadmill or a stationary bicycle, let’s consider each equipment.

Stationary Bicycle

Of course, this machine is also very popular in the world of fitness. It is also rather functional and has its own advantages. However, I still prefer the treadmill. We will consider all advantages and disadvantages of both training machines later on, and now let’s get to know a training equipment which imitates bicycling.

Marcy ME-709 - Cheap recumbent exercise bike

Marcy ME-709 – Best recumbent exercise bike under $200

• STEP-THROUGH DESIGN – Featuring heavy-duty construction 14-gauge steel tubing with a powder coated finish, the step-through design allows maximum mobility during training for quick mounting and dismounting that is created easier for the knees and back.
• EIGHT RESISTANCE LEVELS – This stationary bike uses a magnetic resistance mechanism with 8 levels of resistance. The tension knobs control the difficulty to simulate riding on different terrains and customize your workout according to fitness level! EASY-TO
• READ COMPUTER SCREEN – The ultra-functional LCD computer screen acts as an odometer and has a sharp panel display that shows time, speed, distance, and calories burned in extra-large numbers for great readability.
• COMFORTABLE PADDED SEAT – The equipment has an ergonomically designed saddle furnished with comfortable high-density foam. It features contoured foam-covered handles for extra support of the back and arms to help maintain proper form when exercising.
• COUNTERBALANCED PEDALS – Weighted pedals designed to provide maximal foot support while offering ultimate control. This bike is equipped with adjustable foot straps to create the perfect fit for your feet.

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There are several types of the stationary bicycles: inclined and straight. The inclined types of the stationary bicycle are characterized by treadles that are placed forward and look like hydrocycle. As to the straight bicycles, they look like common bicycles.

What is it used for?

This machine will also do to warm up muscles of legs, because the leg muscles mainly work and the upper part of the body is not really involved because the stationary bicycle is not moved. Therefore, if you workout in the gym, this equipment may be used for training of your legs. It works well for home trainings and if a person wants to lose weight and get rid of the excessive fat, the stationary bicycling will be useful in this situation.

Schwinn 270 - Best recumbent bike for tall person

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike – Best recumbent bike under $400

• Bluetooth connectivity, syncs with the Schwinn Trainer App and other apps for fitness tracking
• Sync with free downloadable RideSocial App and see the world as you virtually ride alongside friends in real time
• 29 programs: 12 profile, 9 heart rate control, 4 custom, 2 fitness test, 1 quick start. Plugs into any standard electrical wall outlet on a 110V-120V circuit. 120V 60Hz AC input; 1.5A output. 90-240V, 50-60Hz adapter included
• 25 levels of resistance for a wide range of workout intensity options
• High speed, high inertia drive system with a perimeter weighted flywheel for easy start up and smooth, consistent workouts
• DualTrack LCD displays, media shelf, in-console speakers with MP3 input port, USB media charging and adjustable fan

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Who is it designed for?

If you want to lose weight, build up muscles of legs or just like bicycling, it is better to select a stationary bicycling for the home workouts. However, a lot of cyclists complain that this machine is not convenient because a distance between the treadles is rather big compared to a bicycle. It is up to you. Moreover, if a person has problems with back, joints, etc., it is better to choose a stationary bicycle because it removes a load from the back and knee joints, and you exercise in a sitting position.

Treadmill

According to my own experience, it is the most popular training equipment used by many people, including me. The matter is that I prefer this device because, you know, I like running. Moreover, running is a type of the cardio that allows improving the work of the cardiovascular system, and warms up all body muscles. In most cases, I recommend people using the treadmill at the beginning and at the end of the workout for warming up before the workout and cooling down after the workout.

Goplus folding treadmill - Best treadmill under $400

Goplus Folding Treadmill – Best treadmills brand

• 2.25 HP Impulse Max Motor & Weight Capacity 2.25 horsepower quite impulse motor deliver power for interval, speed, or endurance training. Don’t worry it will make big noise, this treadmill is perfect for any room in your house. Weight capacity is 220LBs, as far as possible to meet your needs
• Foldable & Adjustable Incline Design Easy folding mechanism and a soft drop system to help you fold and unfold your treadmill safely and with ease. 3 levels incline change design help you burn more calories, tone more muscle, and build greater endurance
• 0.5-7.5 MPH Speed levels & P01-P12 Programs With 0.5 to 7.5 MPH Speed levels available, you can select different speed base on your physical condition and exercise based. There are also 12 programs available for you to choose, these easy-to-use exercise programs help to improve your cardiovascular fitness, boost your health, and burn fat
• 5″ Blue-Ray LCD Display & 16″ X 47″ Rubber Tread Belt 5″ blue-ray LCD display screen and 16″ X 47″ big runing belt give you best workout experience. With Ipad/ mobile phone holder you can talk with your friend or watch wonderful video while you working out
• Safety Design and Cushioning Design Safety Key connect you and the machine, emergency stop button on the handrail, which double protect you while working out. Cushioning design on both side of treadmill will reduce noise and descrese vibration to your floor, provide you best and quite workout experience

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What is this equipment used for?

A treadmill is a great method for various types of the aerobic load. Moreover, as I said before, it works well for the training of the cardiovascular system. If you lose weight, it will be a good assistant to lose the excessive fat. It will also do for the muscle gain because it warms up the body before heavy weight-lifting exercises. Moreover, it can be used for many exercises and different methods of the cardio, for example, interval cardio.

Who is this equipment meant for?

If you want to lose weight, make the body muscles tighter, well-developed, take the treadmill. Also, if you like running, doing intensive physical exercises, want to improve your posture and manner of walking, and others, again, you need this training equipment. If you do not have any problems with the knee joints, anklebones, and do not have problems with your spine, in this case you can go for the treadmill, otherwise it is better to select a stationary bicycle in order to keep the joints safe and sound. Go down below to Advantages and Disadvantages for more details.

Nordic Track C 700 - Best treadmill for the money

Nordic Track C 700 – Best treadmill under $800

• Multi-window LED display, iFit coach ready, integrated tablet holder, auto breeze fan, 20 workout apps, auxiliary music port
• Flex Select cushioning, space saver design with easy lift assist, entertainment options, digital incline control
• 2.75 chip motor, 22″ x 55 ” tread belt, 1.9″ roller, heart RATE monitor. Take the deck up to 10 percent incline with just the touch of a button
• 0-10% incline, 0-10 MPH speed, user weight capacity 300lbs
• The NordicTrack C700 Comes guaranteed with a Lifetime frame Warranty, a 25-year motor Warranty, and a 1-Year parts and Labor Warranty

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Advantages and Disadvantages of treadmill and stationary bicycle

A treadmill works well for both workouts in the gym, and training at home. It is good because it completely imitates running on the street. As the climate is changeable, the weather does not let running in the open air. Another advantage of the treadmill is enough space, and many people fit it well. As to the stationary bicycling, it is necessary to carefully select it because everybody has various length of arms and legs, and therefore this machine is individual, and possible restrictions should be taken into account. Both training machines have restrictions as to the body mass.

As it was mentioned before, a treadmill allows a person imitating walking, brisk walking, and running. All these movements activate the spine, knee joints, anklebones, thighs, and so on. It is a great minus of this machine. If you do not have any problems with the above-mentioned parts of the body, you can select a treadmill. A stationary bicycling works well for people with arthritis or various issues with back, and this is its great advantage because exercising when seated reduces the load on the spine.

High-injury situations in the gym often appear because of the treadmills because people often distract while running, and it leads to the off-balance and a person falls down. If a person exercises for a long period, this sportsman may go faint. It may happen at any training equipment, but if you go faint on the treadmill, it will be more dangerous compared to, for instance, a stationary bicycling.

If your main purpose is to burn the excessive fat and it does not matter for you to run or to bicycle, in this case, the treadmill is preferable because the body burns more fat during running, especially if it is combined to the interval training. You activate many muscles on the treadmill, and some muscles take part on the stationary bicycling. However, it does not mean that the same calories cannot be burned on the stationary bicycling. It means that you need just to increase the intensity of the trainings.

A family budget and orienting on prices is the main factor when a person thinks of buying a treadmill or a stationary bicycling. Both fitness machines may have affordable prices, but, as a rule, treadmills are more expensive. Moreover, a disadvantage is that the machine takes much space in the house, whilst a stationary bicycling is rather compact and does not need a lot of room.

Conclusions

So, you have read it, and now you can make a logic conclusion. Who should select a treadmill? If your main task is to lose weight and it does not matter how you are going to do it, take this machine. Also, if you do not have any problems with back, joints, etc., select this machine. Pay attention to the size because the treadmill is big and may not fit every corner in the house or apartment.

When to select a stationary bicycling? I think that there are several reasons to select it. First, if the person has some issues with back; secondly, if a sportsman likes bicycling. Anyway, if you wonder: a treadmill or a stationary bicycling, I would choose a machine for running. Good luck!