-Exercise cycles are for many people the ideal cardiovascular fitness equipment. Cycling is enjoyable for all ages, and on an exercise bike you can easily keep fit without missing your favorite programme. Upright exercise bikes are the most popular form and are more compact than most machines.
An exercise bike may also suit those with injuries preventing them from running or walking. Recumbent exercise bikes can be a good choice if you have certain types of back problems while semi-recumbent exercise bikes make it easier for users to dismount.
Most exercise bikes have magnetic resistance, which can give a superbly smooth and quiet ride. Air resistance exercise bikes are less quiet and popular but have a feel some still prefer.
Ellipticals are the fastest growing type of cardiovascular exercise equipment. Elliptical cross trainers offer a low impact workout that exercises muscle groups in both the upper and lower body with minimum strain on joints.
A smooth elliptical cross trainer is generally designed with a 3-1 ratio of lower body to upper body resistance, matching the body's normal ratio of upper to lower body muscle mass. What makes this piece of fitness equipment unique is that ellipticals enable you to work out equally with all four limbs, valuable for longer fat burning workout programmes.
The elliptical leg motion, coupled with arm resistance exercise, provides a fitness workout that many find especially pleasing. Forward and reverse action maximises the benefits of using an elliptical cross trainer.
-Rowers are in a class of their own for a really intensive upper and lower body exercise workout. Serious training can be done with any piece of quality cardiovascular equipment, but rowing machines really lend themselves to the dedicated fitness enthusiast, particularly those who enjoy rowing!
Rowers have 3 main forms of resistance. Air rowers like the Concept2 Model D Rowing Machine give an excellent smooth action and full length stroke. They come closest to simulating the action of rowing on water, together with WaterRowers, where water provides both the feel and sound of 'the real thing.' Magnetic rowing machines give a smooth and variable resistance and are generally shorter which may be a factor where space is limited, and you do not have much room for exercise machines.
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