| Recumbent exercise bikes are becoming ever | | | | Schwinn 231 ($650). The Nordictrack comes with |
| more popular as many prefer the comfort and | | | | 10 levels of resistance and 20 Personal Trainer |
| cardiovascular benefits they offer. However, with | | | | workouts that automatically adjust the pace and |
| so many brands and models it can be difficult | | | | resistance of the bike as you exercise. The |
| deciding on which is the best. To help you decide, | | | | console is nice, large and easy to read; you can |
| here's a review on some of the better models | | | | plug in your MP3 player into the console. The max. |
| currently available. | | | | weight capacity is 300 lbs. |
| Rather than just list the best, and therefore the | | | | The Schwinn 231 bike comes with a BioConnect |
| most expensive, we'll take a look at which is the | | | | feedback system, 10 preset and 10 profile course |
| best in terms of price and features. Starting from | | | | workout programs, 16 levels of resistance and an |
| low-cost, entry-level bikes to the upper-end, pro | | | | in-built fan. Max. weight capacity is 300 lbs. |
| bikes. | | | | If you can afford the extra $150 you should |
| For those looking for the best, cheap recumbent | | | | consider the Schwinn over the Nordictrack. |
| exercise bike | | | | For those who have money to burn |
| There's an argument that says you can't buy one | | | | Whilst not being the most expensive of bikes, the |
| that'll do you any good for under $300. However, | | | | Tunturi E60R exercise bike deserves to be given |
| it could also be argued that not everyone can | | | | a closer look. It's an aesthetically pleasing bike and |
| afford or justify spending more than this; so, | | | | the build quality is superb. The console is one of |
| what are they to do? Forget about buying a | | | | the best you can get with lots of motivational |
| stationary exercise bike altogether? I don't think | | | | feedback. It also comes with 8 scalable workout |
| so, and I also believe beginners can get a lot of | | | | profiles and 8 user profiles to suit individual fitness |
| benefit from using some cheap models. | | | | goals - the T-Scale function configuring and |
| Both the Stamina Resistance Magnetic bike and | | | | adjustment of the preset profiles even when |
| the Weslo 4.5R bike are among the best of the | | | | exercising. You also get hand grip and Polar |
| cheap models available. They cost around $250 | | | | wireless heart rate monitors. You get all this and |
| and $200 resp. The Weslo exercise bike comes | | | | more for around $1,000. |
| with a good-sized LCD display, 6 preset workouts | | | | Lifecycle exercise bikes are renowned for their |
| and Easy Pulse heart rate monitor. The Stamina | | | | quality and features and if you want a top rated |
| exercise bike comes with a multifunction LCD | | | | recumbent bike then you could do worse than |
| monitor, 6 preset programs and hand pulse | | | | buying the Lifecycle R1 recumbent bike (advanced |
| sensor. For their price both machines offer a lot. | | | | model at around $1,500). You get 20 resistance |
| However, the maximum user weight capacity is | | | | levels, hand grip and wireless heart rate monitors, |
| only 250 lbs and can only really be comfortably | | | | 10 workout programs, 3 goal workouts, 2 user |
| used by someone with a max height of around 6 | | | | profiles, 2 custom workouts and a race mode. |
| foot. So, if you're on the large size you may be | | | | Of the two, the Tunturi E60R does it for me; I |
| out of luck. | | | | love the console and the overall design is just |
| Out of the two, I prefer the Weslo. The position | | | | fantastic. |
| of the console is better and there are grips | | | | The above reviews are my personal choice of |
| around it; the console of the Stamina is | | | | machines in the 3 price categories but there are |
| immediately above the fly-wheel, which is a little | | | | others. The best recumbent exercise bike isn't |
| too far away and you can only grab onto the | | | | the one with the most features with the most |
| grips at the side of the seat. | | | | expensive price tag; it's the one that fits your |
| For those looking at a mid-price range of | | | | budget, feels comfortable and has the specific |
| somewhere between $300 and $900 | | | | requirement you're looking for. |
| This is the most competitive niche and there are | | | | Follow the links for the best recumbent exercise |
| thousands of machines to choose from. However, | | | | bike like the Weslo exercise bike and the Schwinn |
| in my opinion, the best two models are the | | | | exercise bike. |
| Nordictrack AudioRider 400 ($500) and the | | | | |