Fitness is important to many people and some choose to create a home gym rather than paying for fitness club membership. A recumbent exercise bike is a standard piece of workout equipment in many residential workout rooms. These exercise bikes allow the individual to sit in a leaned-back position while exercising, with the feet extended at a perpendicular angle in front of the body. Individuals who do not have much experience with this piece of fitness equipment should know how to shop for it.
Step 1: One of the advantages to using a recumbent bike is the limited amount of stress on the back, neck, buttocks, wrists, and hands. People who tend to experience numbness in these areas after riding an upright bike will not experience this when riding the recumbent version. Ask the seller more about this and about other benefits of purchasing a recumbent model over an upright version.
Step 2: Determine where to shop. These bikes can be found online, in sporting goods stores, in fitness shops, and even in some discount stores.
Step 3: For some people, price is a determining factor, so limit the shopping to include bikes only within the desired price range. This will save time, eliminating the need to review bikes that are more expensive than they can afford.
Step 4: Compare the features of different brands and models. Typical features include an adjustable seat, adjustable resistance, heart rate sensor, integrated workout programs, and a display screen that reflects things like distance, time, speed, and calories. Consider the number of features and whether they will be helpful to the workout routine. If a bike does not include essential features, remove it from the list.
Step 5: Identify value-added features such as a music port with speakers or built-in video games. Though these may not sway the decision, they are worth knowing.
Step 6: If shopping in person, ask to sit in the bike and experiment with the features. This will also give you an opportunity judge its comfort. If the bike is not comfortable, it is less likely to be used.
Step 7: When shopping online, ask for total view pictures of the bike if they are not presented. Try to find the same model in a store to test features and sit in the bike. The purchase can later be made online if prices are cheaper.
