Noob With A Man Boob

Dirk_Digler

Right so I would like to put some of my hard earned money for future investments in Doritos to purchase an exercise bike. I have no clue what differentiates a good one from a bad one.

I have been looking at this bad boy:
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3357561/Trail/searchtext%3EEXERCISE+BIKE.htm

Any advice is greatly appreciated as well as any recommendations on a different model?

Thanks lads!

Colm_OReilly

Honestly your money is better spent on weights and a session with a PT to get you set up. Most exercise machine purchases are used only a handful of times and then neglected.

Invest a little extra in a PT or classes that you'll go to long term, set yourself up for success and you'll be much better off.

Ruu_Old

Invest in a good pair of running shoes instead and hit the road.

Khannie

I agree with the others....I know you're looking for advice on an exercise bike, but honestly, we have one and it sits in the corner. There are thousands more like it around the country. I couldn't possibly think of a more boring exercise / something that's guaranteed to make me detest the idea of sitting on it.

TheVoodoo

I got an exercise bike similar to that and it does just sit in the corner of my room, with a layer of dust.

I'd personally be inclined to go with Ruu's suggestion of the shoes, but that's because i'd find running more interesting than cycling on an exercise bike.

FrostyJack

If I had an exercise bike at home I would use it regularly the days I couldn't make the gym, but I think I'm far from the norm, the above lads are right, the vast majority (if not all) of people I know that have them use them as a clothes horse and nothing more. Weights are must better option for at home. If you are to get one try not to get the cheapest one as they tend to (in my experience) very noisey and may put you off using it long term.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i have that very bike, it's decent enough. easy to put together and easy to take apart when you finally decide it's not worth it to have it just sitting there in your room not being used. The resistance of the peddles can be adjusted from very very easy to pretty damn hard, so it does give a good workout. but like others have said, it's *so* boring. really wishing i'd bought a rowing machine instead, this doesn't get used at all.

Lantus

A bike was the first thing I bought from Argos (a cheaper version that's currently 99.) I was committed to losing weight and I used it almost every day for a year and I still use it every other day or so for general cardio in conjunction with running and resistance training.

It's a good choice for a few reasons; It doesn't load the joints like the knees which if your quite overweight dont like the stress, you can read or watch tv like I do for 30-45 mins easily to help pass the time. As it's in your home it's not time intensive like travelling to a gym.

I would say in conjunction with some dumbells you could easily use a bike to make a big improvement to your health, cardio fitness and strength. However, over time you will find that a gym has more scope to improve than at home.

Ultimatley it doesn't matter if you buy a bike, fancy runners, or book a PT. You have to want to do it and stick with it. Be consistent and use a diary to be honest with yourself.

AntiVirus

Ruu wrote: »

Invest in a good pair of running shoes instead and hit the road.

I think this is your best bet to start with. Get a GPS tracker on your phone and record your runs for free. This is a great way to motivate you to get out there and improve your fitness and its the cheapest.

Then if you get the fitness bug, buy some weights, have a session with a PT and/or join a gym. The key to success is motivation, just do it, what ever it is and keep doing it.

Westwood

Lantus wrote: »

you can read or watch tv like I do for 30-45 mins easily to help pass the time.

If you're reading or watching TV while doing cardio you're not working hard enough.

cormie

More support for a bike here, but why not go one better, get a REAL bike and then get a turbo trainer like this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-volare-mag-alu-trainer/

It will probably work out more expensive if you don't already have a bike but to be able to disconnect the bike and take it for a spin outside whenever you please is a big plus. I use mine a lot, even if I had a tv, I wouldn't bother with it while doing the exercise, I stick on some music and do weights while I'm cycling I do a few different routines, then stretches and things aswell.

A big factor for my excuse to not exercise is not enough time, now I can do a pretty good session in a very short time frame before I even have a shower and get dressed for the day and the weight fat is coming off me thankfully

tHE vAGGABOND

Check out couch to 5k - and start running as some folks have said [be that in a gym, or outside - or indeed alternate and do both!]. Its a great tried and tested program which starts you off very gently and builds up slowly over a few months.

Random link : http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml [but there are hundreds of places who do it, including some funky iphone apps].

I started it when I was over 20 stone, and not able to walk 3 flights of stairs to my apartment, and 5 or so months later I have lost over 4 stone and I ran 20k a couple of Saturdays ago. So it really does work..

Lantus

Westwood wrote: »

If you're reading or watching TV while doing cardio you're not working hard enough.

Do you go deaf or blind if you peddle too hard?