Recumbent Bike Vs Upright Bike: Which is Best For You?

If you want to grow your muscles or do some weight loss workouts or burn calories in an effective safest way in your home then you need some different fitness equipment than a Treadmill or Elliptical or a rower like a stationary bike. 

But in the markets, there are 2 types of bikes that are mostly used in the fitness world such as Recumbent Bikes and Upright exercise bikes.

Which one is best for you Elliptical or Upright Exercise bike?

We will go ahead, but you have to know that knowing the difference between both bikes is why imprompt?

Why is it Important to Know the Difference Between the Recumbent Bike and Vs Upright Bike?

When I first thought that now I should maintain my health through weight loss, calories burned, and developing muscles, then I was very confused that which should I take a cardio machine between Recumbent Bike Vs Upright Bike.

But I am looking for a stationary bike that gives me efficient, effective, and safest exercise. And I choose the wrong one that doesn’t fulfill my requirements. It’s my bad luck! 👎

I had a very terrible knee problem, But I didn’t know it before after I used the Upright Bike I feels my knee paining, and with time and exercise the pain is increasing! Ohh GOD why do I decide to exercise?

After a few days of research, I buy another one and did exercise. 

However, that was the upright bike used by my family members.

Here I am not saying that the upright bike is very bad, it is a good bike for want to do an intense cardio workout, I am just saying I choose a bad one and you don’t do that, you have to choose a bike as per your requirement and situation.

So that doesn’t repeat that mistake, Like terrible pain, wasted my precious time and Money choosing an exercise bike.

So here we are, telling you the top most used stationary bike differences, Recumbent Bikes Vs Upright Bikes, and what important factors you should check before you buy it. 

After you read this, Now you have good knowledge to choose which bike is more effective, and safe for you, as well as affordable cost for your requirements.

What’s the difference between a recumbent bike and an upright bike?

Like I told you how important is it to choose an exercise bike, but before going ahead what these two bikes are, and their pros and cons?

What are recumbent Bikes?

The recumbent exercise bike is a type so stationary bike which has to reline position exercise, which means here the rider doing her exercise in a setting like led-off like the below images shown.

Here the important part is the exercise is pretty simple comfortable and a very safe way to exercise, Nio matter how long or long you are riding.

Because here when you are peddling there is no pressure on your joint and you got a wider seat with backrest support to your back posture.

30 minutes of a daily workout can help to lose weight, build muscles, make your body balance, etc.

If talking about its pros and cons then here it is

What are upright bikes?

Coming to the Upright exercise bike is a type of stationary bike which is most papular. It is a simple bike like our normal bicycles, which you are riding on it you feel natural you pedaling a bicycle.

This exercise bike is an advanced exercise cardio machine that can help to do your HIIT training to achieve your fitness goal more quickly by enhancing your workout.

However, this machine is also very easy to use, with no need for core knowledge to operate, as well use this machine targets more muscles, burn more calories, and is less expensive.

Here we have a picture that shows the top difference between these two bikes as we see in the fort of the bikes.

Recumbent Vs. Upright Bike: Top 10 Comparisons

When you are excited to exercise you are confused to choose between recumbent or upright, then this is for you. 

Well, both bikes are designed for cardiovascular workouts in your home and local gym. But there are a few differences that you have to look at. 

Following are a few factors that will help you choose the right stationary bike that you can use.

Choosing an exercise is, depends on all your needs,  goals, and fitness level.

Let us see it…

1. Riding Position or Posture

The riding position in the recumbent bikes offers recline position riding which is operated in low-impact workouts. That means these bikes recuse the risk of back and knee injuries. It is easy to use the bike, when you are riding on it you are on an office chair and doing exercise.

This bike is ideal for those whose are want to relieve their back and knee problems and as well as best for seniors.

Coming to the Upright bike, looks like a normal bike when you are pedaling your position should be in the upright direction of that state line. So it gives you highly intensive workouts.

While you are pedaling keep in your mind your body posture should maintain a good body posture that should be straight as possible you can.

You should avoid muscular imbalances otherwise high chances of injuries.

Winer: Recumbent Exercise Bike

2. Seat Size

Coming to the seat size of the two bikes, there is a very major difference, when the upright bikes have comes with a small seat and there is no backrest support, at that times the recumbent bikes have a larger seat size which offers a more comfortable and also has a wide relined backrest supporter which helps to the rider to rest. 

If you are a beginner then you might be uncomfortable and find it 

difficult to use an upright exercise bike. 

Winer: Recumbent Exercise Bike

3. Pedals Position

On the recumbent bikes, the pedals are so easy to reach if you look at the recumbent bikes, pedals are in the form of the bikes, and the other one Upright right bikes pedal position is under the body which is not easy for a beginner.

This means that recumbent bikes are safer than an upright bike for riding.

Winer: Recumbent Exercise Bike

4. Space

If you are looking at the two types of bikes then you can see there are big differences recumbents are much larger than the upright bike. 

As the recumbent bike is larger it means it covers a lot of areas at your home gym. The reason is pretty simple it has the large seat and the pedal’s position. If you have space then go for this one.

Winer: Upright  Exercise Bike

5. Safety

When you are doing something there is a more important factor that you should look ie. safety. And when coming to exercise bikes then the recumbent bike is the most secure bike for you as compared to the upright bikes. 

If you see the recumbent bike it shapes a recline position also you get a wider seat with backrest rest supports so less strain on the joint while peddling.

Winer: Recumbent Exercise Bike

6. Comfortable

When it comes to comfortable the recumbent exercise bike is very good and comfortable compared to the upright exercise bike, because it offers you a larger seat with backrest support which helps you do exercise for such a long hour.

Do we already have a top 5 list of best recumbent bikes had you have seen them yet?

But coming to the upright exercise bikes then you can make these bikes more comfortable if you added a larger seat but listen it is not much comfortable as the requirements bikes.

Winer: Recumbent Exercise Bike

7. Good Knees

As I already told you which bikes offer low-impact cardio these are good for your knee and your joints. 

We have two bikes upright bikes that offer high-intensity cardiovascular activity and have less safety, the main thing is that the position of the bike is in the upright direction, so when you’re pedaling hip to the foot your body targets and creates 90 degrees every half of the cycle.

As this bike helps with HIIT training so here requires more force that affects your hips and your joints.

In my opinion, if you are taking a bike for a good knee or rehabilitation knee problem then you should take the recumbent bike otherwise you can take another.

Winer: Recumbent Exercise Bike

8. Muscles Gain

When it comes to muscle gain between the two bikes then the winner is the Upright bike because these bikes target more muscles of your body So while you are pedaling you get the strength to all of the muscles and also develop.

Look at the following table that shows which exercise bikes targets which muscles

If you are looking at the recumbent bikes then it targets 

9. Calories Burned

do you want to use the bike to burn calories? Then the upright exercise bike is best to open for you. 

As you already knew upright bikes have targets more muscles as compared to recumbent bikes which means higher metabolism which helps to burn more calories.

Winer: Upright Exercise Bike

10. Recumbent Bike vs Upright Bike For Weight Loss

As we look at the above factor upright bikes have higher metabolism for burning more calories which means it has a capacity for weight loss faster as compared to recumbent bikes.

That doesn’t mean the recumbent bikes do not help your weight loss, it does but they lower as compared to the uprights. 

Winer: Upright Exercise Bike

11. Workout Intensity

When you are pedaling with a recumbent bike then you’re peddling in a horizontal position at the same case in upright bikes you pedal in a vertical position.

Because you peddling a horizontal that makes low-impact cardio that no affects harder pressure on your legs, glutes, and your knee.

But that is not the same as the upright bikes dues to engage muscles and burn more calories it needs more energy that comes from you.

Winer: Upright Exercise Bike

12. Recumbent bike Vs upright bike speed

When comes to a faster bike then the recumbent bike is the winner. It comes with an aerodynamic design and your feet on the front side which makes it 30% faster as compared to other standard exercise bikes. 

Winer: Recumbent Exercise Bike

13. Price

When it comes to money, you should take care, because on the market there are many bikes available in different price segments, But it is also true that you get more features on high-priced bikes.

But in the market recumbent bikes are more exercise than an upright bike because these bikes are more features (like wider seat, backrest supports, pre-set workouts, mobile and bottle holder, music system, etc), and it is developed for specific categories like a senior, knee pain problem, or who want to safer riding.

So you have chosen a bike based on your requirement and goals.

Some Similarities of Recumbent and Upright Bikes

There are not much more similarities between recruitment bikes Vs upright bikes, but the one thing that makes similarities is their Operation and Pedaling.

Both bikes are used for cardiovascular workouts no matter whether you use them at your home or the local gym. They doing the same things.

Speaking about pedaling both bikes are offers you peddling in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

Experience level with a stationary bike

This is all about the differences but what do you think about this question Who will use these bikes or which types of people can use these bikes?

If you read all of this article, you have the answer to which people use which bike types.

If you are a beginner then upright bikes are more difficult for you because you don’t have any practical pedals for cycling by holding the handlebar, here it is never to hold the handles for balancing your body.

But when it comes to a beginner for a recumbent bike then the recumbent bike is easier as well as safer.

If you have basic knowledge or looking for more challenges then the upright bikes are best for you.

Recumbent Bike Vs Upright Bike: Which is Best?

After all, people are looking for the best of these two bikes.

Well, the answer is pretty simple it depends upon your goals, requirements, body fitness level, etc. 

However recumbent is best for those people like seniors or elders, people who prefer not to engage more muscles, and who are suffering from back and knee pain problems, they can use it.

On the other side, upright bikes are cheaper bikes and offer more intensive HIIT training, they can be used by those who are looking for more changing cycling, who focus more and quick results, and those Who are doing intensive workouts.

Is Recumbent Bike Better Than Upright?

Somewhat Recumbent Bikes are the Best you can look for the factor that we are different. But also upright bikes are best but in some conditions. 

But I may not recumbent you to choose a bike with this decision, first things you have to read all of the factors and consider your requirements and your goal after that chose the right one.

However, both exercise bikes are used for cardiovascular exercise activity and both are great bikes. When you’re looking for a stationary bike for your home that condition of safer, more effective, and burns more calories then you should consider this recumbent bike Vs. upright bike. 

You always have the goal of a heather life, if you want some different then you go with the spin bikes which target more muscles compared to the upright bikes, under desk bikes & under desk treadmills which can help you work with exercise.

Here is the video Comparison

FAQ