Upright stationary bikes have been eclipsed to some extent by recumbent bikes, which many people prefer because they can sit in a chair-like seat rather than perch on a regular bicycle seat. Although upright bikes are less comfortable for many people, they still offer a few advantages over recumbent bikes. One big advantage is that you can stand up to crank up the intensity of your workout in the same way you can stand up on a regular bike.
Review Sites
There are a number of well-respected review sites that compare various exercise bikes, both recumbent and upright. These include the Galt Buying Guide, Consumer Search and Elliptical-Trainer-Reviews.com. Although the review sites generally support the notion that most people will find a recumbent bike to be more comfortable, it ultimately is a matter of personal preference, since you can get an excellent workout on either type of bike.
Galt
Two upright bikes stand out for the Galt reviewers. For a luxury bike, which is the type you might find a a health club or gym, Galt recommends the Life Fitness Lifecycle C3-5, which retails at roughly $1,650. Galt raves about the performance, the advanced and logical console display, the workout program options and the warranty. If you are looking for a budget bike, Galt recommends the Proform GL 105, which runs about $250. It enables you to customize your training program by keeping track of prior workouts and it offers adjustable handlebars.
Consumer Search
One upright bike made the list of the three best exercise bikes selected by Consumer Search, a site that "reviews the reviewers" such as Consumer Reports. It is the Marcy PL-43211, a basic bike that offers outstanding value for an estimated price of $145. It can handle people as heavy as 300 lbs. and it features an attractive LCD screen that shows your time, speed, calories expended and distance "traveled." The main drawback may be the time needed for assembly.
Elliptical-Trainer-Reviews.com
This site raves about all of the Fitnex exercise bikes. However, it is especially high on the Fitnex B50, which sells for about $1,000. The review praised the wide base seat with gel foam padding, the adjustable seat stand, which can accommodate everyone from 4'6" to 6'6", the heavy duty steel frame, the rust-proofing, which prevents sweat from rusting the metal, the endurance handle bars located over the regular handle bars, which enable you to lean forward or ride upright, a console and a racing program. In addition, you receive a lifetime warranty. The site, which extols the virtues of all of the Fitnex models, believes the entire line is under priced considering the quality of its bikes.
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