Whether you are young or aged, exercise must necessarily be a part of your life. For those of you who cannot leave home to work out at a gym or park, a recumbent bike is a good option.
And if you're particular about the kind of bike you'd like to ride on, look out for the best recumbent exercise bike available today and start exercising.
How recumbent bikes help?
If you have low-back problems or physically limited in using a traditional upright bike, you should go in for a recumbent bike.
This is a type of cardio equipment, built as a typical bicycle that you've probably seen at your neighborhood gym.
The way a recumbent exercise bike differs from an upright exercise bike is that in the former, you are in a reclining position, though fully.
You pedal in front of you, but in an upright bike, you are in an erect position and lack any back support.
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8 Best Recumbent Exercise Bike Reviews
We present reviews of top 8 Recumbent Bikes for you. Read these reviews and then make an informed choice.
Schwinn Connect goal tracking and data export keep you up to date on reaching your fitness goals
This iconic recumbent bike is so feature-rich and so advanced in technology that it comes as no surprise that it is highly popular and named the Best Recumbent Bike 2021. It’s suitable for anyone wanting to exercise, whether just starting out or a pro.
It is loaded with good and useful features. Take a look: it has 29 pre-set programs, connectivity through smart devices and the ability to download data concerning one's workout. But these aren't all. To know more about it, read on.
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For $549, being able to buy an exercise bike of the quality of the Schwinn 270 is more than just a steal. Best recumbent exercise bikes that cost a couple of thousand dollars don’t have as many pre-set workout programs that this one has.
So, for all that you’re getting from the Schwinn 270, consider it your good fortune to find one as good as this and go ahead and buy it.
Schwinn Connect goal tracking and data export keep you up to date on reaching your fitness goals
This best recumbent bike is one of Schwinn’s most densely-packed recumbent exercise bikes.
A mid-range model from a reputed manufacturer, it includes many of the features of its predecessor, the Schwinn 270 and is affordable too.
The seat is comfortable and the backrest vented for enhanced airflow during workouts.
It comes with 22 workout programs, apart from heart rate control, speakers, and other features. Its adjustable nature and two user profiles render it the best choice for home gyms. No wonder, it is famous as the Most Popular Recumbent Bicycle.
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The Schwinn 230 recumbent bike is made with many strong features that make it a solid bike. Many of its parts are plastic-made is an asset as it does not increase the weight of the bike.
It can easily be a final choice for people of different fitness levels who want to buy home gym equipment on a budget.
Easy to read computer screen displays speed, distance, time and calories burned
Known as the most affordable recumbent bike in the market, the Marcy Me 709 is replete with handy and useful features, which include its monitor to review workout statistics, before and after adjustability and its variable handles, among others.
It is also the right choice for seniors or those with neck injuries or are frail or disabled. This Heavy Duty Recumbent Bike can take a lot of user weight, unlike most others.
For those on a budget too, this is an ideal choice of a mix of high performance and affordability.
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Bearing its price in mind, the Marcy Me 709's feature of magnetic resistance is particularly useful for those who want quiet environment while they work hard to improve their cardio health, strengthen their knees and lose weight.
4. Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike
Switch between eight levels of smooth, adjustable magnetic resistance.
If you’re looking for a recumbent bike that will let you exercise your limbs when you feel like it, the Stamina Elite is a wise choice.
It is ideal for low impact Recumbent Bike Exercise and for intensive workouts. It is equipped with hand and feet pedals.
It is great for a full body workout as its handlebars work on your shoulder, arms and back muscles and cycling which works your thighs, hips and buttocks.
For all its convenience features, it is touted to be the Best Recumbent Bike for Home. It is a big boon for people living in small homes where space is at a premium. All they need do is to use it, fold it and store it away.
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Hand pulse sensors on the handle bars for targeting your heart rate zone.
Recumbent bike manufacturers have addressed two main issues concerning this product when making the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike. One, its enhanced ergonomics and two, its space-saving efficiency.
This sophisticated bike is also robust and well-made and is exceedingly comfortable.
It also answers people's reasons for not exercising—lack of time and lack of space for equipment. Its many A-1 features, including its semi-recumbent design, makes it easy to get on and off for people of all ages and fitness levels. Certainly, it’s a must-possess exercise item.
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In the light of its features, pros and cons, the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike is a good one to go with. Though more expensive but yet it is worth the money.
With a folding frame, eight levels of magnetic tension, a comfortable and large seat and a high user weight capacity, this folding exercise bike is a good entry level bike that you can’t ignore.
This bike offers challenging cardiovascular workout while minimizing stress on your joints and back
This sturdy and robust recumbent bike is the best example of a best budget exercise bike. Its set-up is easy and low-cost, and though it doesn't have many bells and whistles, its heart rate monitoring facility in the handgrips is excellent.
However, its user-friendly and durable design don’t just make it stand out, but according to popular choice, it is known as the best recumbent exercise bike.
It’s worth considering because it has all the features people look for when buying a recumbent exercise bike.
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If you want to exercise easily and smoothly, the Exerpeutic 900xl is just the recumbent bike for you.
Simple, basic and practical, it is a robust tool that can help you become fit and lose weight and improve your quality of life.
22 programs: 9 profile, 8 heart rate control, 2 custom, 2 fitness test & 1 quick start
Not for nothing is the Nautilus R614 known as the Best Recumbent Bike for Seniors. At an affordable price of $299, it is perfect whether you're a pro at exercise or beginner. It comes with a backrest and adjustable height facility.
Dual track LCD console with a multi-purpose display. This helps track one's fitness goals and let the user monitor his performance and set further workout goals.
It is excellent at providing users with the best cardio exercise experience with minimal impact on the joints.
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For all its features, the Nautilus R614 is highly effective in giving you a high-performance workout. It also keeps you connected with media and to your mobile devices.
These are unusual features for premium quality recumbent bikes. The Nautilus R614, therefore, is a highly recommended bike for anyone wanting to exercise regularly.
Best for regular exercise
8. Velocity Exercise CHB-R2101
8 Level of preset resistance, Maximum weight capacity: 250 lbs
Velocity Exercise Magnetic Recumbent Bike is with an effective and challenging workout for home use. For a better enjoyment with your fitness, can keep it in your home as well, and can use it for your routine exercise.
The 8 level of preset resistance of this Bike is a very remarkable aspect. It provides with an easy to adjust tension tightening knob which helping you the workout to your fitness level. In this way the Velocity Exercise Magnetic Recumbent Bike can claim its uniqueness.
Another important characteristic of this Bike is its Large Consol Display. This LCD display is easy to read and provide the Time, Speed, RPM, Distance, Calories, Watt and Heart Rate. By getting such information instantly you can achieve and track all of your fitness goals. This preset program also make you able to control over the exercise of yourself as well as over the fitness equipment.
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Finally it is to be said that the Velocity Exercise Magnetic Recumbent Bike is an outstanding one for regular fitness and exercise practice. Manually adjustable resistance and comfortable seat surface with padded handles, most real users are highly excited with this and happy to suggest other to buy it for their home use.
How to Choose Best Recumbent Exercise Bike
Comfort
The best way of finding a recumbent bike that’s right for you is to try out the machine before buying. These bikes come in a range of shapes and sizes, so it is necessary to adjust the height while you’re in the store. Ensure that the seat is comfortable and the pedals are a good fit for your feet.
Space at home
Don’t get carried away by the aesthetics of a recumbent bike, or because it’s feature-packed. Space is more important than anything else, in fact, it’s a practical need. So, if your space is limited, go in for a folding bike. Not only can you fold it but also stow it away when not in use.
Resistance
An easily adjustable machine with several workout levels is ideal for you. If it has an electronic resistance control, so much the better. Use electronic control to test the bike in the store.
Safety
It’s common sense to follow the directions of using exercise bikes as they have several moving parts. Lock the exercise bike when not in use and keep it away from children’s reach, whether in use or not.
Display
An easily readable display screen with equally east controls will show your heart rate, speed, calories burned, revolutions per minute (RPM), and resistance levels, among other details.
Programming
Do the bikes you’re looking at have programs that let you adjust your routine based on your fitness condition? It should also provide you with workouts controlled by your heart rate, with special emphasis on your age, gender and weight.
Heart-Rate Monitor
Look out for a chest strap—it won’t get in your way. A contact monitor that measures your heart rate as you work out is a good feature.
Warranty
Check that the bike offers two to three years of warranty on moving parts and a year for labor.
Benefits of best recumbent bikes
If you have recurrent back pain or mobility problems
One of the prime reasons for the success of a recumbent exercise bike is that they are easy to get on and off. They are specially designed so that the seat is much lower that you don’t have to climb up onto the seat as in upright bikes.
This feature makes it perfect for people suffering from mobility problems, particularly seniors. The fact that these bikes also come with excellent back support makes them ideal for those who suffer from back pain when on an upright bike.
If you’re obese and must lose weight
If you’re obese and looking for a way to lose all that weight, hit the gym five days a week and get on to a recumbent bike for 60 minutes a day. This can help create a shortfall of calories within you. If you don’t have much time for exercising, don’t abandon using the best recumbent bike but slightly alter its use.
You can do this by using your bike to do interval training. This could be doing a one-minute sprint and then one minute of moderate cycling over 20 minutes. This works to raise your metabolism and burn more calories, thus bringing about an effective weight loss.
If you want a full body workout
A best recumbent exercise bike can give you a full lower body workout while also toning your muscles. However, due to the way the pedals are positioned, you will work your muscles slightly differently.
If you’re big-built and heavier than most
Usually, a recumbent bike may be of lighter weight, but it can take the weight of an individual of about 136 kg (300 lb). This is one big reason for the popularity of these bikes as larger-sized individuals can be supported by them—they are that strong and durable!!
If staying motivated is tough
For a lot of people, staying motivated in the long run is extremely difficult. Very often, you will find that people drop out of gyms after the third month citing problems of being unable to focus or just plain boredom. But you don’t have that problem if you’re using a recumbent bike.
The monotony of riding an upright bicycle isn't something you find when working out on a recumbent exercise bike, so it becomes a lot of fun, after a while. Here, while you're on a recumbent bike, you can sit in comfort and keep pedaling without feeling any body aches or soreness. Turn on the TV if you like and watch your favorite shows while you pedal and you won't notice time passing.
If your fitness level is challenged
The best recumbent bike, contrary to public opinion, isn’t only for those with back problems or are less mobile, or for those just coming out of injury. In fact, they are for every one of all ages and varying fitness levels.
This is because these bikes come with varying resistance levels which can be adjusted according to one’s fitness level. What adds to the popularity of these bikes is that you can work on them in the comfort of your home.
Conclusion
The range of recumbent exercise bikes in the market today is mind-blowing. The one you finally choose depends on your needs and fitness level, and of course, your budget. But to be caught on the right foot when choosing the one you should have, read our buying guide and choose accordingly. So that you do, in fact, go home with the best recumbent exercise bike available.
