Treadmill vs Bike (Everything You Need to Know!)

Treadmills and exercise bikes are very popular exercise equipment that you can use in your home and the gym. They’re both effective in providing a great cardiovascular workout and different levels of resistance to help you progress in your training. However, each has its own benefits and drawbacks, so you’ll find some significant differences in the treadmill vs bike comparison.

These two machines are excellent in aerobic workouts, low-impact exercise, and high-intensity interval workouts. They both help you to improve your fitness and in achieving your weight loss goals. So which is the best between the two? Getting a good exercise machine is a huge investment so you need the correct information to help you make the right decision on which machine will be best suited for your home use.

Treadmill vs bike: What makes them different?

Calories burn

If you desire to lose weight, you can get results from both machines, however, the treadmill will give you better results. To lose your body weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume, so any exercise that helps you burn more calories will help you in your weight loss journey. On the treadmill, you can do a brisk paced run on a higher incline so you burn more calories than you would be cycling.

In an hour, you can burn 600-700 calories and this creates the deficit you need for fat loss. On the other hand, if you’re on a bike and going at an intense rate, you can burn about 400 calories in an hour. So cycling doesn’t burn as many calories as you would when running or brisk walking on the treadmill.

Machine durability

When you’re investing in a machine, you want a machine that will last, and between the treadmill and bike, the treadmill is more likely to break down frequently. This is because it has more parts and mechanisms like the motor can break down and a belt can get worn out, or mechanisms can fail. With the bike, you don’t have faulty parts to worry about.

Ease of use

These two machines need natural movement patterns you do every day. The treadmill may take a bit of getting used to before you get the feel of the belt moving beneath you, but for the bike, all you need to do is just hop on and go. So both are user-friendly.

Ability to gain strength

When it comes to your ability to gain strength, the bike has a better chance. The only way you can add resistance on a treadmill is by increasing the incline and even then, you won’t get enough resistance needed. The only you can build muscle using a treadmill is by incorporating sprint training with intense exercises where you utilize your fast-twitch muscle fibers. This way you increase muscle-building hormones in your body which will give you a chiseled body. To get high amounts of muscle mass, you also need to do some weight lifting. With cycling, you work against resistance with every rep you take which helps to build your strength level, but only in your lower body. You need to look for exercises that will build your upper body strength.

Cost

If you’re working with a budget, this is a point to consider. When it comes to cost, the treadmill is more costly. You can get a more expensive bike than a lower quality treadmill and when you compare the quality, you will find the treadmill is more expensive. So if you’re looking for fitness that is cheap, the bike is the best option.

Treadmill vs bike review

Treadmill

This is a popular home or gym stationary exercise or cardio equipment that you can use to walk, jog, or run indoors. It features adjustable speeds and different inclines to help with your workouts so you can simulate a hill incline with the push of a button. A commercial treadmill can reach speeds of 12 mph and reach an incline of 10% or higher.

A treadmill is a good choice if you’re starting a new workout routine because walking is an exercise that most people can tolerate regardless of your fitness level and even if you have back problems. Home models vary according to price with lighter manual treadmills being less expensive than its heavier, motorized version. You can use the treadmill if you want to run but can’t go outside because of the weather, too hot or cold, traffic, or bad air quality. This machine will help you to simulate various racecourses to help you train.

Pros

• The treadmill has a steady surface that you can easily negotiate instead of the trails, curbs, or sidewalks that can cause you to slip or trip.
• You get a full-body workout when running and has shown to help in developing your abdominal and back muscles so you’re more sable when on the treadmill.
• You can burn around 600-1200 calories per hour instead of 500-1000 calories on the bike because you’re fighting more gravity when on the treadmill than hen seated cycling.
• A healthy treadmill regime can help in reducing your chances of getting diabetes and other heart diseases.
• Using a treadmill is a very functional way of working out because you use your muscles in the same specific way you would when walking or running.
• You can easily control your warm-up period, speed, incline, energy spent, and cool-down period.

Cons

• You can only use the treadmill for walking, jogging, or running, which can get boring after some time.
• The programs, motors, and maintenance are all computerized, so you need to know what you’re supposed to do.
• Treadmills can take up a lot of space because they don’t fold, and especially if it’s sophisticated.
• Treadmills are very expensive.

Bike

A stationary bike is also a piece of cardiovascular equipment that can provide you with low-impact aerobic exercise that helps to tone and strengthen your butt and leg muscles. Exercise bikes are known for their popularity and durability and are offered in many gyms for low impact forms of exercising. Some bikes are used in indoor cycling classes which helps you to mimic the outdoor cycling in the comfort of your home.

Other bikes not only keep track of your speed and distance covered, but they also count calories burnt, measure your heart rate, and even change and manage your exercise pace. Others also help you to keep an online record of your exercise sessions. There are 2 types of bikes; the upright bike that you can ride standing or in a racing position so you exercise more muscle groups, and the recumbent bike that has a backrest for additional balance which is good if you have low back pain.

Pros

• You can adjust the resistance of the wheel so that you pedal harder and this helps to improve the strength in your lower body and legs.
• It helps you to burn more calories. Depending on your body weight and workout intensity, you can burn around 40-80 calories in just 10 minutes which makes it a great way of shedding weight in your lower body.
• It requires very little maintenance, just cleaning the chain and oiling.
• Cycling gets your heart rate up without putting a strain on your joints like your back, hips, knees, and ankles than walking, jogging, or running.
• It’s very convenient in that you can use it anywhere and at any time, it doesn’t matter if it’s hot, cold, rainy, snowy, muddy, or cold. You can exercise in your home, office, or bedroom so you can workout at any time and you can even watch your favorite program.
• A great cardio exercise that helps to lower your blood pressure, regulate your blood sugar, and reduce heart attacks. Regular use of at least 30 minutes a day every week, will help improve your respiratory system.
• Bike riding is said to boost your energy levels by 20% and reduce fatigue by 65%.

Cons

• Bikes are more focused on exercising your legs, so you also need to include upper body exercises to balance out your workout.
• You need to keep an eye on your body posture and keep your back and pelvic aligned because you tend to overextend your back when riding in high intensity.

Conclusion

Treadmills and stationary bikes are some of the home exercise equipment that you can use to help improve your cardiovascular health and give you both physical and mental benefits. You can invest in a treadmill if you want to effectively lose weight because it will help you burn more calories than the bike. On the other hand, if you don’t want to put undue pressure on your spine or you’re susceptible to injury, the bike is your best option. Stationary bikes are cheaper compared to treadmills and you can easily store them.

This treadmill vs bike article has shown you that both machines are effective in maintaining a good fitness routine, but it all depends on your goals, and what you’re willing to invest in.