can anyone tell me what are the differences between upright and recumbant (sp?) stationary bikes as far as benefits? i'm thinking of getting one and i wanna make sure i'm well informed before i make the investment. thanks so much!!

One big difference is the comfort factor -the recumbant bike is easier on the butt -but its also a little weird riding it at first... your body is in a different position than an upright bike.

You can't get as much power out of a recumbant position. Low intensity stuff wouldn't matter, but once you start cranking out maximum power, you'll find that you simply can't do as much on a recumbant. But, they're more comfortable, and if you're talking about real bikes and not stationary ones, they're more aerodynamic and therefore more efficient. But then again, due to the loss of power, an upright is still faster, assuming you're able to pump out the kind of power it takes to make a difference.

so the general consensus is recumbant=comfort but upright=maximum burn?

I'd find a gym or a fitness store in your area, and take them out for a test spin.. Not all stationary bikes are created equal... the most effective one will be the one you use consistantly..

No, not really. It depends on how much power you put out. It may not matter at all with a stationary bike and/or the shape you're in. Basically, if you were to consider a scale from 1 to 10 on bike power output, with 1 being as slow as you can go, and 10 being some Lance Armstrong types of efforts, a recumbant bike, due to your body position and not the bike's construction, would max you out at maybe a 6. However, if the most you can possibly do yourself is a 3 or a 4, then obviously it doesn't matter. But, that's the biggest difference though. If you put Lance Armstrong on a recumbant, his power output would be significantly lower than his reading on a normal bike. An upright position enables you to pump out more power. Now, whether or not you will, or even can, is a different story. The difference may be similar to putting drag racing slicks on a Ford Escort - you won't be able to utilize the equipment unless you've got the power in the first place.

If you get an upright bike they have these gel seat covers you can put on to make them a little more comfortable, but I still have a hard time sitting on them for more than 20 minutes. But yes, using an upright you can push yourself more because of the positioning.