It is recommended that you spend thirty minutes on the stationary bike in order to meet the ideal cardio requirements on a daily basis. For each session you have the option of adjusting the tension settings. These settings are similar with the gears found in regular bikes and can be used to increase the level of your workout. Here's a brief overview of the things you need to look for in a cardio exercise equipment: 1. Quality - You essentially get what you pay for, that is why in making a purchase it is important to go for the quality more than anything else. You may be tempted to buy cheaper equipments but remember, most of them are mass - produced. Experts keep on reminding people that any cardio exercise would always be effective if there is enough motivation and determination to perform them. Any machine would not be useful and successful if you would not take the resolve to use it. And there is a need to use cardio exercise equipment correctly and appropriately if you intend to make the use out of it. Cardio exercise equipment makes it possible to engage in a workout even when living in a controlled space, like your home. Since cardiovascular exercises aim to increase heart rate using large muscles, it is common to use leg muscles like in walking and running. To make the whole body moving, leg and arm movements are incorporated in the workout regime. Now that you have a clearer physiological picture, let s go to the factors that may affect your choice of cardio equipment. You have to build a certain liking for the machine. You won t be productive if you re not enjoying the company of the contraption. At this point your efforts are useless and you don t get maximum benefits. Eventually, small problems would lead to major equipment failure. Maintenance is not that hard, it just a matter of allotting time in cleaning and protecting them against the elements. Some people think that just because their equipment is working properly, it would last like that for a long time. On the outside it may look fine, but the interior of the machine may be starting to have small problems.