Consumers have numerous fitness equipment options for working out in the comfort of home. Low-impact machines, such as elliptical machines and exercise bikes, are popular because they place less stress on the joints, compared to treadmills or stair climbers. Pedal exercisers and recumbent bikes are two low-impact exercise options, but they have significantly different features and designs.
Identification
A recumbent exercise bike has a full seat with back support, a flywheel mechanism, pedals, handlebars and a console. The seat sits behind the pedals instead of above the pedals like on an upright bike.
A pedal exerciser is a much more compact device than a recumbent bike. It consists of pedals supported by a small A-frame. Some pedal exercisers include a basic monitor with an LCD display.
Function
Pedal exercisers and recumbent bikes serve similar functions; they both allow you to move the pedals with your lower legs for an aerobic workout. On the pedal exerciser, you sit in a chair and pedal with the device on the floor below you. You can also set a pedal exerciser on a table and pedal with your arms for an upper body workout, which is not available on a recumbent bike. A pedal exerciser typically provides a less intense workout and is often used in rehabilitation and medical facilities. Recumbent bikes are also used in these environments, but they are also found in gyms and fitness centers next to the treadmills and ellipticals.
Features
You can adjust the pedal tension on a pedal exerciser with a manual tension knob. Some recumbent bikes have manually adjustable pedal tension, while others have digitally adjustable pedal tension. Most recumbent bikes have a full console with a screen that displays your workout data, including distance, speed, time, resistance level and heart rate. Many bikes have preset programs that control the pedal tension for you and prompt you to pedal slower or faster. Some pedal exercisers include a basic monitor that shows your workout time.
Considerations
Even though some recumbent bikes include transport wheels so you can move the bike to different areas, pedal exercisers are much more portable than a recumbent bike. They are lighter and smaller, typically only weighing between 6 and 15 lbs. A recumbent bike usually weighs between 60 and 130 lbs.
The price of a recumbent bike can range from as low as $120 to as high as $600. Pedal exercisers cost as low as $25 and as high as $175.
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