Question from a fitness novice.......

Papillon87

Well the title more or less spells out my familiarity with fitness equipment! I've recently started using dumb bells I bought at home, to target my woeful upper arm area. I'm considering investing in a (budget) bike or rowing machine. What are the areas of the body which respond best to each of these machines? Is it worth my while at all?

Colm_OReilly

What are you trying to do? Get fit? Get big? Slim down?

A bike will make you better at cycling. It will develop your legs mainly, particularly the front (quads) and the backs behind the knees (calves).

A rowing machine will have more of a systemic (whole body) effect. It will work your hip extension, back and arms. However, I'd be very, very wary of buying a budget rower. Most non Concept IIs I've seen are piss poor. Concept IIs, however, are pricey enough.

There's plenty you can do fitness wise with weights and bodyweight exercises. An Olympic Weights set will cost you about €150-€200 for a basic set.

Vegeta

Just how expensive are Concept II's Colm?

EileenG

My personal recommendation would be to buy an actual road bike. There are plenty of days I don't fancy doing cardio, but I'll get on my bike in order to get somewhere. You'll save the price of it in busfares or parking charges in a couple of months.

Then buy a decent weight set. Dumbells are a great start, but you'll find you need to work with a barbell and some heavy weights for things like deadlift, squat, bench press etc. Those exercises will increase your testosterone levels as well as burn calories, so you'll get bigger overall.

BossArky

Papillon87 wrote: »

I've recently started using dumb bells I bought at home, to target my woeful upper arm area.

Stick with the dumbells. Do these exercises. Google them if you don't know them:

• Standing Military Press
• Lateral Raise
• Front Raise
• Dumbbell Row
• Bicep Curl (you probably know this one )

Also, you should consider buying a pull up bar for use at home. Pull ups will build a good bit of muscle quickly on your upper body if you work at them and eat well.

Colm_OReilly

A new Concept II will cost you about €1400. They don't devalue that much on the 2nd hand market either. I got mine for €1000 or thereabouts.

Papillon87

Thanks everyone!

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

What are you trying to do? Get fit? Get big? Slim down?

Get fit and slim down.

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

A new Concept II will cost you about €1400. They don't devalue that much on the 2nd hand market either. I got mine for €1000 or thereabouts.

Oh dear. I'm a student and only work a few days a month....way out of my budget unfortunately!

So, the consensus seems to be that since a good rowing machine is out of my budget....I should just stick to weights for a bit?

Colm_OReilly

Stick to the weights, there's amazing variety of things you can do with weights and body weight exercises.

Here's something to start you off.

Vegeta

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

A new Concept II will cost you about €1400. They don't devalue that much on the 2nd hand market either. I got mine for €1000 or thereabouts.

That's not too bad I suppose. Wouldn't mind getting one

hmmmmmmmmmmm

Any advice where to hunt one down

Colm_OReilly

For a new one, buy direct from www.concept2.co.uk

For a second hand one, Concept 2 will occasionally sell their refurbished models on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.ie/Refurb-Concept-2-Indoor-Rower-Model-C-Rowing-Machine_W0QQitemZ140186709208QQihZ004QQcategoryZ15275QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Roper

How old was yours Colm I got mine for €700 and I nearly tore the guys arm off to get it. Also any computer problems yet?