With all the different types of exercise bikes on the market to burn calories and tone your lower body, you’ve probably heard of the cross trainer bike and wondered what is a cross trainer bike?
A cross trainer bike is an upright machine that creates a motion similar to cross country skiing like an elliptical, which engages your whole body without putting much stress on the joints.
What is a 2-in-1 Elliptical Cross Trainer Bike?
A 2-in-one elliptical cross trainer bike, also known as a cross trainer bike, an elliptical bike, and recumbent bike with elliptical combo, simply combines the best of both an exercise bike and an elliptical for a more effective workout.
It also differs from traditional exercise bikes in that it provides a smooth elliptical motion as opposed to just simply pedaling, while the recumbent seat enables users to sit while exercising for added comfort, thus enabling them to focus more on the exercise for a more productive workout.
However, there are also some recumbent bike and elliptical combo machines that enable you to use it as either a recumbent bike or a stand-up elliptical, so you can do each motion independently.
What Does a Cross Trainer Do for You?
A cross trainer bike engages many of the major muscles in the body, including the arms, back, shoulders, calves, abs, butt, and thighs, which helps improve your strength and muscle tone.
It also gets your heart rate pumping, which helps burn calories, build endurance, and helps deliver key nutrients throughout your body more effectively.
An indoor elliptical bike also helps keep your muscles engaged and flexible, which helps prevent injuries. This is especially important if you suffer from sore muscles or a previous injury.
And, of course, since it is low-impact, it also causes little to no stress on the body, which decreases the risk of painful joints.
Is a Cross Trainer a Good Way to Lose Weight?
Cross trainer bikes use the largest muscles in the body, which helps increase the heart rate and burns lots of calories; hence, they can help you lose weight at home.
In fact, one study involving 9 recreationally active participants showed that after engaging in 30-minute high endurance cycling and treadmill sessions at 70% maximum heart rate, the tested group burned more calories than resistance training alone.
And when you ad a balanced diet to your regular exercise, it can help you lose much more weight and in less time.
Can a Cross Trainer Help You Lose Belly Fat?
Cross trainer bikes help you burn calories, so, yes, they can also help you burn belly fat.
However, the key is you must also be eating fewer calories than you burn during daily exercise to help burn fat in the area to see the results.
You can also combine other exercises with your cross trainer bike workouts, such as ab crunches, light to moderate weight lifting, and more to help burn more belly fat.
While using the trainer bike, it is important to also keep your body stable through your torso, which helps engage your core and build ab muscles, especially when you increase the resistance and/or your pace.
How Do Cross Trainer Bikes Differ From Other Exercise Bikes?
Though all exercise bikes offer the same cardio and strength training benefits, some differences make one a more suitable choice for some over others.
For instance, most exercise bikes target the muscles in the lower body, whereas cross trainer bikes also feature moveable handlebars, so it utilizes both the lower and upper muscles for a total body workout that burns more calories.
This cross trainer bike is also unique in that it enables the user to also pedal backward, which helps to balance and build the muscles that surround the joints.
Are Cross Trainer Bikes Good for You?
Unlike most cardio exercise machines, cross trainer bikes exert less stress on the joints, which makes them good for you.
They also provide a smooth elliptical motion that helps prevent the sharp jarring at the end of each movement, like traditional bikes, which makes them more comfortable to use.
In one study, they also showed to be beneficial for improving balance, postural control, motoring function, muscle tone, and more in stroke patients when combined with conventional physical therapy.
Who Should Choose a Cross Trainer Bike?
If you are looking for a bike that enables you to work your entire body, then a cross trainer bike may be for you because it basically works every muscle you have, including the back, arms, chest, core, glutes, hamstrings, quads, and more.
It also helps burn more calories than traditional exercise bikes, so if you are looking to blasts significant calories during your workout, then it may also be for you.
If you suffer from joint or muscle pain, its low impact motion makes it easier on the body, so you can still work out; therefore, it may also be an ideal choice for you.
Likewise, if you are rehabbing an injury, your doctor or therapist may also recommend a trainer bike to help speed recovery and healing.
The cardiovascular benefits that these machines provide also make them suitable for those suffering from heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol problems, and more to help improve the symptoms of their condition.
Meanwhile, it also helps lower the risk for these conditions and more in otherwise overall healthy individuals.
It can also be used as part of interval training or to replace your current mundane exercise routine for more variety.
Who Should Not Use Cross Trainer Bikes?
Though cross trainer bikes are generally considered suitable for just about everyone, if you are pregnant, you should consult with your physician before participating in cross trainer biking to see if it is safe for you.
If you are obese, you should also first check the weight capacity of the machine to ensure it is sturdy enough and safe for you.
For all other conditions, just be sure to talk with your doctor first to ensure it is suitable for your situation.
How Long Should You Use Cross Trainer Bikes?
You can burn up to about 300 calories or more in an hour of cross training biking; however, it ultimately depends on your individual factors.
But in general, the dietary guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise for cardio benefits, which breaks down to approximately 30 minutes of training per session.
However, experts recommend you start with 10 to 15 minutes of activity per session and then gradually work your way up to the recommended amount once your body gets used to it.
How Often Should You Use Cross Trainer Bikes?
How often you should use cross-trainer bikes varies depending on your fitness goals, well as various other individual factors, but the general recommendation is to use the bike at least 3-days per week for overall health.
However, it is safe to use them at least 5 to 6 days per week, provided you take at least one rest day from exercise every 7 to 10 days, so you don’t overwork your muscles.
This also enables your muscles to repair damaged tissue and to be drained of metabolic products, which is especially important to help build muscle and prevent soreness so you can continue your workouts.
How Can I Boost My Calorie-Burning Efforts Using Cross Trainer Bikes?
To get the most benefits from the exercise you are doing, you need to stay focused, which will help you maintain your speed and keep your momentum going for maximum results.
However, in the meantime, some other things you can do to help increase your calorie burn efforts while using cross trainer bikes include:
- Increase the Intensity – to burn more calories because the harder you exercise, the faster your heart rate goes up and the more calories you burn.
- Speed the Pace – which also increases the heart rate and makes you burn calories.
- Add Interval Training – which has been shown to burn more calories than other exercises alone, so be sure to work out in short bursts of more intense or more gentle activities in between the bike to enhance your efforts for faster results.
- Lower Your Arms – during the exercise, which will cause you to work your core more for better posture and a toned midsection. It also causes the larger muscles in your legs to work more, which, in turn, increases the number of calories you burn.
- Pedal Backwards – to really engage your thighs for increased muscle toning in those areas.
- Push and Pull – on the armbar with exaggerated intent to boost toning of the upper body muscles.
- Exercise to Lively Music – because it helps keep you moving at a fast pace as compared to slow music or attention-grabbing entertainment, which can cause you to lose focus and slow down.
- Use the Advanced Tools, Technologies, and Resources Available to You – because they are there to help keep you motivated, so you burn the most calories you can from your session.
What to Look for in the Best 2-In-One Elliptical and Bike Combo?
To purchase the best recumbent bike and elliptical combo/best 2 in-1 elliptical and bike, look for a product with various signs of quality, including a sturdy structure made of premium materials, which helps ensure it is built to last and to also withstand even the most rigorous training.
You should also look for a bike that is easy to use and extremely comfortable with a soft seat, a smooth motion that doesn’t feel like you’re fighting the machine, and a quiet operation to help ensure an impressive workout.
Meanwhile, bikes with varied resistance enable you to challenge yourself for more calorie-burning, muscle building, and toning during your exercise.
So you want to be sure your chose bike also allows you to adjust the level of resistance, thus enabling it to grow with you.
Some machines also include a display to track your stats, such as your heart rate distance, calories, and more. And they range from very basic to elaborate screens for a vivid view while you exercise.
A device holder may also be included so you can stream content on your mobile phone or tablet while working out for added convenience.
They also sometimes include accessories available for purchase separately to help make your session more personalized and fun.
If space is an issue, you also want to choose a bike that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Likewise, if assembly is an issue, you should also look for a product that is easy to put together for less hassle.
Lastly, to find a high-quality, affordably priced workout bike, be sure to check out guide to the best recumbent cross trainers for low impact exercise to help you get started.
Best Cross Trainer Bikes
| XTERRA Fitness RSX1500 | Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer | Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike |
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| The XTERRA Fitness RSX1500 is one of our top recommendation because of its full-body, dual action design. | The Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer is a must for those who need to do low impact exercise from home. | The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike is a great budget cross trainer bike option that’s still effective. |
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Final Thoughts
So overall, an indoor elliptical bike provides you with the functional motion you need to tone your lower body and increase your heart rate to burn calories, while the seat helps take the strain off the lower back for a more comfortable workout.
However, it also offers the advantage of working your upper body at the same time, or some machines enable you to work either or independently, for whole-body toning and added calorie burn, due to the moveable handlebars that also sets it apart from traditional exercise bikes.
It is also made to fit comfortably in your home, and it is also reasonably priced to fit just about any budget, which makes it suitable for everyone.
Hence, if a total body workout all from one exercise bike sounds appealing, then be sure to do your research to find the best 2-in-1 elliptical cross trainer bike for you.
