Differences Between Spin Bike vs Stationary Bike Trainer

Getting an indoor bike might be a great option if you plan to exercise indoors during the winter. Bikes are great for cardio exercises, and they come pretty cheaply as well.

However, most people get confused when they have to choose between spin bikes and stationary bikes. So, we’ll dedicate this article to explaining the differences between the two, so you can make the right purchase for yourself!

What Is A Spin Bike?

Spin bikes are special indoor bikes that provide a lot of advantages. These are known for providing a full-body workout. They are very effective for strengthening your calves, abs, shoulders, hips, and thighs. What’s more, they allow you to stand up while exercising. Doing so allows you to lose weight faster than most other exercise methods.

Spin bikes come with some great features. You’ll get adjustable seats, reinforced pedals, minimal padding on the seat, display consoles, and more. The seats of spin bikes are positioned just like any other regular bike you see on the streets.

What Is A Stationary Bike Trainer

Then we have stationary bike trainers, also known as exercise bikes. Unlike spin bikes, the seats of these bikes aren’t positioned naturally. Instead, the seat is placed at a lower position, so you sit upright.

The stationary bikes were designed for exercising and come with unique features. For example, the seats are larger. You can stop pedaling instantly, like riding a regular bike, and use less force.

Comparisons Of Spin Bikes And Stationary Bikes Feature By Feature

Now that you have a basic idea of spin and stationary bikes, it’s time to dive into the features and compare them. Spin bikes and stationary bikes do share some similarities, but they are very different from each other. In this section, we’ll focus on those.

Type of Workout

Let’s start with the essential thing you should consider before choosing the right bike for yourself, the nature of the workout. Are you expecting relaxing workout sessions where you get to choose the pace? Or do you want intense workouts with every session?

If you prefer the former, you should go with stationary bikes. These are easier to use and let you set your own pace.

On the other hand, we have spin bikes. The spin bikes behave like regular bikes, and the pedals can’t be controlled as easily. You need to put the highest pressure to use them, so these can give you intense workout sessions.

Position

The spin bikes are designed to resemble regular bicycles. So, you’ll have a seat that puts you in the same position as a regular bike. You’ll be leaning a bit forward, and you’ll be able to hold the handlebars easily. Plus, the spin bikes let you stand while pedaling.

Then there are the stationary bikes. These come with seats that position you a bit further and lower. Thus, you can’t reach the handlebars as easily as spin bikes. Plus, you won’t be able to stand while riding stationary bikes.

Required Force

The spin bikes are designed after the regular bikes, so they come with a flywheel that you’ll find on every other bike on the road. The flywheels require a specific amount of pressure to be pedaled, and you’ll have to wait for the pedals to stop once they gain momentum.

The stationary bikes are quite different from these. These come with an electromagnetic or fan system that doesn’t require as much force as spin bikes for pedaling. Plus, these don’t function the same way, so you won’t have to wait for the pedals to settle down.

Affected Muscles

As spin and stationary cycles put you in different positions, different muscles get worked out when you use these.

In the case of spin bikes, the back, biceps, core, triceps, quads, hamstrings, calves, and glutes are trained. So, it’s usually said that spin bikes affect your whole body, making them the perfect choice for full-body workouts.

On the other hand, stationary bikes only affect your hamstrings, calf muscles, quads, and glutes. As you can see, stationary bikes are designed to focus on your legs, so feel free to go for these if you want to perform leg exercises.

Technology

While some spin cycles come with digital consoles, the bare construction of these bikes is based on regular bicycles. So, it can be said that these bikes are made from backdated technology.

However, stationary cycles are made from modern technology, like electromagnetic resistance. The consoles of stationary bikes usually come with more sensors such as heart rate detection, distance traversed, and calories burnt.

Calorie Burn

If burning calories is your main concern, you should go through this section carefully.

As we’ve discussed earlier, spin cycles require more pressure to operate, so naturally, they burn more of your calories. Plus, these cycles usually engage all of your body muscles while working out.

However, if you compare the calorie burn rate of spin cycles and stationary ones, you’ll find that the difference isn’t huge unless you use the spin cycles standing up. So, the calorie burn rate shouldn’t be a significant issue if you won’t be standing while operating the spin cycle.

Pros And Cons Of Spin Bike

Although spin bikes pack some great features, they also have some drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of spin bikes:

Pros

• Great for simulating real bikes indoor
• It lets you cycle both sitting and standing
• Offers intensive workout sessions
• It affects all of your body muscles
• It has the potential to burn a lot of calories

Cons

• You can’t customize the experience
• The seats aren’t particularly comfortable
• Usually doesn’t support high-tech sensors

Pros And Cons Of Stationary Bike

The advantages and drawbacks of stationary bikes are as follows:

Pros

• Best for customizing your workout sessions
• Suitable for focusing on the core and lower body only
• It comes equipped with high-tech sensors
• You can get these in all ranges of budget

Cons

• Limits the workout to the lower body only
• It doesn’t let you stand
• The potential to burn calories is lower

Conclusion

So, now that you know all about spin and stationary cycles, which type should you go for?

Well, before you pick your bike, be sure to consider what you require. As you can see, each of these bikes offers completely different features and functions. So, identify your needs and act accordingly!