Are you looking for a comfortable yet effective workout option? If you have settled on stationary cycling bikes for your indoor exercises, then recumbent exercise bikes might be just the thing for you.
It is well established that recumbent bikes improve your muscle tone and are great for cardio workouts. Here is our list of the best five recumbent exercise bikes in the UK to help you choose your best fit.
Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes in the UK (Reviews)
To help you choose the best products for you, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the best recumbent bikes- both in functionality and ratings. Our reviews are sure to provide you with all the required information you will need to find the recumbent exercise bike that ticks all your boxes.
If you’re the type that wants to feel cushioned and comfortable while they’re pedalling away, then Exerpeutic’s 900XL indoor cycling bike will appeal to you. This particular recumbent exercise bike comes with a sleek LCD monitor display for your readings as well.
The LCD monitor helps you keep track of your speed and the calories burned. You can also keep an eye on the distance and time using the screen, too. The seats and the saddle can be easily adjusted to your height and preference.
The Exerpeutic 900XL bike is high in quality in both looks and functionality and keeps everything in mind, even straps for pedals. The pedal straps are adjustable so that you can fit it to your feet perfectly.
The big cushion makes sitting and exercising easier and keeps any pain or pressure off your joints.
This particular bike is highly recommended for beginners, as the magnetic resistance gives you the challenge to improve your strength. It also has eight levels of resistance so you decide the amount of resistance you can handle and can gradually increase it as you go.
Features
- Dimensions- 1.37 metres x 55.88 cm x 86.36 cm
- Weight: 28.57 kg
- Rate sensors: Has leg stabilisers and heart rate sensors
- Display: Includes LCD monitor display
- Control options: Magnetic control- 8 level
Expert Reviews
The Exerpeutic 900XL indoor cycling bike is one of the best premium bikes to buy. Especially if you favour comfort and ease along with the strength training. The bike is highly effective in helping you keep track of your calories and other specifications, which allows you to determine the length of your workouts.
Why We Chose This Product #1
When searching for quality bikes with modern features and spec, Exerpeutic has some of the best ones. With this bike, you will get your money’s worth, and it saves you from investing in any monthly subscription programs. That is why it is our number one pick.
Short intervals of high-intensity workouts can do wonders for you, and you will sweat out all the calories you want. That is why HIIT workouts are becoming such a popular trend. With a recumbent bike, you can pedal to your heart’s desire, and if you choose to do it as a high-intensity training for short bursts, you’re likely to see satisfying results.
For weight loss, it is recommended by ACSM that a round of 60-90 minutes on a bike five days a week will help you lose weight effectively and keep you in perfect shape.
Sunny Health and fitness comfort XL bike prioritizes your comfort. In our research, we found that this is a perfect bike for people who are looking for some rehabilitation time because of injuries. Particularly back and knee injuries that can get quite painful if one works out on an upright bike.
The recumbent bike will provide absolute comfort to the back and not pressurise your knees and joints. This will give you a pain-free but effective workout. The Sunny bike is fully adjustable and has extra padding to the seat and backrest. It also has a monitor that can track your speed, time, distance and calories burned.
Features
- Gripping: Comes with pulse grips that give you pulse readings
- Padding: Comfortable and extra padding on the saddles and seat
- Product Dimensions: 81.28 x 53.34 x 124.46 cm
- Product weight: 17.46 Kgs
- Battery: Includes batteries and a user manual
Expert Reviews
The bike is easy to assemble and does not take hours. The backrest and the extra padding helps to keep the legs in the appropriate shape required to pedal effectively. The monitor and the tracking of reading will help you adjust your workout goals and set them according to your preference.
Why We Chose This Product #2
The belt drive on this bike is extremely low maintenance but lasts long and is highly durable. The extra padding and the comfortable backrest will be very convenient for the elderly and the disabled or the injured.
That said, this bike is both high in quality and customer satisfaction, which is why we have put it up as the number 2 product on the list.
Do you want to get yourself some heavy but comfortable workout but don’t want to spend an exorbitant amount on any fancy indoor bikes? Then Ultrasport has got your back. We reviewed this product and found out that if you’re looking for an extremely budget-friendly but high quality and functional recumbent bike, then this one is perfect.
The bike comes in an attractive colour and does not take up a lot of space. In fact, you can even fold it up when not in use and put it anywhere. It is easily collapsible and adjustable.
It has different and adjustable resistance levels, up to 8, and a monitor to track your readings. It is also battery powered and does not take up a lot of power to run.
The modernistic LCD will show you the distance and time covered, pulse and the calories burned. The maximum capacity of the bike is 100 kgs, so make sure you choose a bike that is perfect for your requirements before you proceed to buy.
Features
- Resistance: 8 resistance levels
- Display: LCD monitor for tracking readings
- Product dimension: 122 x 37.5 x 21.5 cm
- Product weight: 19.52 Kgs
- Working: Battery-powered
Expert Reviews
This particular bike is fit for both adults and kids. It is easy to operate and easy to assemble and gives an accurate reading. You can use it to work out your leg muscles and also get your back and shoulder workout out, too.
Why We Chose This Product #3
With its immensely flexible and collapsible parts, it can be easy to store and use and becomes a perfect workout tool. The maximum capacity of the bike is only 100 kgs of user weight. For its ease of assembly and affordability, we have placed it at number 3 on the list.
Recumbent bikes are used by everyone and as it provides the comfort of sitting without any bad posture or back pain.
It also gives both high intensity and low-intensity workouts and lets you choose the amount of pressure you put on your muscles. Your back and knees and joints do not get hurt or pressurised because of the upright posting required in an upright bike.
We found out that the XTERRA Fitness FB350 exercise bike provides you with all of that and more. This bike takes up very little space and gives your muscles all the workout they will need. It has a sturdy frame and lets you set your resistance levels up to 8 times manually.
For people who are looking for a rehabilitation workout for their injuries, this bike can be quite useful. As it doesn’t require too much space, it is perfect for keeping in your apartments or rooms.
A lot of bikes are designed keeping high stature in mind, but if you’re looking for a bike that fits your smaller or medium height, then you’re on track. The XTERRA Fitness FB350 bike can accommodate short heights and kids too. For elderly who want to stay fit while staying indoors, this bike provides all the necessary functions one could need.
Features
- Bike Type: Folding bike
- Product dimensions: 102.9 x 53.3 x 128.3 centimetres
- Product weight: 19.19 Kgs
- System Type: Belt drive system
- Resistance: Includes eight levels of manual resistance
Expert Reviews
With very few bikes adjusted towards shorter height, this bike is a perfect fit for you if you’re tired of seeing the bikes tailor-made for taller people. The bike is very effective in helping you get a good workout and sweat going while you rest your back comfortably.
Why We Chose This Product #4
If you’re looking for an affordable bike and don’t want to compromise the quality of your recumbent exercise bike, then this one will meet your expectations. The bike, however, can have parts that may not be as sturdy and the resistance is not that much even at a higher level. That is why we picked it as number 4 for you.
5. Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike Exercise Bike
Warming up and stretching is crucial before any exercise. They will help you keep your blood circulation going and help you get a good cardiovascular workout. The cardio workouts are known to help with high blood pressure levels and towards increasing lung and heart capacity.
This Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic recumbent bike is an ideal fit for you if you wish to keep your upper body relaxed while you work on your lower one. Cycling is said to tone and strengthen your leg muscles, and also your glutes. Recumbent bikes like Sunny Health and Fitness magnetic bikes are chosen for their ergonomic uses and designed to give comfort and strength both.
The bike is extremely durable and easy to use. The assembling is quite simple, too. The large seat and the padded lower back seat provides you with enough padding to prevent any pain in your back.
You can adjust your seat and height hassle-free while sitting, and the magnetic control allows you to control the force of the resistance. You get eight levels of resistance and can increase and decrease them as per your convenience.
Features
- Backseat: Wide and adjustable backseat
- Product dimensions: 116.84 x 62.23 x 96.52 cm
- Product weight: 26.63 Kgs
- Maximum weight capacity: 136 kgs
- Resistance: Magnetic Resistance controls
- Display: LCD monitor to track controls
Expert Reviews
The bike is very affordable and works very well for having a good lower body workout. One good thing about a recumbent bike is that you can adjust your seat without having to get up, which makes it ideal for disabled and injured people.
Why We Chose This Product #5
While this magnetic recumbent bike has quality features, the readings may not be as accurate. They are not entirely reliable, but it is quite an affordable bike, nonetheless. That is why we have this as the final 5th product on our review list.
Recumbent Exercise Bike: A Buyer’s Guide
Before you get to purchasing or even choosing any product for your recumbent exercising purposes, it is crucial to understand what features you should be looking out for.
If you’re wondering what to look for when buying a recumbent bike, here’s our buyer’s guide for you.
Requirements
Whether you want it as a light work out tool or whether you are going to use it during the rehabilitation of your injuries will help you decide which recumbent bike to pick.
Different recumbent bikes come with various added features; your requirements will help you decide which features you want to include and what you want to avoid.
Resistance Levels
Most of the recumbent bikes will include at least up to 8 levels of resistance, some even magnetic resistance. Higher levels can be found in ultra-modern and premium ones. But ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what resistance level intensity you want to go for.
Seat Adjustments
As recumbent bikes come for people both old and disabled, injured and healthy, the seats need to shift according to their needs. So keep in mind to choose bikes that can easily be adjusted to your height and convenience.
FAQs About Recumbent Bikes
Are recumbent exercise bikes good?
Yes, these bikes are extremely useful for both high intensity and low intensity lower body workouts. You can tone up your quads and hamstrings and get a good daily workout with these bikes.
What are the recumbent exercise bikes?
Recumbent exercise bikes are a little different than the common upright cycling bikes. These are specially to provide ease of posture and to provide comfort to your back while you work out. So, they have cushioned backrests and saddles to prevent any pressure on joints and back.
What is a magnetic recumbent exercise bike?
The recumbent bikes that have magnetic resistance control as opposed to manual sones levels are called magnetic recumbent exercise bikes.
Why choose a recumbent bike?
If you are elderly and want a simple low-pressure cycle bike, then recumbent bikes will be a better option than upright ones. For injured, disabled, and even kids, these bikes are a better alternative as you do not have to lean and keep a strong posture while pedalling.
Upright bikes require you to have strong back muscles. Otherwise, you could even get injured with high-pressure use. The upright bikes will require you to contact be in one position for maximum workout benefit. With recumbent one, you can easily back and relax your upper body while working on your legs and toning them up.
As your upper body is mostly relaxed while you’re working on a recumbent bike, you could easily read a book, listen to podcasts, music or Netflix and chill even as you work on your legs.
Is a recumbent exercise bike better than an upright exercise bike?
There is no better or worse. Choosing an upright bike or a recumbent bike is high depending on your requirements and condition. For beginners and people who do not want to work out at high-intensity levels or pressures, recumbent bikes are perfect. That also includes the senior folks and the injured and the disabled.
Upright bikes, however, are mostly used by people looking for intense strength training. And in an upright cycling bike, you are not provided with any backrest or cushions as the positioning of your legs and back is different for them.
What suits you best will depend upon what requirements you have from your workout and your bike.
Is recumbent exercise bikes good for weight loss?
Any form of exercise, especially high intensity but short interval ones are known to increase our dopamine levels. Recumbent cycling is one the way to trigger the release of dopamine and get the energy levels increased by at least 20%. Cycling of any kind has a plethora of benefits.
These recumbent bikes are also highly effective in burning calories and hence, burning fat. They are good for weight loss, too, and give you pretty much the same results as any other indoor cycling bike.
Is recumbent exercise bike good or bad for knees?
They’re good! They’re better for your knees than any other indoor exercise bikes. The added cushion and padding to the back seats and saddles removes the pressure from your joints and helps with knee pain as well.
If there are knee injuries, working out on a recumbent bike can even e useful for your rehabilitation.
How to use a recumbent bike?
They’re simple to use, in fact, simpler than others. You pretty much need to use them as you would an upright bike. Adjust the saddles and seat levels to your preference and height.
Choose the level of resistance you want to work out with. Then choose the settings and decide on your goals. Keep track of your heart rate, speed, distance and time with the monitors and pedal away with ease and comfort.
What is the difference between a recumbent exercise bike and an upright exercise bike?
The upright exercise bikes are the ones that are popularly and commonly known for an indoor cycling workout. They have a saddle and no back support or backrest. They require you to lean forward and put pressure on your back and joints. The upright bike can have very high resistible level controls.
As opposed to recumbent bikes, they come with back support and adjustment levels of the cushioned seats and saddles. They are made for comfort while working out and usually do not contain very high resistance levels.
Are recumbent exercise bikes only for the elderly?
Not really. While they are made keeping in mind the needs of the senior folks and the disabled people. They can be used by anyone. They are very good for beginners and ideal for people with injuries or rehabilitation purposes.
It is popularly known to be for the elderly, but it is not limited to them. Younger people, who want to focus on getting some workout in their day and do not want the right complex equipment, quite often prefer recumbent bikes over others.
They also provide ease and comfort of the back while giving you opportunities to multitask and read or watch anything you want.
Recumbent bikes are also used for short intervals or high-intensity workouts, which are very effective in burning fat. These HIIT workouts are quite popular amongst the younger generations, and recumbent bikes prove to be one of the best equipment for such workouts.