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About exercise bikes
1. Bikes with traditional brakes
Excerise bikes with old style traditional brakes have been around for a long time. They were widely sold until the early 90's but alot of them have
now been consinged to the rubbish bin. This phenomenom is due to the boring and a monotonous nature of their use.
Now, these bikes cost around £100. We can divide them into 3 categories :
a) strap-brake
When you activate the brakes, the bike's flywheel (made of steel or cast iron) is slowed down by a 15 to 20 cm long strap. This strap winds
around the flywheel and grips it according to the required presure. These straps are often made of undurable materials such as plastic.
Drawbacks :
- Noise due to friction caused by the strap
- Irregular braking
- The strap may fray and even jam the bikes pedaling mechanism
Advantages :
- Price (from around £60 to £120)
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* This does not include supermarket prices for imported products whose quality and warranty periods are lower than leading brands available from sport specialists.
b) Belt brake
Contrary to the strap, the belt is made of rubber. This belt is located on the flywheel which will be gripped or released depending on the required
pressure.
Drawbacks :
- Noise (normally less than bikes with strap brakes)
- Irregular braking (The belt may sometimes slip)
Advantages :
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c) Roller brake
Resistance is created by the pressure of a flywheel on a "band tyre". In this case, the friction created by the flywheel depends on the bike's “band
tyre” to regulate the breaking of the machine.
Drawbacks and advantages are the same as for bikes with belt brakes. However, these bikes are more robust than the previous ones.
Most of these bikes consoles providing the following information :
- Speed
- Distance run
- Amount of calories burnt (this amount is only an estimation)
- Time
- Your heart rate is given on a few models in 2 different ways through your finger or through your ear (only 75% accurate).
For a correct estimation its better to use a heart rate monitor whichl indicates your exact pulses (POLAR products are 100% accurate).
2. Bikes with magnetic brakes
The magnetic braking system was created 5 years ago and has been a real revolution on the exercise bike industry.
This new system of braking is operated through one or several sets of magnets which will either get closer or farther from the flywheel depending on the required effect.
This magnetism means brakes can be operated in complete silence and with far more fluidity than before.
Here is some information concerning the characteristics of bikes using magnetic brakes and also why their prices may differ :
Standard characteristics: Saddle height adjustment, pedal straps, castors for ease of movement, consoles providing information such as
duration, distance, speed and burnt calories.
Good points :
a) Accessibility
Alot of these bikes come with an open frame, this means that the frame of the bike is open and that you dont have to step over the bike to sit on it
We recommend this option for people in a period of rehabilitation or for the elderly.
b) Weight of the wheel
The higher the inertia of the wheel on your bike, the more fluid your cycling and braking will be.
This weight varies from 5 to 11 kg.
c) Free wheel
The free wheel is great for intensive use. It also makes it much more interesting to use your bike.
Heart rate (pulses taken from your finger or ear, EKG or heart rate monitors).
Heart rate information is essential for efficient workouts or the ventilation of your cardiovascular system. The only 100% reliable items are belts or
heart rate monitors (such as Polar). Other items are only reliable at 85 or 90% and should not be used for vascular rehabilitation.
e) Adjustment of the handlebars
Height, backward and forward.
f) Other
Paper-holders, flask-carriers, console based motivation systems, training programmes, extra information about your physical condition etc. Its
worth thinking about these different factors when purchasing an exercise bike.
Do not hesitate to contact FitnessBoutique.co.uks advisers at the following address advice@fitnessboutique.co.uk. They will be pleased to answer your questions, and to
help you choose the product which best meets your requirements.
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