Recumbent Bike vs. Upright Bike vs. Elliptical Machine

A recumbent bicycle differs from a standard, stationary bicycle and elliptical machine primarily in how you position yourself on the device. With an elliptical machine, you stand. On a standard bicycle, you sit upright or stand on the pedals.

With a recumbent bike you are, of course, recumbent, with a backrest supporting your spine. This low-slung, seated position makes recumbent bicycles “beneficial for people with back pain or balance problems,” said Kathy Dieringer, a board member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and president of D&D Sports Med in Denton, Tex. “You really can’t fall off.”

With exercise bikes, are there benefits to vertical bikes versus reclining bikes?

How does the recumbent bike compare to the elliptical machine ?

From the NY Times:

http://nyti.ms/1TZPdAr

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on January 17, 2016 at 6:32am

Well, yes you can fall off a recumbent.

i was finishing a 300k ride with a fellow on a 'bent. He fell asleep and rolled off his bike in the middle of a street. i was wondering when he'd do that... he'd been nodding off for most of  the last 100k. Said he loved the bike but it was too comfortable sometimes.

i'll add that recumbents can't climb all that well, but they're hard to beat in a descent.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on January 18, 2016 at 9:21am

The quote, “You really can’t fall off,” is about recumbent exercise machines, not recumbent bikes.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on January 19, 2016 at 6:53am

Who falls off an exercise machine?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 18, 2016 at 10:06am

Since you're standing, an elliptical machine is a form of weight-bearing exercise. Not true for an upright or recumbent stationary bike.

A recumbent, whether stationary or a real bike, works your muscles a little differently and works a slightly different set of muscles.  It gets the glutes into the act in a way that doesn't happen with an upright bike. 

If you have issues with your neck, shoulders, arms or hands, an upright bike (stationary or not) may aggravate those issues in ways a recumbent or elliptical doesn't, since those forms of exercise don't involve putting any weight on your hands.

As with anything, your mileage may vary...

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