Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike Immediately

I'd had a fairly low-end elliptical trainer (Pro-Form XP 110) before I bought this bike, and was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to get the same level of workout, since I wouldn't be moving my whole body. But that hasn't been a problem at all. I've had the bike for long enough now to have found the level on each of the programs that works for me, and it's been no problem getting my heart rate up to 75-85% and keeping it there. I don't trust the calorie meters on machines like these (no idea how they're calculating it), but I'd guess I'm getting BETTER cardio on this than my elliptical, judging by the amount of sweat and how I feel afterward. I'm right back on track with the rate of weight loss I was on with the elliptical trainer.

The bike is very smooth and quiet, and the display and programs are excellent. The different programs offer a good amount of variety, and being able to set the amount of time per program makes it easy to set a nightly goal and hit it. It's sturdy, stable, and comfortable. It will rock a bit if you rock your upper body back and forth, but you shouldn't be doing that anyway, and it's not enough to tip over. The seat does get uncomfortable for extended sessions, like over an hour, but it's been totally fine for 45 minutes or less.

The seat does squeak a bit sometimes, but I've found that 1) making sure all the bolts are tight, 2) the seat is in the right position (so my legs are bent and not digging into the front of the seat when extended), and 3) sitting back against the back and not rocking side to side pretty much eliminate that.

The only other problem I have with it is the straps on the pedals. They're stiff plastic with hard edges, so they dig in a bit through the shoes I use (no padding, just canvas cloth). Doubling up on socks helps, but I'd still rather the straps had a bit more give and/or padding of their own.

The shipping wasn't that great for me, but that's nothing to do with the bike itself; UPS left it out at the front door, in the rain, and the handle in the back that you use to lift and move the bike around was bent. It's just that handle, though, and I don't move it around anyway, so I'm just living with it.Get more detail about Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike.