What is a SMART Indoor Bike?
An indoor bike is exactly what it sounds like—a stationary bike that lets you ride from the comfort of your own home. It can also refer to spin classes where groups of people ride together in a studio or gym setting. A SMART indoor bike, however, incorporates the addition of SMART-enabled technology. These exercise bikes combine interactive features with digital performance tracking to provide an immersive cycling experience that can keep you motivated even while indoors.
SMART technology is used to automatically adjust your workouts based on heart rate and other performance metrics. This creates a personalised experience tailored to your fitness level. They feature adjustable ergonomic saddle positions, calibrated resistance settings, virtual rides, and interactive consoles.
Unlike regular stationary bicycles, SMART indoor bikes are equipped with sensors and built-in software to connect with compatible apps. So, allowing riders to receive real-time feedback on their workout while tracking their progress.
5 Reasons to Use a SMART Bike For Weight Loss
1. Low Impact Workouts
Using a SMART indoor bike for exercise reduces the impact on your joints that other activities such as running can cause. This means that you can still get an effective workout without risking injury or unnecessary strain on your body. Plus, since there is no need to leave the comfort of your own home, you don’t even have to worry about weather conditions when planning your workouts!
2. Variety of Workouts
With a SMART indoor bike, you can adjust the difficulty of the ride by adjusting the resistance level or switching up the type of workout routine you follow. This means that you can customize each session to ensure that it is challenging yet manageable at the same time. You can also use apps and programs like Zwift and Peloton to take virtual classes with professional instructors and fellow riders. So it only adds some more motivation and fun to your routine!
3. Tracking Progress
With a SMART indoor bike, you also have access to data tracking features. So that you can easily monitor your progress and make sure that you are staying on track with your goals. Not only will you be able to see how many calories you burned during each session. But also track various metrics such as speed, distance, power output and more! This data will help keep things interesting by showing how far along in your journey towards fitness success you really are!
4. Fun & Engaging
Many people find traditional cardio workouts boring but with a SMART indoor bike, this doesn’t have to be the case! With all the different apps available and virtual workouts available, there is something for everyone. So when it comes to finding fun ways to stay active while using an indoor bike! Plus, these bikes offer an immersive experience. Also, some even feature interactive video games or virtual races with friends who also own one of these bikes!
5. Tailor Your Weight Loss Programme to You
SMART indoor bikes can help you get the most out of your workouts by using your performance data to optimise the best workout for you. You can mix up your weight loss programmes through a mix of lower intensity workouts that target using fat as your primary energy source. Or you can ramp up the intensity and cycling resistance for a HIIT session. By following a bespoke programme you can make sure your weight loss training plan is structured and has a good mix of cardio, high intensity and recovery.
Tips for Weight Loss With an Indoor Bike
- Focus on intensity rather than duration — Aim for shorter rides that focus on intervals and high-intensity efforts instead of long sessions at moderate intensity levels. Using your own ratings of perceived exertion(RPE) set the resistance to a level of about a 13-14 on the RPE scale. The session can last around 30 to 45 minutes which includes a 5-10 minute warm-up and 5 minute cool down. Shorter and higher intensity workouts will have greater calorie burn. Also, they provide more ‘bang for your buck’ when it comes to weight loss.
- Track your progress — Use a heart rate monitor or an app such as ZWIFT to track your progress over time. This will help to visualise your progress, adjust your programme as required and stay motivated.
- Mix up your workouts — Change up your workout routine by trying different classes or altering the resistance settings on the bike to keep things interesting and challenging. The great thing about SMART bikes is that can connect to a variety of either live or virtual workouts to keep it fun.
- Don’t go it alone – SMART indoor bikes allow you to work out through immersive and virtual experiences with a friend or in groups. Furthermore, it can be achieved in the comfort of your own home or in a gym studio. So, there’s no need to try to do it all by yourself.
- Stay consistent — Consistency is key when it comes to any type of exercise program. Especially if weight loss is your goal! Set a schedule and stick with it as best as possible so that you can see results over time.
- Follow a balanced diet — Don’t forget to effectively and sustainably lose weight you will also have to consider your diet. Follow a balanced and nutritious diet that is calorie controlled to help aid weight loss.
SMART Indoor Bikes for Weight Loss Workouts
There is a wide range of SMART indoor bikes on the market. It can. be a job to know where to begin. So, below we have summarised some indoor bikes with SMART technology that will suit all budgets and cycling abilities.
| Bike | Image | Description | Price | Link |
| Schwinn 590u Upright Bike |  | This model is great for users looking for a more traditional cycling experience. It has adjustable handlebars and tilt/recline options that you can adjust to suit your riding style. The Schwinn 590u also comes with 26 built-in workout programs and 21 levels of magnetic resistance for toning various muscle groups. This bike is great for those who want to get into indoor cycling and don’t want to break the bank doing it. | £1049 | Fitness Superstore |
| Peloton Bike |  | The Peloton bike is perfect for those looking for an immersive workout experience. It has a 22-inch HD touchscreen display where you can follow along with live classes and instructors from around the world. It also offers 25 levels of resistance so you can dial in your training intensity and track your performance over time by connecting your ride data with its Peloton app. | £1345 | Amazon |
| Wattbike Atom |  | The Wattbike Atom is ideal for cyclists who are a little more serious about data and want to track their progress during each ride. This model features advanced technology that allows you to monitor power output, heart rate zone training, cadence tracking, calories burned, and more. You can also connect it with apps such as Zwift, Fulgaz or TrainerRoad so you can set up custom workouts or race against other riders online! | £2399 | Wattbike |
| Renpho smart bike |  | The Renpho Smart Bike offers an affordable option for those looking to get into indoor cycling without breaking the bank. This model features eight levels of resistance that you can adjust via its app as well as a digital LCD console so you can easily track your metrics during each ride. Additionally, it comes equipped with Bluetooth speakers so you can listen to music while riding! | £569 | Amazon |
| Echelon Sport-S |  | For those looking for a high-end fitness experience at home then look no further than the Echelon Sport-S! This model features 32 levels of silent magnetic resistance; adjustable handlebars; Bluetooth connectivity; a 10″ HD touchscreen; access to instructor led classes; and even compatibility with Amazon Alexa so you can control your workout using voice commands! | £1099 | Amazon |
| NordicTrack GX 4.6 Pro |  | The Nordictrack GX 4.6 Pro is perfect if you’re looking for something durable yet affordable. This model features 24 levels of digital silent magnetic resistance; adjustable handlebars; an LCD display; 10 built-in workouts; Bluetooth connectivity; and even onboard fans that will keep you cool during longer rides! | £899 | NordicTrack |
| NordicTrack Studio Bike Pro 22 |  | For those wanting all the bells and whistles then check out this top-of-the line model from Nordicktrack! Features include 24 levels of electromagnetic resistance; a 22″ rotating HD touchscreen display with integrated speakers; onboard fan cooling system; heart rate monitoring; and compatibility with their online training software, iFit Coach Plus. | £1999 | NordicTrack |
