Comparison Spirit Fitness SU139 vs Hop-Sport HS-2080 Spark

The maximum user weight for which the exercise bike is designed, in other words, the maximum weight of the athlete, at which the unit is guaranteed to work for the amount of time stated in the characteristics without the risk of breakage. This parameter should be adhered to as accurately as possible, do not be mistaken about the fact that 3-5 kg over the calculated weight will not affect the device. Yes, most likely, the exercise bike will be able to work for some time, but it will experience loads exceeding the calculated ones, and at best it will fail earlier than expected, and at worst it may break at the most unfortunate moment, which is fraught with injuries. In addition, this case is usually not covered by the manufacturer's warranty, and you will have to eliminate the consequences at your own expense.

The design of a system that creates resistance on the flywheel of an exercise bike and the corresponding load during training. The following options are currently in use:

— Mechanical. The operation of this system is similar to the brakes of a car: special brake pads are pressed against the flywheel, and by changing the force of pressing, the resistance to movement also changes. The advantages of mechanical load systems are simplicity and low cost, reliability, the ability to create high resistance for large loads, as well as autonomy — they do not require power, and the design can be done with a small battery for auxiliary electronics (see "Power source"). On the other hand, the pads, due to friction against the flywheel, create a certain noise, which can lead to inconvenience; they also wear out over time. The mechanical system is used mainly in inexpensive models of exercise bikes.

— Magnetic. In systems of this type, the resistance changes due to permanent magnets: bringing them closer to the flywheel or moving away from it, you can change the load during movement. Magnetic systems predominantly do not require a power source; at the same time, they provide smoother adjustment and practically do not create noise. At the same time, this variety is poorly suited for training professionals — it is not capable of creating a serious load (although it is usually quite enough for domestic...use).

— Electromagnetic. This type of system is considered the most advanced. The principle of their operation is similar to magnetic ones (see above). However, instead of permanent magnets, stationary electromagnets are used in this case. The load, on the other hand, changes due to a change in the strength of the current passing through the windings of the electromagnets: the stronger the current, the stronger the magnetic field and, accordingly, the higher the resistance to movement. Thanks to this, electromagnetic models can provide very high load levels, while maintaining one of the main advantages of classical magnetic systems — complete noiselessness. The main disadvantage is the need for a power supply, which is provided either by connecting to the mains or by installing a built-in generator (see "Power source"). These exercise bikes are quite expensive.

The weight of the flywheel installed in the exercise bike — a massive wheel, the rotation of which provides the movement of the pedals and creates a load on them. It is believed that the more weight, the better: a massive flywheel provides smooth movement and creates uniform loads that mimic natural ones as much as possible. This will be especially useful for athletes with a large body weight — from 100 kg and above — especially when working on vertical machines (see "Type"). At the same time, the cost of the entire device directly depends on the weight of the flywheel, and for home non-professional use it is not always justified to look for an exercise bike with a very heavy wheel.

The number of fixed load levels (pedal resistance during movement) provided in the design of the exercise bike. The more such levels provided in the design, the wider the possibilities for adjusting the load and the more accurately it can be adjusted to the requirements of a particular user. At the same time, the abundance of adjustments accordingly affects the price.

Handlebar adjustment usually implies the possibility of changing the angle of its inclination and, accordingly, the distance between the handlebars and the seat. Thus, each athlete can set the distance that is most convenient for him to avoid unnecessary stress on his arms and back.

The presence of height-adjustable legs-stands in the design of the exercise bike. Each of these legs is independently adjustable. This allows you to compensate for uneven floors and stably install the device in a horizontal position.

The number of training programmes provided in the design of the exercise bike. Different programmes have different purposes — strengthening the cardiovascular system, maintaining physical fitness, burning fat, etc. At the same time, the operation of the programme relieves you of the need to manually set and change the parameters — this is what the exercise bike does. Accordingly, the more training programmes a particular model has, the wider its capabilities and the more convenient the training. And in some cases, it may even provide the possibility of custom programmes .

Information that the machine can display during workouts.

— Training time. The display of training time can include both a total time counter and specialized functions — for example, the time spent in the “target zone” (working at a certain heart rate that is optimal for a particular mode), the total training time per day/week/month, etc. Specific features differ from model to model.

— Distance. The distance that the user travelled during the workout. By default, this feature displays the distance since the machine was turned on, but some models may have more advanced features, such as summing distances over a certain period.

— Speed. Displays the user's movement speed (that is, the speed at which the user would move on a real bike at the current pedalling speed). Usually, a function is provided to display the current speed. However, some models can also calculate the average speed for passing the distance.

— Revolutions per minute. The bike displays the actual pedalling rhythm on the screen. Speed information is extremely important in evaluating the effectiveness of a workout. So, revolutions per minute are taken into account when calculating the distance travelled, and based on this indicator, calories burned are also calculated.

— Heart rate. The...ability to measure the user's heart rate during training. This parameter is one of the most important, for different training goals (burning fat, maintaining muscle tone, strengthening the cardiovascular system), the optimal heart rate will be different. It also depends on several other parameters: gender, age, physique, physiological characteristics, etc. Exceeding the maximum allowable heart rate is fraught with unpleasant health consequences. You can learn more about this in the specialized literature, and best of all, consult a trainer or doctor. To measure the heart rate, special sensors are used, different models of bicycles can have different designs: an ear clip, a chest sensor with a belt, sensitive plates on the handlebars, etc.

— Recovery test. The exercise bike has a recovery test function. This function allows you to determine the rate of recovery of the body after physical exertion and, accordingly, its general physical condition and fitness for such loads. Usually, for this, the heart rate is measured twice — immediately after training and 1 minute later — after which the simulator gives an estimate, which is deciphered using special tables. Models with a recovery test function, by definition, can measure the heart rate(see above).

— Calorie consumption. Displays the amount of energy expended by the user during the workout. This allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of the work to a certain extent, especially if it is aimed at burning fat. Note that in most exercise bikes, the estimate of calorie consumption is made quite approximately, without taking into account the individual characteristics of the body. However, for amateur training, this accuracy is quite enough.

— Generated power. it is the amount of power that was transferred to the exercise bike during the workout. This parameter allows you to more objectively assess the energy consumption of the user and also allows you to calculate the rate of calories burned more accurately.

— Workout chart. The exercise bike displays a training programme graph on the screen, which conveniently records the load level and duration of the workout. The chart allows you to visually assess the amount of energy used, and at the same time calories burned, at various stages of the training. Additionally, this allows you to take control of the load rate. A decreasing or increasing chart will tell you when it is desirable to increase the load, and when to reduce it, to evenly distribute energy throughout the entire training programme. Some models allow you to save the results of training in a graphical form and compare the charts of past sessions with each other.

— Fat analyzer. The presence of the exercise bike has the function of measuring the amount of fat in the body (in percent). The operation of such a fat analyzer is based on the use of a weak electric current passed through the human body: different types of human tissues have different resistance, and the amount of fat can be deduced from the characteristics of the discharge. This technology is not accurate, but to a certain extent it allows you to evaluate the features of the physique; and by measuring the fat before and after a course of training, you can get a pretty clear result. The measuring current is considered harmless for healthy people. However, there are several limitations here: in particular, the fat analyzer cannot be used by pregnant women, children under 10 years old, and people with electronic pacemakers installed. Anyway, before buying an exercise bike with this function, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

— Body mass index (BMI). The automatic calculation of the body mass index allows you to adjust the training modes for each user, as well as more objectively evaluate the result of training programmes. Body mass index (BMI) is the ratio of a person's height to their weight. Calculated using the following formula: weight/height/height. Let's assume that the user weighs 70 kg and is 1.76 m tall. In this case, BMI = 70/1.76/1.76 = 22.6. The normal BMI is considered to be an index from 19 to 24. If the user's BMI is insufficient (less than 19), then the exercise bike will recommend workouts based on gaining body density and increasing muscle mass. When the MBI is excessive (over 24), the machine will recommend using a training programme to reduce fat mass.

— Basal Metabolic Rate(BMR). Ability to calculate basal metabolism — the minimum amount of energy required by the body for normal functioning (for the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems, as well as various organs). In other words, the basal metabolism rate is the amount of energy that the body spends directly on functioning, without saving it in the form of fat. This parameter is extremely important for organizing proper nutrition, especially when exercising to burn fat and reduce excess weight. There are formulas to determine BMR by weight, height, age and sex of a person. However, they allow you to get only an average result, while the exercise bike can take into account many additional factors that affect the metabolic rate. Usually, the basal metabolism rate is determined by energy spent per day.

— Room temperature. Ability to measure temperature and display it on the display of the exercise bike. This function will help you more accurately assess the conditions for training and choose the appropriate form of clothing, as well as, if necessary, take measures to ensure a comfortable temperature (open the window; turn on the air conditioner or the heater).

The above list is not complete; other types of information may be displayed on modern exercise bikes.

— Handlebar controls. The exercise bike control buttons are placed on the handles of the exercise bike. With their help, you can change the load without stopping the workout. However, the control options in each model may be different.

— Fan. The exercise bike has a fan. This feature is useful for cooling during intense workouts, especially in warm weather.

— Bottle holder. The presence of a special rack in the design of the exercise bike, on which you can put a bottle or a glass. Thus, you will always have a supply of water at hand, and to replenish its amount in the body you will not have to be distracted from the workout on the exercise bike.

— Colour display. The presence of a colour screen in the design of the simulator. This feature does not affect the main features of the device. However, such displays are considered more convenient and pleasant to view than monochromatic ones. Some models may include various additional features designed to make workouts more interesting — for example, the ability to play DVD movies or virtual workouts (see above).

— Bluetooth. The presence of a Bluetooth wireless module in the exercise bike allows the exercise bike to be synchronized with the user's smartphone, tablet or laptop/PC. Thanks to data synchronization, the use...r will be able to control the results of training in a convenient form. Additionally, Bluetooth wireless communication can be used to download new training programmes to the on-board computer of the exercise bike and synchronize with the heart rate monitor via the ANT protocol.

— Wi-Fi. The presence of a Wi-Fi wireless communication module in the design of the exercise bike. The Wi-Fi interface was originally intended for connecting to computer networks (including Internet access), but more recently it has also been used for direct connection between different devices, without using a network. The specific features implemented using this module may be different. So, some exercise bikes can interact with training programmes installed on tablets and smartphones and transmit information to such programmes about the details of the training (distance travelled, calories burned, etc.), others allow you to update the firmware or change the settings remotely, etc. .P.

— USB port. USB itself is a universal interface designed to connect external peripherals to a computer or other control device. Actually, for the same purpose it is used in modern exercise bikes; but the specific application in different models may be different. So, USB can be used to connect heart rate sensors and other specialized accessories, to play music and/or video from a USB drive, to update the firmware using the same USB drive, etc.

— TV tuner. The presence in the design of the exercise bike of a TV tuner — a device designed to receive television broadcasts. This feature is useful for those who would like to be able to watch their favourite TV programmes, series, etc. during the training: usually, models with TV tuners also have colour displays and speakers (see below), which allows you to watch the broadcast directly on the exercise bike. However, tuners can be designed for different broadcast standards; therefore, before purchasing a model with this function, it is advisable to make sure that it is compatible with local TV broadcasts.

— mini-jack 3.5 mm (Aux). The 3.5 mm mini-jack (Aux) connector is designed to connect an MP3 player or a smartphone/tablet. Thanks to this, you can get the sound signal from multimedia devices to the speakers built into the exercise bike. Some models may additionally have a mini-jack connector for connecting headphones. The sound output to the headphones will allow you to train to your favourite music without disturbing other users in the same room as you.

— Speakers. The presence in the design of the exercise bike of its speakers. They can play music, the sound of a movie playing on the display (see "Colour display"), as well as various service messages — for example, a warning about exceeding the maximum heart rate.

— Tablet stand. Allows you to securely and safely mount a tablet with almost any screen size on the exercise bike. Thanks to this, the user can enjoy watching TV shows or movies directly during training. Usually, the stand is located under the main screen of the simulator. Advanced models are often equipped with a stand with the ability to adjust the angle of the tablet.