Indoor Cycling vs. Outdoor Cycling
The classic stationary exercise bike  is not ideal when compared to a real bike. For one, it doesn't feel right; the seat is too wide to pedal smoothly and the pedals are strange feeling. Recumbent exercise bikes are perhaps even worse. While outdoor recumbents can be interesting and aerodynamic, indoors, you are simply in a reclined position that makes it harder to generate power, which in turn means it's harder to keep your heart rate elevated and get a great workout.
Instead of a recumbent or an upright model, get a spin bike. These are great because the large flywheel provides the similar feel of an outdoor bike. Don't be fooled by simple looking models. You don't need all those fancy screens like on a LifeCycle bike -- your polar heart rate monitor will work just fine.
Trainers
If you already have a bike, consider getting a bike trainer from companies such as CycleOps. These devices can be fairly inexpensive and let you ride indoors on your existing bicycle.
One spec to investigate as you look at these is the weight of the trainer's flywheel. The heavier the flywheel, the more road-like the ride will be. However, if you plan to travel to races, etc. with the trainer, you might want a light flywheel. - High end (expensive!) versions include Computrainer and Velodyne. Velodyne is great!
- Velotron is a high end, professional, indoor training bike.
If you buy a trainer, you likely also need a riser block stand for your bike's front wheel. These are often sold separately so be careful.
See Also
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