Carl Lewis exercise bikes are aimed at the budget end of the market, starting as little as £50.
Whilst they won't suit the serious trainer demanding a challenging programme they can be okay for the novice just starting out and unsure whether they would use it regularly.
However, we feel the lowest priced models are false economy as they are not going to motivate you to get on them and cycle.
Most models come with a 12 month on-site warranty, which considering what you're paying, is a pretty good deal.
We've listed below the bikes we've tried so far with the best online price we can find.
We've also put a link to Amazon so you can search for a better price with them - but always check the delivery cost! What can appear cheaper initially doesn't always turn out
to be a bargain once you add on the postage.
Carl Lewis Exercise Bikes:-
Carl Lewis EX30A
Our score -
Magnetic braking system
LCD monitor displays time, distance, pulse and speed
Ear clip to monitor pulse
Best price £72 from Amazon.co.uk
Our view - yes it is cheap but we think you're better off spending a bit extra to get a bike you'll find easier to use and provide a more challenging workout. The knob to change the resistance level is quite stiff and the range is small - even at the highest resistance it doesn't offer much of a workout. The LCD monitor is easy to read displaying basic information in large format. It does come with an ear clip to measure your pulse but doesn't have any heart rate controlled programmes - but then again it is only £50.
One of the cheapest magnetic resistance bikes on the market but we don't think it's worth it.
Carl Lewis EXB777 Programmable Bike
Our score -
Magnetic resistance with digital control
6 exercise programmes
Hand pulse sensors in grips
LCD monitor displays time, speed, distance, programmes, calories and pulse
Best price £209 from Sweatband.com
Our view - the best overall bike in the Carl Lewis range in our view, but not up to the quality of other bikes in the same price bracket. It looks stylish and is quite an easy bike to use with an adjustable, comfortable saddle and handle bars. The display unit is not as easy to read as the EX30A above and we felt style took priority over practical design issues. The action is smooth and quiet with a reasonable range of resistance levels.
Best in the range from Carl Lewis that wins votes for style but struggles to impress when compared to the competition.
Carl Lewis REH81 Recumbent
Our score -
16 exercise programmes
Magnetic resistance with digital control
Hand grips for monitoring pulse
LCD monitor displays time, speed, distance, programmes, calories and pulse
Best price £100 from Amazon.co.uk
Our view - we believe this is the cheapest recumbent bike on the market and whilst it's a noble effort to provide one at an affordable price it does feel cheap and a little nasty. We found it quite difficult to put together due to poor build quality and not an easy bike to use. The seat was uncomfortable and the back cannot be adjusted as with most recumbent bikes - some may find it okay but it's limited adjustability will mean many will not. The display is pretty basic but easy enough to use and read but all-in-all we were not impressed.
A cheap entry-level model into the recumbent bike market but with little to recommend it over other models.
Whilst every effort is made to give you accurate information we cannot guarantee the technical specification. Models change on a regular basis and may differ slightly from the tables above. We recommend you contact the retailer if you have a question regarding technical data. Please read our Legal Disclaimer
Carl Lewis EX30A
Carl Lewis REH81 Recumbent
