Types of Exercise Bikes

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Stationary exercise bikes are a popular piece of exercise equipment that ranges in type and price. Some provide back support while others offer more core work while you ride. You'll find both kinds of bikes in gyms, with upright bikes being used in spinning classes. There are also bikes that plug into a TV or video game system to provide virtual rides to entertain exercisers. These are marketed to children and adults.

Recumbent Bikes

A recumbent bike looks very different from an upright or a bike you might see on the street. Recumbents have back rests that you can lean against. Your legs push out in front of you to pedal instead of downward. These are nice for people with back injuries or knee problems. However, they do not require your back and ab muscles to work to keep you upright so they do not provide as good of an overall workout. They tend to be more expensive as well.

Upright Bikes

Upright stationary bikes look more like street bikes. You sit upright and pedal the same way you would on a mountain or road bike. You tend to burn more calories exercising on an upright because you have to keep your body balanced on the bike instead of reclining back in a seat. Spinning classes, which are popular in gyms, use upright bikes in their classes as they more closely resemble bikes used in outdoor rides.

Fisher-Price Smart Cycle for Children

Children can now ride their bikes with Dora the Explorer, Scooby-Doo and SpongeBob SquarePants with this stationary exercise bike that connects to a TV. Exercise guru Richard Simmons and toy manufacturer Fisher-Price have designed this Physical Learning Arcade System to allow children to play a game as they ride their upright bike along different virtual rides. The bike can be bought on Fisher-Price.com or Amazon.com for about $100. The regular version comes with an onscreen game but additional cartridges featuring SpongeBob and the like can be purchased separately for under $25. The cartridges are aimed at 3- to 6-year-olds.

Gamebike GB-200 for Video Game Consoles

With more than 40 different games to choose from, the Gamebike GB-200 offers variety and entertainment for
children and adults. It is compatible with Sony PlayStation, Nintendo GameCube, X-Box and PC systems with adapters. Two sizes of upright bikes are offered. The small one is for people 4 feet 0 inches to 5 feet 3 inches tall and the large one is for people 5 feet 0 inches to 6 feet 3 inches tall. It is priced around $500. The exercise bikes plug into the gaming system and works just like controllers for the games.

Expresso Fitness Bikes for Adults and Older Children

The Expresso S3 is a complete system that comes with its own built in 19-inch screen which offers a TV viewing, Internet access, music, and 30 virtual courses. The Upright Youth Bike is aimed at children aged 9 to 14. The adult versions come in upright and recumbent models. The bikes are priced at around $5,000.