3 Equipment Your Gym Clients Can Use With A Recumbent Cycle

Creative ways to help your fitness center customers get more out of their riding session

If your fitness center has recumbent bikes, then they must be one of the most popular pieces of equipment. One of the biggest benefits of training on these cycles is that you do not need to use your hands. These machines do have handlebars or grips at the side but you do not need to necessarily hold them while riding. The reclining seat and the pedals positioned in the front allow users to cycle easily without gripping a bar for support. This opens up numerous possibilities regarding what your customers can do while working out on the bike. Some people like to read while others watch television during their exercise sessions.

However, it will be better if you could help your clients maximize their cycling benefits by using one other gym equipment during the workout. Here are 3 easily available pieces of fitness equipment that they can pair with your stationary bike to get more out of their workouts.

1. Dumbbells

Dumbbells are used for weight training. Whether used individually or in pairs, they boost muscle growth besides improving muscle flexibility and force. They can be used for doing bicep curls while riding. Ask users to hold one in each hand with their arms hanging at the sides. Tell them to bend the arms at the elbows to move the weights up to their shoulders. Make sure that their upper arms do not move and the biceps get a thorough workout.

Your clients can also do shoulder presses with dumbbells while riding an exercise bike. They can raise their arms while holding the weights and bend the elbows at 90 degrees. Ask them to push the weights upwards to raise the arms completely and slowly lower them down to the original position.

2. Medicine Balls

Did you know that you can ask your customers to do ab twists with medicine balls while riding a recumbent cycle? Holding one with both hands in front of them, they should sit up a bit while tightening the abdominal muscles. Tell them to rotate the upper body to bring the ball to their left side while pedaling. Then they should bring the ball to the center position and twist the body to move it to the right side. They can extend their arms as much as they feel comfortable with.

3. Exercise Bands

Take an exercise band and loop it around the post of your cycle. Loop it so that you have to reach a bit forward to grip the ends. Now ask clients to tuck their elbows tight by the side and pull the exercise band towards themselves. Ask them to try to squeeze their shoulder blades together while doing this rowing action.

Another workout they can do while riding is back-flies. They can pull the band by holding its ends in each hand and open their arms completely out to the sides. They must squeeze their shoulder blades and prevent the lower back from arching by leveraging the abdominal muscles.

Final Word

Remember to keep the comfort of your fitness room’s patrons in mind while suggesting these creative recumbent bike training ideas. Make sure that they do not have a physical condition or injury that will be aggravated by the new exercise routine. Always make an experienced trainer demonstrate the training method to interested users before asking them to do it. Taking all the necessary precautions will ensure that your gym clients will extract more fitness benefits from their stationary biking sessions.

Manufacturers who provide commercial fitness equipment in Canada.