Exercise Bicycle Stand
When you are riding a bicycle, do you get more exercise from sitting or standing, while peddling?
I found many of the answers interesting. The answer is not as straight forward as you would think. Standing can fatigue the legs more especially on a climb. Sounds good. Well here is the part that is a bit more complicated. When you stand, you engage more muscle groups than when you sit. What this means is that you have to work harder sitting to keep up the same heart rate compared to standing. If you ever wear a heart rate monitor while cycling, you will notice your heart rate jumps right up when you stand. I think Tyler Hamilton is quoted as he heart rate goes up 5 bpm. The reason is very simple. Smaller muscle groups engaged, means you have to work harder. What this is called is the Sports or Extertion factor. You have to search the web on the topic but you can find it.
This sports factor can mean that you are burning calories at a rate as much as 20% higher compared to the default activity of running. The harder or more effort it takes to maintain the same heart rate, the more calories burned. I mention the calorie measurement because it is a good way of measuring workload.
Now the answer assumes you are maintaining a certain heart rate. If you want to take it easy, sitting is always going to be an easier option than standing. Just not as tiring. At the end of the day, the real answer is it depends on how hard you want to work and what is it you are trying to accomplish.
Stationary Bicycle Stand
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