DON’T LIKE STATIONARY BIKES? TRY AN EDGE 490 RECUMBENT!
May 05 '01
The Bottom Line A great piece of equipment. Well made and easy to use, this bike really makes working out fun.
As a person who loves to ride a bike outdoors, I will admit that I am like a cat in the rain when it comes to riding in cold weather. Winters just aren’t my gig on a bike, no matter how fancy of a bike it is. So, this year, rather than battle it out with myself to get in shape, I decided to forgo the entire winter biking thing and ride indoors. Another issue was the fact that since I blew a disk in my back a few years ago, I find “normal” exercise bikes to be not only uncomfortable, but have been known to cause me excruciating pain in my lower back. So, I decided get a piece of exercise equipment that would only be comfortable and fun, but useful as well.
I decided on a stationary recumbent bike, more specifically, an Edge 490 Recumbent.
Okay, so I’m sure you’re wondering, "what the heck is a recumbent bike?" Well, it is a bike that, unlike traditional bikes, where you lean over to pedal, you lean back and pedal with your legs out in front of you, which alleviates a great deal of pain and pressure from your back. Plus, you still get a great workout.
Features - At a retail price of $350.00, the Edge 490 Recumbent is a bargain, considering that models with the same features cost hundreds more. Sure, you could pay $2,500.00 for a bike (that is “gym quality”), but these are the bikes that are going to get around the clock use, so why not go with a well made, but cheaper model. The Edge 490 Recumbent bike has 12 different programs that allow you to choose varied fitness and training levels. There is also a timer, calorie counter, and a speed, distance, and pulse tracker. All statistics are show on a large, easy to read screen, and can be set up so that you can “flip” through them as you are working out.
Construction and assembly - The Edge 490 Recumbent comes partially unassembled, and takes about an hour to put together. Instructions are clear and understandable and all assembly tools are enclosed. I highly recommend keeping the tools handy, as a bolt or two may loosen up and require tightening as you use the machine. After a few months of use, I found the Edge 490 Recumbent bike to be sturdy and very well made, something that I found lacking on other models that I looked at.
Other details - The Edge 490 Recumbent comes standard with a 90 day warranty, and an additional warranty can be purchased from a retailer for about $50.00. I also found that the Edge 490 Recumbent is about average size for a piece of exercise equipment, and I just leave it in my living room. I would say that it weighs about 75 pounds, and is easy to move around by dragging it, rather than trying to lift it (since it is a bit awkward).
Overall, I am very happy with the Edge 490 Recumbent bike, as I use it several times a week, more than I have any other piece of exercise equipment. Workouts are comfortable and the bike is really easy to use and program, plus, you can watch TV or read (as it has a magazine/book holder, along with a water bottle holder). I have even been able to play video games while using it. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to get in shape indoors.
As always, thanks for reading.
Note: There was no category for this specific product, so it has been placed in a “general” area
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Epinions.com ID:
gerper
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Member: gerper
Location: Seattle
Reviews written: 223
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