Selecting the best recumbent exercise bike depends on your goals and your budget. Your budget is a big factor because exercise bikes are machines that can cost more than you might imagine. Based on my ten years of experience with exercise bikes, here are 5 top tips for getting a bike that will be a great tool for your personal fitness quest.
Tip 1 - Look at the structure
Compare the look and weight of cheap bikes and expensive bikes. You want a bike with plenty of weight, otherwise it's going to rock, slide and move around as you use it. That's no fun and if the bike moves while you're using it, eventually things are going to break. Look at the weight of the bike and notice how it compares to the weight of the multi-thousand dollar bikes. Now look at how you move the bike around. Does it have wheels that look like they're easy to use? What about the seat? Look for comments on the Internet on how comfortable the machine is. A comfortable seat is a must.
Tip 2 - Electronics
High dollar bikes have more complex electronics. The electronics is responsible for the feedback you can receive like heart rate, calories burned, power output, distance travelled, speed and so forth. Make sure you get the feedback features that are important to you. Also the other important feature is the workout programs. You can often choose from several programs that simulate a variety of real-life situations. The more programs the better. You can invent your own workout routines, but the built-in programs help fight exercise boredom.
Tip 3 - Resistance
Most likely the resistance you face as you pedal is a magnetic system. Most bikes now are self contained with no cords and no outlet required. The pedaling generates the resistance. That's what you probably want, so check it out. Is the resistance system quiet? See what owners say about the noise level.
Tip 4 - Where to buy
Shop at a local store and you can try a machine out for feel and performance. Many local shops will arrange for delivery and set up as well as assembly. But if you order on the Internet, you often can buy at a steep discount and get free shipping too. So it's a trade off between convenience and cost. Don't forget the convenience of just staying home and ordering on the Internet.
Tip 5 - Price
Recumbent exercise bikes range in price from just a small price to big money. Here's the deal, if you pay too little you are likely throwing your money away. A very cheap bike may have many of the features of a quality bike, but may be so poorly constructed that it is impossible to use. On the other hand, many medium price machines, like the Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike, are very reasonably priced but very high in quality. A very expensive bike will be smooth operating, built to last and will have many built in workout routines and other features. Your best values will be in the mid-priced machines.
I'm a fan of Schwinn exercise bikes based on my long-term positive experiences with mine. I'm a former auto industry engineer and I am very picky when it comes to quality in machinery. My bike is one of my all-time favorite machines!
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