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