3 Best Exercise Bikes For Seniors – 2017 Reviews and Top Picks
With a slowly increasing aging population in the country, it is no wonder that more exercise equipment is being catered towards senior citizens. One of the most effective pieces of fitness equipment for the elderly are exercise bikes specially designed to give an good workout, while being safe and low impact.
The best exercise bikes for seniors can help rehabilitate leg injuries and promote cardiovascular health, which is imperative for the elderly. Exercise bikes unfortunately are abundant on the market, so we hope that this article helps you in making a sound decision should you decide to purchase one.
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**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Marcy ME 709 Recumbent Exercise Bike is a recumbent exercise bike with 8 levels of resistance. It has an easy to adjust tension tightening knob for customized fitness levels and is great for rehabilitation purposes.
Along with steel tubing that are 2-inches thick and finished with a powder-coat, it prevents the exercise bike from rusting due to sweat accumulation when working out.
The Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike comes with speakers, a 3-speed fan and even a USB charging port, allowing you to enjoy your workout comfortably while using your electronic devices.
This product comes with software integration and data export function for your goal setting needs, which we felt was convenient for a progressive workout routine. If space is a concern for you, the Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike is as the name states, foldable and comes with 8 levels of adjustable magnetic tension.
For the price you pay, this semi-recumbent bike supports up to 300 pounds and has a large seat cushion and backrest for proper lumbar support. However, if you are above 6’ tall, the comfort of your workout may be compromised due to the small size of the exercise bike.
Reviews Of The Best Exercise Bikes For Seniors
Exercise bikes do a great job in providing the much needed cardiovascular workout for seniors, all while ensuring safety and comfort that other exercises may not bring. We understand that with the abundance of exercise bikes on the market, not all of them are suited for the elderly.
We took great care in choosing the following bikes which we felt would be most suited for seniors, while at the same varying the product brands to present you a more informed choice.
These top three best exercise bikes for seniors were chosen as they were both the highest rated among users and we believed the contrasting features may appeal to you based on your needs. We really enjoyed using the three of them and hope they aid in your decision when buying an exercise bike.
If you’re on a budget and want the basic features of an exercise bike while retaining the comfort needed for a long workout, this exercise bike may be the one for you. With a recumbent seat and 8 levels of pre-set resistance, there is very little hassle when it comes to starting your routine.
For the elderly that may utilize this for rehabilitation purposes or to improve your fitness, the easy adjustment tension-tightening knob allows for a customized resistance based on your needs. If, however, space is a concern for you, you may consider another exercise bike as this runs fairly large at 55 x 40 x 25 inches (W x H x D).
Weighing 66 pounds (30 kg), we enjoyed the sturdy frame which felt really stable to us, leaving us with a sense of safety when pedalling. The weight capacity is capped at a standard 300 pounds (136 kg), although we expected it to hold more given its heavy weight and large frames.
We liked that this bike was built with 2-inch 14-gauge steel tubing with a 2 tone paint and powder-coat finish on the frame, making it last through multiple workout sessions without the fear of rusting on any areas of the exercise bike.The computer displays which shows the time, distance and calories burned however, may be too small for your liking.
Many users were delighted with the quality of the foam seat and lumbar support, which may be important for seniors. However, some suggested that adding a cushion to the back may increase comfort for long hours of use.
Assembly is simple, with majority of users completing the exercise bike in under an hour. Some users complained that the bike was short of washers though, which the company kindly sent in free of charge.
Things We Liked:
- Affordable
- Ease of Assembly
- Customizable Resistance
- Quality Recumbent Chair
- Good Powder and Paint Finishing
Things We Didn’t Like:
- Small Display
- Poor Quality Control for Miscellaneous Assembly Items
If entertainment functions and comfort are important to you, this exercise bike comes with a loud speaker, a three speed fan and a USB charging port for the use of your electronic device when exercising. Adding to that, it comes with a dual LCD screen which allows you to track up to 13 different display feedback’s on it.
We particularly liked the SchwinnConnect which is a software integration in the console that allows you to track your fitness goals and even export the data for your personal use.
This is an added feature which we felt other exercise bikes could adopt given its practicality and our common usage of technology to track our progress.
The 20 levels of resistance on this exercise bike along with the 22 pre-set workout programs makes it convenient for you to kick-start your workout routine.
With a fully ventilated seat that comes with a lumbar support and slider seat rail system, it allowed for easy adjustments when accommodating a variety of positions for multiple users.
This exercise bike measures 66.5 x 27 x 12.5 inches (W x H x D) and comes with 10 years of frame warranty, 2 years of mechanical warranty and a year of electrical warranty which we felt was good customer support given the price of the bike.
A small number of users with back problems complained that although the seat came with a lumbar support, the overall hard plastic of the chair made it difficult on the back for long periods of pedalling. Many users found that covering the seat with paddings made it easier on the back in the long run.
Overall, we felt that the large price tag on this exercise bike was a little too much, and you may consider another exercise bike if you do not wish to pay for all the added luxury entertainment features.
Things We Liked:
- Great Entertainment Features
- Software Integration
- Large number of Workout Programs
- Ease of Adjustment of Seat
- Strong Customer Service Support
Things We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive
- Hard Plastic Chair
If space is the main concern for you, this foldable exercise bike may be ideal for you, with its semi-recumbent seat and measuring only 19 x 46 x 33 inches (W x H x D) in size. Although the seat allows for easy entry and exit, the position may not be ideal for older individuals as it is not entirely recumbent.
Supporting up to 300 pounds (136 kg) in weight, this exercise bike features an 8-level adjustable magnetic tension control system and has a quiet V-belt double-drive transmission system for a silent workout session. The LCD display tracks the distance, calories burned, time, speed, and heart rate, which may be suitable for you if you like tracking your statistics when working out.
We especially liked the large seat cushion and backrest despite the small size of the exercise bike which fits up to 6’2 foot (188 cm) users. When not in use, this exercise bike folds up into half its size and makes it convenient for storage purposes.
Although advertised to fit up to 6’2 users, a small number of users felt that the ergonomics of the chair made it awkward for taller users when exercising. However, this issue was addressed by users simply adding a yoga block or padded cushion onto the seat.
We felt that this exercise bike was extremely silent, which may be useful to you if intended for use when focusing on another matter at hand (E.g. Watching the television). Furthermore, it is easy to assemble, with most users assembling it in under an hour.
Things We Liked:
- Space Efficient
- Quiet Transmission System
- Easy to Assemble
- Heart Rate Monitor
Things We Didn’t Like:
- Poor Chair Ergonomics
- Semi-Recumbent Seat
What To Look Out For In An Exercise Bike For Seniors
Having an exercise bike at home offers a convenient way to work on your fitness levels without leaving the vicinity of your house. It is excellent for older people in general, be it for rehabilitation from injury, weight loss or cardiovascular health.
To aid in your search for the best exercise bike for seniors, here are some of the characteristics which we liked in our exercise bike:
- Recumbent Seat for maximum support and comfort
- Ease of Entering and Exiting Bike
- Large Cushioned Seat for Comfort
- Ease of Assembly
- Finishing Coat to Prevent Rust
- Customizable Resistance for A Tailored Workout
- High Weight Capacity
Special Considerations When Using An Exercise Bike At Home
While exercise bikes for seniors may be a good way to get a workout in, it is important that you get one that is tailored for your needs. If you’ve just recovered from an injury and need it for rehabilitation, you may wish to consider getting one with customizable resistance to better adapt to your strength level.
On another note, the amount of space you’re willing to set aside for your exercise bike may affect the design and comfort of your equipment. If space is a major concern, a foldable exercise bike might suit you but you risk trading away comfort and functionality.
Entertainment features on an exercise bike is also common, although it may add unnecessary costs to the bike. Should you be on a budget, you may consider forgoing these features and stick to a more functional exercise bike.
Long hours of working out on your exercise bike may result in discomfort, especially for seniors regardless of how much padding there is on the chair. It is good to have a reasonable expectation for the comfort level if you intend to paddle for longer than an hour.
When first starting out, we recommend you pedal for a shorter duration on your bike before increasing the intensity. This allows your body to get used to the exercise and prevent injuries from occurring.
Benefits from Routinely Riding an Exercise Bike for Seniors
- Increase Caloric Burn, Great for Weight Loss
- Great for Joint Health Due to Low Impact from Cycling
- Regular Cardiovascular Exercise Is Great for Health in General, Especially Your Heart
- Energy Boost from Increased Endurance
Conclusion
In summary of this review, the Marcy ME 709 Recumbent Exercise Bike is our top choice for the Best Exercise Bike for Seniors. Being a fully recumbent exercise bike with all the basic functions covered, you are able to get both a comfortable and customizable experience during your workout.
We loved that it was affordable, without the need for extra add-ons that may not be useful for your exercise in the long run. Furthermore, the powder-coat finish ensured that the exercise bike remained rust free after hours of cycling on the exercise bike!
