A recumbent exercise bike is easier on your joints and lower back than an upright bike. The large, reclined seat also lets you steer clear of saddle soreness you’d usually experience from a stationary bike.
Best bang for your buck
Schwinn 270
With training programs and virtual trails, the Schwinn offers a lot while still remaining relatively affordable compared to the competition.
Exercise bikes provide a great home cardio workout that puts less strain on your joints than running on a treadmill. Out of the different types of exercise bikes, recumbent bikes are best for beginners, seniors, or people who don’t want to put as much pressure or weight on their joints.
What is a recumbent bike?
A recumbent bike is an exercise bike that positions you in a reclined form while pedaling. Think of it sort of like a rowing machine, but your feet pedal instead of your arms pulling back a cord. The pedals are in front of your body rather than underneath it. Because you are leaning back, a recumbent bike can feel a bit awkward before you master it.
The difference between a recumbent bike and upright bike
An upright bike is what you’d typically think of when you picture a stationary bike. You ride it like a normal bicycle, with your body straight up and down.
A recumbent bike has a larger seat more like a chair, so you avoid that uncomfortable soreness you’d typically get from a bike seat. The reclined position of the seat is easier on the lower back — plus most recumbent bikes have seat backs for more support than you’d find in an upright bike. You won’t be hunched over handle bars like you would be on an upright exercise bike.
Which recumbent bike is best?
When determining the best recumbent bike for you, you really need to think about the design of the bike and how it’s going to work with your body. If you have a bad back, you’ll want a bike with a more supportive seat. While on the topic of seats: Short people, make sure the seat will slide to a position where your feet can reach the pedals comfortably. An exercise bike is worthless if you can’t use it properly and safely.
The levels of resistance a bike has will determine how tough your workout is. If you’re new to the world of stationary biking, you can probably stick with lower resistance, but if you’re a regular cycler, you’re going to want those extra levels of restraint to get the most out of your workout.
We’ve picked out some of the best recumbent bikes to add to your home gym. Let’s ride.
1. NordicTrack Commercial VR25
With plenty of bells and whistles, this recumbent bike is great for cycling veterans.-
Levels of resistance:
26 -
Display:
7-inch HD touchscreen
The bike’s seat is ergonomic, has lumbar support, and glides easily so you can adjust to a comfortable position. It features hand grips on either side of the seat and even has a cupholder so you can stay hydrated as you spin.
While this bike is suitable for all users regardless of skill level, it’s really great for experienced riders because it has 26 levels of resistance and a 25-pound flywheel for a hearty workout.
2. Schwinn 270
With training programs and virtual trails, the Schwinn offers a lot while still remaining relatively affordable compared to the competition.-
Levels of resistance:
25 -
Display:
Backlit LCD screen with panel
Through the backlit LCD screen you can track your goals, participate in programs, and try out virtual races and trails. The machine is Bluetooth connected to transfer your stats and goals to the Schwinn app so you can track your progress on your phone.
With 25 resistance levels, immersive training, and a comfort-forward design, the Schwinn 270 is a top tier recumbent bike and an excellent deal.
3. Stamina Magnetic Fusion 7100
This bike isn’t too fancy, but has enough features to make it effective.-
Levels of resistance:
8 -
Display:
Small digital monitor
There are programs to follow, but the user interface is pretty basic. You won’t be watching a trainer on the screen, nor will you be watching the winding hills of a mountain-side trail as you pretend you’re there instead of just at your house. You can pop some nature pics on your TV if you crave that sense of outdoor biking.
This bike features eight levels of resistance and its seven programs include manual, fat burn, maximum fat burn, aerobic, hill, mountain, and plateau.
This is a more affordable option if you don’t mind those downgrades — if you can really call them that. This is still a superb recumbent bike that gives you access to personal trainers and virtual trails.
Monitor your heart rate, play music, and feel a nice breeze from this exercise bike’s integrated workout fan.
5. LifeCORE Fitness 960
Try out more than 30 workout programs on this bike.-
Levels of resistance:
32 -
Display:
LCD screen
The seat has a ventilated back to keep you cool, but a super cushioned bottom to keep your bottom feeling good. You can slide it forward and back and adjust the angle of the recline to fit it perfectly to you.
The display is a little outdated looking and the control panel is a bit busy, which is our main gripe with a bike a this tier. Otherwise, it’s definitely worth a look.
6. Weslo Pursuit G 3.1
This affordable recumbent bike is a great intro to cycling.-
Levels of resistance:
10 -
Display:
LCD display
You’re able to adjust the seat vertically and horizontally to find the right position for your body. Unfortunately, this bike does not have great handlebars up by the display — they’re pretty stubby — so you’ll have to depend on the handles down by your side.
Overall, this is a nice little starter bike if you’re not sure you want to commit to a fancier, more expensive recumbent bike.
This bad boy comes assembled, so you just have to unfold it and pop a squat over it. You can control how far you recline based on the seat you choose. It’s small, but this exercise bike does feature a digital monitor that tracks your workout. There’s a tension knob that you can tighten and loosen to control the level of resistance, though some reviewers said they wished they could tighten it more than it allows.
For what you’re paying, this is not a bad investment. You can cycle while you work or watch TV, and you can easily store the equipment while it’s not in use.