Upright stationary exercise bikes have been around a long time but recumbent stationary exercise bikes have become very popular. And there is no doubt that you can readily find someone willing to debate which type of exercise & fitness bike is the "Best Exercise & Fitness Bike."

1. RECUMBENT BIKE VS UPRIGHT BIKE

2. RECUMBENT BIKE
 A recumbent bicycle differs from a standard,
stationary bicycle and elliptical machine primarily in
how you position yourself on the device.

3. UPRIGHT BIKE
 Upright stationary exercise bikes have been around
a long time but recumbent stationary exercise bikes
have become very popular.

4. DIFFERENCES
 Rider's body sits well into
the bike frame.
 Rider is in a more
comfortable and natural
reclined body position which
help reduce body fatigue
and eliminate muscle
soreness in the upper body.
 Seat is much more
comfortable, often times just
as comfortable as your
average office chair.
 Rider's body sits above the
bike frame like the more
traditional bicycle you grew
up riding as a kid.
 If sitting correctly, the rider
should be slightly hunched
over with a slight bend in
the neck and back.This may
create soreness and
fatigue.
 Seat is smaller like it is on a
more traditional bicyele.
RECUMBENT BIKE UPRIGHT BIKE

5. BENEFITS
 Recumbent bikes are easier on
the lower back (lumbar
spine) due to the way that you
sit in the bike. While an upright
bike has you hunched over the
handlebars, a recumbent bike
encourages better spinal
posture.
 Recumbent bikes are gentle on
all your joints. Your lower back
is supported by the bucket seat
and your knees and ankles are
protected from potential
injurious impact.
 An upright bike gives you
a more consistent
workout when relating to
outdoor riding, since the
upright places the rider in a
similar body position.
 Upright bikes also ensure
you’re working the same
muscles that are using with
outdoor riding, which is more of
a whole body exercise. Where
as a recumbent mostly requires
use of your glutes, quads,
hamstrings, calves and tibilais
anterior muscles.
RECUMBENT BIKE UPRIGHT BIKE

6. BENEFITS(CONTINUE)
 The fact that the seat is
larger on a recumbent bike
tends to be one of the most
enticing features. An upright
bike generally has a smaller
seat and can be uncomfortable
for many riders.
 Recumbent bikes
are generally safer because
you cannot stand up on the
pedals. This eliminates many of
the injuries that occur when
using an upright bike.
 The upright bike works the
abdominal muscles since you
are keeping the body upright
and supporting your workout.
Since you are in a reclined
position on a recumbent bike
there is little to no use of the
abdominal muscles.
 There is also more of an upper
body arm workout since you
are engaging the biceps,
triceps, and shoulders in the
upright position.
RECUMBENT BIKE UPRIGHT BIKE

7. BENEFITS(CONTINUE)
 A recumbent bike is a good choice
for most people with neurological
conditions since the bike provides
a workout for individuals of all
ability levels. It is safe and provides
a low impact total body workout.
 Due to the low impact the
recumbent bike reduces the risk of
pain and can build strength. If your
back and hips are affected by
rheumatoid arthritis, a recumbent
bike may be easier to use due to
the reclining position with your
weight spread over your back and
buttocks.
 Upright bikes have a smaller
footprint, therefore take up less
space in your home or gym.
RECUMBENT BIKE UPRIGHT BIKE

8. COMPARISION TABLE

9. RECUMBENT BIKE PROS & CONS
 Practical for obese or elderly
people: This is the one piece of
equipment that overweight, obese
or elderly people can use in all
safety. Indeed, the machine gently
positions your body in such a way
so as to take the weight off your
knees and joints, which largely
eliminates the risk of injuries.
 More comfortable: As previously
mentioned, there’s really no
beating the comfort factor when it
comes to stationary recumbent
bikes.
 Can be boring for some:
Although for the most part a
reclined position offers more
comfort than the traditional
upright, more energetic people
might not exactly like the idea
of sitting in such position for an
hour.
 More expensive than upright:
Admittedly, recumbent bikes do
come in a wide range of prices.
However, these models tend to
be costlier than upright bikes,
as well as bulkier.
Pros Cons

10. RECUMBENT BIKE PROS & CONS (CONTINUE)
 Easy to do two things at
once: This is one of the rare
fitness machines that are
actually silent and comfortable
enough to allow you to do two
things at the same time. This
way, athletes can lounge back
and exercise while watch their
favorite movie, read a book or
magazine or even use their
tablets.
 Not suitable for people with
limited floor space: One
major issue with recumbent
bikes is that they tend to take
quite a large amount of floor
space, something that can be
detrimental to anyone with
limited living quarters. They
aren’t exactly easy to store
away either, especially when
compared with mini-steppers or
upright bikes.
Pros Cons

12. POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND
 Check to make sure the stationary bike is positioned so all
moving parts are allowed safe clearance.
 Ensure there is adequate room to safely mount and dismount
the bike.
 Position the handlebar and seat height before beginning to
cycle. Find your perfect position in the seat. Proper positioning
is important so that you have a safe and effective workout.
Keep in mind that pain in the front of your knee usually means
there is too much knee bend and pain in the back means
there is too little knee bend. Read more about how to set up
your bike for maximum benefits.

13. POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND