exercise bikes

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

a week or two ago my mother decided she was going to buy me a bike, so I could get some exercise and (once I had reached a certain level of fitness) actually be able to cycle places. this plan hit a snag as we were leaving the house and she let slip that I would have to cycle back home myself (8-10 miles.. maybe not much to you people, but it might as well be paris as far as I'm concerned).

I am quite, quite unfit.. not really fat although I have got a belly, I lost quite a bit of weight last year and am slowly putting it back on as I really am a lazy son of a bitch.

http://www.edirectory.ie/ir/10000/moreinfoa/d/body+sculpture+bcr1500+aerobic+rider/pid/1699792

I had the idea of getting an exercise bike, if I could find one cheap enough as I think I'd be more likely to exercise if I dind't have to leave the house.. it's all icky out there, wind, rain and whatnot. Not to mention the lack of television or internet. so this one I linked above is only 100 euro or so inc delivery and vat, it's not going to be great I know but all I want to know is will it do the job?

all I want is to slowly raise my fitnes level to the point where I can walk a couple of miles without feeling like my legs are going to fall off and my chest is exploding, current max is a couple of hundred feet. Some day, some where I would like to get some serious fitness on but for the moment all I want is something I can use in my own element. Inside, possibly even in my underwear and watching cartoons.

y'all reckon that bike above would do the trick? as far as I can reason a bike is a bike, is a bike. So long as I'm peddling and getting my heart pumping I should be doing ok, but.. there is a lot about many things I don't know.

any thoughts?

--edit

there's also one here
http://www.buy4now.ie/elverys/aspx/productdetail.aspx?pid=1497&loc=P&catid=9.2

it's 100 or more dearer.. but maybe it's better in some way I can't see.

muchos spankos to all who reply

hunnymonster

I've never gotten off a road bike in a bad mood. I've never gotten off an exercise bike in a good mood. I spend plenty of time on both types and that is my observation.


If you do insist on getting an exercise bike though the main thing I would check is that it is a magnetic one not a chain one. It will make it a smoother ride. Also check the saddle. Too wide and your legs will be pushed into an unnatural position. The general fit is important too. It's easy to get injured doing an uncomfortable movement repetatively.

If you are able to use the internet or read a book while cycling, my personal opinion, would be that you're not working hard enough. I can just about watch a film when I'm on the turbotrainer and even then my concentration would be lousy.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

mm, well as I see it if I take a road bike out for a journey.. at some point I will reach a distance so far from my house, and I will be so worn out that the journey home will seem like so much effort that I'll just collapse in a ditch for a half hour waiting for someone I know to drive by and collect me

that's why i want the indoor bike, so I can get some of the benefits while at the same time being somewhat comfortable and having the option of falling straight off the bike on to my bed to have a litle cry when I'm finshed.

also, when I say internet I don't meant typing.. I just mean.. like, porn or webtv or something. and I have a load of lectures on mp3 that I need to listen to, and while exercising would be perfect cos I can hopefully zone out while cycling and concentrate on the lectures.

Sleepy

personally, I hate exercise bikes too...

Would you consider a rowing machine? They exercise more of the body and imho are far more tolerable.

ali.c

Mordeth wrote:

all I want is to slowly raise my fitnes level to the point where I can walk a couple of miles without feeling like my legs are going to fall off and my chest is exploding, current max is a couple of hundred feet.

I know you want to have something you can do in your own element but why not just go out walking. Its a serious good way so getting some head space too and the evenings are getting longer. From what your saying your fitness levels are way down so start out slow and say set your self a goal of 10mins say a 5 min walk and a 5 min walk home? Its cheaper than an excercise back too. And actually closer to your goal of wanting to be able to walk a couple of miles.

On the cycling front though i love cycling its so handy not having to rely on buses or lifts. Plus you get that great feeling on whizzing by people stuck in traffic . Though if your fitness levels are as low as your saying then a short walk daily could really help build that them up so you could build up to cycling.

Personally i hate excercise bikes though but maybe if a you know someone who has one you could borrow it? Or alternatively you could maybe pick one up second hand? Loads of people buy excercise equipment and never use it and then want to get rid of it... actually just had a goo around dublinwaste.ie trade section and there was one offered there about a month ago though a ladies one.

http://www.dublinwaste.ie/free_trade_detail.php?item_id=7051

All the best with your fitness plans

K!LL!@N

I know you're looking for advice on exercise bikes but you mentioned that your goal was to be able to walk a few miles without much difficulty.

Save your 200 quid and just go out walking.
Bike fitness doesn't necessarily translate to walking/running fitness.
Obviously your cardiovascular system will have improved but you won't be used to the stresses and strains of actually walking or running.

I started a couch to 5k running program a few months ago and I just finished my first 5k run on Saturday.

Anyway, back to the bikes.
I would choose an actual bike over an exercise bike any day.
It's so much more rewarding to get out and about.
You'll find yourself cycling further and further in no time.

If you decide to go with the exercise bike, then at least it will be better than doing nothing.

Killian

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

well that's the idea I don't want to do much, but I want to do more than nothing..and I'd rather do it inside for now

as for walking.. not a fan of walking, for some reason I can't walk in a straight line and (i'm told) I have a little hop every couple of steps so walking tends to piss me off. I would buy a regular bike, but i know if I got it in the state I'm in now I just wouldn't bother going outside with it. maybe once or twice, then I'd just leave it gathering dust in the shed... I'm not a man for much effort. at least if it's indoors I'll have to stare at it the whole time and there's more chance I'll actually do something.

as for the rowing machine.. dad got one of them years ago and gave it to me after he never used it... tried it a couple of times, but found the whole process bloody annoying. I really have very little upper body strength.. or lower body strength for that matter so I was destroying myself after only a couple of minutes and I wasn't able to make myself stick with it.

--edit
just to demonstrate how little upper body strength I have, I was trying to do some push ups there last week.. I got to three before my arms gave out.

yep, three.

K!LL!@N

Anything you're going to do is going to require some amount of effort.

If you feel the exercise bike will get you active then by all means go for it.

With regard to the push ups, some people can't even do 1!
So 3 isn't all that bad.

Killian

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

yes, everything will require effort.. but it's all about mind games. I'll be more willing to put effort in if i know i can just walk off at any time and plonk myself in front of the tv... outside on a real bike, I'd have to actually travel just to get home. I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet.

K!LL!@N

All the best with it.

Killian

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

thanks for all the replies

Cillian.

jester77

I've an exercise bike and I get up every mornings at 6:30 and go for a 45 min 25km cycle. I find it better than a normal bike as there are no excuses you can use, particulary the raining outside one. Plus there is very little maintenance to an exercise bike as opposed to other types of home cardio equipment. Just set the timer or km distance, put on some tunes or the TV and you're good to go. I feel great in the morning afterward and have a nice spring in my step once I get into work!

rubadub

Mordeth wrote:

just to demonstrate how little upper body strength I have, I was trying to do some push ups there last week.. I got to three before my arms gave out.

yep, three.

I would get yourself a set of weights.

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=30001&langId=-1&catalogId=10751&productId=766588&clickfrom=name

I do them while watching TV, then I cycle to work and cycle/walk everywhere else. I could only do about 3-4 pushups too, now after about 1 year on I can do 75!

ScumLord

Sleepy wrote:

personally, I hate exercise bikes too...

Would you consider a rowing machine? They exercise more of the body and imho are far more tolerable.

I got that sculling rower out of argos and I hate it (only because it's hard probably:o ) I can only do 5 minutes at most maybe 2 or 3 times.

Weights are easy but I suppose you probably don't get the same fitness level off them?

My favourite thing to do is the punch bag, it kills me out to but I feel all manly and tough after doing it. Argos do a bag & mits for €80 and a bracket costs about €30.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

there's a set of weights.. somewhere, we moved last year and alot of stuff is still in boxes and in various sheds. I tried to find them a while ago but no luck

a punching bag.. I hadn't considered that, but it sure as hell would be fun.. I'll have to make a note and remember it when I have funds

Covenline

Get a real bike and cycle to work everyday, thats a start

find a downhill route and start with that, then start incoperating some small climbs.

Money Shot

Mordeth wrote:

well that's the idea for some reason I can't walk in a straight line and (i'm told) I have a little hop every couple of steps so walking tends to piss me off.

That is the best excuse for not getting out and walking I have ever heard, and I've heard a few - very funny.

You might consider getting one of those turbo trainers - you can have the comfort of your own bike, just take the front wheel off, attach the stand etc.
I don't think they are expensive, and would be a much better option than a cheap exercise bike in my opinion. See below 117 euros.. best of luck

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9747

aodhu

Mordeth wrote:

yes, everything will require effort.. but it's all about mind games. I'll be more willing to put effort in if i know i can just walk off at any time and plonk myself in front of the tv... outside on a real bike, I'd have to actually travel just to get home. I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet.

Ok so here's the thing, actually having to travel to get home is a good thing. If it's too easy to just hop off and cut out the work out you'll probaly just hop off and cut out the workout

Having to cycle to and from somewhere meant that you've a better chance of completing what you set out to do. I.e. I'll cycle 10 mile, 5 out and 5 back (or loop...) Odds are if you've aimed at 10 you should be able to do 5 without to much trouble so you won't have turned back at this stage, and since you're not 5 miles out, you have to complete what you set out to achieve. :cool:

aibby

jester77 wrote:

I've an exercise bike and I get up every mornings at 6:30 and go for a 45 min 25km cycle. I find it better than a normal bike as there are no excuses you can use, particulary the raining outside one. Plus there is very little maintenance to an exercise bike as opposed to other types of home cardio equipment. Just set the timer or km distance, put on some tunes or the TV and you're good to go. I feel great in the morning afterward and have a nice spring in my step once I get into work!

I was thinking of buying exercise bike now as I have just injured my knee and I cant jog anymore. Will I lose weight with this machine?

jester77

aibby wrote:

I was thinking of buying exercise bike now as I have just injured my knee and I cant jog anymore. Will I lose weight with this machine?

That will depend on your diet. Get your diet right and you will.

slumped

You don't have to answer this if you don't want to

What weight/height are you?

The reason I ask is that I was very heavy at one stage (some years ago) and felt the same but pulled myself together and went to a gym. Put some back on and am back on a diet and gym programme again (see link in sig)

You could be surprised at how a little effort could go a long way. Excercise is not the only thing - watching your diet is essential. I've learned that the hard way.

S

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

really too lazy to bother with a proper diet myself, but what I did the last time that seemed to work was cut out sugar (none in tea,coffee.. less of them too, no sugary sweets etc), lots of fruit and veg and plenty of meat.

it's not a great diet, but all I want to do is drop a stone and shape up a little bit .. should do the trick, yeah?

slumped

Mordeth wrote:

really too lazy to bother with a proper diet myself, but what I did the last time that seemed to work was cut out sugar (none in tea,coffee.. less of them too, no sugary sweets etc), lots of fruit and veg and plenty of meat.

it's not a great diet, but all I want to do is drop a stone and shape up a little bit .. should do the trick, yeah?

I'm not an expert, I can only go from personal experience.

Unless you have a condition that prevents you from leaving the house or a doctor has recommended you don't follow a strenuous excercise plan then you should go to the shops and buy yourself nice healthy food.

Flavour the food with chilli powder, curry powder, whatever - expand your menu!

If you are only a stone over weight then you really don't have a huge problem.

S

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i don't have a huge problem, but I dropped 4-5 stone a year or two ago and i'm starting to see it coming back now.. I'm getting rounder and rounder as each week goes by and it's that which I'm trying to combat.. less the health and fitness aspect. AS wonderful as it would be to be able to jog/run for a couple of miles, I'd rather be able to wear my clothes without having to suck my gut in or bursting the buttons off my trousers.

aibby

When I exercise my diet is good now that I have had to stop jogging all the weight is slowly coming back.

slumped

Mordeth wrote:

I'm getting rounder and rounder as each week goes by and it's that which I'm trying to combat.. less the health and fitness aspect. .

So you want to loose weight but NOT get healthier or fitter???

Does not compute......

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

yeah, I want to be slim again basically.. the health and fitness aspect is a secondary goal. I suppose instead of losing weight, I should say losing fat.. I don't really care how much I weigh, I just really liked sitting down and not being able to grab a fistful of flab and now that the flab is making a comeback, I want to nip it in the bud before I return to my 14-15 stone days. . If there was an easy way to do this, that didn't involve crash dieting (which is what led to my putting the weight back on so quickly) and wasn't in the long run counter-productive, I'd do it.. exercise and fitness have never been my 'thing'.

either way, I put the credit card details in incorrectly it appears so I suppose I'll just take all the advice here and go buy a real bike.

score one for the outdoor types.

lizzyvera

Mordeth wrote:

all I want is to slowly raise my fitnes level to the point where I can walk a couple of miles without feeling like my legs are going to fall off and my chest is exploding, current max is a couple of hundred feet.

That's quite bad. If that was me I'd see a doctor and a nutritionist for professional advice.

I absolutely love walking with some music, it's the best thing for clearing your head. get some friends on hikes up the mountains too, the weather's going to be lovely this summer.

ali.c

Mordeth wrote:

yeah, I want to be slim again basically.. the health and fitness aspect is a secondary goal.

right so if i am reading this right, you cant walk more that a hundred yards or so but health is a secondary goal? wtf?? Seriously as lizzyvera said that really is quite bad. Anyways i cant see how that point isnt affecting your quality of life. I know its clinched but your health really is your wealth and the sooner you sort that out the easier it be for you. I know you said you were too lazy but as soon as you start giving your body the fuel it needs your energy levels will increase and you wont know yourself. Youll have more energy and i'd say the laziness will fade.

Sure give a healthy eating go, what have you got to lose? worse case scenario is you fail, best case scenario is you improve your health and energy levels.