Cycling is becoming more popular and accessible to many, whether that’s as a way of getting from A to B, or to improve health and fitness. As modern technology advances, indoor bikes can provide a variety of workouts from the comfort of your own home, that you can complete as and when you have the time. They can also provide you with in-depth metrics to see how you are improving. But what is the difference between riding outdoors or choosing an indoor cycling bike? Read on as we compare the two!
Benefits of indoor cycling
When it comes to choosing which is more suited to your lifestyle, you’re going to have to weigh up the benefits of both. When it comes to indoor cycling, one of the main advantages is that you can get a workout in easily – no matter the weather, or if you are struggling for time. Having an indoor bike in your home means you can ride whenever is convenient for you. An indoor bike is a great option for those of us that may not feel confident enough to get out onto the road – they can be a great way to practice and get to grips with the feel of a bike without having to worry about traffic.
When it comes to your health, choosing to ride an indoor bike means that you can burn a lot of calories quickly and easily, so if you are hoping to lose weight, a stationary bike may be the best option for you – you don’t have to be an experienced cyclist to take advantage of the health benefits that come with it! If you struggle with other exercises, like running, indoor cycling is low impact, so you can improve your cardiovascular endurance without having to worry about the strain you are placing on your hips and knees.
Choosing your equipment
One of the most attractive features that come with cycling indoors is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to get started! There is a huge range of indoor spin bikes to choose from, differing in price and features that they offer, so you can choose a product that is perfect for you. If you’re just getting started, you could choose a standard spin bike that is more affordable and fits in the space that you have.
If you are a dedicated, training cyclist, you could choose a more advanced product that offers varying workouts and metric measurements so that you can get the most out of your workout. There is a piece of equipment that is perfect for everyone – all you must think about is the space you have, and the budget you’d like to stick to.
Benefits of outdoor cycling
So, if cycling indoors doesn’t sound like an activity you would enjoy, and you’d prefer to get out there into nature, there are a few benefits that come along with cycling outside too, that you may not find if you stay inside. The first benefit of cycling outdoors is one of the most obvious, you get to spend time in the fresh air – this can help to clear your mind and give you a bit of time to yourself. You will also find that cycling outdoors feels a lot less intense, so if you want to burn calories in a more leisurely way, getting on your bike and out for a ride may be more beneficial to your health.
If strengthening your chest muscles is your goal, cycling outdoors may be best for you. When taking to the roads, you’ll have to twist and adjust your body to compensate for uneven ground and to get more power – this is hard to replicate on an indoor bike.
Choosing your equipment
If you’ve decided that you’d prefer to cycle outdoors, there is one element that you’re going to have to consider, and that is the amount of equipment you’re going to need to get started. Unlike indoor cycling, heading outside to workout means that you’ll need to invest in a bike – although you don’t have to choose high-tech equipment – there are more affordable models – you’ll need all the apparel that comes along with it too so that you can ride in comfort, which includes padded shorts, a jersey, suitable cycling shoes, a helmet, and a tracker.
Which is best?
When it comes to choosing between indoor and outdoor cycling, the cardiovascular and fitness benefits are very similar. There is an advantage when it comes to cycling indoors, as you don’t need as much equipment, and with a huge range of indoor spin bikes on the market for all budgets, you can choose a product that is most suited to you. Cycling indoors is often more convenient, especially if you are tight on time, or during the winter months. If you are cycling for fitness benefits only, indoor bikes can be the perfect option.
