In case you haven’t noticed then winter is rapidly approaching and this typically means shorter days and longer nights and infinitely colder temperatures.  For most of us this means our outdoor activities are about to decrease rapidly and so might our level of exercise.  Some people look to a gym to exercise during the winter while others prefer to find something they can do at their own home.  A bike trainer is one alternative to a treadmill that will allow you to get a lot of exercise without leaving the comfort of your living room if you don’t want to do so.

What bike trainers do is provide you a platform to mount your own bicycle into and pedal against a resistance wheel that you can tailor to your fitness level and desired workload.  There are many different kinds of bike trainers  but this is pretty typical of what you can expect.  Their are several pros and cons to an indoor bike trainer but that is true of any piece of exercise equipment.  First let’s talk about the pros.

Advantages:

• Excellent Workout – a good indoor bike trainer can work you out just as hard as riding outdoors.  In fact, you will be the limiting factor in most cases.
• Portability – If you travel you can take your bike trainer with you wherever you go.
• Cost – Prices range from about $100 dollars up to about $400 dollars for typical examples but you can spend more, much more if you have the need or the desire.

Cons:

• Noise – Indoor bike trainers can be very noisy depending on which model you purchase.  If you are living in a condo or an apartment then this can be a big deal with your neighbors.
• Painfully Dull – I think I would rather have a root canal than ride an indoor bike trainer but these are a necessary evil if you are a cyclist and want to retain your fitness over the winter.  You can use video tapes that are especially made for trainers to keep you interested as  possible.

There are probably more but this covers the main pros and cons of bike trainers.  If you plan to purchase one then you can find all kinds of bike trainer reviews online to see what you are getting before you purchase.