Chapter 9: Using Cardio Machines 137
other versions of group indoor cycling; these contraptions are designed more
like road bikes, although they lack the high-tech computer programs that keep
many people motivated. Different bike brands offer very different positioning.
You may like some bike brands more than others.Photograph by Sunstreak Productions, Inc.Bikes give you less opportunity to use atrocious form than do most other
machines. Still, there’s room for injury or discomfort. Here are some tips to
help you avoid both:Adjust the seat.When the pedal is at the lowest position, your leg should
be almost, but not quite, straight. You shouldn’t have to strain or rock
your hips to pedal. Your knees shouldn’t feel crunched when they’re
at the top of the pedal stroke. With a recumbent bike, you adjust the
seat forward and back, rather than up and down, but the principles are
the same.
Set the handlebars correctly (if your bike allows adjustments). Yo u
should be able to hold the bar so that your arms extend out at shoulder
level. You shouldn’t have to squirm around to get comfortable. Handlebar
adjustment is especially important if you’re very tall or very short.Figure 9-2:
An upright
stationary
bike.