My self consciousness about my weight kept me from going to the gym for the years.
I just recently got into fitness, and the thought of working out around other people terrified me.
There had to be another way.
That’s when I discovered working out at home with the Slim Cycle.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Stationary Bike
If you’re like me, you are probably excited to get started as quickly as possible on shedding that extra weight.
Stationary bikes are great for being able to work from the comfort of your own home.
You’ll probably get a lot of use from a stationary bike if you’re a parent or a busy individual with a schedule that varies from day to day.
It’s easy to skip on gym days when you can hide behind an excuse that something came up.
I think that having fitness equipment, like an exercise bike, in your home really takes that excuse away.
However, there may be a few things you’ll want to consider first before you go out and invest in a stationary bike for your home or garage gym.
Space in Your Home or Garage
One of the first things you’ll want to consider before going out and buying a stationary bike is your ability to house the unit in your home or garage.
Depending on how much space you have to work with, you may have to consider stationary bikes with folding ability or that take up a smaller footprint.
Budget
Another thing you’ll want to consider when shopping for fitness equipment like a stationary bike is your budget.
Let’s be honest – stationary bikes aren’t cheap.
That’s all the more reason to really take your time when shopping around for a stationary bike that will fit your needs.
In order for a stationary bike to be worth your investment, you’ll have to get a lot of value and use out of it to justify its purchase price.
Your budget will really help you to focus on what features of a stationary bike are must haves vs. nice to haves.
Your Current Health & Fitness Levels
Often overlooked, you’ll also want to consider your current fitness level and health.
Before undergoing any workout plan, it’s always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional on what activities may be appropriate for your age or current health.
For those who have previous injuries, like a knee injury, you’ll want to avoid reinjuring or aggravating those injuries on a machine like a stationary bike.
Many stationary bikes have low impact settings if you’re looking to rehab from a previous injury – so you’ll want to make sure that the stationary bike you choose has that option for you.
Fitness Goals
And finally, you’ll want to consider your fitness goals.
Ask yourself, will this stationary bike help me achieve the fitness goals I’ve set out for myself?
If your fitness goals are to compete in a Bodybuilding competition, then this machine may not be for you.
Always match your fitness equipment to the goals you are looking to achieve.
Introducing the Slim Cycle
If you feel like you’d get a lot of benefit from having an exercise bike in your home or garage gym, then I’d like to tell you a little more about the Slim Cycle.
The Slim Cycle is a versatile exercise bike that has multiple capabilities.
One of the things that really distinguishes the Slim Cycle from other exercise bikes out there is that it is a combination of an upright bike and recumbent bike in one.
It’s easy to hop on to the Slim Cycle and just start pedaling from the comfort of your own home to shed those extra pounds.
To top it all off, the Slim Cycle comes with 8 different levels of resistance and built-in arm resistance bands that allow you to sculpt and tone your muscles during your indoor cycling session.
Pros
- Easy to put together
- Sturdy
- Very portable
Cons
- People who are too tall or too short may have issues
- Poor customer service
- Clicking Noises
Features & Benefits of the Slim Cycle
There’s a lot that the Slim Cycle offers that all comes together to make a high quality bike. Here are a few features and benefits you should be aware of as you consider the Slim Cycle for your home workouts.
Adjustable Resistance Levels
The Slim Cycle has 8 levels of adjustable resistance for you to choose from based on how intense you want to make your workout.
If you’re a beginner, or non-athlete, you’ll of course want to start off on the lower levels.
However, over time, you’ll want to continue to work to increase your resistance levels and challenge yourself to raise your fitness level.
The resistance levels are controlled by a knob found just below the display panel.
Arm Resistance Bands
The Slim Cycle also includes Arm Resistance Bands so that you can incorporate upper body strength building during your cardio workouts.
Whether you’re looking for a full body workout, or are looking to sculpt and tone your arms, the arm resistance bands add a different dimension to your cardio workout.
Built-In Heart Rate Monitor
Are you pushing yourself hard enough?
Your heart rate is a good indicator of your workout intensity, and how productive your workout session is.
If you want to get the most out of your workout, you’ll want to track your heart rate.
The Slim Cycle helps you to do that with a built-in heart rate monitor tracked by hand pulse sensors on the handlebars of the bike so you can monitor where you are during your workouts relative to your heart rate target zones.
Memory Foam
If working out comfortably is important to you, then you can rest easy knowing that the Slim Cycle features a 2.5-inch cushion and memory foam back rest for support.
The seat can adjust to accommodate anyone who is 4’11”, all the way to 6’4”, and can support a weight of at 300 lbs.
Portability
If you’re concerned that the Slim Cycle is another piece of exercise equipment that’s an eyesoar to look at because it takes up so much room in your home – don’t be!
The Slim Cycle has the capability to fold flat so that you can simply fold it up and store it away into the nearest closet or under a bead when not in use.
Large Digital Display
The Slim Cycle helps you to track your workouts with a large, easy-to-read display that keeps track of burned calories, distance, speed, and miles traveled.
Having your workout stats in front of you at all times helps you to determine how hard you want to push yourself and helps you to tailor your workout to meet your workout session goals.
2-Machines in 1 Bike
The Slim Cycle really stands out as one of the most versatile exercise bikes on the market because it is simultaneously a recumbent bike and an upright bike.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed or lower impact workout session, you simply have to switch the bike to the recumbent position.
However, if you’re looking to burn fat and lose weight, then you just have to switch the Slim Cycle to the upright bike position and start pedaling like there’s no tomorrow.
What Others Think of the Slim Cycle
Although my impression of this exercise bike has been positive, I really wanted to get a sense of what other people thought about this bike as well.
From what I’ve found after scouring the internet for other reviews, people really loved the versatility of this bike. They found it to be a great value to have both a recumbent bike and upright exercise bike in one machine.
For those who did not rate this bike highly, what detracted from their enjoyment of this machine the most was the customer service they experienced when they had issues with the bike.
Alternatives to the Slim Cycle
While the Slim Cycle is highly recommended, it may not be the best for meeting your particular fitness needs.
If you’re still looking for high quality exercise bikes for your home fitness needs, here are a few options I found that deliver on the same level as the Slim Cycle for you to take a closer look at.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2710
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2710 shares similar features to that of the slim cycle. However, one of the features that is not included in the Slim Cycle are the leg resistance bands that help a person tone their calves, glutes, and thighs.
Where the Slim Cycle edges the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2710 is its ability to switch to a recumbent bike and its lower price point.
If you want to focus more on your lower body during your home workouts, the leg resistance bands that comes with the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B2710 give this bike an edge over the Slim Cycle.
Merax Magnetic Folding Exercise X-Bike
Another quality alternative, the Merax Magnetic Folding Exercise X-Bike shares many features with the Slim Cycle.
Where it differentiates itself by a little is the number of resistance levels it offers. Instead of the 8 from the Slim Cycle, the Merax Magnetic Folding Exercise X-Bike offers you 10 levels of resistance to choose for your workouts.
If you’re not satisfied with the 8 levels of resistance that you get from the Slim Cycle and want more options for resistance, then the Merax Magnetic Folding Exercise X-Bike edges the Slim Cycle in that regard.
MaxKare Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
Last on our list of comparable exercise bikes to the Slim Cycle is the MaxKare Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike. Again, you’ll find much in terms of the look and feel of this exercise bike that is comparable to the Slim Cycle.
Where the MaxKare Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike starts to differentiate itself is in the number of positions this exercise bike allows you to do your workout in.
Instead of just two positions, the MaxKare Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike offers you three different workout positions – full recumbent, semi-recumbent, and upright.
If you want to stretch the value you get from an exercise bike, then having essentially 3 bikes in 1 with the MaxKare Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike gives it an edge over the Slim Cycle.
Final Thoughts
The Slim Cycle is great value because of its versatility as an exercise bike – you’re basically getting two bikes for the price of one.
On top of that, it’s easy to store away and move throughout your house.
For me, working out at home is my preferred way of exercising.
I’ve been using the Slim Cycle for years now and can tell you that I’ve saved so much more money in gym costs by investing in this piece of fitness equipment.
