Newbie

Posts: 2
From:Dania, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 02-28-2003 11:13 AM            

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What are the differences between the upright and recumbent excercise bikes? Are they supposed to work different areas? Is one supposed to be safer or healthier than another? Which do you prefer and why?

Thanks,
Carol

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Veteran

Posts: 343
From:Front Royal Va
Registered: May 2002

posted 02-28-2003 11:52 AM            

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neither one of them will really work your muscles great. Its really whichever you are comferatable with. I prfer the upright. I do alot of mountainbiking, so its much more natural to me. plus i just cant get into the rythm of the recumbrant.

H8CC

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 803
From:E. Stroudsburg, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 02-28-2003 04:03 PM            

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Hello, Some upright bikes have moving handle bars to workout the upper body as well as the lower. The idea of the recumbant bike is to reduce strain on the knees, so if you have knee problems you would choose a recumbant bike. As far as how intense the workout is...It's up to you. I find that 20 min. is not enough for me. I do 50-60 min. when I use my recumbant bike. You can also do spinning on the upright bike. I like the recumbant bike, because I do have mild knee problems plus I can play Gameboy on it, which distracts me from thinking that riding the bike is boring. Oh...by the way, you can get a bike with varying tension settings too.

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Magpie

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Newbie

Posts: 2
From:Dania, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 03-18-2003 09:53 AM            

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Thanks for your replies.

Carol

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 671
From:London, UK
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 03-18-2003 10:04 AM            

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Recumbent bikes are easier on your circulatory system as you're in a more horizontal position.

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Senior Member

Posts: 209
From:Midwestern U.S.
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 03-18-2003 10:48 AM            

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I own a recumbant bike and I absolutely love it. Its seat is larger than the regular upright ones. I watch TV, read a book, or listen to the music while pedalling. Great exercise for toning legs.

Piper

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Veteran

Posts: 379
From:WI, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03-20-2003 12:46 AM            

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I own an upright with moving handlebars and always get a great workout with it. I can not imagine any workout being that great if you can read and play gameboy without a problem, but I could be wrong I suppose.

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 803
From:E. Stroudsburg, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03-20-2003 03:15 PM            

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It's the length of time I'm on a recumbant bike that makes the difference for me, that's why I can get away with the gameboy. If I play gameboy, I stay on the bike for 60 min. without realizing it. If I don't, I find I watch the clock and 30 min. start to seem like torture. Also, my bike is incorporated in to my weekly workout...Sun., Tues., and Thurs.is kickboxing and weights...Mon. and Wed. are aerobic videos...Fri. and Sat. is the recumbant bike. I like to vary my workouts.

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Magpie

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Veteran

Posts: 379
From:WI, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03-20-2003 11:40 PM            

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Hi Magpie, I know what you mean about 30 minutes seeming like an eternity the way it is. It sounds like you have a really good system to beat that.

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Member

Posts: 24
From:Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-29-2003 11:25 AM            

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As long as I have the tv on while I'm riding, the time FLIES by!!!!

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