A ride that’s smooth at any speed
Stationary bikes have been a gym mainstay for nearly 50 years, outlasting many trendier rivals. These bikes are also the third-most popular choice for people buying aerobic equipment for home use. The equipment ranges in sophistication from economical training stands that let you use your own road or mountain bike to high-tech versions that may make you feel like a human lab rat. Here are some choices.
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Comfort takes a front seat
Diamondback Fitness 700R recumbent: A durable bike packed with electronic features.
Likes: Large monitor shows time, RPM, distance, calories burned. Offers 16 intensity levels and six programs, including heart-rate control. Has upper and lower hand positions with comfortably located heart-rate contact. A well-cushioned seat.
Dislikes: Wider-than-normal space between the pedals may feel a bit awkward for some.
Price: $999. (800) 222-5527; www.diamondbackfitness.com
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Your money’s worth
Horizon Fitness.com Elite 3.0R recumbent: Smooth pedaling, good value.
Likes: Huge display includes time, distance, calories, RPM. Offers six programs and 16 resistance levels. Display features a visual “around the track” distance function.
Dislikes: Longer than comparable machines by 18 inches. Display panel shakes slightly more than the others. Placement of heart-rate contact on upper handles is not convenient; users must wear a chest strap to get heart rate when using lower handles.
Price: $749. (888) 993-3199; www.horizonfitness.com
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Bring your own bike
Performance Travel Trac Century Fluid trainer: Ride your own bike in the living room.
Likes: Your bike’s frame is held in place at the rear axle and the wheel spins on a small flywheel. Smooth, quiet and designed so that the resistance builds as you pedal faster. Simple design; nothing to break. Sets up in one minute using a road, mountain, recumbent or beach cruiser bike (but won’t work with knobby rear tires). Folds up easily for travel.
Dislikes: No electronic feedback. You’ll need to buy a special cycling computer -- or watch TV -- for amusement.
Price: $169. (800) 888-2854; www.performancebikes.com
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Serious simulations
Racermate Velotron Basic: The ultimate cycling computer simulator for obsessed cyclists and triathletes.
Likes: Displays every imaginable variable: speed, power output in watts, pedal cadence, heart rate, left-right pedal-stroke analysis and more. Striking 3-D graphics. Includes 100 simulated courses, such as the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon competition. You can race against a computer-generated opponent, or yourself, by saving your workouts and recalling them. Simulates hills, headwinds, drafting.
Dislikes: Hefty price tag. Racermate’s Computrainer offers similar features, with less precision, for only $1,399.
Price: $5,175. (800) 522-3610; www.velotron.com
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-- Roy M. Wallack