Buy an Exercise Bike or Ergometer for Home
An ergometer, also known in Switzerland as a home trainer, exercise bike or indoor bike, brings cycling training straight to your home, independent of the weather, plannable and as often as you like. Whether you want to lose weight, boost your fitness, train in a joint-friendly way or get back in shape after an injury: an exercise bike or ergometer is one of the simplest and most effective fitness machines for the home. At isports you will find a large selection of exercise bikes, ergometers and indoor bikes from brands such as Tunturi, Reebok, adidas and Hyrox, plus personal advice in our showroom in Aargau.
Exercise bike, home trainer or ergometer: what is the difference?
The terms exercise bike, home trainer and ergometer usually mean the same thing: a stationary bike for training at home. There is a difference nonetheless. An ergometer measures and controls your output precisely, it shows the power in watts, has heart-rate sensors and adjusts the resistance exactly to your training. A classic exercise bike or home trainer has a simpler design, works with preset resistance levels and is ideal for beginners who want to train without any fuss. For targeted, data-based training, choose an ergometer; for solid basic training, an exercise bike is enough.
Exercise bikes and ergometers: the different types
Depending on the seating position and training goal, there are different designs. This way you will quickly find the right bike:
- Upright ergometer: The classic with an upright seating position, ideal for efficient cardio training with precise power control in watts.
- Exercise bike: Beginner-friendly bikes, also called upright exercise bikes, with simple operation and an easy start into cardio training.
- Recumbent ergometer: With a backrest and low step-through, particularly back- and joint-friendly, very popular in rehab and with seniors.
- Sprinter bikes: Indoor bikes with a heavy flywheel and a sporty position for intense interval and endurance training.
- Air bikes: An air bike generates resistance through a large fan wheel.
The cross trainer as an alternative to the ergometer
If you want to challenge your whole body instead of just your legs, the cross trainer offers a joint-friendly alternative with a full-body effect. Which machine suits your goals better is explained in detail in our guide Cross Trainer vs. Ergometer: Which Machine Is Better?
What to look for when buying
So that your new ergometer or exercise bike brings lasting enjoyment, it is worth looking at a few points:
- Braking system: A magnetic, induction or EMS system runs quietly, precisely and with little maintenance, ideal for the home.
- Flywheel mass: From about 6 kg the movement runs smoothly and evenly, especially during intense sessions. Power and programmes: Good ergometers offer 300 to 400 watts, many resistance levels and training programmes for variety.
- Heart rate and apps: Heart-rate-controlled programmes keep you in the optimal zone, and via Bluetooth you connect apps such as Zwift, Kinomap or Tunturi Routes.
- Comfort and access: A low step-through and an adjustable seat are especially important for seniors and rehab.
- Space and weight: Pay attention to the footprint, foldable models and the maximum user weight.
Healthy training: the benefits of exercise bikes and ergometers
Cycling while seated is one of the healthiest forms of endurance training there is, no matter how fit, how heavy or how old you are. The training strengthens the heart and circulation, burns calories and supports weight loss, which works best in combination with a balanced diet and a healthy body weight. At the same time it strengthens the leg and glute muscles and improves your fitness. Because the joints are barely stressed, ergometers and exercise bikes are ideal for beginners and for rehabilitation.
Exercise bikes for seniors: safe and joint-friendly training in later life
For older people in particular, an exercise bike or ergometer is one of the best forms of training. Cycling while seated is joint-friendly, the intensity can be finely adjusted, and regular training strengthens the muscles, the cardiovascular system and the sense of balance. How important regular exercise and targeted fall-prevention training are in later life is also emphasised by specialist organisations such as Pro Senectute. For an ergometer to really suit seniors, look for a low step-through, an ergonomic and adjustable seat, non-slip pedals, a stable frame and a large, easy-to-read display. If you want to relieve your back and joints as much as possible, a recumbent ergometer with a backrest is the best choice. Which models are particularly suitable and what matters when training in later life, you will find in our guide Exercise Bikes for Seniors: Safe and Joint-Friendly Training.
Exercise bikes and ergometers from top brands
At isports you rely on proven quality. Tunturi offers the broadest range, from entry-level exercise bikes to the Platinum professional line, while Reebok and adidas impress with stylish, app-enabled models. For intense indoor cycling, sprinter bikes and air bikes from Hyrox round off the selection.
Buy exercise bikes and ergometers at isports
In our showroom in Lupfig you can test-ride exercise bikes, home trainers and ergometers at your leisure and get personal advice. All machines, as well as a large selection of spare parts, are available directly from stock and reach you quickly at home.
Frequently asked questions about exercise bikes and ergometers
What is an ergometer?
An ergometer is a fitness machine for home use that resembles a bike and measures your training output precisely in watts. Via heart-rate sensors and programmes, the resistance can be controlled exactly, ideal for targeted cardio training.
What is a home trainer?
"Home trainer" is the common Swiss term for a stationary bike for training at home. The terms home trainer, exercise bike and ergometer are mostly used synonymously and refer to the same machine.
What is the difference between an exercise bike and an ergometer?
An ergometer shows the output in watts and controls the resistance based on heart rate. A classic exercise bike works more simply with fixed resistance levels. Colloquially, however, many people also mean an ergometer when they say exercise bike or home trainer.
How much does a good exercise bike or ergometer cost?
Solid entry-level models are available from around CHF 550. For a good mid-range machine, expect CHF 800 to 1'500; professional ergometers start at about CHF 1'500 and go up to over CHF 3'000.
Which exercise bike is suitable for seniors?
Recommended are models with a low step-through, an adjustable seat and a quiet run. Particularly joint- and back-friendly is a recumbent ergometer with a backrest.
How many watts should an ergometer have?
For effective home training, 300 to 400 watts of resistance are more than enough. More important than the maximum output are fine gradation, a quiet run and heart-rate-controlled programmes.