Exercise bikes like the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike are a hot commodity for people who want to work out at home.
They’re compact, affordable, and are usually easy to assemble.
More importantly, they give you a great, low-impact cardio workout which is perfect for people with joint, back, or mobility problems.
The LifeSpan bike is a great choice if you want a sturdy upright bike without breaking the bank.
Keep reading to find out more.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Exercise Bike
Type of Bike
There are three types of exercise bikes to choose from. Depending on your fitness goals and a few other factors, one type may be better for you than the other two.
Spin Bikes
These are the ones you see in spin classes.
These bikes are great if you’re trying to blast through calories in a short amount of time.
They allow you to stand up while you pedal which works better for targeting more muscle groups at once.
Keep in mind that these types of bikes don’t usually support heavier weights unless you get the more expensive, “professional” versions.
They also require you to hunch over while cycling so they may not be the best if you have back problems.
The same goes with knee problems – you’ll be putting a lot of pressure on your legs and knees with this one.
Upright Bikes
Upright bikes are like spin bikes except the handlebars are positioned a little further up and closer to the seat.
These bikes aren’t meant to be standing bikes like spin bikes (although you could if you choose to) so they’re easier on your back and knees.
They’re also more comfortable because they usually have wider seats with thicker padding.
Upright bikes may not allow you to blast through calories like a spin bike, but you’ll still burn a good bit and get a great cardio workout.
They also tend to support more weight so this is a better option for people over 250 pounds.
Recumbent Bikes
This type is the most comfortable of the three bikes.
The seat is set a little further back and downward.
Unlike the other two the seat will likely have a back, so you’ll be able to lean back while you pedal.
The pedals are pushed more in front of you than under you.
This design completely takes the pressure off your upper body as well as your joints.
It’s for people who want to focus on a lower body workout or people who have joint issues and need something a little less intense.
Resistance System
Exercise bikes can have two different resistance systems: a friction system or a magnetic system.
Friction systems have parts that rub together to create resistance.
The benefit of these types of bikes is that they cost less upfront so they’re great if you’re on a budget.
However, the friction causes more wear and tear so you may have to replace parts faster than the other system.
Magnetic systems are great because there aren’t any rubbing parts that get worn out quickly.
While they do cost more upfront, they’ll require less maintenance over time.
This will save you money in the long run.
The LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike
Now that you know what to look for in an exercise bike, I can introduce you to the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike.
It’s likely different from any exercise bike you’ve seen on the market because it has a punch pad built into it.
This allows you to work out your upper body while pedaling.
The bike is fully adjustable and is built with a solid steel frame.
With a magnetic resistance system and plenty of resistance levels, this bike is prepared for you to go hardcore with your workout.
Pros
- Magnetic resistance system.
- Lifetime warranty on the frame.
- High weight capacity.
- Bi-directional pedals.
- Assembly is easy and straight-forward with the highly detailed owner’s manual.
Cons
- Very expensive.
- Heart rate monitor might not be completely accurate.
Features and Benefits of the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike
Quality Construction
The LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike is one of the most durable upright bikes on the market.
The welded solid steel frame is strong and easily supports up to 300 pounds.
This is always better than frames that are screwed together. Welded frames last a lot longer.
The inward-curved design of the legs gives you added stability as you throw punches. You don’t have to worry about rocking side to side as you pedal and punch.
Punch Pad
Cycling is a great way to get in some cardio, but it can get a little boring without some entertainment.
The punch pad on the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike takes care of entertainment for you.
It turns cycling into a game. As you cycle, a punch pad target will light up.
The goal is to try to punch the lit target to rack up points.
The punch pad offers more benefits than entertainment. It’s actually a great way to work out your upper body while you cycle.
Using the punch pad is like using a heavy punching bag in that you’ll work many of the same muscles.
These include the pectorals, deltoids, triceps, latissimus dorsi, glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings.
Notice that some of these muscles are in your lower body – they’re getting double duty from the punching and the cycling.
Punching and cycling both help to improve your endurance.
You could even turn the punching into a strength training session by holding dumbbells as you punch or wearing arm/wrist weights.
Touchscreen Console
One of the best features of the exercise bike is the touchscreen console because it’s so easy to use.
Instead of tiny writing and a million buttons, you can scroll through full-color, interactive screens with simple menus and recognizable icons.
It gives you readouts for the most important parts of your workout:
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As you can see, the console is incredibly detailed.
It works along with the Cycle Boxer app that you can download to your smart device for free.
You aren’t required to use this app in order to use the bike or punch pad, but the app allows you to customize programs and save your history.
It’s free to use and most people have a smart device anyway, so you may as well give it a try.
Adjustability, Comfort, and Mobility
The LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike is very adjustable which makes it great for multiple users.
You can adjust the seat in all four directions to get the perfect alignment. The punch pad adjusts up and down to accommodate all heights.
Even the pedal straps are adjustable.
The seat is molded and contoured for comfort.
If you decide to hold the handlebars instead of punching, those have thick padding and are ergonomically angled.
The bike doesn’t fold and is a little bigger than traditional upright bikes.
However, it’s easy to move with the transport wheels. Simply tilt the bike forward and roll it into place.
What Others are Saying About the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike
Review #1
Monica – Purchased from LifeSpan.com
Love it!
“Cardio is not so dreadful anymore! I just started training boxing and this is a perfect machine to help me stay fit in between classes at home.”
Alternative Choices to the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike
The Lifespan CYCLE BOXER is an amazing bike, but it’s very expensive.
Even with financing options, the price may not be right for everyone’s budget.
Here are a few budget-friendly alternatives that are still great, high-quality exercise bikes.
YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike
Although it’s not welded like the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike, the YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike is made with a heavy-duty steel frame that can support up to 270 pounds.
It has a 4-way adjustable seat and adjustable handlebars.
It uses a belt drive like the CYCLE BOXER rather than a chain drive, so you don’t have to worry about quick wear and tear where that’s concerned.
It is a budget bike so there are a few sacrifices.
It has a friction resistance system and the console is around the size of a stopwatch.
However, these aren’t deal breakers because they won’t affect the quality of your workout.
| YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike | LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER |
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Body Rider BCY6000 Spin Bike
The Body Rider BCY6000 Spin Bike is another high-quality spin bike that you could choose.
It’s a lot like the YOSUDA bike but it can hold more user weight.
One big difference is that the flywheel is in the back of the bike. This may provide a little more balance for this type of bike since you’ll be leaning forward.
The console is small and only provides limited information, but it’s the most important bits of information you would need.
It would be nice if the console were a little bigger but it’s not a total deal breaker since it’s such a high-quality machine and has a high weight capacity.
| Body Rider BCY6000 Spin Bike | LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER |
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Tunturi Competence Series Upright Exercise Bike
The Tunturi Competence Series Upright Exercise Bike has a lot of great features for a budget machine.
It has 3 pre programmed workouts and 8 resistance levels. The seat is adjustable, and the handlebars can tilt for extra adjustability.
There are some sacrifices for all these features, but nothing too bad. It has a low weight limit which will make it an automatic no for some people.
The resistance is a manual-set turn knob and it doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity.
This is a bare bones bike, but if you just want a good workout without all the bells and whistles, this is an excellent choice.
| Tunturi Competence Series Upright Exercise Bike | LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER |
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Final Thoughts on the LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike
The LifeSpan CYCLE BOXER Upright Bike might be expensive, but it’s worth the money if you can stretch your budget that far.
It offers so much that it might be the only machine you need for your home gym. It’s innovative, strong, effective, and just plain fun.
This upright bike is suitable for just about everyone. For non-athletes, it’s a great motivator because it turns the workout into a game.
For seasoned athletes, you can target multiple muscle groups and push yourself as hard as you need to.
For people with mobility issues, an upright bike takes the pressure off your back.
