Which is better investment - recumbent bike or spin bike?

[Liann]

My husband is actually going to let me get a workout bike for home! I'm not sure whether I should get a recumbent type bike or the type they use in spin classes? My back isn't the best, so the recumbent ones are definitely appealing with the lazy boy type seats, but I don't want to get one if the workout is just as lazy. Anyone have either of these? Pro's/con's?

 

[Boybert]

My thought would be spin bike because of the DVDs you can purchase and the variety involved. Long ago I would use the recumbents all the time, but I would end up reading or watching TV and zoning, which didn't make for the greatest workout. I needed something that I had to stay focused on. I love spinning.



Debbie


I'm not gaining weight. I'm retaining food.

 

[LauraMax]

I think it depends on how you intend to use it. Like Debbie said, there are many home DVDs you can get for a spin bike but I'm not aware of any for recumbent bikes.

That said, I wonder why the spin workouts couldn't be used for a recumbent bike?

I use the recumbent bike at my gym all the time. I have no padding on my rear end. I can't handle the regular bikes for too long. Kind of funny but totally serious--I end up w/bruises when I sit on those unbelievably uncomfortable seats.

 

[Gayle]

Hi Liann,

I bought recumbent bike back in November and went through the same decision process you are. In the end, I went with the recumbent (Schwinn 212) because the spin bike just made me too saddle sore to want to use it every day - I was rehabbing my knee at the time and biking every day was part of that.

I can honestly say that my workouts have never been lazy on the recumbent. I use it with my Cardio Coaches and iTrains and it works great. It seems to hit my hamstring/glute area a little more than a spin bike does.

HTH

 

[Liann]

Gayle - Sounds like I got the same bike that you did - Schwinn 212! I wanted something comfortable and the seat on the spin bike wasn't doing it for me either. I spent all night putting it together. Haven't had a chance to workout on it yet, but did test it out a little. It is soooo quiet and smooth which is nice. The recumbent bikes at the gym are really loud and squeaky. I can't wait to try out a Cardio Coach on it!