You’re in your 50s and still want to work out but you can’t determine an acceptable exercise plan? Well, of course, you’re too old for heavy compound lifts such as the squat and deadlift. Actually, strength lifting or HIIT is still beneficial but those kinds of training are not really suitable for seniors. In fact, steady-state cardio is much safer and helpful for seniors. In this case, a recumbent bike is one of the best cardio equipment options. In this article, I’ll help you choose the best recumbent bike for seniors and I’ll also review the 5 best products in the market.
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Recumbent Bikes Types
Generally, there are 2 main types of recumbent bikes.
- Recumbent road bikes are outdoor exercise bikes. Thus, it’s a great choice for anyone who loves exercising while enjoying the sceneries and fresh air.
- Recumbent exercise bikes are the indoor cycling bikes which are mostly found in many commercial gyms. They are stationary and they’re also loved by fitness enthusiasts who enjoy working out in their own home gyms.
No matter which type you choose, recumbent bikes are a very necessary piece of gym equipment. These bikes will definitely provide you convenient and quality workouts, and more importantly, at an affordable cost.
The Differences Between Recumbent Bike And Upright Bike
As you can see, with a recumbent bike, your body can sit well into the frame of the bike. Therefore, you will be in a more natural reclined body position. This is very comfortable and can help reduce your body fatigue and eliminate muscle soreness in your upper body.
On the other hand, with an upright bike, your body sits above the frame just like you’re riding a traditional bicycle. If you sit properly, you will be slightly hunched over with a slight bend in your back and neck. This may cause muscle fatigue and soreness if you use the bike for a long time.
Additionally, the seat of this bike is quite smaller than that of a recumbent version. That’s why you may have aches and pains in your butt which are commonly known as saddle soreness.
In short, each type has its own benefits so no one is better than the other. Actually, it all comes down to your personal preferences. However, for seniors, it’s highly recommended to go for a recumbent bike as it’s easier and safer for a long cardio workout.
Why Use Recumbent Bikes?
At first glance, you might think that this bike is no different than any other cardio equipment. However, that’s not true. In fact, these bikes have their own benefits which set them out from the others.
Here are reasons why senior should use recumbent bikes:
- A recumbent bike is easier on your lower back or lumbar spine because of the way you sit.
- The bikes are gentle on all of your joints (knees and ankles are well protected from injurious impact and the lower back is support by the bucket seat)
- They are much safe as the rider can’t stand up on the pedals, therefore, reducing the risk of knee injuries.
- A recumbent bike is a great option for seniors or anyone who has neurological conditions as it is suitable for people of all ability levels.
- The seat is larger as compared to that of other types of exercise bikes, hence, preventing saddle soreness.
- A recumbent bike is beneficial to those whose knees and back are affected by rheumatoid arthritis thanks to the reclining position. In this position, your bodyweight is spread over the back and butt.
What To Consider To Choose The Best Recumbent Bike For Seniors
Now, you want to buy a recumbent bike but you don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, here are several things to help you choose the best product for your money:
1. The Seat
In my experience, this should be the first thing to consider when buying an exercise bike. To choose the best bike that meets your needs, it’s important to look for a bike which has a padded seat. If the seat features lumbar support, it will provide the rider even with more comfort which is especially helpful for seniors.
Also, go for a bike with adjustability features which allow you to adjust the seat back and forth. Keep in mind that the more adjustability features and comfort, the better.
2. Display Console
Unlike an upright bike, a recumbent bike allows your body to sit well into the bike frame. Therefore, your body is far from the console, that’s why it’s quite difficult for you to see clearly or access the console. To avoid this, just get a recumbent bike which features a backlit console. This helps you read the workout stats more clearly and easily.
3. Weight Limit And Weight Of The Bike
One of the most important aspects of exercise is stability. You never want to exercise on a bike keeps wobbling all the time, right? So if your bike is unstable, then just forget about it. However, a lot of you might want to order the equipment online. In this case, you need to check out the weight of the bike to determine how stable it is.
In general, the heavier, the more stable. But the problem with heavy bikes is that they may be too heavy to transport. Hence, if you want to buy a heavy bike, then choose one with transport wheels for easy mobility. And last but not least, your body weight shouldn’t be above the maximum supported weight, or else, you will definitely put your safety at risk.
4. Excessive Noise
While this is not a problem for everyone but remember that it’s a good idea to choose a quiet bike. Actually, based on the resistance, some bikes are much quieter than others. Bikes which include fans are likely to be noisier as they have air resistance. Thus, the harder you pedal, the stronger the breeze and this is how it makes excessive noise. To be honest, if you want to watch TV or listen to music, then this is very important to choose a quiet one.
5. Enclosed Mechanics For Safety
If there are small kids in your household, you should also focus on the way the recumbent bike has been built. Research shows that thousands of children get injured just because they use exercise equipment in the wrong way yearly. In order to avoid that, you need to make sure that the mechanics of your bike like flywheel or chain are entirely covered. Otherwise, our kids can get their little fingers or other body parts stuck and hurt themselves.
6. Entertainment
A bike with many entertainment options is not a bad idea as it keeps you occupied. Therefore, you will not get bored with the monotony of cardio. As the matter of fact, a lot of recumbent bikes feature options like a phone dock which allows you to plug in your mobile device and listen to music.
Additionally, some bikes come with a place to hold a book or even a laptop so you can read and watch some video during exercise. For me, this is a great way to make yourself forget that you’re exercising. Also, there are bikes which come with many different workout programs for a more enjoyable and versatile workout.
7. Advancing Challenges
Speaking challenges, it all comes down to resistance levels. In my experience, it’s important to choose a unit that has a lot of resistance. This way, you can possibly improve your fitness performance to when you are ready for new challenges. Just don’t opt for a bike which you train on for a few months and realize that you have reached the highest resistance level.
8. Quality
Other considerations you should pay attention to are the quality and price of the bike. Remember that a large fitness equipment like an exercise bike or a treadmill is not like a pair of gym gloves which you only use for a few months and throw away.
In fact, a good recumbent bike is one that can serve you for a long period of time. In my opinion, a durable bike should last for more than 3 years. Hence, just go for top brands since their bikes have good quality regarding both design and materials. And don’t forget to check the customer reviews on the Internet to see how durable the product actually is.
9. Cost
Last but not least, don’t forget to consider the price of the unit you’re going to buy. In case you’re not keen, I’m pretty sure these bikes can cost you hundreds of dollars or even thousands. That’s why prior research is very important before you decide to buy any product. To me, a reasonable price range is 200 to 400 dollars. Generally, the more expensive, the higher quality so make sure make sure you get the best bike that fits your budget.
Top 5 Best Recumbent Bike For Seniors
1. Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike
The top pick in this list is the Schwinn 270 bike. This recumbent bike is a high-end quality bike which is a great exercise bike option for both commercial use and home use. Therefore, if you are comfortable to part with 400 dollars, just go for it and I’m sure that you will not regret your decision. Besides, this bike is very durable so if you can use it for long periods of time.
It features dual-track LCD display that allows you to monitor up to 13 display feedbacks. The bike also has Schwinn connect, a fitness app for goal tracking as well as data export. This will keep you challenged and motivated all the time. There are 25 resistance levels coming with high-speed inertia flywheel provide you a silent and smooth cardio workout. Furthermore, you will feel very comfortable with a contoured leg area and padded seat.
This one is the best recumbent bike for home use and comercial use
Pros
- Great for everyone, especially seniors
- Padded seat for long-lasting comfort
- Readable dual LCD monitor
- Very durable
- Excellent stability and support
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Not easy to store
2. Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Exercise Bike
This Stamina Elite bike will definitely give you effective full body workouts in your own home gym. This bike is made of high-quality steel so it’s very sturdy. It allows you to tone both lower and upper parts of your body. Therefore, it helps you burn more calories as compared to many other recumbent bikes.
With a quiet magnetic resistance, you will have a silent and very functional full body workout. Hence, if you do general fitness or burn some calories, then maybe all you need is this one. Additionally, this bike features multi-function electronic display which shows you everything including time, speed, calories burned, heart rate and distance done during the workout.
Like many other bikes, this one is equipped with both upper hand and lower foot pedals. These pedals can make your full body workouts a lot more comfortable and easier. Furthermore, the seat is very comfortable since it’s padded for extra cushioning. Besides, it’s adjustable so it fits anyone.
This one is the best recumbent bike for commercial use and home use
Pros
- High-quality steel frames
- Quiet
- The monitor is clear and easy to use
- Angled backrest for more comfort
Cons
- Hand pedals have no resistance levels
- Very expensive
- Not easy to move around
3. Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike
This Exerpeutic recumbent bike is the best affordable bike ever. You can totally buy this amazing buy for over 100 dollars and honestly, this one is very affordable as compared to other models.
It features a sturdy built frame as well as an amazing back support system. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the stability and comfort when you’re exercising on this bike. And that’s why it is a perfect choice for seniors or anyone who has back problems.
Additionally, what I love most about this product is that it is fordable and has transport wheels. These features make it easier to you to move the bike around and that’s why it’s one of the best options for home use.
The bike also has 8 level magnetic tension control, allowing you to adjust resistance level so it is suitable for people of all fitness levels. Besides, a high torque 3 piece torque crank system, “double drive” transmission system and heart pulse are all included for a very affordable price.
The maximum weight capacity of this bike is up to 300 pounds. Furthermore, it can be adjusted to 5 ft. 2” up to 6 ft. 2” so it can benefit people of varied heights.
This one is the best recumbent bike for home use
Pros
- Affordable
- Large seat cushion and backrest
- Easy to store
- Large LCD display
- Quiet, even at high speed
Cons
- Quiet small
- The resistance has to be set manually
4. Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike
This is another exercise recumbent bike from Exerpeutic. Unlike many other exercise bikes out there, this one has no LCD display. Instead, the bike has a desktop so you can use it as a work platform for your own book, laptop, iPad, and so on. This allows you to exercise while working and actually, this is an effective way to fool yourself into working out and burning some calories. Also, the desktop has forward, back, up and down adjustability for standing and sitting positions.
The bike has foam armrest which is very soft and durable, and 2.5” thick AirSoft seat with great comfort. The seat is adjustable so it can fit 5’2” to 6’3” user height. Furthermore, an 8 level magnetic tension control system allows you to adjust the resistance level for a more difficult or easier workout. Like many other units, it can hold up to 300 lbs.
What’s more, the bike is fordable and has transportable wheels, thus, you can store it with ease. Also, the V-belt drive and precision balanced flywheel provide a quiet and smooth operation which doesn’t interfere with listening to music or watching TV.
This one is the best recumbent bike for home use
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Easy to store
- Affordable
- Comfortable
Cons
- Small LCD display
- Quite large for small people
5. Nautilus R614 Recumbent Bike
Nautilus is well known for producing excellent quality commercial grade gym equipment and this recumbent bike is no exception. It’s high-quality bike and more importantly, it’s affordably priced as compared to most other Nautilus machines.
The first impression of this model is that it features dual-track LCD display which shows you up to 13 workout details including distance, calories burned, time, speed, heart rate and so on. It also has a USB charging export so that you can export the data to myfitnesspal.com or NautilusConnect.com. With this feature, you will be aware of your training progress and focused on your fitness goals.
When you use a heart rate program, the grip heart rate allows you to sit in a more relaxed riding position. What’s more, the bike has 3-speed fan to keep you cool during the workout.
This one is the best recumbent bike for commercial use and home use
Pros
- Reasonable warranty for mechanical, frame
- Sturdy and adjustable
- Allows you to track your workout progress easily
- Provides great support and comfort for the lower back.
Cons
- Not very easy to assemble
- Not really durable
Final Thoughts
Actually, it’s not difficult for you to find tons of cardio equipment and exercise bikes in the market. However, recumbent bikes are one of the best choices for you, especially if you’re a senior or anyone who do general fitness. With their overall comfort, performance, and design, these indoor bikes can be your new best friend in both home gym and commercial gym. To choose the best recumbent bikes for seniors, just remember to consider the buying guide and reviews above so that you can choose the best product for your money.
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