Upright or Recumbent: Choosing the Right Exercise Bike for You

Want to get in shape? Lose weight? Train for that big event? Or maybe you just want to feel better, have more stamina and look better than you have in years. If that’s the case you’ve come to the right place because the right exercise bike can get you where you want to go. The problem is that there are so many bikes out there how do you know which one is for you? Well, I’ve got the answer.

Lets start by getting to know the two different kinds of bikes that are out there. The first is a recumbent bike, which places your body in a more angled position with your feet out in front of you instead of straight down as in a traditional bike. This position sometimes allows for greater comfort and often appeals to people who aren’t comfortable on an upright bike.

The second bike is the traditional upright bike or stationary bike. Although both the recumbent and upright bikes are stationary, in that they don’t move forward or backward, the term originated with the traditional upright and continues to often be associated with it. You can also sometimes find a Dual Action Stationary Bike which has movable handlebars for an upper body workout as well.

Now that you understand the two different kinds of exercise bikes lets talk about price. Exercise bikes range in price from under $500.00 to over $1000.00 depending on how fancy you want to get and what your needs are. As with everything you get what you pay for, and that goes for comfort as well as use-ability. And remember that the higher priced bikes have more trendy “gadgets” which can sometimes make exercise seem more enjoyable. But when it comes right down to it you have to ask yourself two important questions: “How often am I going to use the bike?” And “How much can I afford to put into a bike?” Once you answer those questions you are well on your way to finding the right bike for you.

My choice for the best exercise bike would be the Schwinn A20 Recumbent Exercise Bike. It is made for comfort while providing you with a workout that gets maximum results. It has heavy duty, long lasting features but runs smoothly and quietly, and it has some of those trendy “gadgets” that will keep you coming back for more. But the best part is at just under $300.00 you can‘t beat the price. This is definitely one of the best deals of the year and as an added bonus if you start now you could be in shape by spring.