Use An Indoor Bike Trainer To Help Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals!

by Ron Fritzke
(Mount Shasta, CA, USA)

It goes without saying that any worthwhile weight loss program (or weight maintenance program, for that matter) needs a diet as well as an exercise component in order to be most successful. The purpose of this article will be to advocate the use of an indoor bike trainer as a valuable tool in the exercise department.

There are several advantages to using a bike trainer...at times they're even advantages over riding a bike outdoors.

Advantages To Riding A Bike Trainer

–The weather's always good indoors. Whether it's a problem of the weather being downright frigid, or like an oven, riding outdoors can sometimes be so uncomfortable that the temptation to skip a workout may be too much to overcome. With a bike trainer the 'bad weather' problem is eliminated.

--There are a lot of places in the country where battling motorists, stop signs, and bad pavement surfaces make riding a bike almost not worth the effort. On a bike trainer, the purpose of the workout isn't interfered with by poor conditions.

--Rather than cluttering up the house or garage with another piece of exercise equipment, a small bike trainer attaches to something that you already have (your bike), so there's one less thing, like a treadmill or stair-stepper, to take up space.

Trainers Come In Three Types

Bike trainers are categorized by the manner in which they generate resistance.

The simplest trainers are the wind trainers. These aren't much more than a roller that turns a wind impeller. Because of their simplicity, these units have the advantage of being the least expensive, as well as the least likely to need repair.

Conversely, they are also the noisiest and are unable to create enough of a workload for advanced riders.

Mag (magnetic) trainers generate power with the use of magnets that are embedded into the flywheel. When these magnets spin past metal they create resistance. This type of trainer can generate more resistance than a wind trainer can, but some riders don't like the 'pulsing' sensation that is associated with a mag trainer.

Fluid trainers are at the top of the food chain when it comes to the level of smooth resistance, but they're also at the top in the cost category, with models like the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and the Cycleops Fluid 2 costing in the neighborhood of $300.00.

Add A Bike Trainer To Stay Fit Year-round

There's nothing more frustrating than watching your hard-earned fitness level shrink due to poor weather, or a reluctance to fight the cars, stoplights, and chasing dogs while riding outdoors. On those days in which the temptation gets high to just skip a workout, put your bike into a bike trainer and stay fit year-round!

About the author: Ron Fritzke is a cycling product reviewer. A former 2:17 marathoner, he now directs his fitness energy toward riding his bike…and writing about good cycling products he finds, like indoor bike trainers.