Choosing The Best Exercise Bike For Triathlon Training In 2024

Overview

This is a simple guide on what you need to consider when looking to buy the best exercise bike for your triathlon training.

You will learn about the different types of exercise bikes, how they are suited to various forms of training and their pros and cons, depending on where you are in your fitness or cycling journey. 

Types of Exercise Bikes And Training Suitability 

Recumbent Bikes:

These bikes are designed to provide an accessible exercise bike for individuals with limited mobility or those who are looking for less impact on their body. 

The primary difference of a recumbent bike versus other exercise bikes is its reclined seating and near-horizontal pedalling position. 

Most recumbent bikes have magnetic resistance settings that are easily controlled through an integrated touchscreen or button control panel. 

Image: Pulse Fitness Recumbent Exercise Bike

Training Pros:

• A great choice for seniors who are looking for a simple way to maintain or improve their fitness level without having to deal with a challenging riding position or harsh impacts caused by other forms of cardio (i.e. running).
• Can be a suitable exercise bike alternative for individuals who are recovering from injury, due to its lower impact on your hips, wrists, back and knees.
• Recumbent bikes are easier to mount compared to other exercise bikes which require the user to step-up/climb onto a vertical saddle.

Training Cons:

• Due to their riding position and pedal setup (Q Factor), recumbent bikes do not provide a realistic riding position.
• Recumbent bikes are typically longer than other exercise bikes and will therefore take up more room in your training space.
• The focus on comfort with the seating position does not provide the user with the indirect training benefit of stability, core and back strengthening that you would experience with an upright seating position.

Upright Exercise Bikes:

A literal ‘step-up’ from a recumbent bike. Upright exercise bikes operate in a similar fashion to recumbent bikes in terms of resistance-level adjustment, however the obvious difference is the upright seating position.

Upright exercise bikes have a non-aggressive seating position as you don’t lean forward as much as a spin bike or smart bike. The hand position tends to be higher up, reducing the pressure on your wrists and shoulders.

Like recumbent bikes, upright exercise bikes have wider seats for a comfortable riding experience.

Image: ProForm Upright Exercise Bike

Training Pros:

• An ideal tool for individuals who are looking for a comfortable indoor riding option for cardio and who aren’t concerned about simulating an outdoor riding experience.
• Less pressure on your wrists, shoulders and back compared to a spin bike or smart bike.
• Usually less expensive than spin bikes and smart bikes, depending on the level of technology offered. 

Training Cons:

• The riding position, inability to stand-and-ride, and pedal setup (Q Factor) of an upright bike does not provide a realistic riding position if you’re looking for a tool to simulate outdoor riding. 

Spin Bikes:

Spin bikes are able to take you to the next level of indoor cycling training.

With a seating position akin to an outdoor bicycle (upright and leaning forward on the front bars) and a realistic pedal stroke, they provide a closer feeling to an outdoor bike than an upright exercise bike.

Spin bikes operate using a heavy flywheel. Pedalling starts to spin the flywheel and it’s inertia-based, so the more you pedal, the more momentum builds. 

The flywheel on a spin bike is fixed, so when you want to stop pedalling, instead of your feet coming to a stop, they will continue to spin with the momentum of the flywheel and gradually come to a stop if you don’t exert any more power.

Fortunately, most modern spin bikes have many levels of resistance so that you can train to a low or high intensity as required.

Image: ProForm Pro 22 Spin Bike

Training Pros:

• Cycling on a spin bike is a more realistic experience than an upright or recumbent exercise bike due to its seating position, clip-in shoes compatibility, saddle, pedal stroke and ability to stand and cycle.
• For cycling enthusiasts, spin bikes can provide excellent depth in your indoor cycling training as you can simulate longer rides at a lower heart rate, HIIT sessions or hill climbs.
• Certain spin bikes in the market can come equipped with a range of technological features to improve your experience, including large touch screens for interactive workouts, power-meter compatibility, digital resistance adjustment and automatic resistance adjustments.

Training Cons:

• If you’re a beginner cyclist or looking for a comfortable tool to meet basic cardio-training requirements, the spin bike seating position and pedalling-momentum may be too aggressive. 
• The saddle of a spin bike is similar to that of an outdoor road bike which is narrower and generally more uncomfortable compared to an upright or recumbent exercise. Padded shorts (bib-shorts) can help here!
• For cycling enthusiasts looking for a like-for-like outdoor road bike experience, the pedalling momentum and inability to ‘free wheel’ (as you would if going downhill on an outdoor bike) is something to consider before buying. 
• The changing of resistance also has to be done off of the handlebars using a level or toggle on the frame, which provides a less immersive riding experience compared to a smart bike.

Smart Bikes: 

In the current market, there are a small handful of brands that offer a truly smart indoor riding experience that compares to an outdoor ride.

These are a great alternative to using a turbo trainer, if you would prefer to keep your road bike separate from your indoor training or simply want an all-in-one machine that doesn’t risk getting grease on your carpet!

Smart bikes are designed to have a riding position that is identical to an outdoor road bike and have adjustability options to allow you to mimic the exact riding position of your outdoor bike. 

Most smart bikes in the market operate using an electro-magnetic resistance system. The resistance changes are operated through the handlebars, allowing you to change gears with your fingers in your normal riding position without having to come off of the bars.

Smart bikes operated using a freewheel, which is a lighter version of a flywheel found on a spin bike. A freewheel enables the user to stop pedalling at any time which would cause the wheel to come to a gradual stop, like an outdoor bike (that doesn’t have a fixed-gear).

Image: BH Fitness Exercycle with simulation app screens

Training Pros:

• Smart bikes offer the best like-for-like riding experience for the indoors 
• All smart bikes in the current market are compatible with most simulation apps (like Zwift, Rouvy, Kinomap, TrainerRoad and Sufferfest) which opens up an endless range of training options.
• Most smart bikes come fitted with a power meter and cadence sensor to provide accurate readings during your training.
• When in operation, smart bikes are very quiet compared to an outdoor bike and turbo trainer setup.
• Certain smart bike models come with added features including automatic resistance and incline adjustment, vibration technology to mimic cobbled-road riding, and in-built workouts or FTP tests.

Training Cons:

• Smart bikes can have a high price point to entry, from £1,699 up to £4,000.
• For a beginner fitness enthusiast looking for a straightforward machine for cardio, smart bikes may have an overload of features!

Choosing The Best Exercise Bike For Triathlon Training - Conclusion

When it comes to purchasing an exercise bike to support your home triathlon training, we hope that this guide gives you a range of points to consider depending on the stage of your fitness journey and training ambitions.

We would be delighted to speak with you to discuss the best exercise bike to suit your training needs and are available for your call on 0800 031 4364.

Here at Triathlon Camp we have a range of spin bikes and smart bikes to consider, whether you are training for a 140.6 long-distance triathlon, your local 100km cycling sportive, or are simply looking to take your cardio training up a notch.

See our full cycling range here.

Thanks for reading!

Team Triathlon Camp