Recumbent Exercise Bike Vs Upright: (Compared For Calories)

Recumbent Bike Pros & Cons

Upright Bike Pros & Cons

Comparing Recumbent Bikes Vs. Upright Bikes

For Calories Burned

When considering how many calories are burnt during exercise, we will assume that the same amount of effort is being put in during 1 hour of each machine.

An upright bike will burn around 600 calories, with a spin bike topping around 900 calories.

The average burn for 1 hour on the recumbent is 330 calories. We think this is because most gym-goers progress from the recumbent bike to a more difficult machine rather quickly.

The winner here is obviously the upright, but we do note that if you are pretty out of shape, the recumbent bike might be the better option. If you need to begin on the recumbent, don't let it put you down.

Winner - Upright wins here, although the recumbent could be more beneficial for some.

For Weight Loss

Weight loss isn't all about calories. When you stack the two machines side by side, you have a clear winner for calorie burn. The real-life applications are slightly different.

Upright bikes require a certain level of fitness and a certain level of posture control. If you are not at this level just yet, you probably won't be able to do an hour's session on an upright bike, whereas you might be able to do an hour on the recumbent bike.

You need to make your own evaluation here. Weight loss is about the consistency of training and diet. If you find the upright bike that hard that you dread doing it, you will probably slack off or miss cardio sessions.

Winner - While the upright is better individually, we recommend picking the machine you will stick to for a couple of months. At that point, you can re-evaluate.

For Cardio Training

If your goals are more aligned with increasing your cardiovascular ability, you will do better if you stick to traditional upright bikes. They allow for a more hardcore workout.

You can use resistance and HIIT intervals to really blast your fitness levels.

Again, for newcomers and those who have been out of shape for a while, you should choose the most comfortable machine. There is no point attempting a spin class if you are not at a certain level of fitness.

Winner- Upright except for those that have lower cardio ability.

For Strength

Both the recumbent bike and the upright bike are cardio machines. This means they won't have as much effect on your strength as a good weightlifting strength program.

They both have the potential to increase size and strength in your legs, though, with the stationary bike hitting them particularly hard.

Winner - Upright bike.

Specialist Exercise Bikes Explained

The upright exercise bike is the winner in most aspects. On top of this, there are a couple of different specialist variations you might want to consider incorporating into your workouts.

Key Things To Remember For Weight Loss

Exercise is only one aspect of the weight loss calculation. To lose weight consistently, you will need to get the other things in check as well.

Cardio Machines That Are Good For Weight Loss

Even though both of these machines are different in their usage, they are both bike-based pieces of equipment. For some people, this just doesn't sit right. Some of us prefer a different flavor of cardio. If this is you, then you might want to consider these other cardio machines.

Rowing Machine

The rowing machine is perhaps the favored cardio machine for those that are into heavy weight training and strength. This cardio utilizes your upper body more than your lower body and requires

strength in equal parts to cardio.

The rowing machine burns an incredible amount of calories per hour and is well suited to those with injuries that prevent them from running or cycling.

Treadmill

The treadmill is what most of us think of when you hear the word cardio, and for good reason.

Treadmills allow you to run without all of the stress and strain that accompanies road running. They come with a range of programs that can simulate anything from HIIT training to marathons, high inclines to brisk Sunday walks.

If you like to switch it up a lot and prefer to run for your cardio, consider switching to a treadmill basis routine.

Conclusion

As you can see, the upright bike is better in most aspects of weight loss. If you have the fitness and ability to use one, you should pick it over the recumbent.

Recumbent bikes are still useful, though, and have the potential to help you burn a lot of calories with the right effort.

Our advice?

Weight loss and fitness are long-term goals; pick the machine that you need to progress at this current moment. There is nothing wrong with choosing the easier machine to stick to your program consistently. You will see better results this way overall.