Purchasing an exercise bike

Mimojo

Just spotted this forum, and would love some advice!

I really want to get into fitness, I know I have have put on a lot of weight in the past year or so, and just want to get back into exercise. I have started to improve my diet, which I know I can do, its the exercise I am crap at!

Anyhow I was thinking of purchasing a threadmill, however having read a lot of the info on here it seems that there is no point buying something for less that about 1000euro, which I dont have at the minute! Was going to get a cheap one at Argos, but think it will be more hassle than it is worth!

So as an alternative, to get me into it, was thinking of buying an exercise bike, and maybe some weights. I am going to try and combine some exercises routines, gym ball etc with the bike, but just wondered what people thought in general of getting an exercise bike to start off with?

I am hoping that if I start off slowly, by early next year I will have increased my fitness enough to go out walking/jogging.

Was looking at this one in argos, I have a pretty tight budget at the moment, so though this could get me started?

Any advice is appreciated!

Khannie

boozelerooze wrote: »

just wondered what people thought in general of getting an exercise bike to start off with?

I think they're rubbish. Just my 2c. I think you're better off going for a walk at a decent pace. It's free. My wife was mad for one so we got it a while back. I found it very difficult to get my heart rate up to a decent level. Also, it's now sitting in a corner, like thousands of other exercise bikes all over the world.

Mimojo

Khannie wrote: »

I think they're rubbish. Just my 2c. I think you're better off going for a walk at a decent pace. It's free. My wife was mad for one so we got it a while back. I found it very difficult to get my heart rate up to a decent level. Also, it's now sitting in a corner, like thousands of other exercise bikes all over the world.

Thanks for the advice..I can def see where you are coming from....just thought my might get me into it, and then start walking?! Have a total lack of motivation, need something to get me started!

Flash86

I bought one a while ago but found that because it's in the house it's easy to say that I'd use it later or do a longer cycle the next day.

I just bit the bullet and joined the gym. I'm still a big guy but getting into a routine and going to the gym on a set schedule has really helped me.

I felt nervous that people would judge me but so far either people are too busy with their own workout to care or see the effort being put in and respect you for it. It was only 290 for the year I think but it may have gone up to 320 but most places you can pay by the month now too.

I definitely recommend it.

Mimojo

Flash86 wrote: »

I bought one a while ago but found that because it's in the house it's easy to say that I'd use it later or do a longer cycle the next day.

I just bit the bullet and joined the gym. I'm still a big guy but getting into a routine and going to the gym on a set schedule has really helped me.

I felt nervous that people would judge me but so far either people are too busy with their own workout to care or see the effort being put in and respect you for it. It was only 290 for the year I think but it may have gone up to 320 but most places you can pay by the month now too.

I definitely recommend it.

Good advice, I can see how it would be easy to just not bother with the bike when it is in your house

Fair play on joining the gym, I would love to, but just think I would prob keel over after about 2 minutes in there, with all the fit people going "what the hell"!!

Priced the one near me, and it is mad expensive, do me mind me asked where are you paying 290€? Even 320€ would be grand, think the one near me is like 800€!

Flash86

boozelerooze wrote: »

Good advice, I can see how it would be easy to just not bother with the bike when it is in your house

Fair play on joining the gym, I would love to, but just think I would prob keel over after about 2 minutes in there, with all the fit people going "what the hell"!!

Priced the one near me, and it is mad expensive, do me mind me asked where are you paying 290€? Even 320€ would be grand, think the one near me is like 800€!

It's Northwood in Santry.

Mimojo

Im in Kildare, and the gym in Clane is €650 for single membership, just seems like a lot. Wish I could try it out first

imitation

Im thinking the same boat. Gyms around me are at least 500 euro a year, which im pretty sure will get you a decent enough bit of equipment forever instead. Anybody got advice on what is good and what I should be paying abouts ?

The other problem is that you have the whole routine with a gym which ends up swallowing an hour a day, you know, driving in, getting changed, working out, showering, getting changed driving back. Some of that can be removed and other bits removed. Personally I think it would be the other way around, if the bikes there it would be alot easier just to jump on it.

One other word of advice is to look out for gym equipment in a 2 storey house, steppers, treadmills and those jogging machines create alot of vibration, and could cause some damage or dangerous situations !

jason99

If its any help i bought a cheap motorised treadmill in argos two years ago and it worked for me............

Khannie

boozelerooze wrote: »

Fair play on joining the gym, I would love to, but just think I would prob keel over after about 2 minutes in there, with all the fit people going "what the hell"!!

Nobody's even looking to be honest. I know the notion can be intimidating, but people are too busy doing whatever they're doing to be bothered with looking at you / wondering about you.

markwilson419

That is the good idea of purchasing exercise bike it will help you lot.

mickstupp

boozelerooze wrote: »

Was looking at this one in argos, I have a pretty tight budget at the moment, so though this could get me started?

Not that I have any real clue what I'm talking about... but two years ago I got an even cheaper one than that from Argos. Horrible little yoke it is. But I use it five or six days a week, alternating easy long sessions with shorter fast ones with some sprints and so on, some medium paced sessions etc. and so on. I wouldn't trust the readouts on the thing so I use a heart rate monitor and base my sessions on time spent at whatever heart rate. Works fine for me, does the job, lost a bunch of weight and feel much better than I did before. But I got one because I couldn't, and still can't, afford a real bike. I mostly read on the thing (unless sprinting) so it's great to get a dedicated hour of peace and quiet every day.

To answer your question, sure it could get you started, but there are probably better ways. My knees are shot so that cheap exercise bike was perfect for me. Maybe simply walking or jogging might be better for you? Or a second hand bike if your budget will stretch that far? Either way you have to really want to make a difference, otherwise the thing will just sit in the corner and stare at you. Making faces.