These days many sports and bicycling enthusiasts are opting for recumbent cycles over upright ones, and with good reason.  While upright bikes may offer more of an actual workout on the legs, recumbent cycles have less pressure on the back and entire upper body since sitting back puts less pressure on this area.

But no matter how good they are for you and your workout, there seems to be far too many recumbent bycycles on the market today making your choice a seemingly impossible one!  How to choose and what to look for?

First you need to be aware of your fitness levels and what you're looking for in a bike.  Most recumbent cycles are very adjustable but still respond to a rider's height and weight.  Women especially may want to choose options that are meant specifically for them, as trying to use a bike that's too large for your frame may mean that you are constantly reaching for the pedals and handles; simply moving the seat forward or up and down may only mean that you're bending your legs unnaturally, resulting in an uncomfortable ride or workout.

Your level of fitness also comes into play when choosing between recumbent cycles; different leg muscles are worked at various levels when cycling and much of this depends on your posture while riding.  The longer the pedal base, the more you're working your entire lower and upper leg muscles and a shorter pedal base means the upper thigh muscles are being worked much harder than the lower leg muclses. 

With a recumbent bike you are sitting in a position facing front so you will not get the neck strain so common with normal bikes.  You are sitting in a seat with back support, not balancing on a little wedge of hard plastic which means no more chafing in those tender spots.  Your weight is not resting on your arms, so you eliminate all the strain and pain from your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders.

Men should be especially careful about using a standard upright bike because the narrow seat puts a lot of pressure on the prostate gland.  With a recumbent bike your legs also don't have as much stress and strain when they are out in front of you rather than pedaling underneath your body the way you do with an upright bike.

While you might immediately be thinking that you want to work these underdeveloped muscles, be sure that you're going to dedicate yourself to such a workout.  Choosing from recumbent cycles that are difficult for you to use will only mean that you'll be more likely to give up on your workout or ride and let the bike gather dust.

Your budget is also going to be a factor when choosing between recumbent cycles.  There's no end to the many gadgets and features you can pick from with the various models, but of course you don't want to overspend either.  A very basic model without all the "bells and whistles" can still provide an enjoyable workout or ride, so don't be taken in by all the recumbent cycles that have fancy gadgets and programs you're never going to use.  Instead, try out a few in the store or at your local gym and find what feels best for you, and then choose according to how much you can realistically spend.