If your looking for a good way to up your cardio, but want to stick with a low-impact exercise such as biking or using an elliptical, you might be stuck in between both machines.
When looking to lose weight, it's best to choose the exercise machine that will allow you to burn the most calories in a short period.
An exercise bike will vary in calorie burn depending on if you do spinning or high-intensity biking, if you have a speed of around 12 mph - 14 mph and you weigh 160 pounds, you could burn up to 700 calories. On a cross-trainer you could burn up to 800 calories an hour, both giving a similar calorific burn.
So as you can figure out which exercise machine is right for you and your cardio, we have compared the two below with their pros and cons so as you can see which training suits you and your weight loss best.
Exercise bikes are a great form of workout equipment if you are looking for a machine where you have more control over the intensity of exercise.
Whether you are planning to bike at a low speed or do a spinning exercise, an exercise bike can do both, while being easy on the joints.
However, there are a few different types of these bikes on the market to choose from, so we have listed the most common ones below.
One of the first main types of exercise bikes on the market is recumbent bikes. These types of bikes have back support and the pedals are attached to the front of the bike rather than the back. If you want a lower intensity workout, these bikes are for you as they don't involve your upper body at all.
Next up is upright bikes. These types of bikes are the most popular as they mirror a real-world bike and helps you work out the same muscles as you would outdoors. Most of these bikes come with varying resistance options to increase the intensity of your workout.
Dual-action exercise bikes are a little less common but work similarly to a cross-trainer as their handlebars move, allowing you to work your full body out rather than just your lower body in a session.
For the people who get bored working out, interactive bikes are a godsend. These bikes typically come with a form of entertainment like a TV to keep you busy and pass time as you cycle. They can additionally have interactive workout programmes and settings to keep you alert and push your fitness level.
Indoor cycles are one of the most intense exercise bike types and are very basic, but very life-like as they have a chain-driven system that is harder to cycle with like a real-life bike.
The calories you burn on an exercise bike will be dependent on the intensity of your session, your weight and how long you are pedalling.
For an average statistic, a 125-pound person will burn around 226 calories in a 30-minute session on an upright stationary bike at speeds of 12-13mph. Spin sessions are also more high-intensity on bikes so you will find yourself burning more calories in a shorter period.
If you want to increase the calories you burn on an exercise bike is by cycling at interval speeds like a HIIT workout, this will shock your body into using more energy to support itself during high-intensity intervals, therefore using more calories.
Cross trainers use moving handlebars and pedals to workout on and don't have a seat like an exercise bike, they have variable resistance due to the flywheel attached to the machine.
This type of exercise machine is low impact like an exercise bike and good for beginners.
The calories you burn on a cross-trainer are variable according to the factors we mentioned above with the exercise bike and will differ according to different people and their weight.
On average, a person weighing 150 pounds could burn up to 230 calories when working out on a cross-trainer at a moderate pace for 30 minutes.
You can increase the calorie burn on a cross-trainer by upping the resistance or doing interval training as we mentioned with the exercise bikes.
Now we have compared and understood the calorific burn you can achieve with each type of fitness machine, we will compare the pros and cons of cross-trainers and exercise bikes below to work out which machine is better for you.
Exercise bikes are perfect for working out the lower body and building endurance in your legs, making them the ideal solution if you would rather work out the lower half of your body than the top.
They also allow you to sit down and might be best for beginners or cyclers who want to be able to work out during the winter when the weather conditions do not permit cycling outside.
In terms of storage, exercise bikes win over cross trainers as you can buy folding models which can be stored away to a tiny size when not in use, meaning you can use these bikes or in your living room or kitchen without having to have a home gym.
The drawbacks of exercise bikes in comparison to cross trainers is the fact they only work out the lower half of your body, which isn't as effective in burning fat as a cross trainer is. Sitting on these bikes for long periods can also be uncomfortable.
If you are looking for a low-cost cross trainer to help you with your fitness goals, then this article is for you.
Cross trainers in comparison to exercise bikes have a similar calorific burn but excel when it comes to weight loss as they work out the whole body. Cross trainers use your arms with moveable handles, meaning you can tone and gain muscles all over your body.
These machines additionally support backpedalling and can help you improve your balance as you are standing upright when using the machine.
The disadvantages of cross trainers are that they can be more demanding, which makes them less suitable for beginners. They are further hard to store away due to their larger size.
If you want to know if you can lose belly fat by using a cross-trainer, this article will help you understand how you can lose fat faster than you could've imagined.
Overall, if your after an exercise machine that focuses purely on working out your hamstrings and quads, then a stationary bike is right for you, however, for a more challenging full-body workout, we would recommend going with a cross-trainer.
In terms of calories burned, both machines produce similar results, so upping the intensity or increasing the length of sessions is the way to go to increase the calories you use.
If you have decided an exercise bike is right for you, then you should check out these tips below which will help you use your exercise bike as effectively as possible to help you lose weight.
When is better to use a recumbent bike?
If you have back issues then a recumbent bike might be more suited to you than an upright one as the seat will support you while you pedal.
How often should I workout on a cross-trainer to lose weight?
You should aim to workout on your cross trainer for at least one hour three times a week to help you lose weight.
Are exercise bikes expensive?
This depends on the model that you buy and the accessories that come with it, for example, a premium bike could cost up to £800 if you get one with tracking options or an interactive display.
To conclude, exercise bikes and cross trainers are both great options for helping you lose weight with cardio, they also produce a similar calorific burn and can help you tone your lower body if you use a bike or full body with a cross-trainer.
Are you looking for the most affordable yet fashionable cross trainers? Check this review of XS Sports Cross Trainer.
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