What to Lookfor WhenBuyingRecumbentExercise Bike

BY FITBODYBUZZ.COM

1. Height and Weight Rating

Different brands come with different ratings;this is a very important consideration becausewe all have unique body sizes. Make sure thebike is capable and designed to handle yourweight or the weight of the heaviest person inthe family, in the case that you are buying onefor the whole family to use.

Of course, the higher the weight rating, themore expensive the bike will be so you shouldbe prepared to spend much more if youintend to buy a recumbent bike with a rating ofabout 400 pounds or higher.

The same applies for the height rating too. Some may not have it, but it isof vital importance to get a bike with an adjustable back just to makesure that even the tallest user will be comfortably accommodated.Remember that when it comes to working out, comfort is the key.

2. ComfortSpeaking of comfort, this is the next most important thing to consider.What are some of the comfort elements you should keep in mindwhen looking for the recumbent exercise bike you want to buy?

•Oversized padded seats•A vented seat back and with strong lumbarsupport•Adjustability•Additional functions like a fan

The level of comfort of your bike will largelydepend on the amount of money you arewilling to spend. Of course, the morecomfortable and high-end models will bring ahigher price tag. Figure out which elements ofcomfort are most important to you and findthe best bike offered in your price rangeaccording to those comfort desires.

Also with the bike’s seat, theadjustment should be easy on boththe seat and the back rest. Do notget a bike that is difficult to adjustas this will just be a nuisance,especially if many people areexpected to use the bike andfrequent adjustments would needto be made.

3. PedalsBeing a major component of any style of bike,you should take a close look at the pedals thatcome with your recumbent exercise bike.Good, reliable pedals will make your workoutmuch more enjoyable and they will evenincrease your stamina, meaning that you areable to work out for longer. How do youidentify good pedals even without trying themout?

•They should be oversized;•They should have a safety strap to reduce thechances of your feet slipping while workingout;•They should preferably have the 3-piecepedal crank, which is less clunky and offerssmoother movement than the 1-piece crank.

4. Resistance

The resistance simply means the degree ofdifficulty when peddling the bike. Keeping inmind that recumbent bikes are designed forexercising, you should expect the pedal tooffer some level of resistance to increase theintensity of the workout.

There are a wide range of resistant levels thatvary from one bike to the next. There are bikeswith a resistance level of ten while others mayhave levels up to 40 – it all depends on themanufacturer.

The general rule with recumbent bikes is that the higher theresistance level, the more “difficult” or challenging your workout willbe and the reverse also applies. You will find the serious athletesgoing for the bikes with high resistance levels. If you are not soserious about working out, then a resistance level of between 8 and10 will do just fine.

There are three possible types of resistance when it comes to arecumbent exercise bike:

a) Magnetic ECB resistance – the best and most popular of the 3b) Direct fiction/direct tension – clunky and loudc) Wind resistance – outdated and very rare to find equipped oncurrent bike models

5. Heart Rate Monitor

Just like with the resistance, the heart ratemonitor feature basically just contributes tothe workout effectiveness of the bike.When working out, one major way in whichyou can determine the intensity of yourworkout is by judging from your heart’sactivity. The more intense the workout, thehigher the heart rate will be as bloodcirculation is enhanced. Particularly forthose exercising under a doctor’sdirections, it is important they have a heartrate monitor to conform they are within theacceptable ranges. There are two primarytypes of heart monitors:

a) Telemetric heart monitor – this is by farthe best of all heart rate monitors. Becauseit utilizes advanced technology, this type ofheart monitor can only be found in thehigher-end bikes, which are ratherexpensive.

b) Contact heart monitor – this is the morelocal version and is also less expensive.Built into the handle bars grips, these kindsof monitors are not as precise as thetelemetric type, but they are reasonablyreliable.

6. Bike’s Computer Settings All recumbent bikes come with a computer, whose main purpose is tokeep track of the users’ fitness goals as well as help them customizethe bike for themselves. In addition to the resistance level and the heartrate minor, the computer also tracks the speed and distance cycled, thenumber of calories burned during the workout session, the pulse rate,and even how the user performed as compared to previous workouts.

Remember that a recumbent exercise bike is a big investment and soyou should take your time before spending money on the bike.

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BEST RECUMBENT EXERCISEBIKES HERE

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