You’re in your most-flattering gym outfit, standing between two pieces of workout machines and wondering: Which is better, the exercise bike or the elliptical?
The answer may not be as simple as you think, as they’re both great options when you’re trying to boost your endurance or lose weight. Settling on which is better is more of a personal preference, which is why this article is here to break down their pros and cons so that you can choose your favorite.
We’ll also go over which muscles are trained using each piece of equipment and much more.
Let’s dive in!
Exercise Bike vs. Elliptical: Pros and Cons
First, let’s address the advantages and disadvantages of training on the exercise bike and elliptical, shall we?
Exercise Bike
Here’s everything we like about the stationary bike:
- It offers a low-impact workout (because you’re sitting) that lifts a lot of strain off your ankles, knees, and hips.
- Many stationary bikes have several built-in fitness programs that give you multiple opportunities for interval training without leaving your spot.
- Stationary bikes give you a more focused workout for the lower part of your body.
- You can increase resistance on an exercise bike to push yourself further during working out.
- Exercise bikes tend to be more affordable than other workout machines.
- People with all fitness levels can easily use exercise bikes because they’re low-risk workout machines (as long as they maintain good form).
Since there are numerous advantages of stationary bikes, we dedicated a full article about the benefits of stationary bikes.
When compared to the elliptical, an exercise bike has the following drawbacks:
- It doesn’t provide a workout for the entire body.
- It burns fewer calories (260 calories in 30 minutes at a moderate pace for someone who weighs 155 pounds).
- An exercise bike may cause injuries and low-back pain if the rider’s posture isn’t correct.
Elliptical
Elliptical machines come with their fair share of plus points, including:
- They promise a total, full-body workout because you’re in an upright position and exercising both your arms and legs.
- Elliptical machines burn more calories (324 calories in 30 minutes for someone who weighs 155 pounds).
- They offer a great low-impact cardio workout for people with knee or ankle pain because they don’t put the same stress on the joints as actual running.
- They allow you to change resistance and stride length to challenge yourself and increase your exercise intensity.
While few, elliptical workout machines still have some downsides to consider before trying (or buying) one:
- You need a while to get used to how you should move on an elliptical trainer, which is a bit like gliding.
- For some people, the elliptical doesn’t line up right with their body height, which can cause their bodies to twist.
- Elliptical trainers are generally more expensive than bikes.
Exercise Bike vs. Elliptical: Muscles Trained
Another way you can determine whether to use the exercise bike or elliptical is to have a better idea of which muscles they train. This way, you’ll know which one to go for if you want to focus on a certain area of your body.
Muscles Trained with the Exercise Bike
- Quadriceps
- Calves
- Hamstrings
- Glutes
- Core and back
- Shoulders, biceps, and triceps (if you’re using an exercise bike with handles)
Muscles Trained with the Elliptical
- Quadriceps
- Hamstrings
- Glutes
- Calves
- Hip flexors
- Shoulders
- Chest, back, and core
- Biceps and triceps
As you can see, using the elliptical allows you to exercise many more muscles.
Exercise Bike vs. Elliptical: Which One Is Better for Endurance Workout?
When it comes to building endurance and stamina, you’ll find out that both the exercise bike and elliptical do a wonderful job in this regard.
The elliptical offers you an incredible aerobic workout that strengthens your lungs and heart along with your muscles. That, in turn, improves your endurance, especially when you make use of different pre-programmed workouts or increase the resistance over time.
The same goes for stationary bikes, which you can use to boost your stamina by hiking up the resistance and spending a longer time pedaling.
Exercise Bike vs. Elliptical: Which One Is Better for Weight Loss Workout?
Again, both exercise machines are the perfect candidates to use if you wish to lose weight because they burn a lot of calories.
While the elliptical slightly beats the bike in this regard, you can reach even higher results with a bike if you increase the intensity of your workout. Just quicken your pace on the bike, or choose a higher resistance setting to burn more fat!
If you are looking for advice on how to lose weight with a stationary bike, follow our guide: How to lose weight on a stationary bike?
Exercise Bike vs. Elliptical: Which One Is Better for Seniors?
The bike is the better option for seniors as some people may already have problems with their leg or hip muscles. Unlike an exercise bike, the elliptical requires you to be standing up at all times, which may be painful to some seniors as it puts more pressure on their knees and feet.
Plus, the movement on the elliptical isn’t as natural as pedaling on a stationary bike. This gliding motion may be hard for some elderly people to replicate, which may result in injuries.
Experts even recommend cycling as a great workout for seniors because it improves balance, helps with their motor skills, and doesn’t put pressure on the joints. It’s also almost risk-free, not to mention that it reduces the chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
The Bottom Line
So, which is better, the exercise bike or the elliptical?
Hopefully, after reading our brief yet informative guide, you’ll know the answer to your question based on your body’s needs and your personal preferences.
To sum it up, both machines are awesome for boosting your stamina, staying in shape, and shedding a few stubborn pounds.
However, the exercise bike is a bit easier to use, not to mention that it’s safer for seniors. In addition, it helps you focus on your lower body muscles.
On the other hand, the elliptical is the more suitable choice if you want to engage both your lower and upper body muscles. We also like that it burns more calories!