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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.
Thursday, March 4th
Diamondback Fitness has a long history in the world of bicycles. They also offer a strong selection of exercise bikes that may be used no matter the conditions outside. Customers appreciate the more authentic feel of the Diamondback Fitness products, the solid warranty and affordable pricing, and the top quality construction. If you're in the market for an exercise bike, Diamondback Fitness is a great place to start. They earn our highest rating.
Bowflex presents itself as a highly impressive and dependable option for consumers seeking a leading indoor cycling bike. With the C6 Bike, consumers are offered all of the lauded benefits of leading exercise bikes - sleek design, exciting technology compatibility, state of the art features, and multiple included amenities - at a shockingly low fraction of the cost. What Bowflex lacks in offering a variety of exercise bikes for consumers, it certainly makes up for in this incredible Exercise Bike debut.
Horizon Fitness is a maker of home fitness equipment that offers a wide selection of exercise bicycles. From upright to recumbent to standard indoor cycles style bikes, Horizon offers a model for everyone. Their ViaFit and Passport technology brings exercise bikes into the future with online workout tracking and video footage to add to the workout experience.
Xterra Fitness provides a very small selection of exercise bikes for online shoppers. Whether you choose the recumbent or upright bike, they both provide the same features and options at the same price. For those wanting a more basic model, they'll need to shop elsewhere. Shoppers will like the good quality of equipment offered by Xterra Fitness where just not sure, with such a small selection, that Xterra will meet the needs of most shoppers.
If you've ever taken a spin class or used a recumbent bike at the gym, chances are good that you've used a LifeFitness machine. Their popularity in exercise facilities is obvious even from the names of many of their exercise bikes available for home use - "Club Series". Be prepared to spend more for a LifeFitness bike, and be aware that a hefty restocking fee of up to $500 can make it expensive if you wind up not liking your purchase.
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.
We liked that Pro-Form 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. Pro-Form 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 Pro-Form may be worth a closer look.
Frequently seen in gyms and other fitness centers, Precor's line of upright and recumbent cycles are familiar to most users of exercise bikes. For home use, however, Precor's lack of a return policy and high prices may discourage shoppers from investing in the equipment for their personal fitness goals.
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.
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:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best exercise bikes available today. We hope these reviews help you find a healthier, leaner you!
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