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Why a Recumbent Exercise Bike is Right for Almost Anyone

There are important differences in a recumbent exercise bike and the ordinary stationary exercise bike. For one thing – and this is by far the most important – the recumbent exercise bike is much more comfortable than the upright bike. In case you haven't had the pleasure, with a recumbent exercise bike, instead of sitting straight up, or worse, hunched over, you are positioned comfortably leaning back against a backrest.

A recumbent bike is great for someone just starting to exercise or someone who has been sedentary for some time. Yet for those more experienced, most recumbent bikes offer enough power and resistance for a more advanced workout. Recumbent bikes are considered safer because they are lower to the ground and put less stress on the body than many other types of exercise bikes.

Another advantage to the recumbent exercise bike is that you'll usually find a larger, more comfortable seat than some of the skinny and sporty ones you find on other types of exercise bikes. In addition, most of the recumbent bikes will accommodate up to 300 pounds and some of them will accommodate 400 or more pounds.

The price range of recumbent bikes varies widely as it does with most other exercise equipment. The trick is to know what you're looking for and get the model that meets your needs. For example, if you don't want all the bells and whistles such as a computer display or multiple levels of resistance and programs, there's no need to pay the price these features command.

Many people opt for the recumbent exercise bike simply because it is lower to the ground which makes it easier to get on and off and because it's actually quite comfortable. Because the beginning stationary cyclist and the advanced stationary cyclist can benefit from the same machine, there are those that don't realize they're paying for extraneous features and thus end up paying far too much for their recumbent exercise bike.

For those interested in all those bells and whistles, let's look at some of the features you can find on the more elite recumbent exercise bike. You can have your heart rate monitored during your workout. Some of these bikes include a wireless heart monitor which will show you your heart rate on the LCD readout panel. It may also include a target heart rate so you'll know what to shoot for.

There are many other statistics you can have on the readout panel such s the calories you're burning, the level you're working at, the distance you've ridden and others. Probably the most exciting part of the recumbent exercise bike is the various programs. Instead of turning knobs for added resistance, you basically tell the computer which program you want to do and it sets it all up for you.

You can choose manual, for example and you set the speed and the type of incline you'll have. Then there are different levels and different types of workouts. You can choose to ride the hills and you'll expect to encounter the same kind of resistance you would if you were riding a regular bicycle up and down hills. Your bike might also have a random setting which is a lot of fun because the program throws a lot of different curves at you. You'll have hills to climb one moment and the next thing you know you'll be coasting down valleys.

One of the best advantages of the recumbent exercise bike is that you can customize your workout so that you are working at the speed and level that you choose.