Brand Stories

Elevate Your Ride

Riding a stationary bike is great indoor exercise for people of all ages— from aiding weight loss to reducing stress, this gym staple delivers multiple benefits.

Riding a stationary bike is great indoor exercise for people of all ages— from aiding weight loss to reducing stress, this gym staple delivers multiple benefits.  For experienced gym members, or those just starting out, stationary bicycles are an easy “go—to” as cycling is an intuitive and safe movement, it’s also an effective, non—impact, low—weight bearing exercise.  And aside from providing a great cardiovascular workout that’s good for the heart, cycling can also be an effective exercise for building lower body muscle.  Of the three types of stationary bikes, the upright offers the most workout versatility.  Built for cyclists, the Intenza 550 Series Upright Bike offers the most rewarding riding experience.

Cycling helps improve the range of motion of your joints.  It benefits the knees, ankles, and hip joints.  When you pedal, all these joints rotate, improving their range of motion and strengthening them, and getting your saddle height right will improve your comfort and efficiency on the bike.

With oversized pedals and easy strap adjustment, the 550UBe offers maximum foot comfort, so that riders can maintain correct toe position— facing straight ahead.  To find your optimal riding position, the pull release lever allows for effortless seat height adjustment at precise increments— this is key as saddle height affects range of knee motion— taller saddle height means a smaller degree of bending for the knee and vice versa.  For correct seated riding, the saddle should be high enough to facilitate fully extended knees, with a slight bend, when the pedal lays flat at the lowest position.  When riding, the upper body should be relaxed, and not swaying in any direction.  Like any other exercise equipment, maintaining proper posture while cycling on an upright bike is important for preventing any injury or pain.

“Pedaling a bike strengthens the leg muscles, especially the quadriceps that form the top of the thigh.”
Harvard Health Review

Compared to outdoor bicycles, one of the biggest advantages of using an indoor bike is resistance control.  Intenza’s 550 Series offers 40 different resistance levels, allowing riders to set a level in line with fitness goals and stamina.

Whilst the whole leg is involved in the cycling movement, the primary muscles worked are the quadriceps and gluteal muscles.  Specifically, quadriceps are involved in the downwards pedalling movement.  As such, setting a higher resistance on the Upright will force the quadricep muscles to work harder.  To gain maximum muscle—building effect, the resistance should be set high enough to increase pedalling difficulty.  Alternatively, exercisers can raise themselves off the saddle, in a “hover” position to further engage the quadricep muscles.

Core muscle engagement can also vary depending on whether the user sits completely upright or leans forward to grasp the handles.  Other than changing positions, exercisers can also utilise any of the 16 customisable programs to vary their workouts or try out race mode for a challenge.  On the e Series, users can also enjoy Intenza’s 19” touchscreen panel, with Wi—Fi® and Bluetooth®, to ride in virtual scenery mode.  Or, use the Intenzacast™ function to broadcast digital content from their Android or iOS devices.

The ultimate combination of comfort and performance, with ergonomically designed handlebars providing suspension for the hands; whether for a long, steady aerobic workout or a pumped—up program to work the quads, Intenza’s Upright Bike is a must—have piece of cardio equipment for today’s gym. #howfitnessshouldfeel

REFERENCES
Harvard Health Letter