Last updated on March 26th, 2024 at 01:04 am
There are lots of ways you can get your body moving, and one way is through using an exercise bike. These can be a super fun way to get your blood pumping through cycling without having the leave the house. You’ll most likely want to find the best exercise bike so that you can really make sure you’re getting an effective, safe workout too. However, if you’re completely new to the whole biking world, you probably have a few questions. Stationary biking can be extremely fun once you know how, so keep reading and discover our top tips to help you get started!
Table of Contents
Choose The Right Bike For You
The most important thing you can do when getting started is choosing the right type of stationary bike for you. You might want to go for a traditional one that feels as though you’re just riding a normal bike, but at a standstill. Alternatively, you might like to go for the speedy spin bike to really help burn the fat and boost your cardiovascular health. There are also recumbent bikes that allow you to pedal in a more laid back position, which can be great for those with back issues.
All of these types of bikes will allow you to up the ante by increasing resistance while you pedal, helping you to tailor the intensity of your workout. So, take a look at the different types of bikes and see which one will suit you best.
Set The Bike Up For You
Much like regular bikes, stationary bikes are adjustable and can be tailored to make the experience safe for you. Make sure you raise or lower the seat according to your height, and some bikes even let you bring the handles closer. When riding your bike, you shouldn’t feel any pain in your knees, so if you do, it probably needs adjusting. A lot of them will also have straps on the pedals to secure your into, so be sure to use them. You don’t want to be going super-fast and have your feet slip off of them, causing injury.
Wear The Right Gear
The next most important thing is to make sure you have the right type of clothing. Wearing the wrong type of clothes can have a very big impact on the effectiveness of your workout, and it could even cause injury. Make sure that you have trainers on that are designed to be worn while bike riding, so that your feet are cushioned, and moisture can be wicked away.
You also want to avoid wearing loose fitting bottoms as these could potentially get caught in your pedals and cause any number of injuries. So, as well as having the right bike, you need to have the right workout gear too and you’ll find it much easier to get started.
Create A Plan
The next step is to create a plan that works for you. There are plenty of stationary bikes that come with training programs built into them, but if they don’t, that doesn’t mean you can’t create one. There are plenty of fitness fanatics online who will have crafted the perfect beginners stationary bike workouts, taking the pressure to make one yourself away. You also want to make sure that you don’t do too much too soon.
Cycling, whether indoor or outdoors, takes your body some getting used to. So, don’t put the resistance all the way up and force yourself to cycle for 60 minutes without a break. Start off slowly and keep it at a steady, yet comfortable pace. You’ve got all the time in the world to get better at it, so build your strength from the ground up.
Stick To A Routine
Once you’ve got your plan set up, it’s important that you stick to it. If you only use it sporadically, each time you get on the bike will feel like the first. Try to set a little bit of time aside every day or every other day to spend some time on your stationary bike and you’ll soon start to see an improvement. You don’t have to exercise for ages either, spending 20 minutes can be enough on a daily basis and it will really help you stay on track.
Trying to exercise vigorously every single day isn’t going to be good for your physical or mental health, so don’t push yourself too hard. Stationary bikes are a fantastic way to exercise, but they do take some getting used to. It’s all about choosing the right bike for you and wearing the correct clothing to enhance your workout.
Finding a beginners plan isn’t too hard anymore either, as you only have to head over to YouTube, and you’ll find a plethora of videos. So, if you’re wanting to start exercising on a regular basis with a stationary bike, make sure you take these tips on board and you’ll be an indoor cycling pro in no time.
Related Articles:
