NordicTrack offers a variety of styles of when it comes to home exercise bikes. The two most commonly purchase styles are the Recumbent Bike vs Upright Bike. But what’s the difference and which bike is right for you? We’ll take a deeper dive into this topic to help you narrow down your choices before buying a discounted NordicTrack home exercise bike.
Recumbent vs Upright
| Recumbent Exercise Bike | Upright Exercise Bike |
| The pedals on the recumbent exercise bike are positioned in from the the body, causing the legs to reach forward and the hips to accommodate for this reach. Core and back muscles are more engaged in this type of pedaling motion. | The pedals on the upright exercise bike are directly beneath the body, allowing the hips to rest in a more neutral position. This helps the user to isolate more leg strength for propelling the pedals and less core/back strength. |
| Back support is a major feature of the recumbent exercise bike. With the body reclined, less stress is put on the lower back because it can rest against the seat back. | The is no back support in an upright exercise bike. Back muscles are required to be more fully engaged to hold the body upright. |
| Recumbent exercise bike seats are larger and more comfortable. | Upright exercise bikes have a more traditional bike seat that requires some getting-used-to. Regular riding will condition the sit bones while irregular riding can lead to a lot of discomforts during extended use. |
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Consideration Your Fitness Goals
Burning calories is always a factor in exercise and when it comes to the recumbent v upright exercise bike debate, calories burned is a moot point. Studies have shown that both bikes are effective in burning the same average amount of calories. Both bikes will also help you to build muscle and strengthen muscle groups in the legs, back, and core. With the ability to increase the resistance, you can engage targeted muscle groups similarly on both styles of exercise bikes.
Consideration Your Physical Limitations
The upright bike requires a rider to have a strong back for comfortable riding. With the pedals placed below the body, hips, knees, and ankles all benefit from a more fluid motion with stress carried by the glutes and hamstrings instead of the joints and connective tissues.
The recumbent bike is the better option for anyone regularly bothered by their lower back, shoulders, or neck. The back support provided by a seat with a larger surface area and the backrest takes the unnecessary strain off of these body parts. However, the forward positioned pedals add strain to leg muscles, joints, and connective tissues that may bother someone with knee pain.
Considerations Any Financial Restrictions
NordicTrack makes multiple versions of recumbent and upright exercise bikes. Pricing ranges from $599 to $1999.
NordicTrack Recumbent Bike Series
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Commercial VR21 $663
| Commercial VR25 $1299
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NordicTrack Upright Bike Series
| GX 4.4 Pro $599
| Commercial VU19 $999
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NordicTrack Studio Cycle Series
| Commercial S15i Studio Cycle $1599
| Commercial S22i Studio Cycle $1999
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No matter which style of exercise bike you choose, you can still save money with our exclusive coupons. Save $25-$60 on purchases greater than $899 from NordicTrack with nordictrackpromocodes.com.
Interested in some additional reading?
Studio Bike vs Treadmill – Breaking Down The Spinning vs Running Debate
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Getting Into Fitness? Here are 10 Important Workout Tips for Beginners