Recumbent Bike vs Upright Bike | Garage Gym Reviews

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As a home gym owner, having cardio equipment gives you a low barrier to meet the recommended amount of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. You may be considering an exercise bike vs treadmill, or maybe an elliptical. There are benefits to all of them, and choosing the right option for you is highly individualized.

This article will focus on the exercise bike and guide you through all the stationary bike benefits, plus define recumbent bike vs upright bike differences; what’s the deal between the two bikes anyway?

The main difference between these two styles of exercise bikes is the riding position. Recumbent bikes offer riders a comfortable and supported seated position, similar to sitting in an office chair. Upright bikes are more similar to a traditional outdoor bike, where you mount the bike and your upper body is not supported by a back rest.

The best exercise bike for your home gym is going to differ depending on your needs. We’ll break it down below.

Recumbent Bike Vs Upright Bike Video Comparison

What Is A Recumbent Bike?

The recumbent bike has a different feel than sitting on an upright bike or pedaling a bicycle on the road. The reclined position allows riders to sit in a cushioned seat with a backrest. The position alleviates strain on the back and glutes.

Unlike an upright bike with the pedals directly under the hips, the recumbent’s pedals are out in front of the seat, making the pedaling movement entirely different because your legs will be in front of you. This position will require a significant amount of hip flexion and knee bend, making the focus of this type of exercise bike almost entirely on the lower body.

RELATED: Best Recumbent Bike

Pros:

Less saddle soreness
Easy to get on and off
Provides lower back support
Low-impact leg workout

Cons:

Big footprint
Don’t normally fold
No full-body muscle engagement
Less intense workout overall

Best For:

The recumbent bike is a good choice for you if you want to put less stress on the knee and hip joints.

“The recumbent bike can be a good choice for older adults, or if you’re someone who struggles with balance,” explains Nicole Davis, GGR’s editor and ACE-Certified Personal Trainer. “Beyond the added back support, the recumbent bike is lower to the ground and doesn’t require you to mount the riding saddle.”

Recumbent Bikes We Recommend:

Our product testers have ridden dozens of exercise bikes and researched dozens more. Here’s what we’d recommend for recumbent bikes.

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike

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Product Highlights

Recumbent bike that uses magnetic resistance
25 levels of resistance
Features a dual track, two-LCD screen system
29 pre-programmed workouts
Requires some dedicated floor space

Pros

29 programs
4-user capacity
USB port
Compatibility with Explore the World app and MyFitnessPal
Easy to use

Cons

Lacks technology features
Friction resistance bikes generally require more maintenance than magnetic

The Schwinn 270 may be one of the brand’s older models of recumbent bikes, but it still comes with a variety of basic, yet motivating features. There are some complaints about it breaking down (specifically the resistance) and, given the limited warranty, this is a viable concern.

Schwinn is a longstanding name in the world of fitness equipment, and its 270 Recumbent Bike has plenty of the features we’d look for, including ease of use, two LCD screens that display 13 different metrics, plus built-in programming and compatibility with the Explore the World app for interactive programming.

Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike

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Product Highlights

Foldable recumbent bike
Small footprint
300-lb weight capacity
Wide seat with backrest

Pros

Low-impact for joints
Wide seat
Adjustable backrest
Sturdy and stable
Lightweight

Cons

Assembly can be tough
Not a traditional walk-through design
Longer than other folding bikes due to recumbent position
No water bottle holder
No device holder

This recumbent bike is surprisingly sturdy, lightweight, and folding exercise bike. It does not require a power outlet and can be used at an adjustable height workstation desk.

From its foldability to its small footprint, the Exerpeutic 400XL folding bike minimizes concerns about having the space for a recumbent bike. This recumbent bicycle would be an appropriate choice for casual cycling.

ProForm Hybrid Trainer

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Product Highlights

Easily adjusted to fit different body sizes
14 preset workouts
Ability to work upper and lower body muscle groups
Simple assembly
Priced under $1,000

Pros

2-in-1 low impact cardio machine
Affordable at well under $1,000
Adjustable screen for viewing while on the elliptical or bike
Interactive programming with iFIT

Cons

15-inch elliptical stride may be uncomfortable for taller users
Storing machine in non-climate-controlled spaces voids the warranty
Some returns could incur a $250 fee

The ProForm Hybrid Trainer XT offers up a recumbent exercise bike and elliptical in one piece of equipment.

We really like this bike for its versatility—it’s part recumbent exercise bike, part elliptical, providing cardio options depending on your needs. The Hybrid Trainer syncs with iFIT programming to provide countless options for streaming workouts from your own smart device.

Read our full ProForm Hybrid Trainer review.

What Is An Upright Bike?

An upright bike requires riders to sit in an upright position and pedal. Pedals are located under the hips in an upright bike versus in a legs-forward position on a recumbent bike. Upright bicycles offer a wide variety of options to fit any budget and technology preference. They’re suitable for beginners, too, so don’t worry about your fitness level.

There are different types of exercise bikes that fall under the upright bike category:

Stationary Bike

An upright stationary bike offers a tall upright seat more comparable to a beach cruiser bicycle, plus features pedals directly under the hips.

Air Bikes

Air bikes are stationary bikes that sit upright and use a fan blade to create resistance. Most air bikes, like the Rogue Echo Bike, feature handlebars that also attach to the fan blade, which means your arms and legs can both be in motion for a unique full-body biking experience. The use of a fan to create resistance means that the faster you pedal and work your arms, the more resistance you work against.

Studio Cycle Bikes

Studio cycle bikes are the type of bike you’ll find in an indoor cycling class where the instructor has riders change the resistance via a knob. Resistance can be friction-based or magnetic-based. Magnetic resistance tends to produce a smoother ride—and requires less maintenance—but is more expensive than a friction resistance system.

Between the rising popularity of cycling classes and Peloton’s dominance in this arena, this type of bike is more popular than ever. They can get pricey, though.The good news is that there are alternatives to pricey Peloton equipment and subscriptions.