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With the opening of the holiday season most people are thinking of a few traditional things – food, celebrations, cold weather, and the coming New Year. When the holidays end, however, most people begin to consider a change of pace that often incorporates some sort of exercise to make up for any overindulgence during the early winter months.

Is there one “universal” exercise activity that can be done by people in need of post-holiday weigh loss? Actually, stationary bikes are among the most beneficial and widely used options. This is because they provide a form of exercise that is of the “low-impact” variety and because the equipment is available in such a wide range of styles.

Modern consumers can choose from designs that offer upright or recumbent positions, a range of resistance options, and even some programmable features. For instance, it is not all that unusual for a consumer to be able to choose from several recumbent stationary bikes with either manual or electronic resistance features and the availability of built-in computers that can automatically take them through a pre-programmed workout.

How do you know which bike to choose for your New Year’s program? The first thing to always consider is the safety of the equipment. Regardless of your budget and other needs, choose only from a range of stationary bikes that provide a wide base to counterbalance the weight and activity of the device. Next, the machine must have a covered flywheel. This is the area below the pedals (or in front of them in the case of a recumbent bike) which can easily snag clothing or harm those who get too close.

Once a bike’s safety is assessed, the shopper is going to have to consider the amount of space that they have for their bike. While the uprights tend to require less floor space; if mobility, back pain, or balance is an issue, the shopper should look only to the recumbent models. Of course, if a total body workout is desired, both designs will also provide users with options for arm motion while pedaling too, and this is also going to mean additional space for the full range of movement.

Once the amount of space required and the safety of the machine have been considered, the real benefits of modern stationary bikes can be enjoyed. Generally speaking, this means the amount of control that the individual can have over their workout experience. While there are some decent models that allow the individual to hop on, adjust the tension, and take a brief or lengthy “ride”, there are also many machines that allow for a pre-programmed “trip” to be input into the computer. This could mean that a rider could climb hills, maintain a certain speed, and improve their cardio fitness as the snows gently fall outside their home.

Exercise Equipment Review provides an unbiased consumer review of exercise bikes, elliptical trainers and treadmills. Author Chris Brown has been researching exercise equipment for his own home gym.