Top #10 Best Recumbent Bike 2020 – Best Recumbent Bike Reviews Our Picks!

Who should Use a Recumbent Bike?

This is an exercise unit for anyone who desires to get fit in a comfortable way. As such, literally, anyone who has attained the height and weight requirements to use a recumbent machine can use it. Moreover, there are special groups of people that benefit immensely from the recumbent machine. These include those who have joint problems or limited motion.

The comfortable seat on the machine as well as adjustable pedal mechanism provides easier pedaling for people such as these. Therefore, anyone who has attained the minimum physical requirements, as well as those who have physical challenges, should use this machine.

Features of a Good Recumbent Bike

#1. A walk through design

One of the main differences between a recumbent bike and an upright one is that the former has a big distance between the seat and the pedals. This leaves a space in between these two parts. This space has been adapted into a walkthrough section by many recumbent bike manufacturers.

To accommodate users who have low mobility, the section of the frame between the seat and the pedals has been designed to allow a casual walk right through. Not only is it an improvement in design, it boosts user comfort. Therefore, a walk through design is one of the features of a good recumbent exercise bike.

#2. A comfortable seat

It is an obvious fact that the recumbent bike has a much more comfortable seat than an upright bike. This is because it is wider and offers a much larger surface area for weight distribution. While the seat may be wider, it is important that it be more comfortable too.

A good recumbent bike should have a seat that has ample cushioning and ventilation in its backrest. The backrest should also be contoured to provide you with comfort as you use the machine. What’s more, it should have enough support for the lumbar section of your back. In this way, you are able to train while sitting in a comfortable way. If you can get a recumbent bike whose seat even has some armrests, then go for it.

#3. Multiple options for seat adjustment

The majority of recumbent bikes have 3 main options for adjusting your seat. The first one is a locking pin with the seat simply sliding on a dedicated rail, a locking system where the seat is on an upright support and a fixed seat combined with a movable pedal frame.

While all these methods are great for you, it is important to note that they offer various levels of height adjustment. Typically, the locking system with a seat on an upright support provides you with the greatest height range. As such, this type of system is an important feature of recumbent bikes that you should consider.

#4. High weight capacity

This is an important feature of recumbent exercise bikes. To ensure your safety and also the longevity of the machine, the maximum weight it can hold is a major feature to consider. A good recumbent bike should handle between 250lbs and 350lbs of weight. Therefore, it provides you with a wide range in terms of weight capacity. As a result, you can share it with other members of your family or fitness club.

#5. Compact size

Recumbent exercise bikes are generally long and sturdy. In this way, it is difficult to find one that is medium sized yet delivers the fitness experience that you expect. Despite being rare, there are some recumbent bikes that are actually compact. Examples of these are the Stamina InTone and the Exerpeutic 400XL. Not only are they compact in size, they are actually foldable. As such, a feature of good quality recumbent machines is that they are compact or even foldable in nature.

#6. Magnetic resistance system

To deliver the difficulty levels in training on a recumbent exercise machine, a specific resistance technology is used in its pedal mechanism. There are three main types of resistance mechanisms for recumbent machines. These include fans, friction belts, and magnetic systems.

Out of these, the best is the magnetic one. This system delivers a wide range of resistance settings for you. Secondly, it is very quiet when compared to the other options. As such, you can listen to your favorite music or even watch television as you exercise using the recumbent exercise machines. As such, a magnetic resistance system is one of the features of a good unit.

#7. Special storage capacity

While using a recumbent machine, you may want to entertain yourself or hydrate. In such a case, extra storage for water bottles is often very useful. Thankfully, manufacturers are able to stack a lot of storage space in recumbent machines such that you can store much more than just a water bottle.

Top of the range models of this machine has some space to store magazines, fitness equipment, towels and electronic music players too. As such, extra storage is a feature of a good recumbent machine.

Differences between best recumbent bikes and upright ones

Unlike traditional upright bikes, the recumbent one allows you to exercise while in a reclined position. This is where you lean back with your feet in front of you instead of being under you like an upright bike normally works. Moreover, the best recumbent bike reviews has a chair-like seat that allows support for your back and butt in a natural position. This position does not hurt your spine or stress your back muscles. What other differences are there between recumbent bikes and upright ones?

#1. Body Positioning

Due to the different shape of the frame, a best recumbent bike offers you a much more comfortable body positioning. In the recumbent bike, you sit in a position that is deep into the frame. Your legs pedal parallel to the rest of your body.

On the other hand, an upright bike requires you to sit above the frame. In this way, your feet are under your torso and your legs pedal perpendicularly to the rest of your upper body. This difference in body positioning is the most profound one between recumbent and upright bikes. Not only does it allow for better fitness, the body positioning in best recumbent bike results in a more comfortable workout.

#2. Style of Use

To operate a best recumbent bike reviews, you position your body in a large seat with your feet ahead of you. The pedals are located in front of you. The seats fitted with some armrests. As a result, you don’t have to hold any handlebars so as to use this bike. You are in a natural, reclined position that reduces fatigue upon your back muscles and spine as well. This reclined position also prevents your upper body from getting unnecessarily tired as you work out.

On the other hand, an upright bike requires that you sit in a very different position. The seat is small and right above the pedals. As such, you should hunch over, hold the handlebars and pedal. There should be a slight bend forward in your spine as you hold them.

Moreover, you may have to arch your neck upwards so as to maintain form throughout your exercise session. As a result, there could be some muscle soreness in your neck, shoulders, and back as you use an upright bike. For this reason, fitness experts prefer the recumbent bike to the upright one.

#3. Size of the Seat

The seat on a best recumbent bike is much larger than that of an upright one. As a matter of fact, it is designed much like an office chair. In this way, it provides you with shoulder, spine and lumbar support. Some machines even have seats with armrests. As such, you get to enjoy complete comfort as you pedal the best recumbent bike 2020.

An upright bike has a much smaller seat. It has no support for your back. Moreover, long periods of use result in soreness in your butt and groin areas. Fitness enthusiasts refer to this as saddle soreness. In comparison, the seat on a best recumbent bike is much more comfortable than that of an upright one. It also prevents injury or soreness of your butt or groin.

#4. Center of gravity

Upright bikes have a very high center of gravity. The sitting position requires you to be far above your feet and the pedals as you use the machine. As a result, you are in a fairly unstable position as you exercise. If you push the machine too hard, you could topple over on either side.

In contrast, a recumbent exercise bike has a low center of gravity. You sit in the middle of the frame and your feet are perpendicular to your body or just a little lower. As a result, you are very stable even if you push the machine hard. Another benefit of this position is that your legs are constantly fighting against gravity so as to pedal. Due to this, you exert effort using your thighs more, resulting in better overall fitness.

Why A Best Recumbent Bike Is Better Than An Upright One

#1. Wider Weight Distribution

One of the main benefits of the best recumbent bike reviews is that you can easily and effectively distribute your weight on its seat. The backrest, armrests and wide seat allow you to spread your weight across various surfaces. In this way, you are much more comfortable. This is much better than the upright seat where you place your weight on a really small seat and the handlebars. In the latter, the small surface area of weight distribution leads to extreme soreness. As such, the recumbent exercise bike’s better in this respect.

#2. Smoother Aerodynamics

When you use a recumbent exercise bike, your back is reclined while your legs are positioned forward. As a result, you create a slimmer profile of aerodynamics. Your legs move in such a way that they pump in front of you. This results in less air resistance and relatively easier pedaling. Consequently, your efficiency is improved and fitness achieved quicker.

Upright bikes have worse aerodynamics than recumbent ones. This is because you are in an upright position and the broadsides of your legs push against the air as you pedal. This causes more air resistance and less efficiency with every stroke. As pertains to aerodynamics, the best recumbent bike under 1000 is better.

#3. More Balance

Thanks to a reclined, wider seat, the best recumbent bike under 500 offers users much more balance. It is stable and can handle even vigorous pedaling without swaying from side to side. This ensures safety and instills confidence in you as you utilize the machine. While the upright bike offers satisfactory balance, it is not as stable as the recumbent one at high speeds. With this in mind, the best recumbent bike under 200 is better.

Final Word on Recumbent Bike.

Well, there you have it, everything you need to know about best recumbent bikes. Give this bike a spin for a thorough leg workout. If you are old or have mobility issues, you will also benefit from exercising on this bike due to its relaxed workout position.