Exercise – Time To Consider An Exercise Bike

by Bob Lachniet
President - Fitness 4 Home Superstore

Now that Fall is here, the weather is getting nicer, the holidays are approaching fast – and, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep that weight off! Yet, now is the perfect time to start on improving your exercise program! One great way of doing that is to improve your cardio workouts with an exercise bike.

Exercise bikes have changed quite a bit in the last few years. Where before, they seemed to be nothing more than just a bicycle frame, a wheel, and a resistance belt connecting the two, now you have a wide variety of options in both style as well as resistance.

Exercise bicycles now come in two major styles – recumbent and upright. Upright exercise bikes are great for those who prefer a classic seated position – and they are perfect for those that want to try spinning workouts at home like they may have experienced in the gym. Recumbent bikes put you in a seated position more like you would find while sitting in a chair – these are great for people that have avoided exercise bikes in the past due to back issues.

When it comes to resistance levels, you now have a wide variety of choices. The resistance belts are still there on some bikes, but now you can also choose from motorized resistance and magnetic resistance bikes. The advantages of these types of bikes are that where before, you’re workout was based only on how hard you pedal against a resistance belt, now you can “dial in” preset or customized workout programs, which not only provide variety to your workouts, they can also help you stay in a “fat burning” or “cardiovascular workout” zone – or anything in between!

Of course, these bikes now require a power source – even with some of the bikes with resistance belts. Why? Well, those bikes from years ago may have only had an odometer and if you were lucky, a speedometer. Now, many bikes feature LCD or TV displays, cooling fans, and audio systems! Depending on the bike you choose, control panels now can give you instant feedback on your workouts, monitor your heart rate so that you can maximize your workout, calories burned, not to mention speed / distance / time.

Yet, all of these choices can make finding the right exercise bike for your needs seem like a difficult task, made more difficult if you stop in one of the “big box” stores. For the best way to not only understand more about the types of bikes (and types of options available), but to also find the best bike for your fitness needs, visit one of Fitness 4 Home Superstores 3 locations today!

Why You Should Purchase Fitness Equippment From Specialty Fitness Dealers

Specialty fitness dealers are always your best and safest way to shop for home exercise equipment regardless of how big or small the item or purchase may be. Specialty fitness dealers are just that (SPECIAL) in every positive term of the word.

· A specialty fitness dealer sells high quality exercise equipment and nothing else. Not sporting goods, shoes, tools, bikes or anything for that matter other than quality exercise equipment unlike the big box / department stores that are selling items based on a low price and an impulse purchase. Furthermore, they must sell equipment that will not only work right the first time, but also last a long time as well - otherwise, they wouldn't remain in business!

· Specialty fitness dealers offer a wide variety of different types of quality exercise equipment for all types shapes and sizes of people. Unlike big box / department stores that have maybe 2-3 choices of equipment in each category, specialty fitness equipment dealers stake their business reputation on providing the consumer with the products that not only meet their fitness requirements, but also will work for them both short and long term. Keep in mind that good quality fitness equipment also comes with longer term warranties than you'll find with equipment found at big-box stores. And, if you choose an extended warranty for equipment purchased at the big box stores (which, given the quality of the product, you should probably do), you've already brought the price for that equipment much closer to what you'd get from a specialty equipment store - minus the quality.

· Rather than trying to get help from a big-box store employee that may not have much knowledge of what works bests for your fitness goals, when you deal with a specialty fitness equipmnet dealer, you'll receive assistance from a professionally trained and experienced fitness consultant. When it comes to investing in home exercise equipment, you should work with someone who will not only be able to provide you will a plethora of knowledge about exercise and fitness but also point you into the right products that will be most effective in helping you to achieve your specific fitness goals. So, avoid the kids who work in the big box stores that are moved from one department to another on a daily basis, and choose a professional, experienced and knowledgeable fitness consultant.

Rest assured when making a purchase from a specialty fitness dealer, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that your purchase is a long term investment in high quality equipment that will last you for many enjoyable years to come. Rather than spend your money on disposable products of the type you'll find in the big box stores, it is actually less expensive to invest your money in fitness equipment that will help you successfully achieve your fitness goals. * Side note: More often than not, it seems that the people who purchase products from big box stores, have bought themselves a reason NOT to exercise. Buyer Beware!!!!

· Although the cost of purchase may be higher, one other potential advantage (depending on the specialty equipment dealer you purchase from) - may offer financing programs that are much more cost effective than you'll find at a big-box store. For example, Fitness 4 Home Superstore offers 0% financing on your purchases (see our website at www.fitness4homesuperstore.com for details) - which not only brings your monthly payment down to a rate that might approach what your family would pay for a monthly health club membership, but also saves you money over what you'd pay in interest on a big box store credit program - or what you' d pay on your credit card for interest.

Although there is a certain convenience factor when it comes to buying from the big-box stores, in the end, this is outweighed by the advantages you'll find in the professionalism, dedication, commitment, and quality you'll find both in the specialty store fitness consultants you'll talk to, and the equipment they recommend, at a specialty fitness equipment dealer. And, when you do the math, the cost savings at the big box stores...may not really be what it seems!