Exercise fads come and go, but the stationary bike continues to be the machine most people come back to when the latest craze has run its course. While a quality treadmill will cost you well over £1,000, you can buy an effective stationary bike for as little as £300.

Stationary cycles also have the benefit that some of them can also work your upper body too. Stationary cycles such as spinning bikes generally take up less room than other fitness equipment. People living in smaller homes may find it difficult to find space for a rower or cross-country skier. A bike fits into the smallest of areas.

Types of Bikes  
Three basic styles of stationary cycles exist in the market today: uprights, recumbents and semi-recumbents. Upright cycles are closest in style to outdoor bikes. With these bikes (including spinning bikes), you sit on a triangular seat, have no back support and pedal downward.

Recumbents offer a new position where the seat is parallel to the ground and the
pedals in front of the rider. Many find this more comfortable than uprights, helping them bike longer.

 Semi-recumbents offer the same advantages as a regular recumbent with one added benefit. Their seat is set on an incline between that of an upright and a recumbent, making it easier for people with some back or leg disability to get on and off.

 Resistance
Air Resistance: Cycles, such as the Schwinn Airdyne cycle, produce tension through air resistance.

Magnetic Resistance: This system uses two magnets surrounding a thin flywheel to create opposition; the closer the magnets, the greater the resistance.

Physical resistance either via the weight of the wheel as used in spinning bikes or via a tensioner which applies friction to the wheel.