This recumbent bike is no longer available – see a suitable replacement here: Review of NordicTrack R35 Recumbent Bike.
Staying fit is a must no matter what your age is. However, not everyone has the time to go to the gym or do some outdoor activities like biking and running. Fortunately, there are different types of exercise equipment that you can use at home.
One of the most common workout equipment is an indoor bike. If you used to visit a gym, you’ve probably tried stationary bikes that are big, bulky, and noisy. But there are better options that are suitable for home workouts.
The Endurance Elite Fit Pro Recumbent Exercise Bike is a good option. It is more compact than those you normally find at gyms. It is less complicated to use, smaller, and is almost noiseless so, you don’t have to worry about disturbing other family members while you work out.
Modern exercise bikes use magnetic tension resistance on the flywheel. This does not only create a smooth and quiet ride but is also more challenging as you can adjust the tension level. You can find these qualities on an Elite Fit Pro Recumbent Exercise Bike.
This indoor bike claims to provide an overall workout due to its built-in resistance bands for the arms and upper body. But does it work as it claims to? Let’s find out.
Endurance Elite Fit Pro Recumbent Exercise Bike Overview
It may look like just any other recumbent bike but it has some great features that you can’t normally find on standard exercise bikes. It has all the features you need for a satisfactory exercise bike like monitor display, magnetic tension resistance, adjustability, and enough weight and height capacity.
The additional feature that most indoor bikes don’t have is the built-in resistance bands for the arms. Most recumbent bikes are only designed for lower body workout and not for the upper body. Having this feature means you don’t need other equipment for your upper body exercise.
The frame is made of tubular steel that makes the equipment strong and durable. It has a maximum user weight of 200kg and 190cm for user height. The machine has a net weight of 28kg which is not too heavy, plus it has transportation wheels to assist you in case you need to move it around.
You can find the tension control right below the LCD monitor which makes it easier to adjust while working out. It has a 10kg magnetic flywheel which is good enough for a light to moderate workout. It is better than most recumbent bikes that only have an 8kg magnetic flywheel.
The bike has 16 resistance levels which is good enough for those who prefer high intensity workout. Its design makes it comfortable for users since the seat can be adjusted and has a supportive backseat. The seat design provides comfort and prevents back stress while working out.
Features of Endurance Elite Fit Pro Recumbent Exercise Bike
Heavy Duty Construction
The frame is made of high-quality steel and is powder-coated to ensure that it will last for years and will remain rustproof. It is sturdy and can support up to 200kg of user weight. The frame is solid and stable so you can be sure that you will not lose balance while working out.
Old versions and other low-quality recumbent bikes are sometimes wobbly that can affect your workout experience.
Outstanding Back Support
One of the features to look for when buying a recumbent bike is the comfort level it can provide. Working out is challenging enough and can sometimes be painful and you don’t want to add unnecessary pain because of a poorly constructed back support.
Endurance understands how important this feature is which is why they designed this recumbent bike with contoured mesh back support that is ventilated to keep your back cool even after long periods of workout and a wide seat for a relaxed and pain-free exercise which is suitable for people with back problems.
People with back issues or those who cannot perform extreme workouts will find this feature a great addition to their recumbent bike. It can help decrease back stress and provide the highest comfort while exercising.
Comfortable and Adjustable Seat
You do not want to be sitting on a hard and uncomfortable seat during your workout. The seat is very important to give you the comfort you need while working out.
The seat in this recumbent bike is thick and padded. It also moulds to the shape of your body for extra comfort even after sitting for long periods of working out. It is also adjustable so you can find the most comfortable position while pedalling.
The seat can be easily adjusted by either sliding forward or backwards. The handlebars on the side help support you, plus it has a hand pulse sensor to monitor your pulse rate.
Easy to Adjust Magnetic Resistance
It has 16 levels of automatic resistance control so you can change it depending on your personal fitness goals and gradually increase over time as you challenge yourself for a higher intensity workout.
The maximum flywheel resistance is up to 10kg which is still higher than most recumbent bikes. Beginners to intermediate fitness buffs have still plenty to work around. However, this may not be enough for more experienced fitness buffs who can do more than 10kg.
This is suitable for people with injuries or for those who are only interested in doing gentle exercise. The magnetic flywheel is also quiet with no annoying noise so you won’t have to worry about startling anyone.
Built-in Resistance Bands for Upper Body Exercise
This is one of the features that most recumbent bikes lack. Stationary biking can get boring at times, especially if your workout is not intense enough or you are not in front of the television.
When you get bored, you can easily grab the built-in resistance bands and incorporate some arm and upper body exercises. You can do arm exercises simultaneously with your leg workout with ease or you can do it one at a time. It’s truly a total body workout.
There are a lot of different exercises you can perform with built-in resistance bands. You can pull the bands backwards to work out your back muscle or you can raise them to perform some shoulder exercises. You can even experiment with your own workout routine.
Another advantage of having these arm resistance bands is that you can lessen your exercise time since you can do it while exercising your legs, too. Plus, you do not need to spend more money on additional workout equipment for your arms.
Accurate and Easy to Understand LCD Monitor
Some recumbent bikes have displays that are hard to understand or show too much information that you don’t need. The monitor in this bike is easy to understand and displays only the vital information that you need to know.
The screen is easy to navigate, clear, and easy to read. It can track and monitor your heart rate, distance, speed, calories burned, and time of your workout. Aside from that, you can set the user profile, preset profile, pulse recovery, and watt control. Most of these features are not available in most recumbent bikes in the market. The screen is large enough to read clearly, plus it has an iPad holder.
Three Piece Pro Crank
Unlike most low-end recumbent bikes, Endurance Elite Fit Pro Recumbent Exercise Bike has 3 piece pro crank. This allows users to push more against the pedals with its harder resistance. This makes the recumbent bike tougher and more durable as well.
Suitable for Rehab
Those with knee or joint injury or surgery will find this recumbent bike helpful for their recovery. This particularly suitable for hip joints, back, and knee injuries. It is perfect for gentle and mild exercises and even Australian physiotherapists recommend this for their patients.
Transportation Wheels
Recumbent bikes can be heavy and can be hard to lift on your own in case you need to move it to another place. You don’t have to worry about that with this Endurance exercise bike since it has transportation wheels, so it is easier to move around.
Pros and Cons
- Made of heavy-duty tubular steel
- Rustproof due to its powder coating
- 16 levels of resistance settings
- 10kg flywheel suitable for beginners to intermediate fitness enthusiasts
- Has built-in resistance bands for arm and upper body workouts
- Compact design and can fit even small spaces
- Easy to assemble and store, comes with a step-by-step instruction manual
- Has hand pulse sensor to monitor heart rate
- Large enough and easy to read LCD monitor
- LCD monitor only displays necessary information
- Wide and padded seat that moulds to body shape
- Adjustable seat that can accommodate people who are up to 190cm in height
- Has a maximum weight capacity of 200kg
- Transport wheels make it easier to move it around
- Can be used for rehab
- It may not be suitable for advanced fitness buffs or those who are looking for a more intense leg or cardio workout
- The hand pulse sensor may not be the best to monitor heart rate
- Those who have longer legs or taller than 190cm may find it uncomfortable
Final Words on Endurance Elite Fit Pro Recumbent Exercise Bike
This recumbent exercise bike does have a lot of great features that you won’t normally find on other exercise bikes. When it comes to quality and durability, it is much better than those with the same price range.
The built-in resistance armbands is a great addition as users can perform a total body workout in less time with no additional workout equipment necessary. The compact design also makes it easy to store and won’t require much space.
However, it still has some improvements to make like the hand pulse sensor and they can increase the maximum level of resistance. But overall it is one of the better recumbent bikes out there.