What’s Better: Exercise Bike or Cross Trainers? Roger Black Fitness
A Helpful Black Friday Blog
As we approach Black Friday Black Friday (shopping) – Wikipedia this week, many UK buyers are poised at the ready to click ‘BUY’ on reduced Christmas gifts, including home fitness equipment. Yet how many buyers actually know what they want before they buy, particularly as you can’t try out fitness machines such as an exercise bike or cross trainer before you buy? Roger Black Fitness is here to share an alternative Helpful Black Friday Blog before you part with your cash, specifically comparing the differences between exercise bikes and cross trainers.
A Quick Comparison: Exercise Bikes vs Cross Trainers
Exercise Bikes – A Snapshot
View full range of Roger Black Exercise Bikes
| Price | Brand | Pros | Considerations |
| Under £250 | Roger Black Fitness Folding Bike (£159) | -Folding
-Easy to assemble -3kg fly wheel -Phone/iPad holder -8-level tension control -Adjustable seat |
-Space at home
-Budget -Lower body workout only -Easy to store -Functional -Basic tech -Value-for-money |
| £250-£500 | NordicTrack VR19
(£499) |
-Step Thru™ design
-Extra padded seat -7kg fly wheel -iPod/Bluetooth compatible -24 pre-set workouts -Ergonomic pedals/Adjustable straps |
-Recumbent bike
-Fixed position workout -Lower body only -Heavy to move around -Good for physio and flexibility -Good choice if you want low-cost, high-tech |
| £500-£750 | Reebok GSB Electronic Aerobic Bike (£599) | -Low-cost spin bike
-32 resistance levels -18kg fly wheel -Floor level adjustment -Self-powered generator -Total seat adjustment |
-Entry level upper range
-Clips on pedals -Value-for-money -Ideal for intermediate users -Can be used without a power socket -No subscription needed |
| £750+ | Peloton® Basic Bike Package (£1350) | -Popular high-end brand
-Become part of a community -Immersive workout -Bike essentials available -Subscription model -Virtual appointments available |
-A reasonable financial commitment
-Upsell opportunities -Monthly subscription cost -Personalised experience -Smaller footprint -Interactive workout -High tech |
Even with the small selection above, you should consider your own needs and wants before you commit to any purchase and be realistic. It is so easy to become drawn into a sophisticated social media or marketing campaign without factoring in budget, space and your own limitations or health challenges.
Cross Trainers – A Snapshot
View full range of Roger Black Cross Trainers
| Price | Brand | Pros | Considerations |
| Under £250 | Cubii Junior Under Desk Elliptical Pedal Exerciser (£169.99) | -Easy-to-assemble
-Can use under desk or table -Portable -Ergonomic design -Manual, adjustable resistance -Low-end price range |
-Lower body workout only
-Fixed position vs glute and upper body workout too -Helpful for mobility -Perfect for entry level -Value-for-money |
| £250-£500 | Roger Black Fitness Gold Cross Trainer (£349) | -Upper and lower body workout
-Low impact -8-level tension control -LCD display -Bottle holder |
-Low tech
-Entry point level machine -Suitable for beginners -Value-for-money -Self-assembly – |
| £500-£750 | JTX Tri-Fit: Incline Cross Trainer (£729) | -3-level incline
-16”-20” stride range -17kg fly wheel -16 resistance levels -Lifetime frame warranty -Quick and easy assembly |
-Higher end range
-Suitable for more advance users -Heavy but sturdy -Whisper quiet with SmootDrive™ technology -Suitable for tech heads -Good value |
| £750+ | SpaceSaver SE7i (£899) | -10% incline-matching tech
-22 digital resistance levels -In-home personal training -Space saving design -iFit coaching experience |
-Subscription model
-SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance -8kg fly wheel -A choice of 16,000 on-demand workouts -Stat tracking |
Like-for-like, it is really hard to define or assess ‘which is better’ as a product or indeed which product is best. As cited above, it really depends on where you are in your health and movement journey, how much you want to spend, whether you have any mobility and joint issues and if you want to move your equipment around your home or place of work. Other key elements to consider include the size of the fly wheel and whether you want a high or low-tech product.
Benefits of Exercise Bikes
If you do decide to buy an exercise bike, they are a great way to get the heart pumping whilst toning up your legs at the same time. You can pedal away whilst watching Eastenders and Strictly or listen to your favourite www.Spotify.com playlist. There is total flexibility in terms of when you use your bike and how, particularly if you opt for a folding bike. If you choose to buy a Roger Black Folding Bike, you have the added bonus of storing it flat (eg under a bed) or upright (against a wall).
Benefits of Cross Trainers
By contrast, should you go for a cross trainer for some exercise at home, take into consideration whether you have good coordination, as a cross trainer may take some getting used to. The cross trainer is perfect, however, for a low-impact, full body workout. It also helps you to burn a high number of calories in a relatively short space of time.
Which is a better low impact workout?
Once again, you can’t really compare like for like although if you are starting out, a bike may be easier to use and require a little less concentration, as you are seated and are only using the bottom half of your body. By contrast, cross trainers can be brilliant workout tools and also quite addictive once you get the hang of them.
Should you get a cross trainer or an exercise bike?
So, here’s the million-dollar question, should you get an exercise bike or cross trainer this Black Friday? In reality, no one can tell you what to buy. Ask yourselves some key questions and try not to get caught up in too much sales hype. Always remember though, that you should have 28 days to return your item, should you change your mind. Just make sure your purchase leaves you in the ‘black’ and not the ‘red’ this Black Friday 2021.
Roger Black Fitness is offering customers FREE SHIPPING on all home fitness equipment bought at rogerblackfitness.com from Black Friday until midnight on Monday 29th November 2021. Simply use the ‘FREESHIPPING’ code at checkout. Standard website T’s & C’s apply. Not applicable with any other discount code or offer.
*Products have been selected solely to compare and contrast options – prices may vary online.
