Recumbent Exercise Bikes: Sit Down and Work Out!

One of the advantages of recumbent exercise bikes (besides cycling indoors) is that they are ergonomically designed for maximum comfort. Many people have trouble finding time to exercise and have a hard time adjusting to the old uncomfortable style of a stationary model, but a recumbent bike is exercise with a twist: exercising while sitting down.

Recumbents are different from a stationary exercise bike which is the type you’ve peddled if you’ve ever tried out a “spinning” class at the local fitness center. Like recumbents, stationary bikes are now so advanced that die-hard road cyclist no longer take off their front wheel and put their road bikes up on a stand—they just get a stationary bike with dropped handlebars and a flywheel design to simulate real cycling. They probably even TiVo the Tour de France and imagine themselves chasing Lance Armstrong down the Champs Elysees. But back to recumbent bicycles . . .

Recumbent bikes have a contoured chair-type bike seat that provides optimum lumbar support and comfort while exercising, and allows for easy leg movement. A commercial-grade bike will give you years of riding pleasure and will have a superior magnetic braking system and heavy-duty flywheel.

When shopping and comparing stationary, recumbent bicycles, check for features such as Quick Start programming feature, multi-programs, heart-rate monitoring and an easy to read display that will include time, distance, calories, watts and level. (The level will have presets with varying degrees of difficulty from 1 to 8.) There are cycles for in-home exercising with convenient holders to keep towels, water bottles and personal stereos handy so you don’t have to place them out of reach on the floor. You can usually find models with casters wheels so you can move it around from your patio back in to the exercise room, or to a large closet for easy storage.

Whichever type of stationary or recumbent bicycle you prefer, both types of exercise bikes will give you hours of pleasure and exercise. You’ll gain stamina and strength—and you won’t be out there trying to dodge cars on the streets. Cycles are an ideal way to begin a fitness program, or add to one you already have.

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