Top 5 Exercise Bike

Description
Save money on monthly gym fees and get in shape at the same time with the comfortable Schwinn 240 recumbent exercise bike. It offers a compact design and the feel of a more traditional outdoor bike while relying on core, stabilizing muscles to balance your body weight. Features include a 20-pound flywheel, 16 resistance levels, 17 programs, adjustable seat, and both telemetry and contact heart rate monitoring.

Review
After months of trying to decide if we should buy an exercise bike, we finally bit the bullet. We went right down to Dick's sporting goods and even though they didn't have one on display, they did have one int he back. We bought the Schwinn 240 due to it being one of the newest models. Some of the things we really liked better were minor, but made the difference to us. The number of different programs were higher than the other models. Being able to remember a user's information was also a huge positive from other models where every time a different user uses the equipment you have to reset all your information. The cup holder not being under the seat but on the console made more sense and having the basket to store magazines and things just seemed neater. It took about 1.5 hours to assemble. Hint: A couple of the parts were already on the bike which was confusing when comparing to the parts list. The model is nice looking, smaller than our elliptical and easy to move around with the wheels. I haven't had it long enough yet to know how it will hold up, but it's very sturdy, very quiet and seems like it will last for a long time.

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Description
Get fit on your own schedule and in your own home with the A20 recumbent exercise bike from Schwinn Fitness. Boasting a computer-controlled, eddy current resistance system and a durable belt drive motor, the A20 runs smoothly and quietly, with eight resistance levels to keep you on your toes. The battery-powered bike also supports several different workout programs, so you can customize your workout and keep things fresh. And thanks to the informative LCD console, you can easily monitor your workout progress, with readouts for time, RPM, distance, pulse, speed, calories, resistance level, course profile.
Other details include a grip heart rate monitor; an extra-wide, extra-padded seat that adjusts to accommodate riders of all body sizes and types; integrated leveling feet for better stability; regular platform pedals; and a step-through recumbent frame for easy entry and exit. The A20, which also includes transport wheels for enhanced mobility, supports up to 275 pounds.

Review
I ride it every night. It is very sturdy and dependable and it also does not take up too much space. Sitting in this position riding for 30 minutes is a pleasure. It is quiet so I can ride it at night with out aggravating my wife. The levels work perfectly.

All the important stuff works great but you can forget the fan and the heart rate indicator. The fan can only be felt 1 inch from the surface. The heart rate indicator was way off in my opinion. For example, I am riding it now as I type with over 20 minutes on the timer at a decent pace. According to the monitor presently my heart rate is 78, just not possible.

Also, the laptop/book holder is okay for my small laptop. Typing is difficult right now but I am usually playing chess while I ride so that is not bad. Continuous typing would be painful this way. Additionally, I am 5'4" and could never use this for reading. it is too far away and at the wrong angle. I do highly recommend and feel like it will last a long time.

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Description
Enjoy a topnotch workout without leaving the home with the ProForm 290 SPX indoor cycle trainer. Built to deliver the ultimate in cardio exercise, the 290 SPX is ideal whether you're a weekend warrior or a first-time fitness buyer.

The trainer is equipped with adjustable nonslip handlebars, helping you quickly find the perfect position for your workout. The pedals, meanwhile, include toe cages designed to keep your feet comfortably in place while increasing stability. For added intensity, you can flip the pedals and use them with the opposite side up. And users will love the elegance of the 290 SPX's chain drive system, which delivers a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride.
Other features include a padded seat that adjusts vertically and horizontally, a convenient water bottle holder, and built-in transport wheels for easy maneuverability.

Review
I've been researching spinning bikes for home use for several months. Wanted to find something that is solid and good quality. Reading the original review about this bike on Amazon.com was extremely informative and important. I kept coming back to it to get more details. It was a great reference for me when I went shopping. So when I found the bike in a local sporting store, I knew what I had to look for & look at closely. I tested it and found that I had to look no further. I purchased it & brought it home on 7/30/10.

Here's what I found:
Budget-friendly. Simple as that.

Made by a division of Ion Fitness which also makes several other bikes including Nordictrack. Proform has been around a while so the quality and reputation are there.

Bike is heavy, solid, & very good quality. All parts were well wrapped & assembly was a snap. From reading reviews, I knew that there would be very few parts because the main body of the bike is one piece. Comes with enough bolt/screws, washers and tools. I didn't find the instructions confusing but I had done so much research that it was pretty easy to figure out. It was handle bars, seat, & bottom braces. That was about it. Took us 30 minutes tops. IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember to really tighten the seat when you get it attached. I've read some reviews stating this was difficult. Same goes with the handle bars. The knob on the front of the bike by the handle bars works to both adjust the height of the bars as well as tightens them so they don't wobble.

I once had a computerized magnetic resistance bike & it was a hassle to assemble in comparison. I love the simplicity of this bike.

Handle bars & seat are very smooth adjustment for both height & length of your body. The handle bars cannot be adjusted for pitch but I found that just having them a bit higher was a perfect fit. I'm 5'3" & my husband is almost 6'. It will be easy for each of us to readjust the seat.

Bike rode very smoothly & quiet in the store when I tested it. Exact same ride when I assembled the new one at home. Very smooth & very quiet. Oh I can hear the wheel turning & I can hear myself pedaling...but there are no squeaks or creaking. I went for a 40 minute "ride" as soon as it was put together.

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Description
Save money on monthly gym fees and get in shape with the compact, comfortable Nautilus R514 recumbent exercise bike, which enables you to ride longer and harder with its biomechanically-correct design and comfort features, enhanced programming, and integrated Polar heart rate monitoring system.

Review
I have had the Nautilus R514 for about 3 weeks now and it has been the best exercise machine that I have ever bought. The computer on it is easy to understand. You can go up to 16 levels as far as resistance is concerned. My husband and I have not really done a lot of aerobic exercise in a long while so we have our highest setting as level 4 right now, which doesn't sound like much, but is. He weighs roughly 290 and I weigh 170. I am average height og 5'6" and he is very tall. He doesn't have any problem with the seat settings. The seat is very easy to move to change between his and mine. The frame of the machine is very sturdy. It takes up a but of room as it is about 4 and a half to 5 feet long and needs about 3 feet of space widthwise. But we fit it into our living room alright. I have gotten tired of buying low-priced machines that do not last long so I decided to spend some more money and buy something from a company with a good reputation. I always used Nautilus machines at the gym I used to go to and they were always excellent machines. As I make progress with this machine I will write an addon to this post later this year. I definately recommend this product. Also, it was shipped very quickly and that was even with free shipping, and was in pristine condition when I received it.

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Description
Ride longer and harder with the Nautilus® U514 upright bike, which features enhanced programming and an integrated Polar® heart rate system. The electronically controlled magnetic resistance provides you with a smooth and efficient workout, and the powerful fan and multi-point seat and console adjustments are all biomechanically designed for comfort.

Review
This is the latest addition to the home gym, living next to the Elliptical and Treadmill. I mostly got the upright bike to cross train, since my primary indoor exercise (until it gets back warm) is the treadmill. It's hard to improve if you are working the same muscles everytime, so that's where the bike comes in.

My first one came damaged, I usually ship stuff like this FedEx because UPS is too rough, but didn't. Anyways it's Amazon so they sent a replacement right away, I have never had a bad customer experience with Amazon. The replacement came FedEx and was in perfect shape.

Setup took a couple of hours, didn't really track exactly bus basically a Saturday morning. The directions are not great, but there is only one tricky piece which is the handlebar column and the electronics.

There are a couple other reviews about only working for people 5 foot 10, I am 5 foot 11, but there should be no problem for people much taller. I don't think they realize that there are 3 different adjustments, the front handlebar moves forward, the seat moves back and the seat moves up. The only obvious one is the seat moving up, so my guess is they had the other two in the default position. I think you could make the correct adjustments based on your physique to easily accommodate someone over 6 feet.

The workout is good, there are several different programs. I usually do more manual mode stuff so I can't comment to much on the programs. There is one that tries to keep a certain heartrate and adjusts resistance based on that which is nice. I will probably try the hill next to see how that does. The resistance levels are very good, I've never had a problem getting a hard workout.

I'm happy with this machine, the only con was I really could have gone with the higher end Schwinn which is made by the same company and save a little money, but Amazon was out of stock and I didn't want to wait. Overall very happy with the machine and the cross training it provides.

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