Although you can wear your favorite activewear when riding, mountain bike clothing can go a long way in making your ride more comfortable and safe. 

Like dressing for any occasion, you should pick your clothing based on the weather, temperature, and environment. For example, if you're heading off in the mountains, you should wear or pack heavy-duty clothes and warm socks for the cold. But if you're doing a short ride, you can get away with a simple t-shirt and shorts.

MTB Shorts

Although you can wear a regular pair of pants, they might hinder your movement and end up causing muscle fatigue or cramps. So when choosing the best mountain bike shorts, you must consider what cycling style you want to do.

For cross-country bikers, you'd want a pair of baggy shorts for maximum ventilation and movement. However, if downhill riding is more up to your speed, you should choose shorts made of durable material with bigger leg openings for your knee pads. 

Like MTB jerseys, MTB shorts are made of breathable synthetic materials. Not only that, but it also offers just enough room for easy leg movement without getting caught in your surroundings. 

The padded section of your bike shorts is the most critical part of MTB shorts. Also called a chamois, this padded crotch liner is made with foam of varying density to cater to different rides. Besides alleviating pressure in your nether regions, it also provides a friction-fighting fabric with antimicrobial properties to prevent chafing and bacteria.

Some padded shorts come with removable chamois so that you can sub in a thicker or thinner one, depending on your ride. They also ride higher at the back to cover your butt when you're riding.

Socks

As a general rule of thumb, your cycling socks should be thin enough to fit into your shoe and long enough to protect your legs from trail hazards. It would be best to opt for socks made of merino wool, nylon, or polyester since these materials wick away sweat and moisture. 

Besides looking cool, mountain biker socks might have extra features that amp up their sweat management and thermal balance properties. Cycling socks also tend to be thicker than normal ones, which makes them ideal for colder temperatures. Not only that, but some socks have anti-micro bacterial properties that prevent your feet from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria.

The most important thing is comfort and fit. Your socks should be snug since you don't want to cut off your blood circulation accidentally, but anything else is up to you and your cycling needs.

Shoes

Any comfortable shoe that you use for running and hiking would work for mountain biking. But if your love for mountain biking grows (and it probably would), it's better to invest in a pair of good mountain biking shoes. 

Beginner mountain bikers often start with flatter and stiffer MTB sneakers with a sticky rubber sole. This gives you more comfort and security since the shoe sticks to the flat pedal and allows you to dab your foot a little when things get wild on the trail. 

As you become a better rider, you might want to consider clipless mountain bike shoes. These shoes have cleats that clip onto your clipless pedals, keeping your feet in place while you're bouncing on the trail. This gives you a great deal of comfort and security even on the roughest terrains.

You don’t need to use a heart rate monitor while you are exercising. You can exercise “by feel” while paying attention to the changes in your body. However, your workouts could be more effective and efficient when you use a Peloton heart rate monitor.

Your heart rate shows you how intensely you are working out. For example, suppose your goal is to become fitter, improve your cardiovascular (heart) health, and burn calories and fat. In that case, you need to keep your heart rate at an elevated level for extended periods of time.

On the other hand, it is easy to overexert yourself if you push it for too long. A heart rate monitor can help you find the balance.

Heart rate monitors for the sports industry became popular in the 1980s. These monitors consisted of dry electrodes that were attached to your chest. The electrodes were usually connected to a heart rate sensor (attached to the chest strap) and a radio receiver that you can wear on your wrist.

The electrodes and sensor pick up and measure the electrical signals that your heart gives off each time it beats. This heart rate data is then sent to the receiver, which displays your heart rate.

The type of heart rate monitor you prefer depends on the activities you will be using it for, how and where you want to wear it, and how accurate you need the readings to be.

Exercise heart rate monitors can typically be worn either strapped around your chest (secured with a chest strap) or on your wrist (like a watch or armband). Armband heart rate monitors are slightly less cumbersome and feel a bit less invasive. On the other hand, chest strap monitors provide more accurate readings.

At present, Peloton heart rate monitors are only wearable around your chest. However, there are rumors that the company is producing a wrist wearable heart rate monitor and fitness tracker.

Some heart rate monitors have replaceable batteries. In some cases, these batteries could last up to a year or longer, depending on how often you use the monitor and how long you use it. Other heart rate monitors have rechargeable batteries.

If you opt for an HR monitor with a rechargeable battery, consider how long the battery will last while it is turned on. Ideally, the battery should at least last as long as your longest planned workout time. You also need to consider how long it takes for the battery to charge fully. This will avoid the need to postpone or cancel your workout or workout without it because your heart rate monitor is taking too long to charge.

The most important features to consider are whether the device is comfortable to wear, whether it can connect via Bluetooth or ANT+ technology, and sufficient battery life. Whether you chose a chest strap or armband heart rate monitor is up to your personal preference.

Whether they use the bike, the tread, or enjoy other workouts on the company’s app, Peloton users will benefit from working out with a heart rate monitor.

You don't need to use Peloton branded shoes to ride your Peloton bike. However, you need cycling shoes or spin shoes that can accommodate Look Delta cleats. These are the only type of cleats that can be used with the original Peloton bike pedals. Peloton cycling shoes come with these cleats, as do some other brands.

While Peloton shoes come with Look Delta cleats, other brands might not sell the cleats with their cycling shoes. In this case, you will need to purchase the shoe and the cleats separately. Some shoes can accommodate both Look Delta and SPD cleats.

Some people are apprehensive about riding clipless. There is something slightly unsettling about being connected to your bike pedals – at least at first. Having your foot secured to your bike pedal is safer, especially during more intense rides. There is a lower risk of your foot slipping off the pedal, leaving the spinning pedal to connect with your shin and potentially giving you a serious lower leg injury.

Clipless peddling means you don't need to constantly work at keeping your foot on the pedal. This can reduce foot fatigue and discomfort that is commonly caused by constantly pushing your foot down against the pedal. That way, your feet are less tired after intense rides.

Straddle your bike with one foot on each side. First, click in your dominant side before switching to the other foot. While standing, push the pedal down at its lowest position (around 6 o'clock). Place your foot on the Look Delta pedals with your toes slightly pointed down. This will help you find where the front of the clip needs to fit in. Once you have the right location, press down with your heel. The cleat will clip into the pedal with an audible "click." You can then clip in the other foot. This can be done either standing up or sitting down. Make sure that your cleat is correctly clipped by wiggling your foot from side to side. There should be a very small amount of movement.

You need to do some maintenance to make sure your Peloton bike pedals continue to work correctly and safely and to avoid pedal breakage. Peloton recommends that you inspect your bike's pedals at least once a month. During this inspection, look for any visible damage, ensure that the pedals are clean, and turn smoothly.

You may need to tighten your Peloton pedals every now and then. This is to make sure that they are still securely attached to the bike. To do this, turn the resistance knob all the way to the right. This will lock the flywheel and crank.

Hold the pedal level – the platform on which you rest your foot while cycling (called the pedal body) should be horizontal. Use a 15mm wrench to tighten the bolt that attaches the pedal to the crank arm. You will turn the wrench to your right (or clockwise) when tightening the right pedal. The left pedal has a reverse thread. The threads are different so that neither pedal loosens itself while you are pedaling forwards and backward. For the left pedal, you need to turn the wrench to the left or towards the front of the bike (or counterclockwise).

Turn the wrench until you cannot turn it anymore. That is how you will know that the pedal is secure.

Peloton bike pedals could fail due to wear and tear. Although the pedals come with a 12-month warranty, you may need to replace them more often, especially if you work out often and do many long or intense rides. To replace your Peloton pedals, you will need a set of new pedals, a 15mm wrench, and (or) a 6mm Allen key.

To remove your Peloton pedals:

1. Turn the resistance knob all the way to the right.
2. Use a 15mm wrench to remove the pedals where they attach to the crank arm.
3. Turn the wrench counterclockwise for the right pedal and clockwise for the left pedal.

Some Peloton bike pedals need to be removed with a 6mm Allen key. To remove the right pedal, turn the Allen key counterclockwise. The left pedal is removed by turning the Allen key clockwise.

To attach the right pedal, insert the pedal into the crank arm (remember that these need to be 9/16" pedals if you are not replacing your pedals with Peloton pedals). Then turn the pedal a quarter of a turn counterclockwise, so the threads catch. This will avoid damaging the threads because they don't align. Next, turn the pedal clockwise until you can no longer turn it by hand. Lastly, use a 15mm wrench to tighten the pedal securely. Turn the wrench clockwise until you can't turn it anymore.

Installing the left pedal follows the same steps. Remember that this side has reverse threads, so you will need to turn the pedal clockwise for the threads to catch and then tighten it by turning the pedal (or wrench) counterclockwise.

Keep in mind that you are not turning the pedal in each of these instances. Instead, you need to turn the bolt that attaches the pedal to the crank arm. You also need to remember that the left and right pedals have different threads. Take a look to see whether the pedals are marked "Left" and "Right." If not, you will quickly realize that you are working with the wrong pedal if it does not tighten when you turn it in the correct direction.

You may need to adjust your pedal tension from time to time. The tension screws hold your cleats securely to your pedal. These screws are located on the back (or bottom) of the pedals. You may need to do this if it is your first time clipping in and unclipping with new pedals and you are finding it difficult to do so. You might also need to adjust the pedal tension if your cycling shoes begin to feel loose in the pedals.

To adjust your pedal tension, turn the resistance knob all the way to the right to hold the flywheel and crank arms in place. Turn the pedal so that you can see the screws that are located on the bottom. The tension screw on each pedal has a plus and minus sign above it.

If it is too difficult to clip in to or out of your pedals, you can loosen this screw slightly. Remember that loosening it too much could damage the pedal or cause it to not function properly. Use a 3mm Allen key. Turn the Allen key counterclockwise towards the minus sign. Only loosen the screw fractionally, a quarter of a turn at a time. Try to clip in and clip out after each turn. Remember that you still need to use some pressure or force to clip and unclip. If it is too easy, you loosened the screw too much.

If your cycling shoes feel too loose in the pedals or too easy to clip and unclip, the tension screw needs to be tightened. In this case, you will use the Allen key to turn the screw clockwise towards the plus sign. Turn the screw a quarter of a turn at a time and try to clip in after each quarter turn. Do this until you need to use some force to clip in and unclip.

Older models of Peloton bikes came with a conversion kit that had toe cages clipped onto them. Peloton pedal conversion kits that are SPD-cleat compatible on one side and a toe cage on the other are now only available for commercial Peloton bikes. That is: hotels and fitness centers that have Peloton bikes for their guests or members to use.

You can find toe cages that could work with existing Look Delta Peloton pedals. These toe cages often attach to the crank arm or the pedal itself, depending on the pedal and the toe cage. They usually have a small platform that fits on top of your bike's pedal, making the platform slightly larger and thus safer to use without clipless cycling shoes.

You can also find toe cages that attach to a Look Delta cleat, the part that usually attaches to your shoe. This modified cleat then gets clipped into the pedal as you would do with your cleated cycling shoes. Cyclists then only need to slip their trainers into the toe cage to get the benefit of cycling with their feet attached to the pedal.

Bike racks typically come in two different categories depending on the kind of vehicle or trailer hitch you have. There are hanging racks and platform models that you can transport your bicycles with.

Hanging Racks

A hanging rack is an excellent option to transport your road bikes or lightweight bicycles without having to lift them over your head and maneuver the bulky piece of equipment onto your car's roof rack. If you plan on regularly attaching and removing your hitch mounted rack, then the hanging rack's lightweight and compact design is ideal for you. They typically weigh under 15 pounds, making them easy to store in your garage or truck bed when you need to keep them out of the way. Your bicycle may bump up against other bikes that are on the hitch and sway a bit while driving, but they are securely tied down with plastic or rubber straps around the frame. This is perfect for transporting heavier bikes, like cruisers or electric bikes, since they are secured by the frame and not just the wheel and should have padded cradles to minimize scratching or bumping against the bike frame.

Once you've decided on the kind of bike rack you want to purchase, you'll want to consider several other features to ensure that you find the perfect fit for you to transport your bike.

Number of Bikes You Want to Carry

A hanging bike rack can carry anywhere from two to five bicycles, while a platform bike rack can hold one to four bikes with extension pieces. Most cyclists stick with a design that can fit two bikes, but people who like to travel in groups or cycles as a family should look at a hanging model or a platform with added wheel tray slots that can accommodate the bicycles of all of the riders. 

Tilting vs. Swing-Away Rack

The "tilt" and "swing-away" refer to how you can adjust the rack to access your trunk or rear door. Tilting will enable you to open your hatchback or drop the tailgate so you can grab your supplies or spare tire if need be by pulling a lever that moves the rack far enough down so that it's out of the way. You'll want to be sure that it tilts far enough for you to easily open the door wide with the bikes still attached so you can slide a big cooler in or out if you wanted to while camping and biking. A swing-away rack is generally a feature of hanging racks and moves the bike rack away from your car or trailer by releasing a pin that moves like an arm, pivoting the entire bicycle rack to the side of your vehicle. This gives you even more access to the back of your car, so you can easily slide things in and out of the trunk or rear of your vehicle while the bikes are securely out of the way. 

Locking or Mounting Systems

Mounting systems are the way that you secure and lock your bicycle on the mounted bike rack. The most common type of mounting system is straps to secure your bike. With a platform bike rack model, the ratcheting or elastic strap wraps around your bike's wheels. With a hanging bike rack hitch, it wraps around the frame. 

Another way to lock your bike in place is called a shepherd's hook, which is most often used in a platform mounted bike rack design. It uses an arm that swings down and ratchets onto your bike's tires to lock them onto the platform. They are also usually reinforced with straps around the wheels' bottoms, so your bike doesn't get jostled around when driving on bumpy roads.

To prevent your bicycle or bike rack from being stolen while you are out on the trail or sitting in your driveway, be sure to get a bike rack with a locking hitch mount. This means that it is impossible to unscrew the bike rack from your hitch when it is engaged. And to prevent your bicycles from being stolen, an integrated cable lock should do the trick to lock bicycles in place on the bike hitch. Most hitch mounted bike rack styles will come with an integrated lock. If it doesn't, make sure that your bike rack has pre-drilled holes for you to thread the cable lock through when you put your bike up and buy a bike mount lock separately.

Wheel Size and Tire Width

There's nothing worse than doing a bunch of research to get the bicycle carrier that is the right fit for your car, only not to have it fit your bike or its wheel size. If you are getting a hanging rack, you won't have to worry about the wheel size's compatibility with your mount bike rack since it is secured by the frame. However, it can be nearly impossible to hang a BMX bike, step-through bike frame, or full-suspension mountain bike, so if you have one of those kinds of bikes, you should look at a platform rack.

Since a platform rack secures your bicycle by the wheels, you'll need to measure the wheel size, tire width, and wheelbase. Some platform racks are designed to fit a wide variety of bike sizes, excluding some fat bikes, extra-wide wheelbases, and 29-inch wheel outliers. Make sure that the listed specifications of the platform rack fit your bike style and size.

Bike Weight Capacity

If you are carrying heavier bikes or multiple bicycles, you'll want to ensure that your bike cargo carrier can bear the weight. Hanging racks can typically hold 35 pounds per bicycle, while some platform bike racks can hold up to 150 or 200 pounds total. If your bicycle is on the bulkier side, it's worth the extra cost to get something that you are confident will hold it since you don't want to break your rack, destroy your bike, or cause accidents on the road.

Vehicle Clearance

One of the more technical things you'll want to consider before purchasing your new bike rack is the clearance between the rack, the bike, and your car. If your bicycle is too close, you won't be able to open your van doors, the handlebars can push against the windows of your SUV, or your pickup's tailgate won't be able to be lowered. One way to test to ensure proper clearance is by looking at the distance from the center of the hitch pin to the first tray since this shows how close the rack will be to the back of your car. You can then measure your bike's handlebars to ensure that they won't be banging against your rearview windows.

As you can see, owning a bike rack hitch makes your cycling adventures easier and safer. With Bikemunk's research team's help, you are armed with the knowledge to know what kind of bike rack fits your biking needs. So go on out, get a bike rack today, and enjoy traveling to your favorite cycling trails in style!

What is an Electric Bike Kit?

An electric bike kit is a special installation set that allows a regular bike to act as an e-bike. This kit usually includes an e-bike motor, a set of sensors, lots of wires (don’t mix them up!), and an owner’s manual. 

Because there are two primary types of e-bike motors, there are two types of electric bike kits: the hub motor and the mid drive.

Hub motors are cheaper and easier. They are simple devices with easy output and trouble-free installation. Comparatively speaking, hub motors are best for everyday biking when you’re going to and from work.

Mid drive motors, on the other hand, offer options that aren’t available for hub motors. A mid drive conversion kit is what you get when you need extra juice out of your battery pack. These motors are more complex, but with greater complexity comes greater output. Mid drive means power, the power to take your e-bike through tough terrain and steep slopes. Mountain bike riders everywhere prefer mid drive for their superior construction and quality craftsmanship.

A mid drive motor is also much more expensive than a regular hub motor. Due to its complexity, it is also harder to install. 

Mid drives require a fair bit of experience and know-how to use and replace, whereas hub motors have carved a niche for tame roads and beginning bicyclists. To replace a hub motor, it’s as easy as popping out the old motor and inserting a new one. They’re the best type of motor for regular commutes because they won’t require too much time to change. Hub motors let you get back on the road as soon as you need to. They’re the best timely option by a landslide, not to mention their price.

Which one should you get? Well, that depends on what kind of output you need from your e-bike. Each e-bike kit has advantages and disadvantages. It takes careful weighing of both options to truly understand what you’ll need from your biking experience. You should probably not go into such a purchase blind, or at least without understanding the routes you’ll need to take with your e-bike. For example, where will you be going with it? If it’s in the mountains and down rocky trails that aren’t neat and pretty, a mid drive motor is your mountain e-bike’s best friend. On the other hand, your daily commute can’t be slowed down by a clunky installation process and time-consuming details. For casual biking, daily commuting, and basic leisurely activities, you can be sure a hub motor can get the job done for you. 

Go through your daily route a few times with a regular bike first, if you can. Perhaps you live in a city with lots of winding hills, tight turns, and frequent potholes. Then maybe a mid drive might be appropriate, or you could take a safer route to work and stick with the cheaper hub motor. Whichever you decide, try to ride your route of choice a few times and see what the roads feel like. Imagine the difference an e-bike kit could make, and picture yourself managing an e-bike’s settings and speed while riding. Then, look at different categories in each type of product. There may be overpriced hub motors or cheap and unreliable mid drives

Get in contact with locals where possible. Ask for advice. Help from other cyclists can be immeasurable when it comes to breaking into a new field of cycling. They can show you the best brands and products, demonstrate what their bike can do, give you a test drive on their bicycle of choice, and even help you install and repair your own bike. Not only that, but you might find some new friends to go biking with. Bikers enjoy a tight bond of friendship as people who share a similar bond. The only thing that beats enjoying the great outdoors is taking a friend along for the journey. By asking around about whether a hub motor or mid drive motor is better for your route’s roads, you might find more than just a product recommendation. You could find a friend.

This is an important question if you’re looking to install an e-bike kit on an existing bike. The point of buying an e-bike kit, of course, is to avoid having to purchase an entirely new ride from the store. It’s difficult to find an entire e-bike for sale that’s reliable and has all its parts, so installing e-bike kits on regular bikes is an excellent option.

Most e-bikes will use either a lead-acid or lithium-ion battery pack. This comparison will be quite similar to the differences between a hub motor and a mid drive. Basically, lead-acid batteries are considered of inferior quality and, therefore, much cheaper. Lead batteries are also much more clunky. They can weigh up to two or three times as much as a lithium-ion battery of similar power output!

On the other hand, a lithium-ion battery is lighter, more expensive, and lasts longer. Just as a lead-acid battery can weigh more than lithium, lithium batteries often cost two or three times as much, if not more. They last longer and can deliver a better lifetime power output than lead-acid, so keep that in mind when purchasing. Whether you’re looking for a battery to last for years or an easy battery to get some experience with e-bikes, one of these two battery types should do the job for you.

Of course, if you’re buying these batteries for an existing bike that’s already an e-bike, that changes things a little. You’ll have to buy a battery compatible with the e-bike conversion kit that was already installed onto that ride. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, you could also tweak the installation and replace some of the parts with ones that match a different battery type. For example, if you’re graduating from lead-acid batteries, you can try installing a lithium battery by replacing the necessary components. Give your new motor a welcome home by optimizing your electric bike’s electric parts. It’s a bit more hassle to go through, but hey, at least your ride will keep pedaling as smoothly as you like. Keep in mind the benefits whenever you set out on a large task like this.

If this is your first time buying this bike (i.e., you’re buying a new e-bike and an electric bicycle kit to go with it), you’ll want to ask whether you’d like to personalize it. Any extra parts you might need? Be sure to pick them up before leaving the store! Depending on your region’s local safety laws, you will probably need some rear-wheel reflectors and a flashlight to clip onto the handlebars. Buy the best safety equipment you can, including a helmet and pads for your elbows and knees. For the e-bike conversion kit itself, consider investing in a spare battery pack or a mobile charger to get electricity into your e-bike on the go. You wouldn’t want to run out of power on a dimly-lit backroad far from home, after all.

Used electric bikes for sale are fairly common and might be on the market for various reasons. Perhaps the motor or throttle are burnt out, or the owner purchased a set of cheap bikes and regretted doing so. It could also be a problem with the electric bike conversion process; if it was installed wrong, some might try to pass it off.

The best cheap electric bike is the kind that is gently used and had an owner who simply lost interest. When shopping online, cheap bikes are everywhere, but quality e-bikes are harder to come by. If you do find a model that seems to work, check the description carefully. Comb over each section of the listing to learn everything you can about the bike. How are the brakes? If it is an e-bike, how well was the bike conversion kit installed? Is installation separate? What’s the seller’s rating like on the website? Do you use the motor with a mid drive kit or a hub kit?

Remember that regional differences may change which electric systems are available. Electronics made in North America, for example, may require a certain adapter to work with those in Europe. This might change the motorized bicycle kit’s efficiency, especially if you use electronics for two different regions. The motorized bike kit might not properly charge if the region you’re buying from has a different outlet than the source region. Whenever you mix and match motor types, you have to be especially cautious. A mid drive unit won’t work well where a hub motor is supposed to be installed. Manufacturers have carefully tested out all of their equipment to ensure it’s efficient and works well on any open road. But drifting away from the manufacturers’ intentions for the electric bike motor kit is like a raft slowly leaving the shore. Pedal back to the mainland (figuratively speaking) and try to keep any electric bicycle kit you buy together. It’s a bit like buying car parts: don’t mix and match unless you trust the seller, can rely on the equipment, and know what you’re doing.

Please keep in mind that not all used electric bikes are created equal. Scammers are everywhere and are looking for ignorant people to take advantage of. They know how valuable their product appears to be, and that’s why they play up the hype of their good so much. But contrary to what their advertisement says, their electric bike motor kit may not be up to your standards.

If you see an ad that says something like “Electric motor for bicycle” or “e-bike for sale,” look at the seller’s profile. How recently has their page been up? How many posts do they have? Are there visible typos, grammar errors, or other mistakes in their writing? (For example, “eletric bike,” “torqe” instead of “torque,” or inconsistencies with how they abbreviate key terms, like putting a space in between “e bike kit” or “e bike conversion” in one place, then saying “ebike kit” and “ebike conversion elsewhere.) Do they use a flashy, glitzy name that sounds like two regular words put together? Does their post promise a product, then take you to a page that doesn’t list that product. These signs are some ways you can tell whether or not an online seller is as truthful as they seem. Do not buy anything without test riding it, meeting the owner, and asking detailed questions about the model, make, specifications, electrical equipment, etc.

And even if the seller is honest, make sure the bike conversion kit is compatible with your bike. Electric bike conversion is not rocket science, but you need the right materials. Without them, you’ll be forced to work with the wrong tools for the wrong job, like putting a square peg in a round hole. Check the specifications for the electric bicycle kit that’s for sale and whether it matches your own bike’s needs. A regular bike will need a few customizations to become a full-fledged e-bike, as will a mountain bike or cargo bike. Be aware of this fact, as any existing bike you use may need to have some changes put in place to install an e-bike motor properly

A recumbent bike is a type of bicycle. Instead of sitting upright, you recline backward slightly when using a recumbent bike. You can take recumbent bikes out on the road. You can also get stationary recumbent bikes designed especially for exercising.

On a traditional upright bike, your body makes contact with the bike in three places: the seat, the handlebars, and the foot pedals. This places a lot of strain on three main areas of your body. Your spine, back, and hips carry most of your body weight while sitting on the seat. Your knees and ankles take most of the strain from pedaling. Your hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders carry the weight of your upper body as you lean over the handlebars.

The seat of a recumbent bicycle has a backrest and a larger seat (instead of a saddle) than a traditional upright bike. The backrest allows you to exercise in a reclined position and supports you while you work out. This reclining position, along with the larger seat, make exercising more comfortable. It also spreads your weight over a larger surface, which reduces the pressure on your back, spine, and hips. It completely eliminates the stress on your hands, wrists, shoulders, and arms.

 Upright exercise bikes have the pedals positioned below your bum, legs, and feet. In a recumbent spin bike, the pedals are placed more towards the front, so instead of pushing down to pedal, you push them forward and down. This pedal placement allows your legs to stretch out slightly more than on a traditional stationary bike.

You can adjust the resistance of a recumbent stationary bike to suit your needs. It is usually applied to a flywheel and works similar to an upright indoor stationary exercise bike. Most recumbent exercise bikes have easy seat adjustment features along with various resistance levels to set your workout intensity. They might also include features like heart rate monitors and guided exercise programs.

Indoor exercise bikes bring your workout into your own home. A recumbent indoor bike does this along with a level of comfort that few other exercise machines offer.

It’s easy on your body.

Using a recumbent exercise bike places less strain and stress on your joints, especially your ankles, knees, hips, and back. It is especially easy on your knees. The movement with using a recumbent bike affects how your lower leg and thigh work together. The motion and position seem to place less strain on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This is one of the ligaments that connect your tibia to your femur and is one of the main ligaments that keep your knee joint stabilized.

The back support on a recumbent exercise bike alleviates excess stress and pressure on your hips, back, and spine. When you use a traditional upright exercise bike, you sit upright and slightly bent over the handlebars. This works the muscles in your abdomen, shoulders, arms, and hands. Riding in this position also places more strain on those areas, along with placing more pressure on your lumbar (lower) spine.

 For some people, this becomes a part of their workout routine; for others, it might make the session uncomfortable or unbearable. This is especially true for those recovering from an injury or who have a medical condition that affects their lower back.

 Workouts on a recumbent bike are low-impact and place less strain on your body overall. It also eases the pressure placed on your joints. This makes it an excellent option for individuals who suffer from arthritis.

Longer workouts.

The reclining position of a recumbent bike and the larger seat make using this type of exercise bike more comfortable than a traditional upright exercise bike. It is ideal for someone who struggles with balance, recovering from an injury, or experiencing back, arm, or shoulder pain when riding an upright stationary cycle.

Because the reclining position is more comfortable, it could increase the amount of time you spend cycling. More time spent exercising means more cardio and more calories burned. It also means that you build more muscle, which increases your resting metabolic rate – which also helps with weight loss. Remember that even though using a recumbent exercise bike is more comfortable, you still need to warm-up before and cool-down after your workout.

Ideal for persons with physical limitations.

Because you are sitting within the frame of the bike and slightly closer to the ground while being supported by a backrest, you do not need to focus as much energy on staying balanced.

Multi-tasking.

The reclined position back leaves your upper body free. Some people enjoy reading while working out on their recumbent exercise bike. Others combine upper body exercises like weight training for their arms while pedaling.

The muscles that get the most out of a workout when you use a recumbent exercise bike are your leg muscles. While peddling, your entire lower body will get a workout. That includes your calves, thighs, and glutes. You also engage your abdominal muscles to maintain your leg positioning.

 The Schwinn 570R Recumbent Bike offers 29 programs and levels of resistance, along with Bluetooth connectivity and their Explore the World app.

Price: Not available on their website.

Price: Not available on their website.

A bike stand essentially does what a car lift does for a car, but for a bicycle. It helps you fix repairs and maintenance issues on your bike without needing to flip it upside down or lean it against a wall. On a bike stand, your bike is upright, with the wheels lifted off the ground. This position makes any repairs or maintenance that you need to do easier and less frustrating. It also eliminates the need to crawl around on the floor to get into those hard to reach places.

Having a bike repair stand will help you carry out fixes and maintenance faster as you can quickly and comfortably access any area on your bike that needs work. They also make working on your bike easier on your body. Because a bike stand lifts your bike, you don't need to crouch down, lay on the ground, or sit on your knees to work on your bike. Let's be honest, doing maintenance on your bike is a lot more enjoyable if you don't have a cramp in your neck from sitting or lying in an awkward position.

Bike repair stands come in two styles: the seatpost style stand and the axle or bottom bracket mount style stand. The style of the stand that you have will dictate how you use your bike stand for repairs and maintenance on your bike.

The seatpost or top tube clamp style stand.

Seatpost clamp-style bike repair stands have clamps that hold onto the seatpost, seat tube, or top tube of your bike's frame. These stands keep your bike in the air and allow you to work on any part of your bike. Because it suspends your bike in the air, it also lets you turn the pedals without hindrance. Most clamp-style bike repair stands can accommodate changes in height and angle so that you can position your bike to suit your needs. This also allows easier access to the area of your bike that you need to work on. Clamp-style bike stands are relatively easy to use and can hold bikes with various tube sizes and shapes. They can usually be collapsed to a smaller size, making them portable and convenient to store or travel with.

Seatpost style clamps should be used only on the seatpost of your bike, even though it is often also referred to as a top tube clamp. This part of the bike is designed to endure higher forces, carrying the weight of the rider. In fact, most manufacturers caution against clamping your bike to your bike stand on the frame. This is especially important for carbon and lightweight alloy frames as the clamp could damage these types of frames. You might also find it difficult to clamp your bicycle if it has oval or square tubing.

The axel or bottom bracket mount style stand.

Axle or bottom bracket mount-style bicycle repair stands hold the bicycle either on the front or rear axle while the bottom bracket rests on a cradle. If you use one of these stands, you will need to remove either the front or rear wheel of your bike – and that takes more time. Because an axle stand doesn't hold onto your bike's frame, it is a better choice than a clamp style stand if your bike has unique tube shapes or thin tube walls. Axle mount stands enable you to turn your bike 360 degrees while you are working on it. That eliminates the need to unclamp your bike to adjust it when you want to work on different parts.

While axle mount-style bike stands require a bit more effort to secure your bike on the stand, they are also the ones used most by professional cyclists because they make it so easy to work on your bike.

When you are looking for a bike stand, you need to take more into consideration than just whether you want a seatpost clamp stand or an axle mount stand. Because each rider is unique, the features you will need from a bike stand will differ from the next person. Choosing a bike stand should not only be about the cost, but also about how often you will use it, what you will use it for most, where you will store it, and whether it is able to accommodate both the weight of your bike and your bike's size.

Portability.

Having a bike repair stand that is collapsible helps to store it out of the way. It also makes it much easier to travel with. On the other hand, bike repair stands designed for home or shop use tend to have a more solid construction and are heavier. This makes them a bit more stable, and you don't have to worry about setting it up each time you want to work on your bike. They are ideal if you have space to set it up without needing to move it or pack it away. On the other hand, travel stands also work really well in a home setup while giving you the option of taking it on the road with you. A travel stand might also be a better option if you don't have space to permanently keep your stand set up.

Ease of setup.

Let's be honest. If a bike repair stand takes ages to set up, you are less likely to use it. You might even be tempted to just lean your bike against the wall if you need to make a quick adjustment or fix something simple than struggle with a stand that takes too long to set up. Luckily most travel bike repair stands can be set up and broken down in only a few seconds.

Stability.

The purpose of a bike repair stand is to make your life easier. It is designed to hold your bike securely in place while you work on some maintenance issues or other repairs. The last thing you want is a bike stand that topples over, injuring someone, or damaging your bike. Generally, bike stands with larger footprints provide the most stability.

Stands usually come in one of two leg configurations: v-shape or tripod-shape. A v-shape configuration has a center pole that holds the bike. This center pole is supported on the ground by two poles attached to this center pole. These two supporting poles create a v-shape on the ground. A tripod-shape bike stand has one center pole. This center pole is connected to three poles that unfold to create a tripod stand – similar to camera tripod stands. Tripod-shaped stands tend to be more stable and could give you more stability on uneven surfaces. 

In addition to these two different leg configurations, you can also get a wall mount. Not technically a bike stand, this option bolts directly to your wall. It is suitable for bikes of all sizes and weights and provides plenty of solid support since it is fixed securely to a wall.

When looking at the stability of a bicycle stand, you might also want to consider the height of the clamp, the positioning of your bike, and where the weight is centered. Clamps that hold your bike higher may make it easier to access tricky areas but could have the center of gravity too high, compromising on stability.

Clamp.

The clamp is an integral part of your bike stand if you consider that it's the part of the stand that is in contact with and holds on to your bike. Clamps should be curved and the insides (at least) covered in rubber or similar material to hold your bike securely and avoid scratching it.

The clamp is the part of the bike stand that you will use the most. Clamps that need a lot of turning and adjusting will increase the time you spend just getting your bike settled on the stand. Some stands come with quick release and spring actuated clamps that make securing your bike and removing it from the stand more convenient.

Angle Adjustment.

Being able to adjust the angle of your bike makes it possible to carry out repairs and maintenance on the harder to reach places. Most clamp-style bike repair stands offer a 360 degree angle adjustment. While some allow you to position your bike precisely how you want it, others use indexed angle adjustments. With indexed angle adjustments, you can only make the adjustments according to set increments.

Height adjustment.

Being able to adjust the height of your bike stand allows you to determine how high you need your bike off the ground. This means you can adjust the height of your bike to fit your own physical size and the size of your bike. Having a stand that better matches your size and height can make it easier and more convenient to work on it.

Weight limit.

Most bike stands come with a manufacturer's recommendation of the maximum amount of weight that can be put on the stand. Most bike repair stands have a maximum weight limit of between 50 to 110 pounds to accommodate everything from ultra-lightweight bike frames to electric bikes or loaded touring bikes.

Bike repair stands could range from under a hundred dollars to a few hundred dollars. Generally, models that rate higher and provide more features also tend to be more expensive. However, you could find a less expensive bike repair stand that does an adequate job. It really comes down to your needs, how often you will use it, and the bike that it will need to hold. Less expensive models may be slightly less stable than their higher-priced counterparts. This does not mean that they are unstable – just that you may need to be more careful when carrying out your fixes or routine maintenance.

The best bike stand really is the one that meets your needs the most. Having your own bike repair stand means that you don't need to take your bike to a mechanic. Instead, you can carry out repairs and maintenance in your own garage. When looking for a bike stand, you need to consider the most essential features to meet your unique needs. While most bike repair stands offer various adjustments, the extent of the available adjustments might differ. This needs to be looked at when you are looking for a bike stand to buy.