Fitness, What Is The Best Recumbent Exercise Bike


by ROBIN OBRIEN - Date: 2008-07-17 - Word Count: 734 Share This!

Recumbent exercise bikes are becoming ever more popular as many prefer the comfort and cardiovascular benefits they offer. However, with so many brands and models it can be difficult deciding on which is the best. To help you decide, here's a review on some of the better models currently available.

Rather than just list the best, and therefore the most expensive, we'll take a look at which is the best in terms of price and features. Starting from low-cost, entry-level bikes to the upper-end, pro bikes.

For those looking for the best, cheap recumbent exercise bike

There's an argument that says you can't buy one that'll do you any good for under $300. However, it could also be argued that not everyone can afford or justify spending more than this; so, what are they to do? Forget about buying a stationary exercise bike altogether? I don't think so, and I also believe beginners can get a lot of benefit from using some cheap models.

Both the Stamina Resistance Magnetic bike and the Weslo 4.5R bike are among the best of the cheap models available. They cost around $250 and $200 resp. The Weslo exercise bike comes with a good-sized LCD display, 6 preset workouts and Easy Pulse heart rate monitor. The Stamina exercise bike comes with a multifunction LCD monitor, 6 preset programs and hand pulse sensor. For their price both machines offer a lot. However, the maximum user weight capacity is only 250 lbs and can only really be comfortably used by someone with a max height of around 6 foot. So, if you're on the large size you may be out of luck.

Out of the two, I prefer the Weslo. The position of the console is better and there are grips around it; the console of the Stamina is immediately above the fly-wheel, which is a little too far away and you can only grab onto the grips at the side of the seat.

For those looking at a mid-price range of somewhere between $300 and $900

This is the most competitive niche and there are thousands of machines to choose from. However, in my opinion, the best two models are the Nordictrack AudioRider 400 ($500) and the Schwinn 231 ($650). The Nordictrack comes with 10 levels of resistance and 20 Personal Trainer workouts that automatically adjust the pace and resistance of the bike as you exercise. The console is nice, large and easy to read; you can plug in your MP3 player into the console. The max. weight capacity is 300 lbs.

The Schwinn 231 bike comes with a BioConnect feedback system, 10 preset and 10 profile course workout programs, 16 levels of resistance and an in-built fan. Max. weight capacity is 300 lbs.

If you can afford the extra $150 you should consider the Schwinn over the Nordictrack.

For those who have money to burn

Whilst not being the most expensive of bikes, the Tunturi E60R exercise bike deserves to be given a closer look. It's an aesthetically pleasing bike and the build quality is superb. The console is one of the best you can get with lots of motivational feedback. It also comes with 8 scalable workout profiles and 8 user profiles to suit individual fitness goals - the T-Scale function configuring and adjustment of the preset profiles even when exercising. You also get hand grip and Polar wireless heart rate monitors. You get all this and more for around $1,000.

Lifecycle exercise bikes are renowned for their quality and features and if you want a top rated recumbent bike then you could do worse than buying the Lifecycle R1 recumbent bike (advanced model at around $1,500). You get 20 resistance levels, hand grip and wireless heart rate monitors, 10 workout programs, 3 goal workouts, 2 user profiles, 2 custom workouts and a race mode.

Of the two, the Tunturi E60R does it for me; I love the console and the overall design is just fantastic.

The above reviews are my personal choice of machines in the 3 price categories but there are others. The best recumbent exercise bike isn't the one with the most features with the most expensive price tag; it's the one that fits your budget, feels comfortable and has the specific requirement you're looking for.

Follow the links for the best recumbent exercise bike like the Weslo exercise bike and the Schwinn exercise bike.


Related Tags: guide, tips, best, buy, upright, reviews, recumbent, exercise bike, what, recumbant

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