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Let’s face it, we live in an exercise-obsessed culture. There are countless types of workouts, from running to rock climbing to trampoline jumping. If you don’t want to waste precious time keeping up with the latest exercise trends and are eager for a decent no-frills workout, consider purchasing a stationary exercise bike. In terms of a simple yet satisfying cardio workout, it can’t be beat.
Paradigm Health & Wellness, Inc. offers a stationary bike that will appeal to both the amateur athlete and hard-core fitness enthusiast. This company, based in Southern California, aims to create top-notch fitness equipment for the home, such as the Exerpeutic 400XL folding recumbent stationary bike.
There are plenty of advantages to using a stationary bike.
Imagine this: It’s quitting time on a wintry Friday afternoon. You’re tired, cold and can’t wait to leave the office; you aren’t in the mood to be social. When you get home, you want to unwind. It’s the perfect time to change into sweats and take a spin on an exercise bike! There is no hassle or pressure, just your workout, your way. (You can even watch TV or read while you pedal!)
There are two styles of stationary bikes, upright and recumbent. Let’s start with the one that’s been around the longest.
Upright Stationary Bikes
An upright bike is what you probably picture when you think of traditional bike riding. You are perched above the bike frame with your legs hanging straight down. The seat is likely to be a triangular-shaped cushion and relatively small. In most cases, the rider needs to lean forward at a slight angle to grasp the handlebars, gently curving the back and neck.
Pros:
Cons:
Recumbent Stationary Bikes
“Recumbent” means lying down, especially in comfort or repose. A recumbent (or semi-recumbent) bike offers a reclined body position with lower back support. The seat is a large triangular cushion and handlebars are located on either side of the seat. The rider sits at a slight backward tilt with legs stretched out in front. The handlebars are within easy grasp.
Pros:
Cons:
Since the tilted seating with a wider cushion is reportedly more comfortable and allows for longer and less strenuous workouts, the recumbent bike sure sounds like the best choice. The overall design enhances your workout without sacrificing safety features.
Worried about storage? Check out recumbent bikes that fold up, and can be tucked away in a closet or a corner of a room (transportation wheels are usually included for ease of movement!).
READ ALSO: Best Spin Bikes Under $500
Finally, look for a bike that includes a warranty. For example, this bike comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Check out the stats for this top-selling model, the Exerpeutic 400XL:
Even though this is a compact, foldable bike, it’s loaded with top-notch, modern features.
Resistance
All exercise bikes rely on tension in the pedals to determine the workout’s level of difficulty. In short, the more tension the harder the workout. In this case, there is an 8-level magnetic tension control or 8 levels of difficulty.
Magnetic tension is a highly advanced form of technology and a preferred feature of a stationary bike. To create tension (or resistance), a pair of magnets is placed on either side of the front wheel (called the flywheel). The flywheel is connected to the pedals with a belt and determines the bike’s speed. The idea is that when the tension level is increased, the magnets move towards the flywheel to create resistance (and make it harder to pedal). On the flip side, when the tension level is decreased, the magnets move away from the flywheel resulting in less resistance (and making it easier to pedal).
Torque
When talking about biking, you may have heard the word “torque,” which describes the amount of tension (or resistance) that is put on the flywheel. For a smooth ride, it is essential to have a high quality torque system so the pedals won’t suddenly stop in the middle of a workout. The folding, recumbent Exerpeutic 400XL boasts a 3 piece high-torque crank system that ensures consistent rotation at all times.
Computer Display
Another technological plus is the large-size (3.3”W x 1.5”H) LCD computer screen that clearly displays the following: how long you have been pedaling, the distance you’ve gone, the speed you’ve traveled, the calories you’ve burned, and your heart rate (the screen requires 2 AAA batteries). The handlebars include “pulse points” that easily monitor your heart rate.
Stability and Comfort
This is an extremely stable bike. The natural semi-reclined position makes the rider feel secure and comfortable while pedaling, especially due to the extra back support.
Noise
What’s more, the folding, recumbent Exerpeutic 400xl is extremely quiet! No need to worry about waking your family or your neighbors because of the near-silent V-belt drive. You can even exercise at night while those around you are sound asleep!
A major benefit to incorporating modern technology on an exercise bike is that it encourages all types of users, from beginners to experts. So whether you’ve just learned about cycling or if you’ve trained for years, you will appreciate what this bike has to offer. The adjustable 8-level magnetic tension coupled with the 3-piece high torque crank system allows the rider to customize the session: you get the workout you want.
No doubt you’ve heard how you can improve your overall health by upping your heart rate for just 20 minutes every day. Regular cardiovascular exercise reportedly decreases your risk of heart disease and increases brain function. Certainly, using a stationary exercise bike is an easy, reliable way to get your blood flowing!
The bike is perfect for:
There’s a lot to love about the folding, recumbent Exerpeutic 400XL, but here are our favorite features:
Certainly, the folding, recumbent Exerpeutic 400xl delivers on almost every feature. We haven’t discussed price range, but it is competitively priced and is not an enormous financial investment. The compact (foldable) frame and quiet mechanics plus the fact that it can be used for an easy to difficult workout, makes it an obvious choice for many modern lifestyles.
We live in a culture that is preoccupied with exercise and finding ways to improve overall health. So if you are looking to incorporate a safe, satisfying low impact activity into your everyday routine, this is the stationary bike for you. The versatility sets this bike apart from the competition. You can exercise at any time of day and at any level of difficulty: on the days you only want to stretch your muscles, keep the tension at a low level and pedal away. But as your cycling ability increases, crank up the tension and go for it! You always have the option of stowing away the bike because it’s no trouble at all to roll it back into place and workout again—your way!
