LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike Review

Home gyms are becoming more popular now that people are staying home more.

One of the most popular machines in home gyms is an exercise bike.

High quality bikes like the LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike are among the most popular ones for cardio training.

If you’re in the market for an exercise bike and need some information, this article will tell you everything you need to know to shop for one and why the LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike should be at the top of your list.

Things to Consider Before Buying an Upright Bike

Type of Bike

There are three types of exercise bikes you can choose from.

They all have their pros and cons, but these qualities make them vastly different from each other.

You should make sure you get the right bike to fit your goals and needs.

Spin Bikes

Spin bikes are the ones used in spin classes.

They closely resemble competitive cycling bikes.

You’ll see people hunched over, spinning furiously or they may be standing while pedaling.

These bikes are for people who need an intense workout.

You need to be in relatively decent shape to start because spin bikes can be tough on your joints and your back.

However, these bikes can help you burn a massive number of calories in a short time frame.

Upright Bikes

Upright bikes like the LifeSpan C5i are a good “medium” between spin bikes and recumbent bikes (the next type).

They’re easier on your joints and back because you don’t have to hunch over to use them.

The seats are a bit lower and a bit wider than spin bikes and the handlebars are much closer to the user.

Upright bikes can be the most affordable out of the three types.

They may also be the most compact. If you need a bike for a small space, an upright bike is the way to go.

Recumbent Bikes

Recumbent bikes are much more comfortable than the other two.

This is because they have a full chair instead of just a small seat. The chair may or may not have arm rests.

Some chair backs are tall while others may be shorter, but they all provide you with back support.

The chairs on recumbent bikes sit back and the pedals are out in front of the chair. This takes a lot of pressure off the back, legs, and joints.

For this reason, this is the best chair for people with mobility issues or joint pain.

They can also accommodate heavier users than the other two so it’s a better choice for heavy people (300+ pounds).

Resistance System

Exercise bikes will have several different resistance levels to customize your workout.

There are two ways that a bike can do this. One is the old school way – friction resistance. The other is the more modern way – magnetic resistance.

Friction Resistance

Friction resistance uses physical parts that rub against each other to create resistance.

While this is an efficient way to create resistance, it causes a lot of wear and tear on the parts that rub together.

They’ll need to be replaced often. However, people still buy these types of bikes because the initial upfront cost is much lower than the other resistance system.

Magnetic Resistance

Magnetic resistance doesn’t use physical moving parts to create resistance. This means there is little to no wear and tear because nothing is rubbing together.

Most newer bikes employ this type of resistance because it’s quieter, smoother, and more consistent.

However, this gives the exercise bike a higher upfront cost.

Drive

There must be something that connects the pedals to the flywheel to make the bike work.

That is called the drive. Like the resistance systems, there is an old school drive and a new school drive.

Chain Drives

Chain drives are the old school drives. This is the same system that outdoor bikes use with the chain around the pedals and wheel.

There aren’t many exercise bikes on the market that still use chain drive technology, but the ones that do are very affordable – in fact it’s safe to say that they’re budget options.

Belt Drives

Belt drives are preferred because they take much less maintenance than chain drives and they last much longer.

They’re more consistent and they’re quieter. Of course, this is a feature that adds to the price of any exercise bike.

The LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike

The LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike has all the best features described in the previous section plus more. It’s truly an impressive upright bike and has a lot to offer.

It has a hefty price tag compared to many home exercise bikes on the market, but it’s worth the investment because it’s built to last a lifetime.

In fact, it has a lifetime warranty on the frame.

Pros

• Self-powering – doesn’t need electricity.
• Pedals are self-balancing.
• Has a high weight capacity for an upright bike.
• Nicely designed, easy to read console.

Cons

• Moderately expensive.
• Pedals are small.

Features and Benefits of the LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike

Heavy-Duty Build and Great Stability

If you’re going to spend this kind of money on an exercise bike, it needs to be a fantastic one.

The LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike is superior to many upright bikes on the market, and it’s not even the most premium bike that LifeSpan offers.

Plus, with a lifetime warranty on the frame and five years on the motor to back you up, you can be confident that this treadmill is going to hold up to anything you throw at it.

The treadmill is built on a solid steel frame with precision construction. It can support users up to 400 pounds which is uncommon for upright exercise bikes.

Most of them support up to 300 pounds or less.

The curved front legs and 18-pound rear flywheel give you the balance you need to be sturdy and stable as you work out. This gives you the confidence to give it your all.

Nicely Designed Console

Finding an exercise machine (any machine, not just bikes) at a decent price with a good console is hard.

Some of these consoles out here may make you question the manufacturer’s sanity for putting them on the machine.

However, the LifeSpan has a very impressive console.

The LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike has a multicolored 6-inch LCD screen that is bright and sharp so you can easily read it and see charts.

The rest of the console employs a simplistic layout which works well. It’s not cluttered, it’s easy to recognize the button you need, and it’s a great size.

The one thing I wish LifeSpan would change is the fact that the media holder is under the LCD screen.

This means that once you place your media in the holder, it’s going to cover up the screen. You won’t be able to see your stats while watching your device.

Excellent Selection of Programs and Resistance Levels

Something that adds to the perfection of the LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike is that there is a program for everyone.

This bike has 34 programs across multiple categories. It even can store two custom programs.

To make your workout challenging, the bike has 16 resistance levels. It uses magnetic resistance so it’s quiet but consistent.

Alternative Choices to the LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike

The LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike is a perfect exercise bike for just about anyone. However, it is pricey.

As much as we all like to splurge from time to time, it’s understandable if you need something a little more affordable.

Here are some great budget-priced alternatives to the LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike.

ECHANFIT Upright Bike

If you have a very small budget and you just need something at home to keep up with your fitness level, the ECHANFIT Upright Bike is a good deal.

It’s very compact and it folds, so it’s perfect for studio apartments, dorm rooms, bedrooms, or homes with little to no space to dedicate to an exercise machine.

Keep in mind that you will sacrifice some features due to the price. This is not a bike where you can go hardcore – it’s more for the “non-athlete” type.

MaxKare Upright Exercise Bike

The MaxKare Upright Exercise Bike is another excellent budget-priced upright bike. It’s also foldable and portable, so it’s great for the same small spaces as the previous bike.

It has transport wheels to make it easy to move.

This one has a little bit of a lower weight capacity.

Despite the given weight limit by the manufacturer, my suggestion would be if you weigh more than 200 pounds, choose a different bike.

According to many customers, it’s sturdy and stable up to that weight. Besides this little hiccup, it’s a decent bike for the price.

Body Rider BCY6000 Upright Bike

The Body Rider BCY6000 Upright Bike is a bit more “premium” than the previous two, but it’s still very affordable.

It has a special Curve Crank Technology that applies constant, 360-degree pressure as you pedal so you have dead-zone-free rotation.

It has a high weight capacity for an upright of this price range. It can hold up to 300 pounds. You even have a media shelf and eight resistance levels.

The design is interesting because, even though it’s an upright bike, it could almost be a spin bike. It’s possible you could use it as both.

Final Thoughts on the LifeSpan C5i Upright Bike

Having a good exercise bike is a great way to stay in shape at home.

They’re convenient and smaller than other types of exercise machines and this is what makes them popular.

You should get a good one to start with and the LifeSpan C5i won’t disappoint you.

Any person, athlete or nonathlete, can achieve their fitness goals on this bike.

With over 30 preset programs, 16 resistance levels, and great features to aid in your workout, you can’t go wrong.