The first piece of cardio equipment to hit gyms, stationary bikes nonetheless continue to be among the most used pieces of equipment in almost any gym.
Whether it's for a gentle warm up or a hard interval session, stationary bikes are hard to beat for a smooth, joint friendly workout.
From a commercial point of view they are a good investment - compared to other machines such as treadmills and cross trainers they have fewer moving parts and are thus less likely to require maintenance.
Stationary bikes also offer among the best selection of pre-programmed workouts, offering greater variety and more interest than many other cardio machines. Other advantages include:
- Easy to use
- A good choice for the overweight or out of shape
- Customers can watch TV or read while using them - greatly reduces boredom
- Gentle on knees and ankles while building leg strength
- Recumbent models are very comfortable - this encouraging people to exercise for longer
When comparing models, look for more advanced features including:
- Pre-set programmes featuring hill workouts, fat burning workouts, etc
- Heart rate monitor
- Readouts of calories burned, distance covered, average speed etc.
This is one piece of equipment that customers will use time and again, making it one of the best investments a gym owner can make.
