Recumbent Exercise Bikes

Anyone whose ever been to a gym has not doubt seen the rows of hamster rapidly pedaling away on stationary bikes. It's good exercise and a great way to get your cardio and burn fat. Some people, however, are unable to use the standard upright exercise bike. The most common reason people find upright exercise bikes uncomfortable is because of back strain. Some older men might also not be comfortable on a traditional saddle seat.

For those of you who aren't able to use a standard upright exercise bike there's an alternative: the recumbent bicycle. Recumbent bikes are bikes with a more tradition seat and the pedal out on front of you instead of underneath.

Recumbent bikes offer several advantages over traditional upright bikes. The seated position takes the strain off the back, the wider, more traditional seat is more comfortable that a saddle seat, especially for men, and pedaling without your feet out in front, with your knees coming up to hip level, is also better for your back.

If you're tried traditional upright exercise bikes before and found them unpleasant to use, you owe it to yourself to consider trying a recumbent exercise bike. Prices on recumbent exercise bikes run the gamut of home models for as little as $200 - $300, to professional fitness center models for up to $2,000. CAP Fitness Equipment, a manufacturer of over 500 fitness items, makes great exercise bikes.

Adding in a biking session to your cardio exercise routine is a great way to add variety and mix things up. Regular cardio exercise strengthens your heart and lungs and can contribute to weight loss as well.

Doctors and health professionals recommend a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. If you have time, 45 minutes to an hour would optimal for results.

So the next time you're in the gym watching the hamsters pedal away, why not join them?