The Marcy ME 708 Upright Bike is an affordable upright exercise bike. It is a basic bike that doesn’t come with any frills, which helps keep the price down. The ME 708 isn’t for everyone but for those looking to get fit and lose some pounds. However, it may be just what you want.
The ME 708 has eight manual magnetic resistance levels that use the tension knob on the front support pole. It has the eight levels marked on the knob, and as you turn it, it clicks in place. The movement between the levels is smooth, so there is no jerkiness. It goes from very easy to moderately challenging – like going up a slope to a tough hill.
The Marcy ME 708 has a belt drive that is very quiet and will be low maintenance. It and the flywheel are covered, keeping it protected from dirt and sweat jamming it up. As a result, you get a relatively smooth pedaling experience with low impact. However, at the higher resistance levels, it will get a little rougher (still low impact), with the effect of resistance slowing the pedals down.
The ME 708 fitness monitor has good-sized numbers, so you can see them clearly as you exercise. It displays time, speed, distance, calories, and odometer. Unfortunately, you can’t monitor your heart rate with this. If this is important, you will need to use a separate device.