Spin bike or recumbent bike — which should I buy?

Reviewers frame this around your back and your goals. Specialist threads on r/cycling and r/recumbent note recumbents put far less stress on the lower back and are easier on the joints, making them the consensus pick for seniors, rehab, and all-day low-intensity pedaling. Upright spin bikes are favored for higher-intensity, standing, and interval-style workouts.