It’s common knowledge that exercise is essential for sound health. And this runs true for all age groups including those in their golden years. But the ugly truth is that seniors have limited options when it comes to exercise, as most activities would leave them with aches in the knees, back, hips or other body parts.
Cycling on stationary exercise bikes is one of the best exercises for elderly people because it ticks all the checkboxes for safety and effectiveness. It provides a full body workout that can help to enhance heart health and overall wellbeing — with minimal risk of injury. Another upside is that it doesn’t require moving around or going outdoors, which some seniors might not be comfortable with.
OUR TOP PICK
No products found.Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse
EDITORS CHOICE
No products found.Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
BEST VALUE
No products found.Best Stationary Bikes for Seniors: Our Top 7 Picks
Now, the market is flooded with tons of stationary exercise bikes by different brands. So, making the right choice can be a huge challenge — especially since only some are suitable for use by seniors. Whether you’re a senior who is looking to keep fit or you’re caring for an elderly relative, this post is for you.
We compared the bestselling stationary exercise bikes and carefully handpicked the best in terms of suitability for seniors, ease of use, durability, brand trust, pricing, and other important factors. And here are the options we deem the best stationary bikes for seniors.
OUR TOP PICK
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse
No products found.The Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike allows for vigorous workouts within a very small space. The bike’s folding and pulse features are among its biggest upsides.
The bike has a computerized LCD that shows your pulse as well as other key performance metrics like calories burned, distance, speed and length of the workout. Also, the model has 8 different resistant settings that add more intensity to your workout. The long-lasting performance of the device is reinforced by the material it is made from. The powder-coated steel ensures durability.
It has a well-padded ergonomic seat, making the comfort level comparable to the one usually found on gym bikes. However, the seat can prove to be too large for really petite seniors. It is equipped with leg stabilizers that prevent the user from falling over during workout and wheels to aid easy movement from one place to another.
Pros
- Ergonomically sound and comfortable
- Folds up to save space
- Smooth and quiet
Cons
- Mileage on the console resets to 0.0 after 999.9 miles
- The proprietary seat might be too big for small-sized people
- Cheap-looking rubber pedal straps
EDITORS CHOICE
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
No products found.The Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike is designed for a comfortable on-the-spot ride. It has a padded seat, foam-covered handlebars and counter-balanced pedals with foot straps. As you pedal on this stationary bike, the LCD display shows important stats, which can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and drive you to complete more miles.
This bike tracks your speed, time, distance, and calories burned on one easy-to-read screen. And the statistics are displayed in large numbers, so you don’t have to squint or disrupt your ride just to see how you’re doing. It’s a great feature that can keep you going.
For more comfort, the seat is an ergonomically designed saddle with high-density foam. Measuring 6 inches wide and 10 inches long, the seat has a backrest measuring 12 inches wide and 16 inches tall. Contoured foam-covered handlebars on either side of the seat provide extra support for your arms and back, and this can be particularly soothing for seniors. There is a second set of handlebars below the LCD display which can be used as an alternative if you get tired of sitting back against the backrest.
Also, the pedals come with a strap so the risk of slipping your feet is minimized to nearly zero. The pedals are located below the seats which can be adjusted to your level of comfort. It means your legs will be extended beneath your body reducing the stress on your knees and back.
Pros
- Sturdy and well constructed
- Quiet and smooth
- Adjustable seat
Cons
- It doesn’t have heart rate pulse grips
- Non Adjustable backrest
BEST VALUE
Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike
No products found.The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is a great choice for many seniors because it offers a series of features that makes exercise enjoyable and comfortable. This bike comes with enhanced lower back support and a padded seat for that extra bit of comfort.
With a total of 25 resistance levels, the bike takes you from the lighter workouts to the heavier ones with a touch of a simple button. Since the equipment is entirely digital, you also don’t have to worry about turning knobs for the desired setting.
The bike keeps you connected to the outside world with its media shelf and Bluetooth connectivity, and it has an excellent console with many workouts as well as the option for downloading exercise data. The seat can be adjusted for various postures and this is quite helpful if the bike is to be used by two or more people. Through the vented back, it’s a given that you will get some cool air while pedaling.
It has a water bottle holder and acoustic chamber speakers, so seniors can have a break without actually going off the recumbent bike. The grip heart rate monitor is a great feature that allows you to check out your pulse in a matter of seconds just by holding the grip with your hand.
If you prefer riding hands-free you can use the chest strap heart rate monitor which is usually sold separately with this bike. Checking the heart rate frequently during an exercise routine is particularly important for seniors who might have heart problems. It also helps to stay on target during routines.
Pros
- It has four user profiles
- Heart rate monitors
- Built-in fitness programs
- Sound system
Cons
- Light flywheel
- The manual monitor does not always work
RUNNER UP
Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike
No products found.The Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike is sturdy and well built to handle the rigors of an intense workout without shaking excessively or being otherwise uncomfortable during normal use. It has an ergonomic recumbent seat design does well at reducing pressure on the lower back and other trouble spots that frequently ache during long workout sessions on other machines. This makes it perfect for users prone to troublesome aches and pains.
The bike provides a smooth ride with little or no noise and almost no vibrations even during vigorous exercise sessions. Combined with the seat design, this makes the bike an excellent choice for seniors. It has a folding frame which makes it about half the original size, making it easy and convenient to store in a tight spot. Also, this model is very lightweight, making it easy to maneuver from one spot to another.
The handlebars are either side of the seat they are coated for comfort. They also include the pulse sensors that you grip for monitoring your hear heart rate on computer. You don’t need to grip them to support yourself as you ride. The seat back provides enough support to stay in place as you ride. You can then use your hands for using a tablet, hold a book, play a video game or even lift some light weights.
Pros
- The bike is compact and doesn’t take up much space when in use.
- Comes with a basic console for feedback during your exercise.
Cons
- Doesn’t have levelers to balance up the bike.
- The console doesn’t include pre-programmed workouts.
RUNNER UP
MaxKare Exercise Bike (Stationary Indoor Workout Cycling Bike)
No products found.The Maxcare Exercise Bike has an advanced tension rope design that meets your needs of whole-body exercise, increasing the muscle exercise of the back and the arm while exercising the legs, calories burned and gives you an efficient exercise.
It has a comfortable cushion and backrest made of ergonomically designed high-density sponges. This helps to support your back and hands during your continuous exercise to make your exercise process more comfortable. Seniors will find this feature useful as it reduces the strain on the back during exercise.
With features that track heart rates, multiple sports data, time count and calories burned. This device makes it better to understand your fitness and keep track of your workout progress. This feature is particularly helpful to seniors as it helps to set limits based on what their bodies can take.
Pros
- It is easy to store.
- It is quiet during the workout.
Cons
- It is difficult to adjust.
RUNNER UP
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
No products found.The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike is an entry-level exercise bike with a walk through recumbent frame. It has 8 levels of magnetic resistance that can be adjusted using a tension control knob. This lets you increase the intensity of your workout as you please.
While this model might not prove challenging enough for the advanced user, its resistance settings will allow the senior to start on a low difficulty and still have enough room to grow as he/she builds strength. Also, the magnetic resistance keeps the noise to a bare minimum during even the most rigorous workouts and this comes in very handy if you’re into doing other things while you exercise. This makes all other activities more enjoyable and undisturbed by your pedaling.
The recumbent seat keeps the user’s body position semi-horizontal with the legs extended outwards. This helps to distribute body weight over a wider surface area. This minimizes pressure on trouble areas that often suffer from aches and pains during extended workouts on regular bikes. This is a great feature for users that have had bad experiences or users that have a special need to be careful when exercising such as seniors.
Pros
- It is quiet during use.
- It is comfortable.
Cons
- It does not store workout data.
- The belts come off often.
RUNNER UP
PLENY Foldable Upright Stationary Exercise Bike
No products found.The Pleny Foldable Upright Stationary Exercise Bike It is offered in two colors with different levels of magnetic resistance, with the black model having double the amount of resistance of the pink model. It runs smoothly and quietly and you feel safe on its heavy-duty steel construction.
The pedals are textured and anti-slip with safety straps that keep your legs in place so you feel safe while pedaling. It also has an additional strong bolt on the pedals so they will not loosen. You can actually pedal in both forward and backward directions to target slightly different leg muscles.
The safety “S” arc design integrated on this exercise bike is intended for users, especially seniors, to easily get on and off the equipment. It is equipped with pulse sensors embedded on its handlebars, making it easy to monitor your heart rate whilst working out. Your pulse rate, along with the time, speed, distance, and calories burnt are accurately recorded and displayed on its large LCD computer. This exercise bike allows you to exercise longer because it has a large padded seat which will greatly benefit seniors.
The Pleny Foldable Fitness Exercise Bike is compact and lightweight at only 17 kg, yet it’s still made easier to transport around your house because of its built-in wheels. Plus, you don’t need to dismantle the equipment when not in use because it’s foldable and it can fit even the most limited spaces.
Pros
- It has a wide range of resistance.
- It is foldable for easy storage.
- It has hand pulse sensors.
Cons
- Handlebars are not adjustable.
- Some may struggle to adjust the frame to their size.
Wrap-up
Whether you’re in the market for a foldable upright exercise bike, or a recumbent model, you’ll want to consider your options carefully before making a decision. The important thing is that you do your research, prioritize which features are most important to you, and select a bike that’s going to provide you with everything you need for a high-quality workout in the comfort of your home.
Last update on 2023-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API