Indoor cycling is a reliable exercise that provides a great workout at any time. The most authentic outdoor cycling experience is modeled by an indoor exercise cycle which is why they are used in cycling classes. But finding the right type of exercise bike can be tricky and there are a lot of factors to consider. If you’ve ever wondered what to look for in an indoor Cycle.
The Characteristics of an Indoor Bike:
The riding characteristics of an indoor stationary bike are a little different to other exercise bikes on the market, let’s take a look at them in more detail, they are:
1/ The Riding Position of an Indoor Cycle
As you might expect from a simulated road bike experience, the indoor bike has a saddle and handlebar position set at the same height. This creates a low-profile ride with the three main positions that riders can use to work different muscle groups. This is especially noticeable in simulated standing or seated climbs, short sprints, and flat riding.
2/ The Pedals
An indoor cycling bike will have toe straps on the pedals to fix the foot firmly in-place when riding. Some commercial indoor bikes even have SPD cleat fixing for cycling shoes for an even more authentic riding experience.
3/ The Flywheel on your Indoor Bike
Indoor bikes have a front flywheel that can be driven by a belt or chain, and this creates the resistance. As the pedals are turned, the force is transferred to create that authentic rolling road bike feel. Increasing the resistance helps the rider to simulate challenging inclines for a more intensive workout. Because the gears are fixed, it’s impossible to roll, stop quickly or coast along and the pedals must be turned to slow to stop the bike.
4/ Indoor Cycle Resistance
We now know how the resistance works; this force is easy to control on an indoor bike with a simple turn of the control knob. This introduces braking force on the wheel which causes the rider to apply more pedal pressure to maintain their speed.
What to Look for Before Buying an Indoor Cycle for Home Use
Now that you understand the basic characteristics, it’s natural to think about what to look for when buying an indoor bike.
Let’s Look at Ten Key Features in more Detail:
1. The Bike Flywheel Weight
The front mounted flywheel moves as you pedal, and you may think that a lighter wheel is better. The exact opposite is true, a heavier flywheel makes the indoor bike smoother and more stable to ride. Most indoor bikes for the home market have a flywheel that weighs around 40 lbs. A commercial indoor bike used at the local cycling class may have a flywheel that weighs as much as 50 lbs. When you choose your indoor bike avoid models with a flywheel weight of less than 35 lbs because the ride may feel uneven.
2. The Indoor Bike Frame
The indoor bike you choose needs to have wide legs and a strong frame to keep the bike level and balanced during your workout. This is hard to assess online, but most bikes have a sturdy frame. If you’re shopping to the medium or upper end of a product range. The legs are critically important, they need to be set at a width that promotes stability even when riding hard. Avoid indoor bikes with narrow legs and check reviews to see how other people enjoy the riding experience.
3. The Drive System of an Indoor Cycle
There are two main drive system types, the first is chain driven and the second is a belt-based system. The belt-driven indoor bikes are generally considered to be superior because they are smoother, quieter, and require less maintenance.
4. The Indoor Bikes Braking System
There are three braking system types, they are magnetic braking, leather brake pads, and fabric (felt) brake pads. The fabric brake pads are usually found on inexpensive entry level indoor bikes and leather brake pads are installed on higher-end models. The most reliable system that we recommend is the magnetic braking system because it offers a wider resistance range.
5. Resistance Modes
When you think about what to look for in an indoor bike, the resistance modes should be a primary concern. There are four main resistance mechanism types, they are: manual screw, cable, electronic and magnetic (electromagnetic).
Cable resistance is found on very low-end models, it’s unreliable and it tends to slip easily. Manual screw resistance is a little better. It uses a single knob for control, but it can still slip. The electronic brake system uses hydraulics to move a magnet into proximity with the flywheel to create resistance. This is a reliable method and it’s the most common brake system found on the better indoor cycle models. At this time, pure magnetic or electromagnetic brake systems are rare and only found on high-end indoor bikes. There are no moving parts in these braking systems, and they generate resistance with an electromagnetic field.
6. Adjustability
A good indoor bike needs an adjustable seat and handlebars to accommodate different riders. This is especially important if a rider is tall or heavy and adjustment in horizontal and lateral positions is recommended.
7. The Display Screen
Most indoor bikes have a built-in display screen to monitor calorie burning progress, distance covered and more. More elaborate displays may offer even more information such as the current heart rate and set goals. If you need specific information for your workout, make sure the display screen has that capability before you make your purchase.
8. Pedals
As we mentioned earlier, some high-end commercial indoor bikes do have a strap where a cycling shoe cleat can be attached. This is more secure than the standard toe strap, but it comes at a premium and it’s probably more suitable for serious cyclists.
9. A Bottle Holder
Staying hydrated is important during your workout and you won’t want to stop to get a drink. For this reason, it’s a good idea to choose an indoor bike that has an easy to reach bottle holder. Certain high-end models may have more than one for longer rides which may be useful.
10. Transport Wheels
Indoor bikes with heavy flywheels can be hard to transport if you don’t have a fixed location. The better indoor cycle models have built-in transport wheels to tilt and roll the bike from one room to another easily.
Indoor Bikes in Conclusion
Now you know more about what to look for in an indoor cycle. But many of these features do add to the price of the bike and those on a tight budget may have to compromise. A good indoor bike is an investment in your health and fitness and as we’ve seen in recent years access to a cycling class is not guaranteed. If you can stretch your budget, an indoor bike model with a heavier belt-driven flywheel, is worth it.