Last Updated on November 1, 2021 by MarcyPro
You want to torch calories, sculpt your lower body, and invest in an exercise machine that you’ll actually enjoy using. Have you considered a recumbent exercise bike? A recumbent bike is different from a traditional upright exercise bike in several important ways.
The most notable difference between an upright and recumbent bike is the position of the rider. A recumbent bike offers you a comfortable seat and backrest for back support. Because of this more reclined position, the pedals are in front of you. When you ride a recumbent stationary bike, it feels a little like you are sitting back in a chair.
Many recumbent bikes feature LCD Displays, seat adjustment, tablet holders, heart rate monitors, and much more. We highly recommend confirming the features you’re looking for are all in the bike you’ll be purchasing.
Could a recumbent bike be the perfect addition to your home gym? Here are five big recumbent bike benefits to consider:
1. Recumbent Bikes Are More Comfortable Than Upright Bikes
Recumbent bikes are designed to position the rider for optimal comfort during the workout. The back pad gives you crucial lumbar support, which can help you avoid lower back pain. If you’ve ridden on an upright stationary bike or biked outside for a long amount of time, you might have felt your lower back tighten up over the miles.
Upright stationary bikes can also cause shoulder and neck fatigue as well as tightness in the hips, since the rider tends to hunch forward during the ride. Recumbent bikes offer a wide, padded seat that can keep your glutes comfy for a long exercise session. You won’t be complaining about any “saddle soreness,” as is common when newer riders use upright bikes.
Keep in mind, comfort can play a big role in whether or not you stick with your fitness plan. If you come out of your workout with a throbbing lower back and sore shoulders, you may hesitate to make time for your next fitness session. A comfortable workout also makes it easier for you to keep going. More time spent on a recumbent bike translates to more muscular development, more weight loss, and better overall fitness results.
2. Recumbent Bikes Are a Great Choice for Every Exerciser
Not every piece of cardio equipment is ideal for every type of exerciser. However, a recumbent bike is one of those rare pieces of equipment that can be adapted for almost any type of person, even those with physical restrictions.
First and foremost, recumbent bikes are an excellent choice for beginning exercisers, especially those who may feel intimidated by treadmills, elliptical trainers, and stationary bikes. Recumbent bikes are easy to get into and out of and offer a very stable base. This feature also makes recumbent bikes a good exercise choice for anyone with balance or coordination challenges. Many new exercisers enjoy the fact that they can completely control the amount of challenge in each workout by either changing their pedaling speed or modifying the resistance.
The recumbent bike also offers a low-impact cardio workout. If you suffer from arthritis or joint pain, or if you are recovering from an injury, a recumbent bike can be a means to an excellent, pain-free workout.
3. Recumbent Bikes Help You Burn A Lot of Calories
Just because a recumbent bike offers you a comfortable riding experience doesn’t mean you won’t get in a good workout when you take the bike for a spin. Once you start pedaling, you’ll begin to feel the burn in your legs and glutes. This is still an exercise machine, after all!
Using the recumbent bike will burn calories, which can help you lose weight and achieve your fitness goals. The amount of calories you burn will depend on how hard you make your workout, as well as other factors like your gender, age, and fitness level. However, if you challenge yourself to pedal hard against a moderate or high level of resistance, you can burn a significant amount of calories per hour.
According to an article on Livestrong.com, a person who weighs between 170 and 200 pounds can burn between 7.7 and 9.9 calories per minute. All they need to do is pedal 9.5 miles per hour on a recumbent bike. That translates to 462 – 594 calories per hour or work – not bad!
4. Tone Your Lower Body
Burning calories will help you lose fat, which can reveal the muscles that have been hiding beneath those extra pounds. Of course, you can’t show off toned muscles if you don’t have them!
The recumbent bike not only sizzles away your fat, but it can also help you shape up the muscles in your lower legs, including your quads, hamstrings, and glutes. These are some of the largest muscles in your body, so toning them can really change the way your body looks and feels. The best way to give your leg muscles a good workout is to gradually increase the resistance on the recumbent bike. Increasing the resistance makes your muscles work harder and harder to maintain the same pace.
If you enjoy outdoor cycling or own an indoor stationary bike, a recumbent bike can still be a good addition to your home gym. On a recumbent bike, the pedals are in front of the user rather than below the user.
The different position of the pedals activates the leg muscles in a way that is different from an upright bike. In other words, you’ll be giving your quads, hamstrings, and glutes an entirely different workout, which could result in bigger positive changes to your body.
5. Biking Gives Your Cardiovascular System a Boost
A small amount of cardio exercise each week can have a positive impact on your cardiovascular system and cardiovascular endurance. When you use your recumbent bike, your heart has to work harder to pump blood and oxygen into the big and hungry muscles of your legs. As a result, your heart gets a workout and becomes stronger.
According to the Heart Foundation, even just 30 minutes of physical activity a day can prevent heart disease and lower your risk of diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure. It can also “reduce stress, tension, depression, and anxiety.”
That is a lot of health benefits for a little time in your home gym each day on your recumbent bike. Let the time on a recumbent exercise bike fly by as you watch a movie, listen to a podcast or music, or read a book while you are on the bike!
Do you want to bring all these recumbent bike benefits into your home? At Marcy, we offer a great selection of recumbent bike models. All our bikes provide excellent quality for an affordable price. See our full selection of the best recumbent bikes, and then start pedaling your way to a healthier body.
Good blog! Recumbent Bikes are great cardio equipment for burning calories and can shape your lower leg muscles. Recumbent Bike exercises also help to keep the heart healthy.
I’m 72 and bought the bike to keep mobile, as I hate to walk for no reason, other than enjoyment. I pedal a minimum 5 miles a day and my heart rate is 105 BPM…I feel great.
Hello Richard, thank you for reaching out to us. That’s awesome to hear! Keep pushing it and enjoying the fruits of exercising, have an awesome day!
Just purchased NS-716 R hoping this will help build up muscles in legs to be able to walk more will see.