Dual Action Exercise Bikes – A Whole New Way to Get in Shape

The innovative design of dual action exercise bikes offer users a whole new way to workout. If you love to pedal and watch TV, but are frustrated that you aren’t as strong as you’d like to be in your arms and back, these are the exercise machines you’ve been waiting for.

What Are They?

Dual action exercise bikes are similar to upright bikes but add a set of moving handlebars allowing the user to do arm movements while the pedaling motion works the lower body. This allows for a full body workout since the dynamic movements are working the core muscles and abs as well.

You can also lock the handles in place and out of the way for those times when you want to read or do other things while pedaling. Upright dual action bikes use fan wheels making them ideal for total body workouts; the fan wheel creates streams of cooling air that blow back on the user.

The fan wheel also provides the resistance, and it exponentially increases the wind resistance the harder you pedal and move the handles. The cost of these specialty exercise bikes range from around $89 at Costco or Wal-Mart, up to $600 for a Schwinn Airdyne.

Compare Popular Dual Action Bikes Here

What are the Best Ones Available?

Best Choice - Upright

There are a few inexpensive fan bikes available such as the Body Rider Fan Bike, but the one that is strongly recommended is the legendary chain-drive Schwinn Airdyne AD6 that sells for under $600.

That may sound like a steep price for a dual action stationary bike, but once you read the reviews on the Airdyne you will see that they literally last for 20 – 30 years with no mechanical problems. 

Best Choice - Recumbent

Actually, the upright handlebars are not the only type of dual action exercise bikes on the market. There are also hybrid recumbent bikes with rowing mechanisms such as the Stamina Conversion Recumbent Bike/Rower that offers two cardiovascular workouts in one. Rowing is a total body workout that uses all the major muscle groups in the legs, trunk, abs, arms, back, and shoulders.

It is a low-impact exercise and a real calorie-blaster. The Bike/Rower also converts to a strength training machine for biceps curls and triceps kickback, and includes a resistance cord for (light) leg presses, so you can argue that it is a 3-in-1 machine.

A Total Body Exercise

The advantages of dual action exercise bikes are that they give you both an upper and lower body workout as well as provide variety to the workout.

If your goal is weight loss, cardio conditioning, lessening arthritis pain, convenience of a home workout, a challenging and sweaty exercise, or a combination of many of those things, the total body workout provided by these bikes is ideal.

If a stationary bike is just “not quite enough,” these dual riders are an excellent alternative.