In the United States, almost 61 million Americans had a membership to the gym in 2017.
There are so many machines at the gym that it can be difficult to know which one to use for your workout.
Torn between buying an exercise bike vs. stair climber? There are lots of benefits of both, so read on to see which might be the best for you.
Exercise Bike vs. Stair Climber
When you head to the gym, the exercise bike and the stair climber are normally close to each other. It can be difficult to decide which one to choose while you’re there, but it can be even harder to decide which one to buy.
Exercise Bike
There are two common types of exercise bikes: one where you sit upright and one that is recumbent. It doesn’t matter which one you sit on because they both support your weight so you don’t have to.
However, the American Council on Exercise says that a recumbent bike offers extra back support, so you may want to use that one if you are recovering from an injury or you have joint pain.
While exercising on the bike, you can have different intensities that you may not have on a regular bike depending on where you’re living. The exercise bike is customizable and lets you decide how hard you want your workout to be.
Pros
If you are trying to decide between an exercise bike or a stair climber, consider some of these benefits.
Again, if you have injuries, this may be a better and safer option for you. You can also use this bike if you had an upper arm workout the day before and you’re still a little sore from that.
If you are training for a triathlon or other biking competition, you may get more out of choosing the exercise bike. While you’re on the bike, you should make sure that you switch up the intensity to get the most out of your training.
If you aren’t training for a bike race, don’t worry. You can still use the exercise bike. It still offers a great cardio workout and can help you lose weight and fat. The exercise bike can even help with HIIT exercises and training.
If you want more of the social aspect of a workout, an exercise bike may also be the right choice for you. There are all kinds of spinning classes offered, and you could join one and meet some new people. During a spin class, a trainer will guide you through an intense workout, but at least you won’t be doing it alone.
Cons
As great as the exercise bike can be, there are some cons to consider.
Since the machine doesn’t force you to bear any of your own weight, you won’t be building up and strengthening your bones.
One study done proved that cycling is great for your health, but unfortunately doesn’t help your bone health in any way.
Another con with the bike is that, when compared to other cardio machines, the calories burned wasn’t as much as some of the other equipment. You could be spending that time and energy burning more calories on a different machine.
Finally, if you do decide to use the exercise bike, make sure that you are sitting correctly. You could injure your lower back and your hamstrings if you use incorrect posture.
Stair Climber
When trying to decide between an exercise bike vs. stair climber, you should know that unlike the exercise bike, a stair climber is a weight-bearing machine.
This means that you have to support your own weight while standing on the machine.
You can change the intensity on the machine, which will cause the stairs to come out faster, and there isn’t any added resistance to it.
In addition to working out your legs, your back and abdomen will also get a good workout because your upper body stays still and upright.
The stair climber helps strengthen your glutes and legs, helping make them more resistant to injury later on.
Pros
You should buy a stair climber if you are trying to strengthen your lower body. Not only will it tone your lower body through resistance training, but it’s also great for cardio.
This machine is also great for losing weight. If you’ve tried the treadmill before and you got bored, this may be a good alternative. This one can be a little more challenging.
You may even burn more calories on the stair climber than the exercise bike, which makes it a good alternative as well to lose weight. Depending on how fast the stairs are going, you may even have a higher heart rate than you would on the exercise bike.
Unlike the exercise bike, this is a machine that will strengthen your bones and joints, making them healthier. That’s because there is constant resistance and pressure that forces them to work harder.
Cons
With some pros always come some cons. If you are used to running on the treadmill and trying to lose weight, the treadmill may be a better option. The treadmill will offer more of a cardio workout than the stair climber would.
The stair climber is better for strength training combined with cardio, but the treadmill is just for cardio, so the treadmill will help you burn more calories.
If you’ve never used a stair climber before, it may take you a while to get used to it. It can be difficult to use the faster it goes.
There are also more ways to cheat your workout with the stair climber than with an exercise bike. With a stair climber, you can lean most of your weight on the rails or step off to the side as the stairs continue to move.
Finally, the stair climber isn’t an easy workout on your body, so it’s not suited for people with injuries.
Consider Buying an Exercise Bike or a Stair Climber
When trying to decide between an exercise bike vs. stair climber, you should consider what you’re trying to get out of your workout.
If you want to lose weight, an exercise bike may be a better option. If you’re trying to strengthen your muscles, you may want to go with the stair climber.
If you have any questions about your purchase, contact us today.
