Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Hopefully this review will answer some questions... I am in my late 30s, in good shape, I exercise every day and weight train 3-4x a week. My reason for getting this bike is recent hip surgery and I wanted to supplement my time at the gym and multi task my wasted TV time. I am an avid researcher and review reader. I looked at 20+ bikes for about 10 days before deciding on this one. My reasons for choosing this one are (1) reasonable price, (2) good reviews of various products from the same company, (3) ease of use and movement around the house, can easily be put away, (4) can be used in both recumbent and upright biking positions, (5) could be used by a shorter person. I am 5'3" with a 27" inseam. I ordered the bike on a Friday and received it Sunday morning. Box was less than 50lbs and easily carried inside. Unboxing took 5 minutes, everything was packaged well and putting the bike together was about 15-20 minutes. The instructions were clear and I had no problem putting the bike together while distracted by the TV. The footprint of the bike is small and it folds up nicely. I can put it in the corner of my living room or carry it up to my bedroom as needed. The bike is very quiet. I cannot hear it with the TV on and when it's off there's a very faint whirring sound. When sitting, it feels sturdy and supportive, no loose parts. The seat is thick and cushioned. I could sit for an hour comfortably. I do have the seat at the lowest setting so keep that in mind if you are shorter than I am or have a short inseam as I do. The pedals are very sturdy and don't spin crazily like other bikes. They do not come with foot straps but I don't think they are necessary. My foot had a good grip and never slipped. I did order a pair of recommended straps for $8 through Amazon but I may not need to use them. In the recumbent position, I had to start resistance at least at 4 to start feeling something. In the upright position, I had to start at 6. It is very easy to switch between the upright and recumbent positions by turning a dial. I'm not using this machine for an intense cardio session, mostly to rehab my hip and make the most of my down time. I think though that I could get a good workout from this if I intended to and certainly someone who doesn't work out as frequently as I do would benefit from this bike. The screen is small but easy to toggle between the options. From what I could see the HR monitor is accurate. It takes about 5-10 seconds, gradually climbing in numbers until it gets to an accurate number. I matched it to my Fitbit Versa and actually taking a manual pulse. Things to watch out for: (1) if you are short, you'll have to lift your leg high to first get on the bike. I have to lead with my good leg until I heal from my surgery. If you have regular hip or knee problems, it could be a problem but you could always use a stool. (2) the calorie counter is WAY off. Don't bother with it. I feel that it was counting calories at 4x the rate it should have. Overall, I'm extremely pleased with my purchase and would definitely recommend it to others. Just keep in mind this is not a piece of equipment for intense cardio but a fitness supplement or rehab bike. You can certainly get your HR up with it and get a nice workout. I hope this was helpful