One piece of gym equipment in the home...which one?

Dinarius

Having lived abroad for a year in an apartment block with a gym, I became hooked on burning off stress.

I would now like to buy a piece of equipment for my home.

I like aerobic fitness more than anything and I would like to work out as much of my body, at the same time, as possible.

So, I am torn between getting either a bike (one of those with the moving arms that allow you to transfer effort from the lower to the upper body) or a cross country trainer.

1. Which of these, if either, should I go for?

2. What are the best makes?

I think that the bike I used to use was a Schwinn(?) and it was pretty impressive.

Thanks.

D.

kazzer

I would go for a spinner. Very expensive, but they are well built and feel very natural. Take a trip out to VJ fitness over in Blanchardstown, and try one out. I think Schwinn make spinners if im not mistaken.

Dinarius

Kazzer,

Thanks for that.

Are VJ the main source of equipment in the Dublin area? Are they agents for Schwinn?

Are there other suppliers?

Thanks again.

D.

Jak

Concept 2 rower.

Best built and overall best cardio piece of kit you could own.

kazzer

Hi Dinarius,

I say VJ Fitness because they have a reasonably sized showroom, so you can try before you buy. Im not too sure what makes they sell but I know they have a few spinners on display that are good quality. There are lots of agents and suppliers out there (just flick through the golden pages), but do they have showrooms where you can try before you buy. There are alot of junk products out there, In fact i would stay away from any 'home fitness' machines. If your budget allows, go for a commerical piece (i.e one you would find in a gym) of equipment whatever that may be.

I second Jak's recommendation of the Concept 2. Excellent rower, it may set you back about €800 - €1000. What is you budget?

Dinarius

Cheers guys! I am very grateful for the advice.

This piece of gear is a treat for my wife and I, so we're prepared to spend a bit on it.

I fully intend to get something "commercial" rather than "domestic".

I will follow up the suggestion of a rowing machine. That is one piece of gear that we didn't have abroad, so I don't have any experience of them.

One thing I really like about the exercise bike that we used was that, as well as the cardio element, the fact that you could transfer the effort from legs to arms meant an overall body workout. While I have no interest in muscle bulk, a bit of tone never did anyone any harm! ;-)

Am I right in thinking that the spinners don't have moving arms?

Wouldn't a bike be better for the legs than a rowing machine?

Thanks.

D.

OFDM

kazzer wrote:

I second Jak's recommendation of the Concept 2. Excellent rower, it may set you back about €800 - €1000. What is you budget?

More like €1400 when bought from Concept2 directly - does anywhere else sell it cheaper?

joc_06

Alright i know you dont want anaerobic stuff but heres my op[inion.

Run outside on grass. Forget treadmills, cycle a bike. Do you plan on rowing? Then why get a rower?
Spend your money on a bench, an olympic bar, configurable dumbells bars and some weight discs. You can buy cheapish stands also for squatting. You are now ready to exercise every single muscle in your body.

Neck, shoulders, back, biceps, triceps, pecs, quads, glutes etc etc just using a little ingenuity and research

You can put a set of weights together for a lot less then €1400 and you seriously can exercise everyting with just those few bits and pieces. Plus you get to powerlift. In my mind theres no question here which way to go. Think about it...

BrianD3

Would you consider getting a heavy bag (punch bag)
a) a helluva lot cheaper than a spinner or rower
b) great stress reliever
c) can strike it with fists, knees, shins, feet, elbows
d) can vary the intensity of your workout by varying how hard and fast you strike the bag

If you're getting one there are two major things to be aware of. First of all, make sure you have somewhere very solid to hang it from. Secondly, learn how to wrap your hands properly and how to strike the bag with good technique to prevent injuries.

BrianD3

Dinarius

Thanks again.

I really am interested in aerobic fitness/wellbeing first and foremost. I have no interest in a set of weights, and my wife even less so! ;-)

The Concept2 is less than half the price in the US that it is over here. Typical! Seems to be regarded as the market leader though.

My wife favours a cross country trainer. Will have a look at those too.

D.

logic1

As has been said above rowing is one of the best and hardest aerobic workouts you can do.

Technically I think the best for calorie burning are the treadmill, the rower and the stairmaster in that order which directly correlates to the intensity involved.

.logic.

Jak

joc_06 wrote:

Alright i know you dont want anaerobic stuff but heres my op[inion.

Run outside on grass. Forget treadmills, cycle a bike. Do you plan on rowing? Then why get a rower?

Plus you get to powerlift. In my mind theres no question here which way to go. Think about it...

Non-rowers can still get huge benefit from a concept 2. The benefit is that the motion affects a broader range of muscles than many other pieces of cardio kit. In addition concept 2 build a very solid machine, we also had a cross trainer, the same could not be said of that.

As for a home powerlifting studio, aside from your wife probably lacking enthusiasm for the idea, unless you have a high ceiling open garage area, trying to powerlift in a spare bedroom is a recipe for structural disaster.

JAK.

Musashi

I'd go with a rowing machine for the greatest range of benefits, or failing that hardest machine I ever used was the versa-climber!

Climber-Work your heart out!

mrbungle

Concept 2 : €1539 in VJHomefitness.

Just my 153,900 cents worth.

Transform

Check out Life Fitness based in monkstown - they have a massive range and amazing equipement. Any problems getting number via 11811 mail back

Dinarius

Many thanks for the replies.

Starting to look seriously like the Concept 2 or a bike.

Having to pay double the US price for the Concept 2 irks me, but that's typical. I buy camera equipment a lot from the US, so I'm well aware of the savings that can be made. Pity the Concept 2 is so bulky! ;-)

A treadmill is a non-starter since I want a non-impact machine. I have a bad knee.

Thanks again.

D.

OFDM

mrbungle wrote:

Concept 2 : €1539 in VJHomefitness.

Just my 153,900 cents worth.

€140 more expensive that directly from Concept2 inclusive of postage - another case for rip-off Ireland.

windowgazer

Rowing machines are the best all-round cardio workouts, I have been told. And although you don't feel thats its as powerful as workout as, say running, it still burns more calories. It also has no impact-related effects, which will suit your bad knee. I like the cross trainer too, its nice in that you can vary the upper/lower body exertion when you want.
A note for all. NEVER and i mean NEVER buy any gym equipment from Argos. Always try it out before you buy and also make sure there's a garauntee with available technician incase theres a hitch.

Dinarius

OK, that's it!

A rowing machine it is.

Many thanks to all those who replied. Just goes to show the power of the web.

D.

Genghis

This is the sort of thing that a lot of people will buy, use for a while, geet over the guilt and get rid - a perfect second-hand market!

Check out E-bay. A quick search for Concept 2 brought up several options for under €500. €100 appears to be the norm for shipping.

Good Luck.

Dinarius

One last thing..........

This is the rowing machine I used to use in a gym I was a member of.......

http://www.nautilusgroup.com/catalog/productdetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760340&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026529&bmUID=1106926222437

I loved it.

Anyone know who sells Schwinn in Ireland? I'd like to compare prices.

Thanks.

D.

OFDM

windowgazer wrote:

A note for all. NEVER and i mean NEVER buy any gym equipment from Argos.

The 50kg cast iron weight set and the 2x10kg cast iron plates are alright though and are good value...

Sangre

windowgazer wrote:

And although you don't feel thats its as powerful as workout as, say running, it still burns more calories.

Eh, that can't be right can it?
In fact my experiences are the opposite, a very intense workout but with lower calories burnt during the session than running.

logic1

Sangre wrote:

Eh, that can't be right can it?
In fact my experiences are the opposite, a very intense workout but with lower calories burnt during the session than running.

As I posted above:

best for calorie burning are the treadmill, the rower and the stairmaster in that order

.logic.

CK67

Hi I am selling my 9 month old Concept2 Model D Here's a link to the for sale thread.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=2330533#post2330533

Private message me if your interested.

OFDM

CK67 wrote:

Private message me if your interested.

That's against the rules of the FS General board - all trading must be done in the thread...

pwd

skipping rope.
extremely good aerobic fitness, also good for co-ordination and rhythm. Find yourself seriously lighter on your feet very soon after beginning to train with one.
More portable than any other piece of equipment here, and dead cheap too.

I'd liketo get a punchbag but i don't think i do have anywhere safe to hang it. Where can you get them anyway?

Dinarius

Punchbags sold in Mick Dowling Sports.

Skipping ropes are great, but as I wrote above, non-impact exercise is paramount for me.

D.

BrianD3

Punchbags are available in
JJB sports
Elvery's (where they're overpriced IMO)
Arnotts
Argos
VJhomefitness

There are many different types - hanging or free standing, sand, water or cloth filled, canvas, vinyl or leather covered, different weights, heights and shapes etc.

I got mine in JJB it is an "Olympus" bag. It's a light bag - weighs about 20 kg. 3 ft tall with a cloth filling and a canvas cover. Something like this is fine for a beginner like me.

BrianD3

mrbungle

Hi there,

Does it have a PM2 or PM3 ?

Thanks !

Where are you based ?

CK67

It has the PM3 monitor - the one which takes the smartcard (included).

I am in Templeogue in Dublin.

mrbungle

PM sent.

pwd

would you be able to put a punching bag on a door frame? It's not a support wall or anything but it's the only place that might work. There's already a hook that i think would support the weight. Probably be ok if I just punched it rather than kick maybe.

BrianD3

would you be able to put a punching bag on a door frame? It's not a support wall or anything but it's the only place that might work. There's already a hook that i think would support the weight. Probably be ok if I just punched it rather than kick maybe.

I don't think this would be a good idea. See my post in the self defence/martial arts forum re: punchbags. The bag will hang OK and will be grand when it's static - but when you start hitting it hard with your fist it has to absorb quite a lot of energy. The bag will jump and/or swing and puts a lot of strain on whatever it's mounted to. You don't want to cause structural damage to your house. Did you ever think of getting a free standing bag?

BrianD3

pwd

have old army duffel bag which I stuffed with sheets and some phone directories and things to weightthe bottom. Seems pretty good imitation of canvas punching bag. the door frames definitely not ok for hanging it. Living in a flat and fairly moderate experimental punches make the wall shdder a bit, would def get complaints from neighbours if i kept that up. Have one stone wall might be able to put it against. nee dto experiment abit. otherwise restricted to free-standing bag. Not attractive because they are expensive and would take up quite a bit of room (i live in fairly small falt).

CK67

Hi I have a Concept2 Model D for sale. Brand New and I am looking for just €1200.

panny

I see that schwinn equipment and nautilus is available through www.homegym.ie - I got a set of the new selecttech free weights and they're awesome!