You can find stationary bikes and road bikes in the recumbent and upright positions. Both of these bike models enable you to build endurance, cardiovascular health and muscle strength. Most gyms and fitness centers offer recumbent and upright stationary bikes, so you can try them out to see how they suit you.
Upright Bikes
Upright bicycles remain the most common type of road bike. Upright bikes have pedals directly below the seat and handlebars in front of the seat. On an upright bike, you can lift yourself above the seat to pedal forcefully up a hill or against a higher resistance level on a stationary machine. Upright bikes have narrow seats that many people find uncomfortable. You might need to purchase additional padding for the seat to make it comfortable enough for long rides or stationary workouts. Upright stationary bikes and road bikes take up less space than recumbent bikes.
Recumbent Bikes
Recumbent bikes have a much larger seat with a full back and bottom panels. When you sit on a recumbent bike, you have to stretch your legs out to reach the pedals in front of you rather than below you. These bikes have handlebars alongside the seat rather than in front of the torso. Recumbent bikes provide a more comfortable ride than the upright bike, putting less strain on the back and shoulders. Recumbent road bikes, however, can put stress on the knees, particularly on hills. Unlike an upright bike, recumbent bikes don't let you lift your body to achieve greater pedaling power.
Common Benefits
Stationary and recumbent bikes offer low-impact exercise that reduces stress on the joints. People with arthritis or athletes with repetitive stress injuries will find exercising on either an upright or recumbent bike easier than performing high-impact exercises such as jogging or jumping rope.
Stationary Bikes
Stationary upright and recumbent bikes allow you to maintain your fitness year-round, even in months when exercising outdoors would be impossible because of the weather. You can adjust stationary upright and recumbent bikes to suit your height and the length of your legs, and you can adjust the pedals' resistance to simulate hills. You can even read or watch TV while working out on these stationary bikes. You might find it easier to read on the recumbent bike than on an upright bike. The Mayo Clinic recommends low- to moderate-intensity stationary bike workouts for pregnant women.
Calories Burned
The number of calories burned with either a recumbent bike or upright bike will depend on your weight, the duration of your workout and the intensity level of your exercise. The Mayo Clinic estimates than a one-hour bicycle workout at a speed of less than 10 miles per hour will burn about 219 calories for a 160 lb. person. To increase the number of calories you burn, pedal faster, pedal up a hill or increase the resistance level on a stationary bike.
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