The appeal of an exercise bike is clear. With it, one can exercise in his or her own living room anytime they wish. No matter what the weather is like outside, you can still enjoy all of the health benefits an exercise bike can offer. Regular exercise on a bike will improve your cardiovascular health, your endurance, and strengthen and tone your muscles. Plus, using it burns calories faster than walking on a treadmill.

It would truly be a shame if one day, during an intense workout, a resistance band snapped leaving that expensive exercise bike all but useless. The importance of proper maintenance for your exercise bike becomes apparent. It only takes a couple of minutes to thoroughly inspect your bike and you don't even need to be mechanically-inclined to save yourself from the frustration that comes with a broken exercise bike.

The maintenance of your bike is more or less the same no matter what kind of bike you own. The mechanisms for an upright bike (the kind that most resembles a real bicycle) are essentially the same as a recumbent bike (the kind that's lower to the ground and has a bucket seat). The only difference is in the layout of the mechanisms.

A great preventative measure that should be taken to protect your investment is the proper storage of the bike. An ideal storage location is one that's relatively free of excess moisture and dust. Because of the sophisticated computers and heart-rate sensors, a clean and dry storage area is essential.

Wear and tear is normal for a well used bike, but to prevent unnecessary damage, you should oil all moving parts that are not too close to computers or sensors. Also, be certain to check all nuts and bolts for looseness. Just one loose bolt is enough to seriously damage your bike and potentially yourself, so make a weekly habit of checking for loose hardware. If you should discover a frayed cable or strap or an otherwise damaged part of the bike during your inspection, it would be wise to discontinue using the machine until you can repair or replace the part. Consult your exercise bikes' owners manual to find the manufacturers parts list and order form should a part need to be replaced.

While most exercise bike manufacturers offer some sort of warranty for wear and tear, it's easy to avoid unnecessary downtime by employing the preventative measures presented above and in your owner's manual. If you always remember to treat your product with care and common sense, it will give you years of reliable performance.

Summary:

Wouldn't it be a shame if one day, during a workout, a resistance band snapped leaving your exercise bike utterly useless? Find out how to avoid that frustration now.