Glossary

Belt Drive
Belt drives use tension on belt to gauge resistance.
Heart Rate Control
Another form of pre-programmed workout which varies resistance to maintain pre-selected heart rate.
Lumbar Support
Additional back support found on some recumbent models.
Magnetic Resistance
Uses magnetic currents for accurate braking and speed control.
Recumbent
Recumbent cycles are ridden in a reclined seat.
Upright
Upright cycles are ridden in an upright position

Look for some of the following features according to the experts:

* Adjustable height to fit any user. Comfortable seat and on recumbent bikes the back should feel fully supported. Strapped pedals should be wide to keep your feet in place at all times.

* Pick shrouded wheels if you plan on using these bikes in the home where there are small children. Tiny fingers can be easily pinched, crushed without a shroud on the bike. Also to aviod noise an enclosure over the mechanices will help as well as eliminate much dust collection on the mechanism.

* Resistance adjustmeny is important, so make sure you can easily read monitors and gauges. Don't negelect distance, speed, time, calories burned and resistance monitors even on the least expensive exercise bicycle. And make sure there is more than enough room to easily get on and off the bicycle.

* You shoul make sure the bike is stable and the best way to do that is get a heavier exercise bicycle. Of course these bikes should have casters to enable easy movement for storage, if necessary.

* Pacing oneself on an exercise bicycle is a good idea so a heart rate monitor is a good option to choose. This will let you pace yourself for optimal fat cardio levels and burning of fat. If price is not a problem look for the cordless chest-strap type as these are more effective and accurate than the hand-grip monitors.

* Warranty of at least one year which includes parts and labour is a good choice. The labour part alone will be extremely useful if the exercise bicycle needs a technician that has to come to your home or office.

 

My Love Of Bicycles
By The Basic Bicycle Team
I have owned many different bicycles in my life. I decided in my early twenties that I could live just fine with just a few bicycles and without a car. I have different bicycles for different uses.

I live in Houston and use the Houston streets for my transportation. I regularly use one of my light duty mountain bicycles for grocery shopping. The light duty mountain bicycles are not as tough as my mountain bicycles. Light duty mountain bikes are also referred to as trail bikes.

I would never take a trail bike off-road. I have a really tough mountain bike with a full suspension system for taking camping. I try to get out and really ride on my mountain bicycle at least once per month. I usually know at least one person that is going cycling every weekend. It is easy to hitch a ride with them.

Some of the most expensive bicycles are recumbent. I bought one for myself and I love it. It allows me to sit in a reclined position and pedal with my feet forward. My recumbent bicycle seat feels like a lounge chair. My model is one of the faster ones and I love it.

I had a boyfriend once that was also interested in bicycles. We rode together everywhere and he talked me into buying a tandem bicycle. That was a huge mistake. We just could not work together on that bicycle and it amplified the problems in our relationship that were just below the surface. We broke up about two months after the purchase of that tandem bike.