Marcy ME 709 Recumbent Exercise Bike

1
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709

• www.thebestrecumbentbike.com

2
Overview

• The Marcy ME 709 Recumbent Exercise Bike has been
  a bestselling bike for a number of years. It
  seems to be able to combine a great low price
  with high levels of customer satisfaction.
• It is a basic recumbent exercise bike but appears
  to do the job that people expect and often
  surpassing the expectations that people have of
  it when they buy.
• Many people use it for improving their general
  fitness, to lose weight or rehab after an injury
  (on their doctors advice of course).

3
Sturdiness

• The back half of the bike can be moved closer and
  further away from the pedals.
• You dont adjust the seat as you do on other
  bikes but adjust the frame moving the back and
  front of the bike closer/further apart depending
  on the setting you want.
• The adjustment is on the sliding bar that goes
  along the floor that joins the front of the bike
  to the back. This can cause a few problems when
  you want to adjust the seat.

4
Resistance

• The bike has 8 levels of magnetic resistance. The
  change to the levels of resistance is done
  manually.
• It is controlled using the tension knob at the
  front of the bike below the console. You do need
  to lean forward to reach it to change the
  loading.
• It turns easily clockwise increases the
  resistance and counter-clockwise decreases it.

5
Pedals

• The counter balanced pedals give a smooth
  pedaling experience. They have a textured surface
  for grip and a strap to keep your feet securely
  in place. They are designed to be used with
  athletic shoes.
• The straps on the pedals can be hard to adjust as
  the plastic is hard around the holes. Also people
  with larger shoes size will find they dont have
  enough room to tie them up. It would be unusual
  for your feet to slip off the pedals without the
  straps unless the bike is not propely adjusted
  for you and you are stretching to reach the
  pedals.
• You can pedal backwards on them, although it is
  not advised, and there is no resistance although
  the computer continues to track your effort.

6
Comfort

• Seat Many people find this a comfortable seat
  it is an oversized bike seat with a backrest. The
  seat and backrest are fixed in place. The
  backrest is slightly angled that most people find
  gives them the support they need for their back.
• The seat is about 16 ins wide by 10 ins deep and
  backrest is about 12 ins wide by 16 ins tall.
• But like any bike style seat not everyone will
  find it to their liking. This just the way these
  seats are. Some people put a cushion on the seat
  and/or backrest and this is sufficient to add the
  comfort they need.
• You can also try a gel seat or sheepskin cover
  for a more permanent solution and one that is
  less likely to move around as you workout.

7
Assembly

• The bike arrives part-completed. To finish the
  assembly normally takes around an hour or so.
• It is fairly straightforward and comes with the
  tools needed to complete it.
• One person can do it but it does help to have a
  second person to hold the bike while you add the
  pieces especially the 2 stabilizer bars.
• There is one tricky part and it is worth studying
  the manual closely when adding the front post
  connecting the computer wire and tension cable.
• If not done correctly it can result in no
  resistance or too much and not being able to
  change it.

8
Console

• It is a basic console that measures time, speed
  (MPH), distance (miles), total distance (miles)
  and calories burned. It doesnt measure your
  heart rate.
• Its good for getting feedback during your
  exercise to help keep you motivated either to
  keep your pace up or to beat a previous PR (it
  youre that way inclined) otherwise can just use
  it for keeping time.
• You can choose to just see one measure during
  your workout or set it to scan through them every
  four seconds.
• This is done by using the buttons below the
  screen as described in the manual.
• The measures are easy to read on the LCD screen
  in good light but in poor light they can be hard
  to see because it isnt backlit.

9
Accessories

• The bike is a simple piece of equipment without
  any accessories giving you less to go wrong.
• There isnt anywhere for your water bottle or
  MP3 player etc.
• If you want these or anything else close at hand
  you need to exercise near a table.
• It is possible to use an adjustable table to put
  over the bike where you can then use a laptop as
  a few people do.
• There is some instruction in the manual about
  warming up and training in your heart rate zone
  (although there isnt a heart rate monitor
  provided) but there isnt any help with adjusting
  the bike to fit properly or example workouts to
  try.

10

• Pros

• Cons

• Easy to assemble in an hour or so
• 8 marked levels of resistance
• 2 sets of handlebars allows you to exercise in
  different positions
• Can be adjusted to fit a range of heights
• Easy step through and seat at a good height for
  sitting and standing
• There are transport wheels to help with moving
  the bike
• It is quiet and provides a smooth low impact
  workout (it does get a little choppy at levels 7
  and 8) for losing weight, toning and improving
  cardio fitness.

• Does not come with a heart rate monitor
• There are no pre-programmed workouts
• Adjustment for different sizes can be difficult
• Doesnt have a levelers to balance up the bike on
  uneven floors
• The resistant doesnt go to a hard enough level
  for those wanting very challenging workouts
• Seat doesnt include a head rest
• Wont upload your workouts to a fitness account
  or track them over time
• It is an affordable price brining it in range of
  most budgets
• It is sturdy and appears durable

11
Summary
The Marcy ME-709 Recumbent Exercise Bike does a
good job at providing a low impact cardio workout
for people looking light to moderate levels of
exercise. It is easy on the knees and most people
find it comfortable. The biggest drawback for the
bike is the way you adjust the bike for peoples
sizes which can be awkward and a little annoying.
If there is only one person using the bike its
not an issue if there is more than one you need
to be okay with a more difficult way to get it to
the proper fit each time people of different
heights use the bike. If you want intense or very
challenging workouts then this bikes resistance
is going to be too light for you. For others it
is a comfortable, quiet and easy to operate
recumbent exercise bike to get a good workout at
a very affordable price.