Magnetic, Friction or Air Resistance Stationary Bike?
You are looking to buy a stationary bike or spinning bike for home exercising, for getting some new sporting experiences. But you are still confused and want to get more information …
You are looking to buy a stationary bike or spinning bike for home exercising, for getting some new sporting experiences. But you are still confused and want to get more information for a correct buy. We will help you in this article to know better. What is a stationary bike? How does a stationary bike work? Are there many types? How much does it cost for a decent one? And which one should you pick to fit you most ? Magnetic, friction or air resistance stationary bike?
What is a stationary bike?
A stationary bike is a sport device for in-door training purposes. With a special design to bring riders experiences as real as out-door cycling sports like road riding, uphill or downhill mountain biking. They have different styles with different levels of resistance flywheels from light to heavy – duty. With 2 types for different purposes as sport training devices, or as a means of medical condition therapies.
A stationary bike brings a wealth of benefits just the same as a regular out-door bike. People use them daily for weight loss, muscle building, cardio , knee rehab exercise .. to keep them healthy . Another people with knee problems use them for light rehab exercising. Many people who have experienced different surgeries have got advice from their doctors to do light stationary cycling. Which helps their blood circulate better for a quicker recovery.
Key Features
- Design. Upright riding position or recumbent
- The weight of flywheel : it is used to determine the professional level of riders. They are available with different weights from 13lbs to 50lbs
- Methods of creating resistance : friction resistance, magnetic resistance or air resistance
- Material of silent – driven belt which is used as transmission belt to connect rear wheel, pedal and flywheel
- Other comfort factor as LCD that shows the heart beat, mileage, calories burn,,, racks for water bottle , racks to hold mobile phone or laptop
- Frame materials: refined alloy steels or aluminum alloys. Frame material quality determines the load capacity which a stationary bike can handle.
Flywheel weight ?
Flywheel : stay in the front wheel with different weights ( 13lbs- 50lbs) for different levels of training from light to high intensity. To buy a correct stationary bike for your use. You need to know exactly your purpose
- If you want to have one for light exercising, daily sporting, knee rehab therapy. A stationary bike with flywheel weight under 20lbs is suitable for you.
- If you want to have a professional , heavy -duty, gym, calories- burn stationary bike. A flywheel with weight more than 20lbs is the correct solution.
You need to choose a correct frame size and frame ‘material that fits with your height and can carry your weight
Magnetic, friction or air resistance stationary bike?
What is meaning of resistance?
Resistance level can be explained as the level of difficulty of riding. Changing the level of resistance means you put up or put down the level of challenging. If you set a mild level, you will feel like riding a road bike on flat roads. But if you set a hard level you will experience something like trying to go uphill mountain biking. Which means you need to push pedal harder, your body needs to burn more calories to perform this action.
Resistance mechanisms
- Friction resistance: A stationary bike with contact resistance uses either a felt or leather pad to apply pressure to the flywheel. The level of tension can be adjusted by twisting the control knob on the stem of the bike. If you twist the knob clockwise, you increase the tension on the flywheel. As a result, you need to put more strength on the pedal. If you twist the knob on counter- clockwise, you release the tension on the flywheel. Pedaling will be easier. To stop the stationary bike completely, you just need to press the control knob down. Due to direct contact of felt pad to flywheel. By the time, it will wear out as an inevitable result. To keep it working properly you need to change to a new one.
- Magnetic resistance : is a newer technology which uses magnets to create the tension on the flywheel. There is no direct contact with the flywheel. By turning the control knob, you change the magnetic field around the flywheel. This will lead to changing tension on flywheel. Either it is harder or easier for your riding as results.
- Air resistance: Motion air bikes have a fan rather than a flywheel. Unlike magnetic or contact resistance station bikes which create tension on the flywheel. Motion air bikes create tension as the blades push against the air. The quicker you ride the more tension you will feel.
Basically, friction resistance or magnetic resistance bikes both are working silently. But the bike with magnetic resistance will work better due to non contact with the flywheel. The price of magnetic resistance stationary bikes are more expensive than the contact bikes
How does a stationary bike work?
So, a stationary bike is a bike built on the stationary frame. It uses a silent – driven belt to connect the rear wheel and flywheel. The movement will be created when riders pedal. The force from the pedal goes through the transmission belt to the flywheel and rear wheel to make the bike’ movement. Riders can use a knob to control the level of difficulty of riding. Stop the bike by pressing down the knob. A LCD screen will show all information about heart rate, mileage, calories burn, time so they can fully control all situations.
Are there many types?
There are two types of stationary bikes. Upright riding position and recumbent . Upright riding position bikes bring riders a straight driving posture .
A recumbent stationary bike is a right choice for a person who needs to sit comfortably with support on their back due to some medical conditions.
How much does it cost for a decent one?
The price is various with budget to high-end from US$200- US$ 2000. High-end stationary bikes usually are recumbent bikes. People use them mostly as a means for medical condition therapy. They have a better quality materials and other comfort factors like: more soft chairs or wider LCD screens , racks can hold a smartphone or computer.
Normally, a decent upriding position stationary bike has price around US$ 200- US$ 450 which is good enough for your daily use.
If you are on a budget a stationary with friction resistance is the right choice. But magnetic resistance stationary bikes will be a better choice in the long run. Although they are a bit more expensive than contact resistance bikes.
Which one should you pick to fit you most ?
So you have by now all the basic understanding about stationary bikes. To choose a right one , you need to clarify the purpose of use like a light for exercising or heavy gym. Choose a type : magnetic, friction or air resistance stationary bike . And you also need to decide whether to buy upright riding or a recumbent. You can find following
Image: Harison recumbent bike
