The stationary bike is a great leg builder; it will help strengthen your quadriceps muscles, the gluteus muscles, and the hamstring muscles. There are two types of stationary bikes: the upright bikes and recumbent bikes. Upright bikes simulate a regular bike; the only difference is that it will not let you go anywhere. Look for safety features - Consider buying cardio exercise equipment with safety features especially if you have kids at home. 7. Ask for family member's preference - Since you'll be setting up your cardio exercise equipment at home, some family members might also be interested in using it. Ask for the opinion of your family members for a more fun and motivating physical training. But this should not be the case since this machine is effective in cardio conditioning. It demands that you climb vertically directly opposing the force of gravity. Both your upper and lower body is active thus you heart rate spikes up in a swift manner. The machine can be very challenging especially when you increase the resistance. While some prefer this, there are others who complain of too much pressure on the groin and lower back even if these individuals have only spent a short time on the bike. This flaw of the upright model paved the way for the creation of the recumbent model. It is the common equipment for individuals plagued by lower back problems as well as chronic back pain. As mentioned, change your routine and use other machines to be able to overcome and prevent boredom. Adapt to the changes imposed. It is advisable not to do the same routines all the time. Ignore readouts. It is hard to resist the temptation of monitoring how much calories you have burned up at the end of an exercise. It proved to be a great exercise equipment for seniors and the elderly who have knee and joint problems. Rowing machines They are not that popular compared to treadmills or elliptical trainers but they provide an overall and intense cardio workout. Rowing machines would sometimes include monitors that provide you information how much calories you are burning.