Best Schwinn Stationary Bikes Reviewed and Rated

Exercise bikes are usually packed full of features. But arguably the most important feature of the exercise bike is what keeps it going, or in other words, the motor. The flywheel is the part of your bike that is responsible for powering it up and giving it resistance. The flywheel is usually one enormous wheel made out of metal, sitting at the front of the bike, although it can be found at the back sometimes. When you start pedaling, the wheel begins to turn, and a chain or a belt helps it move.

The more massive a flywheel is, the more you will have to pedal to keep it going, and you will have to spend more time to get it to come to a haul. Before exercise bikes had flywheels, they didn't actually resemble exercise bikes at all. They were to easy to use and provided no benefits an outdoor bike can provide you with, so make sure to go for bikes that actually have a flywheel before everything else.

The flywheel quality increases with its weight - the heavier it is, the better! Heavy wheels create the same conditions as when you ride an outdoor bike, all the trouble and effort you actually need to go through to keep the bike going remains true. The lighter the wheel is, the jerkier the ride will be, and it also won't be gentle to your joints! Spin bikes are the ones that are packed with the biggest wheels, followed closely by upright bikes. A good flywheel should weigh around 30 pounds, giving you fluid motions and plenty of resistance levels to choose from. If you never used an exercise bike before though, you might be better off with a wheel that weighs about 20 pounds in order to learn how to use it properly.

The resistance type your bike has is also something you need to consider. The wheel is powered by electromagnets, magnets, or friction. The best wheels have electromagnetic motors, using the power of electric currents to keep the bike going. Magnetic resistance is the most common one and is usually seen in most mid-range bikes. A computer controls a lot of ferrous magnets placed all around the wheel. This kind of resistance is actually the one you can rely on the most. Friction is the worst kind of resistance you can get, and it can be seen in many cheap bikes. These wheels create jerky and unstable movements.

Be prepared to spend a lot on a proper, high-quality bike. This is why that very same pricey bike must last a long time! You should expect the bike to survive at least two years of vigorous use. There are a lot of factors that affect the durability of the bike, like the way it was constructed, what it was constructed out of, how much you use the bike, its weight capacity, and much more.

The bike should have a sturdy frame, before everything else. It should be A-shaped because those frames give the most stable support and they absorb shock and impact forces quite well. The more solid the frame is, the less chance is there for it to jiggle and fall apart. Always make sure to see if the weight capacity matches what you need. The weight capacity of the bike should never be less than what you weigh, and it should ideally be 50 pounds more than what you weigh. The better the weight capacity, the higher the price will be, so keep that in mind when shopping for bikes. The base of the bike must be wide and stable to support you when you get into the intense bits!

But the frame is not the only part that has to withstand all that damage. The upholstery, screws, bolts, pedals, and everything else holding the bike together also has to be able to live through the damage. Make sure that you've assembled the bike properly because it could fail before its time comes if you're not careful! Make a mental note of what noises and movements are natural for the bike, and as soon as you see that something is out of order, check the bike out thoroughly to avoid injuring yourself.

We all like to think that money does not matter, but it almost always does, and the more you spend on your bike the sturdier and better it will be. We're not saying that you can't find excellent mid-range bikes, we're just saying that you can expect top quality out of the priciest bikes, at least most of the times. If you want to spend 200 dollars or less on your bike, be prepared to see it fail or disappoint you if you're a seasoned athlete. Beginners can actually do quite good on these bikes since the flywheels will not be heavier than 30 pounds. But as you advance you will need a better bike to save your joints and wallet! These budget-friendly bikes also lack a lot of features their pricier counterparts have. These features will not affect the performance of the bike, although it does feel nice to see how well you're doing.

If your bike falls in the 200-500 price range, the flywheel will probably be heavier, and you will have more features to enjoy. Mid-range bikes are usually just enough, even for the most experienced users. If you want more advanced features or a bigger and heavier wheel though, you will need to invest in your bike even more!

Paying more than 500 dollars for a bike that will not be used commercially, say in a gym, can be considered unnecessary, although there are plenty of features you can enjoy on these bikes. The frames and parts of these bikes are supremely made, and they will be able to withstand a lot of different users adjusting them to their liking. If you're a serious user, or if you just want more things to play with, go for these bikes!

Building a home gym can be quite tricky, especially if you lack space. The amount of space you have is probably limited, so you will need to take the size of your bike into account. Of course, the smaller the bike is, the easier it will fit into your home, but little bikes are usually not so stable, and they have lightweight flywheels. Foldable bikes are also a good option, but they may have weak points that will make them more unstable than not!

Luckily, most bikes out there are foldable, and they are quite sturdy, to begin with, so you won't have to worry about ruining them when you fold them over. You can disassemble other bikes easily if you seriously lack space, although you will need to put them back up carefully. Transportation wheels also make moving the bikes around easy, so if you lack the strength to move them around there's no need to worry!

Exercise bikes must be comfy to use, otherwise, you might be too distracted by discomfort and pain to actually get a good workout session. Most of the comfort of the bike is determined by the shape and size of the seat. You must be able to adjust the seat to your standards. It has to move in every possible direction to account for the shape and size of your legs and body. If you have back problems, you will have to move the seat closer to the handles, and you can't exactly do that if the seat is non-adjustable!

The height at which the seat is matters a lot as well. A properly adjusted seat height saves your knees from pain and ensures that the angle of the knees and pedals remains natural. The knees must remain in line with the pedals because if they go over the pedals a lot of stress is placed on them and you will end up with knee pain. The padding of the seat has to cushion you and it must be able to withstand a lot of wear and tear damage. Saddle sores are the last thing on your list, so make sure that your seat is comfy! You can usually swap out the seat for a comfier one, or you can add covers that make riding them much easier on your body.