Exercise Bike vs Elliptical: Which one should you choose for workouts?

Working out on a machine is one of the most effective ways of reaching your fitness goals. Many people are now opting to buy and use them as they work out because they are gentle to the joints and at the same time very effective.

However, when purchasing them most people get overwhelmed, especially when it comes to stationary bikes and elliptical machines.

Below we have written a review of the advantages of exercise bikes vs elliptical machines to help you choose the right machine for your needs.

1. Exercise bike vs Elliptical for weight loss

Both elliptical machines and exercise bikes are very effective for cardio workouts. This means that they improve your fitness and energy levels giving you overall body strength. You can also lose or keep your weight in check if you use either of the devices.

However, an elliptical machine is more effective when it comes to weight loss. Depending on the intensity you put into your work out, you can lose between 400 to 750 calories in just an hour of working out on an exercise bike.

This is slightly higher when you use an elliptical machine. You burn between 455 to 830 calories for every hour you work out on an elliptical machine.

Even though a bike is good for weight loss, it doesn’t burn calories faster like an elliptical machine. An exercise bike also focuses more on the lower body while an elliptical machine is a full body work out machine. Therefore an elliptical machine is an effective machine to use if you want to lose weight.

2. Stationary bike vs elliptical machines for knees

Both of these machines are very gentle to the joints. Alder people and those with weak joints are encouraged to use these machines when they work out. Their movements are soft and have a low impact on the joints. You can also control their resistance and set the machines to conditions that are good with you.

Between the two, exercise bikes are more gentle to the knees compared to an elliptical machine. Because you are seated while working out, the body weight does not exert pressure on the knees. Exercise bikes have been used for a long time by arthritis patients to strengthen their joints without putting them under pressure.

Raising the stationary bike seat can also reduce pressure on the knees. Exercise bike movements are also gentle and smooth. The resistance can also be smoothened to make the movements less excruciating on the knees.

You have to stand while working on an elliptical machine. This exerts a lot of pressure on the knees. As much as the elliptical machine may be a low impact work out machine, a lot of pressure is still exerted on the knees. Someone with weak knees may come off an elliptical machine feeling pain in their knees.

3. Elliptical vs Stationary bike for toning muscles

Everyone has their own goals when they workout. One common goal people set is having well-defined muscles. Not only does it improve how you look but also your muscle strength. Giving you the strength to go on with your daily chores with vigor.

Even though both of these machines are not meant for strength training, they are known to tone muscles. They convert the excess body fat into muscles fast.

While working out on an elliptical machine, both the upper and the lower body are in constant action. This helps in toning both the upper and lower body muscles. An elliptical machine tones up the back, core muscles, shoulders, biceps, hamstring, calf thigh muscles.

Even though exercise bikes are also effective they mostly work up the lower body. Exercise bikes do help in toning up thighs and also calve muscles mostly. Apart from that, they also do tone up some upper body muscle like the shoulders and core muscles but not as much as the elliptical machine.

In conclusion

The elliptical and exercise bikes are both great workout machines. They both do not occupy a lot of space and can be used by people of all ages.

However, when choosing which machine is right for you, your end goals should always be considered. Knowing what you want will help you choose the best machine for you.