There are many good reasons to purchase an spin bike. Like exercise bikes, spin bikes can help users achieve their fitness goals and lose weight without exposing yourself to strain on joints or injuries.

Training too hard in the beginning of your exercise program can lead to injuries and may encourage you to quit because you may feel it will be too hard and not worth the effort. By working out at a constant, regulated pace at which you cycle, spin bikes allow intensive cardio workouts while avoiding this common exercise mistake.

Small adjustments can be made as your fitness improves, which fine-tunes your training intensity with increment adjustments of speed and resistance.

Exercise whenever you want, in the comfort of your own home, at anytime of the day. You may even be able to maximise the use of your time by doing other things such as watching TV or listening to your favourite music.

Weather will not be an issue, as spin bikes are indoor exercise equipment. Feel free to cycle away in an indoor, comfortable environment whilst being able to simulate terrain challenges through adjusting the resistance to simulate steep inclines.

Although there are a number of physical variations between a spin bike and an exercise bike, the differences are subtle and will only matter to a serious cyclist.

While exercise bikes have a ‘freewheel’ that allows the rider to stop pedalling and ‘coast’, a spin bike operates with a flywheel and a direct drivetrain. As long as the wheel is spinning, the constant pedalling burns slightly more calories and improves pedalling technique. This also simulates a more realistic cycling feel as muscles are more effectively targeted during a workout.

Other than the flywheel and the drive mechanism, spin bikes allow users to mimic a more aggressive riding position such as one used on a road bike, while exercise bikes adopt a more upright seating. Therefore different postures will be the key differentiator, and will be determined by personal preference.

Three piece cranks are generally stronger than one piece cranks.

Spin bikes are designed to accurately simulate pedalling uphill with the combination of momentum and resistance. The advantages of a heavier flywheel is that it provides a more realistic feeling of travelling uphill, translating to a more intense workout. The downside is that the heavier flywheel hinders the portability of the bike.

Chain driven spin bikes may offer a truer real bike feel.

Belt driven spin bikes are generally better, creates less noise and offers a smoother and consistent workout.