Exercise bikes offer one of the most effective cardiovascular workouts available. They help to build endurance and tone the upper and lower body. They help you to burn fat and improve your overall heart health. Exercise bikes can improve blood circulation, build muscle strength, and help with coordination. They are great for people who can’t put extra stress on the knee and ankle joints. They give you the chance to work out at home if it’s a rainy day or if you just don’t want to go to the gym. Today, some exercise bikes come with jacks to hook up a VCR, CD player, or even your computer for Internet access. With all these benefits we need to know how to properly maintain them so that they will last a long time.
Exercise bikes come in two main types, upright and recumbent. The upright type looks and feels like a regular bike. A single action upright works only the legs and has fewer moving parts. Dual action uprights have handles added which are pumped back and forth for an upper body workout. The recumbent bike, on the other hand, is reclined at an angle with a bucket seat and a cushioned back support. With a recumbent bike there is no pressure on your wrists, back, arms, or shoulders. You should choose an exercise bike based on your fitness goals and physical requirements.
Exercise bikes come with various parts, such as fans, pulse sensors, electronic consoles, seats, adjustable resistance mechanisms, pedals, and leveling mechanisms that need to be maintained on a regular basis. Not only will this keep your exercise bike in good working order for the longest possible time, but it will also keep you safe when using it. The best thing you can do is to keep your owner’s manual and parts list handy at all times. Always keep your exercise bike away from moisture and dust. To protect carpets and flooring keep you bike on a mat. Make sure that your bike is made for the weight that it needs to hold. Use your bike indoors only.
You should inspect and properly tighten all parts on a regular basis. Nuts and bolts tend to come loose after many hours of use. Replace any worn parts immediately using the parts list that came from the manufacturer. Pedals take a lot of abuse so be sure to check that they are tight and straps are in good shape. When pedals start slipping, the drive belt may need readjusting.
Electronic consoles keep track of things such as your pulse, speed, distance, time, and calories burned. Consoles are very sensitive so keep them out of direct sunlight and keep liquids away. To keep your exercise bike clean, wash on a regular basis use a soft, damp cloth. Never use alcohol, abrasives or chemicals unless directed to do so by the manufacturer. Contact the dealer or manufacturer if there are any defects or malfunctions. In your correspondence, be sure to include the nature of the problem, the conditions of usage, the purchase date, and the serial number.
