When I was growing up, my bike was my second form of transportation after walking.

My friends and I explored our town with our bikes, imagining we would find amazing places. We rarely did, but the sense of adventure was still excellent.

I am now much older, and my balance on the bike is a little iffier.

Part of this is due to a knee injury several years ago. That injury sidelined me from many activities.

But with the help of physical therapy and an introduction to the recumbent exercise bicycle, I became mobile once more.

I had never paid attention to exercise bicycles when I went to gyms to get my health in shape.

I saw and used the stationary bikes that looked like regular bikes but didn’t go anywhere. I don’t remember seeing the recumbent bicycles. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t exist, only that I wasn’t going to gyms that catered to older individuals like me.

Which Exercise Bikes Are Best For Seniors?

I have learned that the types of bikes serve different purposes.

The traditional stationary bike, also known as the spin bike, is used for low impact, high aerobic exercise. And yes, this is the bike that you take spin classes on.

You stand on the pedals, lean forward, and go as fast as possible to get nowhere, burning tons of calories.

You have probably noticed that the seats are small and uncomfortable.

Definitely not designed for long-term sitting.

It is also not all that great for those in the senior age group.

Modified Upright and Recumbent Exercise Bikes

Some upright exercise bikes are geared toward the Boomer generation, having wider seats and more supports to aid in getting on and getting off. They are known for improving the rider’s posture and increasing core strength.

Recumbent bikes are like sitting on a chair and pedals for your feet. Recumbent bikes are built for comfort and support.

Your back, hips, and bottom are supported while you sit and pedal lessening the risk of falling off.

They provide a lower impact workout, meaning less stress on your joints than on other bikes, and essential for those recovering from injuries in their hips, knees, or ankles

You can burn many calories with the recumbent bike, although maybe not as many as with a spin bicycle.

After my physical therapist introduced me to the recumbent bike and discussed how it would help strengthen my knee joint, I got a Schwinn. Of course, I got it based on name recognition, having no idea about the differences in what the various brands offered. It is a decent bike, but now I realize I could have gotten some additional bells and whistles.

If I were to do it over again, I would explore options more. But, since my Schwinn is still working, and it would be a pain to get rid of, I will share with you four bikes that may fit your needs and are on my wish list for when my current bicycle needs to be retired.

LANOS Workout Bike For Home - 2 In 1 Recumbent Exercise Bike and Upright Indoor Cycling Bike Positions 

The LANOS is an excellent combination of recumbent and upright (but not spin) bikes. The upright form of the bicycle was developed with older individuals in mind, improving their posture and core.

There is an LCD Screen If you want to keep track of your fitness results.

With either the upright or recumbent position, you can watch videos on your tablet or, as I do, read Kindle novels since there is a ledge to put your device on above the LCD Screen.

FitDesk Desk Bike 3.0 - Folding Workout Stationary Bicycle Desk 

Since I do a lot of work sitting, having a stationary bike that allows me to work sounds like a great idea. This exercise bicycle is the one I have been looking at.

A built-in tablet holder and storage tray are included allowing me to comfortably exercise while I am writing articles like this.

I would really like the adjustable forearm supports that function as arm massage rollers that prevent arms from becoming weary.

In addition, it has resistance bands just underneath its seat, allowing you to do arm workouts while you bike.

If I were to stick with the traditional recumbent exercise bike, I think this time I would go with the

Sunny Health & Fitness Programmable Recumbent Bike 

This recumbent bicycle is similar to my current bike but has a few more bells and whistles since it is newer.

It has a performance monitor with a color display to help you keep track of

• Time used
• Speed
• Distance traveled
• Calories burned
• Pulse

They also have 24 built-in workouts designed for a variety of fitness levels.

And, of course, they have a device holder for your phone or tablet.

The first two bikes have the advantage of being able to fold up and move out of the way. These may be better options if you don’t have a dedicated room for exercise equipment.

The bottom line, however, is that bicycles are great for burning a lot of calories in a short amount of time, especially compared to walking. Even doing 30-45 minutes per day while entertaining yourself with books or streaming videos will lead to weight loss and improved muscle tone in your knees and legs.