We all know that the exercisealong with food and rest, is one of the basic pillars for good health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults perform at least 150 to 300 minutes of aerobic physical activity of moderate intensity (or between 75 and 150 of intense activity) per week, in addition to strength exercise.

However, It is not always easy to go to the gym or go out to play sports. outdoors. Work, social commitments, weather conditions… there are various factors that can make it difficult for us to play sports. But why not bring the gym home? have a exercise bike may be a solution.

exercise bike: benefits

He cyclingwith any type of bicycle, it is a low impact aerobic sport suitable for all kinds of people. You can practice it with the intensity that best suits your physical condition and has numerous benefits for physical health:

• Cardiovascular and lung health: It is an excellent way to take care of cardiovascular health, improve lung function and the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body.
• Strengthening muscles: especially those of the lower part of the body (hamstrings, quadriceps, glutes and calves).
• weight loss: Using the exercise bike regularly contributes to weight loss by increasing metabolic rate and helping to build muscle and burn body fat.
• Lower risk of falls and fractures– Improves strength, balance and coordination.

It also provides benefits for the well-being and mental health: helps reduce levels of stress and improve mood.

exercise bike: advantages

With specific regard to the exercise bikethere are some specific advantages compared to the conventional bicycle:

• Does not depend on weather conditions: It is easy to use and allows you to exercise at any time, without rain or cold being an impediment.
• It’s safer: Cycling on the road can be dangerous, especially in areas with a lot of traffic.
• Less impact: Stationary bike training is lower impact than outdoors with mountainous or uneven terrain.
• Personalized training: Many exercise bikes have programs that allow you to select the time or intensity level, as well as control your heart rate, caloric expenditure, etc. These features allow you to adapt the training to your goals and better control your progress.

exercise bike: disadvantages

The main disadvantage of the exercise bike It is precisely one of the advantages that we have mentioned before. Being an indoor bicycle, you avoid inclement weather and can use it at any time, but at the same time you away from the benefits of practicing sports outdoors.

And to the benefits of cycling that we have mentioned before, we must add a greater stress reduction and increased well-being if practiced in natural environments. Additionally, exercising outdoors involves greater exposure to sunlight which can increase vitamin D levelsessential for bone health.

On the other hand, with the exercise bike the environment is always the samesomething that can make exercise more more monotonous and boring and there is a greater probability of abandoning it.

For some people, the impact on weight loss is less when using the stationary bike than when cycling outside and may find it difficult to achieve their weight loss goals, which can be demotivating.

Many people use the bicycle not only as a means of exercise, but also as a means of transportation to carry out their daily activities (going to work, shopping…) and they may see a lack of usefulness in the exercise bike.

Maybe the best is combine the two types of bicycle in order to better take advantage of the advantages of each one.