As we get on in age, we become less physically able. Still, it's important to be agile, and for this, exercising is imperative. To continue to be able to manage our physical functions and prevent us from being physically injured or declining cognitively, we need to remain fit and healthy.
For this, we need to invest in just one piece of home exercise equipment, of which the best is an recumbent bike for seniors.
Yes, the recumbent bike is a better option for seniors in comparison to conventional exercise bikes with an upright seat arrangement. There are some definite real-life conveniences. Although the comfort level is a variable issue and there are several benefits that seniors can reap in the long- and short-run by using a recumbent exercise bike regularly.
However, the market is rife with exercise bikes, so choosing the best recumbent bike for seniors is a sensitive task.
Exerpeutic 400XL
Marcy ME-709
Schwinn 230
Our 3 Best Recumbent Bike for Seniors Reviews 2020
The senior's recumbent exercise bike reviews presented here are guidelines for you to choose a good one for yourself. Now that you know what features to look out for in a recumbent exercise bike let's take a look at three typical exercise bikes for seniors.
1. Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike
Hand pulse sensors on the handle bars for targeting your heart rate zone.
There are many good reasons why seniors should opt for the Exerpeutic bike. For instance, take the fact that it’s a foldable recumbent exercise bike. This is a big advantage for seniors who can easily and quickly fold the bike and put it out of their way so that they can use clear space to walk.
Then, it also has enhanced ergonomics and is highly space-efficient. It is designed to be so robust that it can easily take the rigors of an intense workout. It has all the virtues of being a top-rated exercise bike: comfortable semi-recumbent, affordable and adjustable to various heights.
Features
Concluding Remarks
While you can use this senior's bike for a good exercise workout and can actually lose weight too, it can’t give you an intense workout like a spin bike or fan bike can. Still, it is highly dependable for low impact cardio exercises that you can do comfortably in the privacy of your home.
2. Marcy ME-709 Recumbent Bike
Easy to read computer screen displays speed, distance, time and calories burned
Along the lines of the Exerpeutic bike comes the Marcy ME-709 with similar features that would benefit seniors. A large and comfortable seat and backrest that gives adequate support are top benefits here. Overweight seniors will find this beneficial as this is the best exercise bike to lose weight.
This recumbent exercise bike for seniors is best described as being comfortable, simple, compact and quiet. It balances its simplicity by offering a huge range of amazing benefits that you would normally get from larger models and expensive ones too.
Features
Concluding Remarks
As a senior, if you’re on the lookout for a decently made, affordable bike, you’ll be very happy to own a Marcy ME 709. It is made for light cardio workouts, building strength and stamina and can help you recover from injuries. These virtues make it the bike of choice for seniors.
3. Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
MP3 input to listen to your favorite playlist through in-console speakers
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike is another best exercise equipment for seniors. It offers all features and conveniences that a premium model would have and more. This is a good option for seniors, since it offers 20 resistance levels, making it perfect for all skill levels.
Excellent in the mid-range of exercise bikes, it has it all to help with body toning and loss weight and enhancing comfort. It also has a vast range of useful features which aid the user to have a workout that will help him reach his workout goals.
Features
Things That Seniors Should Consider Before Buying Recumbent Bike
There are several designs and types of best recumbent bike for seniors today, some suitable to your needs, others not.
Before buying a recumbent bike for the use of a senior, you should do your homework for finding the best product. Your research should count a few parameters, which can help you to assess the utility and comfort of the bike your will shortlist finally.
We have created a checklist here for making your best recumbent bike for seniors 2020 shopping a bit easier and prolific in terms of ROI.
Comfort
To ride an exercise bike for about 20-30 minutes a day, you need to be comfortably seated. Since there are several different kinds of bike models these days, they come in different shapes, and this influences the seat design.
Unless the senior user will feel required comfort while using the recumbent bike, exercising on the model can be distracting for him/her.
However, you should lay special attention for the adjustable seat and the backrest, the flywheel, and ability to adjusting the height, handle and added features of enjoying hands-free exercise.
Assembly
This is one more influencing factor when buying a senior's recumbent exercise bike. Whereas some bikes can easily be assembled, others are far too complex to assemble because the work is more intricate. You have to assemble the bike by yourself unless you get installer support at your place.
For seniors, the choice of exercise bike would hinge to a great extent on the easy assembly of an exercise bike. If some seniors are good with DIY installation projects, this won't pose a problem, but if not, look out for models with easy assembly, or pay for installation with your purchase.
Size
Size of the bike is a premium criteria of purchase. Here the size of the bike is not the concern but the sizes of the seat and backrest matter most. The bigger seat allows easy to seat ability and enhanced comfort to adjust while working out.
If you an overweight person and your mobility are a bit challenged due to your seniority of age, the bigger seat size and larger backrest are definitely advantageous for you. Adjustable size of leg space is an additional advantage of seniors recumbent bikes if you have longer legs.
Home Workout Space
Home workspace is a deciding factor, especially when it is about accommodating a recumbent bike in your premise. There are exercise bikes that are not space saver. Unless you live in a spacious area, it is good to buy a space saver model.
Some workout bikes come with folding option. If you have space constraint in your apartment, you may go for buying these models. These bikes are absolutely storage friendly.
If you want to place the bike in your office chamber to avoid the boredom of working in a sedentary lifestyle, mini recumbent bikes can be a good option. Similarly, if you have an exclusive workout room, you can go for a spacious bike, which you can fix permanently there.
Cost
Budget is again a deciding factor for a purchase. Your budget may not tally with other buyers, so you need to research according to your budget. You may opt for finance schemes if needed.
Always keep in mind that good bikes are not available at a cheaper price. Only you have to buy a bike with a justified price.
Go for the bikes with warranty coverage. The warranty coverage will help you to get extra protection for your purchase.
Is a Recumbent Bike Good For Seniors? (The Benefits)
let's check here some of the obvious advantages of the recumbent bike that seniors mostly like.
Improves cardiovascular health and blood circulation
As we grow older, it becomes more and more important to maintain a good cardiovascular health. This is the kind of support seniors get from riding an exercise bike. By cycling for a minimum of five minutes a day, seniors can improve their blood circulation, normalize blood sugar levels and reduce high blood pressure. With these results, seniors can keep clogged arteries and heart attacks at bay.
Low impact
With age, the joints and the overall skeleton weaken, making seniors prone to injury and falls. However, due to the high impact of certain cardio aerobic exercises, the joints could be affected, for instance, skipping or running.
For instance, if a senior takes to running for exercise, each time his foot makes an impact with the ground, it will send a shock which will travel up his skeletal framework and impact his joints and bones. On the other hand, exercising on a recumbent bike makes one’s movements smooth and fluid.
It also gets the heart to pump without putting any strain on the joints. Since stationary cycling is the least stressful of all cardio exercises, it is the preferred choice of many, including seniors. You can exercise on your cycle every day and so reduce your risk of injury since this activity lowers your mechanical stress on your knees, back, hips and ankles.
Enhanced mobility
There’s another fallout of age to consider here: body stiffness. Often, due to stiffness in the joints, movement becomes increasingly difficult in old age. This happens because as seniors, your movements aren’t as much as they used to be, and you devote less or no time to physical activities.
For this reason, exercising a little each day is critical as it renews muscles and ligaments for enhanced mobility. It does this by focusing on greater movement in the legs, which as you know, is the basis of the body.
Doctors also say that if seniors use recumbent exercise bikes, they will experience enhanced muscular flexibility and have a better range of motion. By constantly rotating the legs to move the pedals of a bike, all the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the lower body are stretched and strengthened.
This increases mobility as the body now gets accustomed to movement again, and the body becomes more flexible and stronger. Additionally, the lower back muscles are also strengthened and do away with back pain that seniors usually experience.
Upright Vs. Recumbent – Which is The Best For Seniors
Upright vs. Recumbent is a global quandary. It highly depends on the physical ability of the person doing the exercise. However, in the age of senior person, flexibility and muscle power often get compromised. In these cases, recumbent bikes are a better choice than an upright bike for a few reasons.
As it is generally assumed that senior people may have some fitness and flexibility issues, we may safely conclude that recumbent bikes are a safer option for them for exercising than the upright bike models.
A Long Wheelbase or Short Wheelbase Recumbent! Which is Better for Seniors?
Let’s take a comparative study between a long wheelbase recumbent and a short wheelbase recumbent.
Stability vs. Portability
If you are looking for more stability, then a long wheelbase is a better option in recumbent bike variety. These LW bikes are easier to ride also. Alternatively, if you are looking for enhanced maneuvering and portability, short wheelbase recumbent bikes are always one step ahead.
Front Wheel Size
Short wheelbase recumbent models often use a 16" or 17" front wheel: it helps improve the chain clearance. These small diameter tires offer reduced lifespan although, particularly when they are loaded heavily.
Long wheelbase recumbent bikes are built with 20" front wheels, which are lightly loaded, so the tires last longer. Replacement tires are mostly easily available. Some LW models are well-matched with low-rider front racks, this they work well for loaded touring.
Storage
SWB Recumbent Bicycles are less awkward to store and transport. Alternatively, LWB Recumbent bikes are bulkier, and their bigger size are responsible for making storage or their transportation more challenging.
Safety
SWB Recumbent Bikes are less prone to skidding due to a more equitable distribution of weight on the tires. Alternatively, LWB Recumbent bikes are more stable and steady than SWB recumbent bikes.
As a whole, in general, senior people mostly prefer stability, smoothness, and comfort features. Both the varieties have their individual pros and cons. Hence suitability is a variable factor here.
Conclusion
By reading these reviews and understanding your needs, you can choose a best recumbent bike for seniors and reap all stationary bike benefits related to your health and well-being.
Hope you will get benefits from the tips about the “Ultimate guide on the best recumbent exercise bike for seniors." Keep us posted if we have failed to cover any important aspect of buying the best recumbent bikes for seniors.
Resources:
https://livehealthy.chron.com/kind-exercise-bike-good-seniors-5917.html
http://www.recumbentbikes.info/faq.html
