What is a recumbent exercise bike?

The basic layout of a recumbent bike

The word recumbent means lying back. On a recumbent exercise bike you sit low down in a wide seat with a backrest, and your legs reach forward to pedals mounted at the front of the frame. Your body weight rests on the seat and backrest rather than on a narrow saddle, and your hands rest on grips beside the seat or on bars near the console.

Compare that with an upright exercise bike, where you sit on a saddle above the pedals much as you would on a road bike, and a spin bike, where the saddle and bars are set for a more forward riding position and you can stand on the pedals. The recumbent is the only one of the three where standing up to pedal is not part of the design.

Most home recumbents use a flywheel inside the front housing with magnetic resistance. Turning a dial or pressing a button moves magnets closer to the flywheel, which makes pedalling harder. There is no contact between the magnets and the flywheel, so these bikes tend to run quietly and need little routine maintenance.

Key parts: seat, backrest, step-through frame and console

The seat is the main difference you notice. It is usually wider and more padded than a saddle, and on most models it slides along a rail to suit different leg lengths. Some use a lever you pull while seated; others use a pop pin. The backrest may be padded or mesh, and on some bikes it reclines a few degrees.

The step-through frame is the low section between the seat and the pedals. Because there is no top tube or tall saddle post to swing a leg over, you can walk in from the side and sit down. Many people choose a recumbent for this reason alone.

The console sits on a stalk in front of you and usually shows time, distance, speed, resistance level and sometimes pulse from hand sensors. Some newer models add Bluetooth so an app can log rides. Side grips often carry the pulse sensors and sometimes buttons to change resistance.

• Sliding seat rail for leg length adjustment
• Backrest, padded or mesh, sometimes with a recline setting
• Low step-through frame you can walk into
• Pedals with straps at the front of the frame
• Magnetic resistance controlled by a dial or buttons

How a recumbent differs from an upright bike

The riding position is the obvious difference, but there are practical ones too. A recumbent is longer, because the seat sits behind the pedals rather than above them. Listed lengths for home recumbents used in our guides run from about 130 cm to over 140 cm, while compact uprights are often under a metre long. Our exercise bike dimensions guide has a table of listed footprints.

A recumbent is usually lower in overall height, so it can sit under a window or a sloping ceiling where a spin bike with a tall rider would not fit. It also tends to be heavier, because the longer frame and seat add steel. Transport wheels at the front help when you move it.

You cannot stand on the pedals, and your upper body stays still against the backrest. Some riders like that because they can read or watch a screen while riding. Others find it less involving than an upright or spin bike. For a side-by-side look, read recumbent vs upright exercise bike.

Who tends to prefer a recumbent bike

People choose recumbents for comfort and access rather than for any one feature. Riders who find a narrow saddle uncomfortable often prefer the wide seat. Those who find it awkward to swing a leg over a frame like the step-through design. People who want to read, use a tablet or watch television while pedalling find the reclined position steadier for that.

Households with several users of different heights also like the sliding seat, as it is quick to move between riders. If you have a medical condition or are returning to exercise after an injury, ask your GP or a physiotherapist which kind of bike suits you before you buy.

If you want to ride hard out of the saddle, follow spin classes or use an app built around standing climbs, a recumbent is the wrong tool. A spin bike or a good upright suits that style better.

What to check before buying a recumbent

Start with the user height range and maximum user weight on the listing, then check the seat rail adjustment covers both the shortest and tallest rider in your home. Measure the floor space, allowing room to walk in from the side. Look at how the resistance is changed, whether the console shows the data you care about, and whether the pedals have straps. If the bike plugs in, check where the nearest socket is.

Our best recumbent exercise bike guide covers models with different seat designs, weight limits and app options. Once yours arrives, our how to use a recumbent bike guide explains seat position and set-up.

Note:Recumbent bikes are heavy and long. Lift or tip one with two people, use the transport wheels, and follow the maker's assembly instructions.

See our recumbent bike picks →

Frequently asked questions

Are recumbent exercise bikes any good? They do the job they are designed for well: steady pedalling from a supportive seat with easy access. They are a poor fit if you want to stand, sprint out of the saddle or follow spin-style classes. Whether one is good for you depends on how you plan to ride.

What is the best recumbent stationary bike? There is no single best one. Match the user height range, weight limit, seat adjustment and console features to your household. Our recumbent bike guide compares current models on those points.

Is a recumbent bike quieter than a spin bike? Most home recumbents use magnetic resistance with no contact parts, so they tend to be quiet. Many spin bikes are also magnetic, but some use a felt pad that rubs the flywheel and makes more noise.

Do recumbent bikes need to be plugged in? Many run the console on batteries, while others with motorised resistance or larger screens need a mains adapter. Check the listing and the manual before you choose a spot.