Choosing a Recumbent Exercise Bike
When first buying a piece of fitness equipment, you always have questions about how to make the right choice. It’s very important to make an informed purchase, as not doing so might result in disappointment, not achieving the desire results and, in the worst case, injuries.
Choosing a Recumbent Exercise Bike
Height and Weight Rating
Different brands come with different ratings, this is very important to have into consideration as we all have unique body sizes. Make sure the bike is capable to handle the weight of the heaviest person who will be using it regularly. Of course, the higher the weight rating, the more expensive the bike should be, however, it is better to invest in a more sturdy and durable option.
This also applies to height, as you want to make sure the bike you choose will be comfortable for you. If you have long legs, some smaller bikes might have you in an uncomfortable position.
For a sturdy, great quality bike for heavier/taller users, we recommend our LK7750 Smart Focus Bike.
Comfort
Speaking of comfort, this is the next most important thing to consider. Working out, for some of us, requires some motivation, so anything that can make it easier and more enjoyable will help you reach your goals. Some features that will increase your comfort level are:
- oversized padded seats
- a seat with strong lumbar support
- adjustability
- additional features like a fan
For a comfortable, home-use bike, with recommend the York 7000 Series C-II bike.
Pedals
Good, reliable pedals will make your workout much more enjoyable and they will even increase your stamina. But how can you identify good pedals? These are some of the features you should look for:
- oversized pedals
- safety strap to avoid your feet from sliding off the pedal
Resistance
The resistance is the degree of difficulty when peddling the bike. While athletes go for bikes with resistance levels up to 40, if you’re not one, you probably can stick to bikes that go up to 10, as 6-8 is a good level of resistance to work out with.
Heart Rate Monitor
The heart rate monitor is a great tool to use to figure out what workout intensity you should be working out at, as everyone’s fitness level and cardio endurance is different. With an heart rate monitor, you can monitor your heart rate and make sure you are challenging yourself, but too much. For this reason, specially if you are exercising under doctor’s orders or have health problems, you should definitely look for a bike that offers some type of heart rate control.
Bike Computer Settings
All exercise bikes come with a computer, whose goals are to keep track of the users fitness goals and help them costumize it to their preferences. In addition to the resistance level and the heart rate minor, the computer also tracks the speed and distance cycled, the number of calories burned during the workout session, the pulse rate, and even how the user performed as compared to previous workouts.
Remember that a recumbent exercise bike is a big investment and so you should take your time before spending money on the bike.