EXERCISE BIKES

Exercise bikes, also known as stationary bikes, are a great way to get an excellent cardiovascular workout at home when it best fits into your schedule. Exercise bikes also strengthen and nicely tone your legs, butt, stomach, and other muscles, and do so with less impact on the knees and lower back than other forms of exercise.

There are two general types of exercise bikes for home use: upright bikes and recumbent bikes. The upright exercise bike is similar to your standard road bike, with a saddle seat, and pedals positioned directly underneath the legs. Upright bikes allow for more movement, such as riding while standing on the pedals, or in a racing position, which can give you a more strenuous workout.

A recumbent exercise bike is more like sitting in a padded chair with back support. The pedals are situated straight ahead like a recliner. Recumbent bikes provide more comfort and ease of use, especially for those with back problems or who feel unstable sitting high off the ground. Recumbent bikes can also encourage a less intense workout, which is good for those people looking to gently exercise at their own pace. In the end, choosing a recumbent bike or an upright bike is ultimately a matter of preference to the user.

Several different brands of exercise bikes exist today and they range greatly in cost and quality. Before you make the move to purchase an exercise bike, consider the following:

• Cost. What is the price range for the products offered? How do these prices compare with other brands?

• Weight Capacity. What is the maximum body weight allowed on the equipment?

• Return Policy. Does the company enable you to return products for a full refund?

• Guarantee. Should a piece or part of the bike break, does the company offer any guarantee for replacement?

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best exercise bikes available today. We hope you find these reviews helpful in finding a healthier, leaner you!

SPORTSART FITNESS

From the beginner to the very serious biker, SportsArt Fitness exercise bikes are at the top of the list. SportsArt Fitness also provides some of the best guarantees in the market. With a wide range of exercise bikes, you can take comfort in the high quality found in every model.

LIVESTRONG

If you are a serious biker looking for a good stationary bike, the Livestrong exercise bikes might look and feel the closest to your road version. Priced higher than some other brands, we took comfort in the notable guarantee that protects your investment for years to come. Livestrong exercise bikes are a good choice.

HEALTHRIDER

Healthrider is a decent option with iFit compatibility and other interactive tools to keep your workout on track. You'll also get a heart rate monitor with grips on the side arms, and a Silent Magnetic Resistance system providing a smooth ride even when changing intensity. We found several counts of satisfied customers.

LIFECORE FITNESS

Priced a little higher than many bikes we liked the quality and warranty of the LifeCORE Fitness exercise bikes but would have liked a little more history on the equipment to feel comfortable with that size of a purchase. We did find customer comments of a smooth and quiet ride without knee and back pain.

PROFORM

We liked that Proform provides some lower priced products for those on a budget. The warranty is a little better than average on the frame and we liked the features on the different models. Proform does a good job of offering the latest technology in some of their products for those looking for gaming, iFit, Live and more. If you are on a budget and are a beginner to novice rider Proform may be worth a closer look.

NORDICTRACK

Some of the bells and whistles of the NordicTrack exercise bikes make them attractive given the cost of the equipment. However, numerous consumer complaints regarding manufacturing defects and wear issues brought us concerns. If you have a desire to try a NordicTrack buying an extended warranty is a must.

GOLD'S GYM

Installation and equipment issues seem to be the biggest down fall of the Gold's Gym exercise bikes. We found numerous complaints of bad or missing assembly instructions and responsiveness issues form customer service. Unfortunately, most people had better luck looking for tips online to resolve their issues from other consumers that had lived and learned.

WESLO

We've all purchased a toy or product that was so cheaply made that it never worked right. Weslo exercise bikes are so inexpensive that it's really no surprise when we found several accounts of bikes breaking within the first week and/or never working correctly. Save your money and look for an exercise bike that's higher priced and higher quality.