Which Is The Best Recumbent Bike For Seniors In The UK?

In a normal exercise bike you sit upright on the saddle and support part of your weight on the handlebars.

In a recumbent bike the saddle is elongated into a full seat complete with reclining back support. Instead of sitting upright, you recline back onto the seat with your arms resting easy on the handlebars right on your sides.

The comfort, extra support and low-impact nature of recumbent bikes makes them perfect for seniors. You can still enjoy intensive, fat-burning and muscle-building cardio even if you have back or knee pain. It’s also ideal if you have weak or arthritic hands.

Below, I have reviewed the 5 best recumbent bikes for seniors online. I picked those that provide a wide range of features and options, are comfortable and easy to use and don’t take up too much space at home.

But first, some tips to help you find the right recumbent bike for your needs.

What to consider when buying a recumbent bike for seniors

a. Available space

Make sure you have enough space in your home for the bike.

Recumbent bikes tend to take up more space than upright exercise bikes. Check the full dimensions before buying and make sure it will fit wherever you want to set it up.

If you don’t have a lot of space, consider getting a foldable recumbent bike that you can store out of the way when not in use.

b. Comfort and Ease of Use

The seat should have an ergonomic design and padded surface that feels comfortable and supports your back while you pedal away.

This is especially important if you have back problems.

It should also be adjustable to ensure you can select the most comfortable sitting position.

The handles should be easy to grip and adjustable to suit different sitting positions.

Something else to check is the positioning and design of the pedals. They should be easy to reach and have a strap to keep your feet from slipping as you pedal.

c. Features and Options

One of the first things you should check is whether the bike comes with multiple resistant settings. This lets you increase or decrease pedalling resistance depending on your workout needs.

Most recumbent bikes provide at least 6-8 levels of resistance.

Other features to look for include:

• A screen that displays workout metrics such as distance, calories burnt, time and resistance level.
• Sensors. Some recumbent bikes come with a pulse sensor that measures your heart rate and displays it on the screen. Others are compatible with external workout monitors such as chest straps.
• Pre-set workout programs. Some recumbent bikes come with several workout programs installed. It’s like having a personal gym trainer right there.

d. Budget

Prices for recumbent bikes vary a lot.

There are budget ones that cost less than £200. They are perfect if you are looking for something affordable with just the basic features.

If you want extra features such as sensors and more resistance settings, you’ll have to spend a bit more – around £200-£400.

On the higher end of the scale are premium recumbent bikes with all sorts of bells and whistles such as pre-programmed workout routines, magazine racks and compatibility with external sensors.

Best recumbent bike in the UK

1. Maxxus Bike 6.1R-Fit, recumbent bike with adjustable handlebars

This is the most expensive recumbent bike in our list. It’s also the most feature-packed.

What I love most about it is that it is designed specifically for seniors. The pedals, handlebars and all other components are designed to be easy to use for people with limited mobility and strength.

Getting into the chair is very easy thanks to its low height. You can also collapse the handlebars to make it easier to get in and out of the chair.

The chair itself is designed to offer maximum support for your back and ensure you are comfortable as you pedal.

The bottom is padded while the contoured backrest is made from mesh. The mesh prevents sweat build-up on your back.

The seat and handlebars are of course adjustable.

The pedals have two straps to ensure a secure fit around your feet. One strap goes over the upper part of your foot while the other goes around the ankles.

A large LCD display shows you all the important workout data at a glance including distance, calories, time, speed, pulse and heart rate.

Your pulse is taken by sensors on the handlebars. You can also get your heart rate by connecting an external Polar heart rate monitor to the receiver on the bike.

The bike comes with 5 training profiles, 4 heart rate programs and the ability to add your own training profiles (up to 4).

To vary how hard you are working out, there are 16 resistance settings to choose from.

The maximum weight limit is 160kg.

What we like about it:

• Lots of premium features.
• Great choice for seniors with limited mobility and reduced strength.
• Integrated sensors.
• Pre-programmed workout routines.

2. TechFit R450 Recumbent Exercise Bike

If you are looking for something cheaper, this is a great choice.

The 3KG flywheel has 8 levels of pedalling resistance, allowing you to customize workout difficulty based on your needs.

You can increase resistance to develop muscle strength and lower it when you want to switch to intensive cardio.

A fairly small display at the front will show you real time metrics including speed, distance, time, calories and pulse (the bike has pulse sensors on the handles).

The seat is very comfortable. Both the bottom and backrest are padded. You can adjust the seat up and down as well as backwards and forwards.

The easy-grip handles are covered with neoprene which is soft and gentle on your hands. There’s no risk of developing blisters.

The wheels at the bottom of the bike make it easy to move it from room to room. While it’s not foldable, its compact size takes up very little room.

The max weight limit is 120kg.

What we like about it:

• 8 resistance levels.
• Adjustable seat.
• Pulse sensors.
• Compact size with wheels for easy relocation.

3. V-Fit G-RC Recumbent Magnetic Cycle

The 6kg flywheel in the V-Fit recumbent bike provides better resistance for muscle training. It uses a silent magnetic resistance system which you can adjust through 8 levels.

The padded seat and backrest are both padded for comfort especially on long workout sessions. You can adjust the seat up/down and back/forth until you find the most comfortable position.

The pedals are grooved to provide a strong grip as you pedal. For added safety, there is a strap that secures your feet on the pedal.

A screen displays various real-time readings including speed, distance time, calories burnt and pulse. The pulse is taken using pulse sensors on the handlebars.

Note that you’ll need to assemble the bike when it arrives. The process takes about 1 to 2 hours and all the tools you need are included in the package.

When fully assembled it measures about 135cm long by 64cm wide. It’s perfect for small spaces.

The max user weight limit is 115kg.

What we like about it:

• Affordable.
• Pulse sensors.
• Fairly easy to assemble.
• Silent and smooth magnetic resistance system.

4. Kettler Premium Recumbent Exercise Bike

If you are looking for a recumbent bike with pre-set workout programs to help you get started, this one by Kettler is a great choice.

It comes with 12 programs including one that can be controlled using your heart rate readings.

To measure your heart rate, get an external Polar chest strap and connect it to the bike’s receiver.

If you don’t want to buy a separate heart rate monitor, use the pulse sensors on the handlebars to get real time pulse readings on the display screen.

Other metrics displayed on the screen include distance, time, approximate calories burned and pedalling speed.

The bike is very easy to use and feels comfortable for seniors.

The low entry height makes it easy for someone with limited mobility to get on and off. The seat can also be adjusted to fit your height.

The pedals are fitted with a strap to keep your feet in place as you pedal.

The 9kg flywheel uses magnetic resistance with 16 different levels to select from. The magnetic system is very quiet and smooth.

The max user weight limit is 130kg.

What we like about it:

• Integrated pulse sensors and Polar-compatible receiver.
• 16 resistance levels.
• 12 workout programs.
• Silent.

5. Total Tone Home Folding Exercise Bike with Pulse Sensors and Resistance Bands

If you are on a tight budget, get this one. It is the cheapest on our list.

You can adjust resistance up or down depending on what kind of workout you want.

But the bike is not just for developing lower body strength. You can also use the resistance bands included to train your upper body.

The padded seat is very comfortable and you can adjust its height. The handlebars and backrest are padded as well.

The pedals are grooved to provide a tight grip on your feet. Adjustable straps provide extra security especially when you are pedalling fast.

You can see all your workout metrics on the monitor. It displays speed, distance, heart rate (from the pulse sensors on the handlebars), time and calories.

The maximum weight limit is 120kg.

What we like about it:

• Budget-friendly.
• 6 resistance levels.
• Bonus resistance bands.
• Comfortable seat and handlebars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How fast can you go on a recumbent bike?

Most people find that they achieve higher speeds on a recumbent bike than on a normal bike. This applies whether it’s a recumbent exercise bike or road bike.

The exact speed depends greatly on your fitness level and overall health. Someone with arthritis or weak joints will certainly ride slower.

Q: Where to buy a recumbent bike

The best place to buy a recumbent exercise bike is on Amazon. They carry a wide variety of types and models and you are bound to find a good bargain.

Sports and fitness websites also carry a good variety of recumbent bikes. The best stores include Wiggle, Fitness Superstore, Get Cycling and Kinetics.

If you are on a budget, you can find a used recumbent bike on eBay and Gumtree.

Q: How to clean a recumbent bike?

Wipe down the bike after each exercise session. This will remove sweat from the handlebars, seats and other parts of the bike. Leaving sweat on the bike could result in stains and whitish marks.