There is no doubt that cycling has become a lot more popular in the UK in the 21st century. Whether it is because of the construction of velodromes like those in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, or the unprecedented success of British cyclists in Olympic games or the Tour de France.

For some, the joys of cycling do not extend as far as competition cycling, but are a great way to keep fit and, in some cases, offer a means of commuting to work without the cost, carbon footprint, or hold-ups in traffic jams.

For all that, exercise bikes were popular long before the real thing came to be seen as a popular sport or an eco-friendly way of getting from A to B. Indeed, there are still many great reasons for getting an assault bike today.

The Chief Benefits Of An Exercise Bike

The most obvious of these is that using one will get you generally fit. It has been calculated that for someone who weighs 150 pounds, half an hour of moderate pedalling will burn off 170 calories.

While this may be a precise measurement, it is a simple fact that any meaningful amount of time spent pedalling on a bike - whether an exercise bike at home or on wheels outdoors - will burn some calories off.

In addition, by burning off all those calories you will be speeding up your heart rate and thus enjoying great cardiovascular benefits. This will ensure your heart health is enhanced. At the same time, your blood pressure and cholesterol can be lowered too as you get fitter.

However, these are general benefits that can come from various forms of exercise. Cycling does, however, bring some specific benefits, not least for your leg and hip muscles that are so active doing all that riding.

Your Knees Will Thank You For This

It can particularly have benefits for your knees. If these have been troubling you, having more muscle strength and bulk on your thighs just above the knee will provide extra support for them. It also helps the knees by being low impact (in contrast with running) and does not bear any weight or hyperextend the knee.

Apart from all this, the fact you are losing weight through cycling will help reduce the amount of weight your knee has to bear when you are walking.

Of course, these benefits can be gained from an exercise bike or road cycling alike (mountain biking is another matter as it does have impacts). But at this time of year, the benefits of having an indoor exercise bike are the most apparent.

True, a dedicated cyclist will not be put off riding by a bit of cold weather or some rain. But the winter months can be a lot worse than that, as the recent exceptional cold snap has shown.

When roads are covered in snow and ice, or covered in water due to flooding, no bike is going to make it through. It won’t just impede the rider’s progress, it will be downright dangerous to even try.

Moreover, even if the weather on an autumn or winter night is mild, the simple fact is that the nights are so long and dark that riders on the road are at greater risk of accidents, even with lights and reflective gear.

Explaining A Statistical Paradox

All these are good reasons to stay indoors and hit the exercise bike. Indeed, there may be very good evidence that even the most dedicated riders will do just this, as the National Travel Survey has shown that, paradoxically, the time of year when cycling accidents are most common is in summer, while January and December have the lowest accident rates.

This may be explained by the fact that far more people will be out riding on a pleasant, light evening than on a cold and dark winter night. But it is also a reminder that even in more benign weather, there is still a risk, not least as some of those who ride more in summer will do so as part of a commute and could encounter heavy rush hour traffic.

Using an exercise bike at home won’t help you commute as an alternative to cars, buses, or trains, but it does provide a great method of getting generally fit and helping to build up some specific muscles, especially when the weather means you won’t be venturing outdoors.

Moreover, there is nothing to stop you from having both an exercise bike at home and a real two-wheeled version at the same time, so you can ride outside when conditions or circumstances suit, while still being able to gain all the benefits of pedal power on a cold night in January or February.