If you’ve been planning to take your training indoors, odds are you already have the budget for a stationary bike. But here’s something really interesting, you can also use that money for a quality spin bike. OK, we know what you’re thinking – all this time you thought a spin bike was just another term for a stationary bike.
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they actually don’t refer to a single exercise machine.
There’s only one way to deal with the confusion: let’s compare them based on usage, muscles worked, calories burned, workout intensity, flywheel weight, and injury risk.
Ready? Let’s get down to this detailed stationary bike vs spin bike review.
Contents
Getting Started with a Stationary Bike
Have you wondered how stationary bikes came into the fitness world?
Well, the first ever stationary bike is named Lifecycle, which was invented in 1968 by Dr. Dimick. This exercise machine was the first of its kind to feature a computerised system, but nowadays, we see many computerised stationary bikes in nearly every gym and home.
Stationary bikes look like outdoor bikes but without the tires. You can find a seat, handlebars, and pedals on the solid base – which keep these indoor bikes from moving while you pedal. Compared to outdoor bikes, the seats on the indoor bikes are wider and more comfortable. They also allow you to either ride while standing upright or maintain a recumbent position.
Most stationary bikes have a console for monitoring and displaying your speed, heart rate, calories burned, and distance travelled. This feature comes in handy when you’re exercising alone at home with no fitness instructor to monitor your stats and progress.
What is a Spin Bike?
Spin bikes, also known as indoor cycles, are much newer fitness machines that were first manufactured as training bikes for seasoned cyclists. And just like stationary bikes, spin bikes allow you to stay physically active in the privacy of your home.
While stationary bikes come with a console, indoor cycles don’t have this feature. They, however, have an exposed flywheel that is significantly heavier than those in stationary bikes.
The resistance used in spin bikes is usually friction resistance or magnetic resistance. Friction-based resistance uses strong cotton felt pads, while magnetic resistance utilises two magnets to create resistance.
See also: The Best Spin Bikes for Home Use Reviewed 2022
Stationary Bike vs Spin Bike: Usage
If you’re someone who just wants to improve your physical health in general and shed those extra kilos, a stationary bike is ideal for you.
But if you’re training for a cycling competition or looking to take your workout to the next level, you may be better off with a spin bike. A spin bike closely resembles the feeling of riding an outdoor bike and provides a more intense workout.
Targeted Muscles
An exercise bike works your lower body muscles, such as your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. What makes the spin bike a winner is that it provides a total body workout. As you stand up on a spin bike, you’re putting more stress on the muscles in your lower body while also working your upper body muscles.
So if you want to tone the muscles on your back, arms, shoulders, and core to a much larger degree, a spin bike might just be what you need.
Which Burns More Calories?
Whether you use a stationary bike or a spin bike for indoor cycling, the number of calories you burn depends on the workout duration and intensity.
Generally, the spin bike has a higher energy expenditure than a stationary bike, so you’ll burn more calories riding it. This doesn’t come as a surprise since spin bikes are inherently designed to provide a far more intense workout than stationary bikes. Let’s talk about workout intensity in the next section.
Stationary Bike vs Spin Bike: Workout Intensity
As we already mentioned in this guide, a spin bike is more intense than a stationary bike. But how do you evaluate whether this intense workout is suitable for you?
Well, a spin bike activates more muscle groups. If you want to see significant changes in both your lower and upper body muscles, then spinning is the more suitable option for you. You’ll also see that you burn more calories and shed more pounds after a consistent spin bike workout.
While it’s true that spin bikes are better than stationary bikes in terms of workout intensity, the result still depends on motivation! With a spin bike, you’re riding in a less comfortable seated position. It’s up to you to find ways that’ll help you get through the discomfort during the duration of your workout.
What Are the Differences in the Flywheel?
When comparing stationary bike vs spin bike, it’s easy to spot the differences in their flywheel. More accurately, the flywheel’s weight. A stationary bike usually features a flywheel that weighs a few kilograms and provides a smooth riding experience. Besides keeping relative smoothness, a stationary bike flywheel remains turning for some time after you’ve stopped pedalling.
On the other hand, a spin bike comes with a much heavier flywheel and bolted pedals. So when you stop pedalling, the flywheel remains turning under its inertia, but the pedals will turn with it. The only way to completely stop your workout is to decelerate as the flywheel slowly loses its momentum slowly.
Bear in mind that the heavier flywheel requires more effort to keep the bike moving, so spin bikes aren’t for the faint of heart.
Injury Risk
Unfortunately, the risk of injury is higher on a spin bike than on a stationary bike. This may be due to the exposed flywheel that brings about intense/faster spinning.
Thus, if you have mobility problems, ditch the spin bike and just use the stationary bike.
The Bottomline
So, what’s the answer?
The decision between choosing a stationary bike or a spin bike for your home workouts is a significant step towards realising your fitness goals.
A stationary bike is a simple way to perform a cardio workout, but a spin bike is more intense and challenging. So if you want to speed up the process of achieving that bikini body, invest in a spin bike.
But remember this: spinning needs a lot of practice to master the technique and bears more injury risk. If you’re willing to put in the extra effort and have no mobility issues or existing injuries, a spin bike stands out as a far better option than the other.
