Exercise helps us feel good, relieves stress, boosts energy, and best of all, it’s great for staying healthy and in shape. This is what makes indoor cycling a great way for the less young to stay active comfortably and safely. Below, we’ve reviewed some options to see what’s the best recumbent bike for seniors.
This article includes affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of the products we have discussed in this article, we may receive a small commission.
Our top five best recumbent bikes for seniors are:
- Marcy Recumbent Bike With Resistance – Best Value
- Schwinn Recumbent Bike – Most Durable
- Exerpeutic Recumbent Bike (with pulse)
- Exerpeutic Recumbent Bike (foldable)
- Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical – Best combined
Table of Contents
Why Exercise?
When your body is young, moving is almost a natural impulse, but as you grow older, you may feel like your energy levels drop, and that exercise isn’t as meaningful.
On the contrary, as you get older, exercise becomes even more crucial for your well-being.
Your muscle mass begins to deplete, with a range of 3 to 5 percent muscle loss starting in the thirties, and even earlier if you’re inactive. Regular exercise, along with a good diet, helps retain this muscle mass.
In addition to the body, exercise also highly benefits older people’s minds. Exercise helps in cognitive activities such as focusing, remembering, and overall mental astuteness.
Research has found that the risk of developing dementia is greatly reduced for midlife ages who exercise compared to those who don’t.
There are also other great benefits to staying active for baby boomers, such as improved flexibility, better heart function, balanced mood levels, and the sheer endorphins that make you feel vibrant and youthful. Not to mention the greatest part, you’ll look and feel so much better. It’s easy to see that a good recumbent bike for seniors can be a great option if you’re looking to stay active.
Especially for those of us with dodgy joints (technical term), certain exercise machines are great for easily getting our much-needed workout sessions done. To that end, we have produced a guide (that we’ll continue updating) to the best low impact cardio machines.
Treadmills are another good option when taking fitness in midlife seriously. We have put together a buyer’s guide with reviews and recommendations for the best treadmill for seniors.
What Makes Recumbent Bikes a Great Choice for Seniors?
The main feature that makes a recumbent bike the best option for seniors is that the seating is not upright, but slightly tilted. This means that the user will be settled in a reclined position, which results in less pressure on the back as there is no hunching.
He or she is able to mount the bike easily.
The angle that the biker will be at ensures their feet will not be pedaling in an upwards and downwards motion but in an inwards and outwards motion. This will keep other joints, such as the knees and hips free from impact.
A recumbent bike offers seniors a great opportunity to engage in cardiovascular activity, which can result in better breathing, higher stamina, and even weight loss.
A recumbent bike is also better for seniors than other forms of exercise because it gives the opportunity of going longer rather than harder. Since you’ll be in a comfortable position that ensures safety, you can extend the duration of your workout and reap the benefits of endurance rather than intensity.
Things to Consider
Make sure that when you choose to exercise, especially if you’re just beginning, that you start slow. Pacing yourself is important. You can do so by either decreasing the intensity or time interval until your body has adapted enough to be able to withstand the workout that you aim to achieve.
Also, make sure that you’re eating sensibly. Whether your goal is to build muscle, lose fat or improve your overall health, make sure that you have a diet that provides you with all of the nutrients necessary to nourish you, as well as replenish you after your workout.
Finally, don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Exercise is supposed to make us feel great, so let your body tell you when to start and when to stop. You can also consult a doctor or trainer to help you set your goals.
We’ve Reviewed Five Great Choices
Have a look at our selection of the best recumbent bike for seniors. See what best suits you for your workouts needs.
Marcy Recumbent Bike With Resistance – Best for Price
What makes this recumbent bike the best choice for seniors is that it comes with great features that keep you comfortable and aware of the progress during your workout.
It comes with an LCD screen that helps you monitor time, speed, distance, and calories burned, as well as eight resistance levels that you can choose from to increase or decrease the intensity of your workout.
If you decide to increase the resistance, it will be as if you’re riding on difficult terrain, making you feel even more accomplished.
Pros:
- Easy to mount and dismount.
- High-density foam seat for comfort.
- Weighted foot pedals for ultimate support.
- Adjustable foot strap.
- Easy to assemble and move around.
- High weight limit.
- Great price.
Cons:
- Not suitable for those around or under 5’2″
Schwinn Recumbent Bike
This fantastic recumbent bike suits the technologically savvy senior. With built-in Bluetooth, this bike allows you to sync your fitness apps and track your progress with finesse, as well as an app that lets you “see the world” as you’re biking.
If you’re the kind that loves a more challenging workout, this machine is great for you as it offers up to 25 different levels of resistance, as well as 29 programs to choose from. You’ll be in for a good ride!
Pros:
- High speed and stable drive system for a smooth and safe workout.
- USB media charging and adjustable fan.
- Speakers with MP3 input port.
- Dual Track LCD.
- Bluetooth connectivity.
- Lots of resistance levels and programs.
Cons:
- Very heavy.
- Not as comfortable as some.
Exerpeutic Recumbent Bike With Pulse
Also including Bluetooth, this bike offers great features if you want to track the progress of your workout with accuracy. You can set goals for time, distance, and calories burned on the screen and challenge yourself to meet them.
The unique feature of the bike is that it allows you to track your pulse. If you have any health concerns in terms of maintaining a certain heart rate or simply want to see the level that you’re at, this is a great way to go.
Pros:
- Eight levels of resistance.
- LCD Screen.
- Pulse monitor.
- Comfortable.
- Stable and smooth.
- Comes with large cushion for extra back support.
- Adjustable.
Cons:
- Needs maintenance.
- Adjusting can be time and energy-consuming.
Exerpeutic Foldable Recumbent Bike
If you’re the kind of person who likes to travel and not miss a workout, this bike is perfect for you. You can simply fold it up and take it along with you.
It’s a bit simpler than the other bikes on our list but still allows for your basic workout where you can work up a sweat and feel great. It’s got a small LCD screen to help you monitor your progress, and the back can even be adjusted to be semi-recumbent if you feel it’s safe enough for you.
Pros:
- Foldable and portable
- Can support up to 300 pounds.
- Seat is height adjustable.
- Eight-level magnetic tension control system.
- Does not require electricity (AA batteries instead).
- Easy to assemble.
Cons:
- Ensure that it’s secure when unfolded (for safety reasons).
- Seating can be a bit uncomfortable.
Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical
I really like this machine. For me setting it up for my rather gangly frame was a snip and I loved the smooth action.
Well made and neat, yet combining an elliptical cross-trainer option as well as the recumbent bike all in a very compact footprint 54″x38″.
This is ideal for you if you’re looking to go for it with both arms and legs. It’ll really get the heart pumping. And functionality doesn’t mean less quality.
The Teeter Recumbent and Elliptical Trainer is, where possible, built with the moving parts connected magnetically reducing wear and tear on the machine and also making it one of the quietest fitness machines around.
The LCD screen monitors everything from distance, speed, time, and calories burned as but not heart rate.
The recumbent elliptical machine is easy to put together. The maximum user weight is 300lbs and it adjusts comfortably for someone 4’11” to 6’6″.
Pros:
- Designed for linear movement.
- Well designed and durable (tested).
- Quiet in action.
- Fully adjustable to individual.
Cons:
- Screen could be bigger and backlit.
- Heart rate not monitored.
And the Winner is…
All great options, but the Marcy Recumbent Bike is the best recumbent bike for seniors in our selection taking price into consideration. It has a good range of features. It’s comfortable, secure, accommodates a wide size range, and is ideal for you if you’re looking for a good old-fashioned workout, the best of which can be achieved with a recumbent bike.
The Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical is the cream if you want to experience a full-body workout with it’s capacity to be an elliptical and cross-training machine.
More intense sessions that you may aspire to in the future. This machine is going to last and could be the foundation for a new you – leaner and fitter.
Recumbent bikes are a great way to start a new fitness regime right from home. Start your cycling journey, and get the most out of your workout with the best recumbent bike for seniors. You’ll find that you won’t regret your decision to lead a smart and healthy life.
