Whichever style you prefer, don’t buy a bike from a department store,
because quality isn’t normally a big consideration in the designs of these
products. Some cheap bike seats have been known to collapse with a rider
in mid-workout. You don’t want to know where the seat pole winds up.
Besides, specialty stores carry plenty of inexpensive models.Important bike features
Two stationary bikes that look similar may feel very different to your derriere
and offer different electronic options. So test-ride every bike and do a thorough
check of the features:A comfortable, sturdy seat:Fancy features don’t help if you can’t sit on
the thing for more than five minutes. Some people like a seat that’s hard
and narrow; others prefer one that’s wider and softer. Don’t assume that
a wide, cushy seat is going to be more comfortable. Extra padding under
your rear end is nice to have when you watch TV, but when you exercise,
the extra surface area can cause chafing and discomfort. Whatever seat
you prefer, it should lock securely into place.
Seat and handlebar adjustments:Make sure that when you sit on the
seat, your leg is almost straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke. The
handlebars and width of the pedal straps should be adjustable, too. For
more details about stationary-bike adjustments, see Chapter 9.Feedback: You can pay extra for fun features such as preset workout
programs, a heart-rate monitor, and games that let you race against the
computer. But at the very least, your bike should have a speedometer
that displays revolutions per minute (rpm) and miles per hour (mph),
an odometer to measure distance, and a timer to keep track of those
minutes as they fly by.
One exception to this rule:Spinning-type bikes. These bikes, primarily
used in group exercise classes, are also available for home purchase.
They don’t have feedback mechanisms, but they have other advantages
worth a look. For example, their seat and handlebar positions make the
machines feel more like outdoor bicycles. They’re relatively inexpensive
compared to most other high-quality stationary bikes, and you can buy
workout videos specially designed to be used with these bikes. (See a
list of some of our favorite bike brands in the next section.) One common
complaint is that the seats are uncomfortable, but that’s because they’re
equipped with racing saddles, which are thin and hard. Wearing padded
shorts should solve the problem.A way to vary the difficulty:Look for a knob or button that indicates
resistance levels, such as 1 through 12. This way you can accurately
measure every workout and track your progress. If 10 minutes on Level 1
used to wear you out, but now you can breeze through 20 minutes on
Level 3, you know you’ve come a long way.312 Part VI: Conquering the Gym (Even at Home)