Comparison Of Resistance On Recumbent Bikes

Riding a recumbent bicycle can be a good workout for riders of various fitness levels. According to Michael Walker's article on PioneerThinking.com, a majority of personal trainers and doctors recommend recumbent bikes because of the many benefits they offer to both men and women. Depending on your workout goals, stationary recumbent bikes offer from 16 to 40 resistance levels.

Identification

The two primary types of exercise bikes are upright and recumbent bikes. Traditional upright bikes have a small and narrow seat, some people associate back pain with these bicycles. Also, because the rider leans forward with their body while riding it puts additional strain on the riders joints. The newer design of a recumbent bike allows the rider to sit in a semi-reclined position, in a comfortable bucket seat with your legs out in front of you.

Significance

An article in Recumbent Cycling News, written by Paul K. Noland, M.D, notes that the body weight is much more evenly distributed while riding a recumbent bicycle in a semi-reclined position. Less stress is put upon the arms, hands and shoulders from the weight of the torso. The abs are much flatter and straight, which aids in better breathing and blood circulation throughout the body.

Features

Stationary recumbent bicycles come with many features such as a heart rate monitor and workout programs, but the resistance you feel while pedaling, is ultimately the key to having a good workout. While some cheaper exercise bikes use a tension belt for resistance, the middle range to high end bicycles use magnetic resistance, according to Galt Home, an Independent Online Guide. They are much more quieter and more consistent; knobs or push-buttons usually control the magnetic resistance levels, and experts recommend the push-button models.

Resistance Levels

The Star Trac Pro recumbent bike is retailed at $2,800 and offers 20 different magnetic resistance levels. The Schwinn 213 and 240 retailed at $450 has 16 levels of resistance, according to Galt Home. Another high end recumbent bike retailed at $1,599 is the Spirit XBR-95, which has 40 levels of resistance, and has a multi-angled taller seat, according to BeyondMoseying.com. The Nautilus NR 2000 is retailed at $1,600 and offers 16 levels of resistance, and the Ignite 746 retailed at $600 also has 16 levels of resistance, according to Exercise Equipment Expert.

Considerations

As you pedal you can adjust the settings to more or less resistance depending on your fitness goals. Set a workout program that allows you to simulate pedaling uphill, for a certain amount of time and/or distance, to get a great aerobic workout. The weight capacity on most recumbent bikes is 350 lbs., and those who are overweight find the seats to be much more comfortable than a traditional upright bike. For those riders who want an upper body workout, grab some weights and do repetitions while you sit back in the semi-reclined position of the recumbent bicycle.