Picture from ebay
I came into possession of a Pro-Form XP Whirlwind 320 exercise bike earlier this year when my brother in law my wife and I had been caring for in our home passed away. This article is not meant to be a review on the Pro-Form exercise bike as I have not used it long enough to give a true comment on what I think of it’s quality. My intent is solely to discuss the benefits of exercising with these types of exercise bikes overall. I will do a review on the Pro-Form model once I know how it holds up after heavy use.
I have never been a fan of these exercise bikes simply because every one of them I have ever began to use felt like a clunky piece of junk. I had a cheaper one already before Howard passed away. And to put it bluntly, it is a better device to hang clean clothes on than anything to which you can get a good exercise session on. I should really drag it outside to the street for the trashmen to carry away one day.
Besides weight training, I love to get in good cardio exercise through hiking and running. However, with the closing of parks due to COVID 19, and the ever changing weather, it can be difficult to stay on track with outside cardiovascular activity. The obvious answer to inclement weather and closed parks is to either exercise in a gym or at home. Gym memberships can get expensive, but home workouts are free and far more convenient than driving to a local gym. With my full time job, and the other conditions I mentioned, I have not done anything other than all that I do with my strength training in my home gym. But one day, I decided I would give Howards exercise bike a try and found that I actually like it. So far, the Pro-Form has felt smooth and ergonomic to my body. It feels to be a quality piece of equipment despite only rating 3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. But I like what all the movement does for my body enough that I will buy a better quality exercise bike of this type when or if this one actually wears out on me.
What I like about these exercise bikes.
I like that these bikes can be used by almost anyone, whether you are an absolute beginner or a seasoned athlete, you can get in a good fat burning and cardiovascular training session. These bikes will give you full body, low impact exercise that can be done at what ever intensity level you are capable of performing.
I believe in making the most efficient use of my time when working out. I am not a big fan of doing single muscle group workouts when I can do exercises that are far more superior in that they work multiple muscle groups at the same time.
Face it, the majority of us are not professional body builders who need to concentrate on single muscles.
Most of us only need to focus on functional strength and fitness for a healthy body.
I love that not only are we working our legs and cardiovascular system, we are also working out our upper body. Exercise bikes with stationary handles do not allow for this. With the moveable handles, you are working your arms in more than one direction as well the dynamic movements are working the core muscles and abs too. These bikes are an efficient and effective way to burn calories and body fat while strengthening your heart, lungs, and muscles. For those of you who are out of shape and maybe overweight too, these dual action exercise bikes place less stress on your joints, while still providing you with an excellent aerobic workout.
Dual action exercise bikes improve the flow of blood and oxygen throughout your body. This, in turn, can benefit your health in a number of ways, including:
improved memory and brain functioning
lower blood pressure
better sleep
improved blood sugar levels
a stronger immune system
better mood
lower stress levels
more energy
Your first attempt at cycling might make you feel pressure on your muscles and joints, but as you stick to routine exercise, you will discover everyday cycling and physical activities become easier and easier. The capacity of your muscles and cardiovascular system will increase. Regular cycling at a healthy level can lessen the probability of falls, improve muscle health, and heighten the coordination and balance of muscles and joints for elderly people. You risk of type 2 diabetes becomes reduced when your muscles are healthier and more efficient at taking up glucose.
What I do not like about dual action exercise bikes.
There is a plethora of junk dual action exercise bikes to be found on the market.
You get what you pay for.
If you purchase an inexpensive exercise bike, it will end up being set out with your trash or disposed of in a dumpster at some point unless you really like it to hang clean clothing from. If you buy a cheap exercise bike, it will feel clunky, and not ergonomic to your body. You will find that with heavy use, the cheap models will wear out on you or they will break. Often the cost of replacement parts can be high enough to warrant just buying a new piece of equipment. Sometimes, by trying to save money up front, we wind up spending more at a later point in time. Be sure before buying one, you give it a good test ride in a store, or read up on customer reviews. You will not be sorry if you are selective in your purchase.
As we always advise, be sure to first be cleared by your doctor before beginning any type of exercise. Sometimes we can have underlying conditions that we only learn of when we begin an exercise regimen.
Glad it is there for you. I have given all mine I ever had away.
Keep us posted
I had to go back to my old exercise bike (not dual action) when my real bike was stolen, and I found that I liked it. With our hurricane seasons and tropical rains, it’s nice to have it at home.
I love having my own home gym. The weather does not affect working out at home, and I can lose myself into the music of my own choosing. I dedicated myself to completing four 3 hour workouts per week.
You are a great inspiration, David!
Thank you Dolly, I’m just an average guy trying to help others to live healthier lives.
And doing a great job of it.