Find the Optimum Resistance Level on Your Stationary Exercise Bike
What are your workout goals?
All recumbent exercise bicycles come with a variety of resistance levels. Twenty is a good average. Less expensive models have fewer, more expensive models have more.
How many do you need?
To tell the truth, only one. And that’s the one ideal for your strength and for your workout goals.
But, of course, the manufacturers must make their cycles with enough options to accommodate all potential customers.
Also, in time, as your muscle strength grows, you may move up to a higher resistance level.
Basically, the resistance level mimics the effort of pedaling a bicycle up an inclined slope.
At the very lowest resistance settings, the pedals go around and around with hardly any effort. You’re just moving your legs. You’re getting less exercise than if you were walking.
At the high resistance levels, it’s like cycling straight up a mountain cliff.
Unless your calf and thigh muscles are already quite strong, the top levels of some or all bicycles may simply be too hard for you.
Therefore, you’ve obviously got to find the happy middle.
