Pedalling Has Never Been This Weird and Fun!
While I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a couch potato, I’m not the kind of person who spends a great deal of time outside, flexing his muscles on a bike or jogging every morning. Simply put, this sort of activity just doesn’t do it for me. It’s is not because I get exhausted after pedalling for half an hour, but because it becomes boring and repetitive really fast I simply lose interest. I want to get a good workout, but at the same time, I want to do something that is entertaining for me, you know, like playing video games or blasting my favorite music.
The necessity of having the best of both worlds was what made me have a look at the ProGear 190 Compact Recumbent Bike with Heart Pulse Sensors. Even though a recumbent bike looks more like a torture device than a piece of exercise equipment, I was instantly hooked. Apart from the convenience of working out inside my own home, this exercise bike puts a new spin on a tired old routine. And, best of all, your hands are free during the workout so you can grab the controller and treat yourself to some gaming.
Dimensions and Portability
While its size of 38 x 21 x 44 inches and weight of 38 lbs. might give you the impression that this recumbent bike is hard to put away once you’re done using it, that’s not the case at all. As a matter of fact, it will save you an awful lot of space by allowing you to fold it up and roll it away when you are finished with your workout. This means you won’t have to stumble over it constantly while you are doing things around the house, or have an awkward situation when you invite people over as they politely try to ignore a giant elephant in the room that is your recumbent bike.
Ergomomics
The ProGear 190 recumbent bicycle has large, oversized pedals equipped with safety straps, which keep your feet from slipping and prevent you from injuring yourself while pedalling. A 3-piece “high torque” cranking system ensures that the pedalling feels smooth and consistent, which is totally different from riding an outdoor bike where you constantly have to adjust the force to pedal.
The only real downside I came across researching this bike is the large seat cushion which, while exceptionally comfy, might be a tad too wide if you are of slim build, because your thighs will probably end up rubbing against it. This can only be solved by adjusting your position on the seat or by putting something underneath to prevent the friction.
Assembling It in No Time
When it comes to assembling the bike, you are probably dreading the thought of receiving a big box full of tiny puzzle pieces which will take an eternity to put together. I get the feeling, not just because I’ve never been a fan of puzzles but because this scenario happened to me more often that I would have wanted to. Fortunately, the ProGear 190 is a pleasant surprise in that aspect. Basically, it comes in 5-6 large pieces that you will just have to screw together and this can be done in as little as 30 minutes.
Performance Monitor
Seeing the information that is crucial to the workout process, and in turn, your success, can only have positive impact. If you happen to be slacking off, one look at those numbers will motivate you to push yourself harder. Information about your heart rate, duration of the workout or the number of calories you are burning can provide you with that edge that makes all the difference.
The ProGear 190 exercise bike, fortunately, features all of this, and then some. Since it is equipped with a large, clear LCD panel, it provides you with real-time data on the mileage, time, speed, number of calories burned and the heart rate. A hand pulse monitor will help you stay within the limits of the Target Heart Rate Zone, which is the key of every cardio workout (since that number tells you if you are working out too much or not enough). The 8-level Magnetic Tension system allows you to fine-tune the difficulty of your workout. Whether you want to push yourself to the limit, or have a relaxing workout, is up to you. The ProGear 190 bike provides you with a choice.
The Summary
The ProGear 190 recumbent bicycle will radically change the way you work out. Not only does it provide your body with an intensive cardio workout, but it also informs you about all the crucial parameters that influence it every time you use the machine. Even though it is sturdy and robust, the ProGear 190 is easy to fold and put away, which is especially convenient if you have a limited amount of space in your home.
If any of this tickles your fancy, look for this recumbent bike on Amazon, which always offers great deals on home exercise equipment.
Further Information