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Good exercise bike.

Ralph

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Any suggestions for a decent quality exercise bike.

My wife's a big walker but with all the cold weather & icy conditions we've had in New England----she's looking for a way to stay in a heated room....

Electronics aren't important--durabilty-smooth pedaling--and repairability are..............Thx---Ralph
 
What about price? I've got one I seldom use because the pedals don't feel right - it's a sort of web strip attached to a flywheel that gives the drag.

The one in the gym feels like a real bike, but I think it cost a fortune.

I hear you can get contraptions that let you bring your own bike indoors and ride it as a stationary - anybody know anything about this? If I had a bigger house, I'd be tempted.

Rolfe.
 
Rolfe said:

I hear you can get contraptions that let you bring your own bike indoors and ride it as a stationary - anybody know anything about this? If I had a bigger house, I'd be tempted.

Rolfe.
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There are two kinds. One is a set of three rollers, two of which are connected by a big rubber band. You ride your bike on it like it was a treadmill. It's pretty hard to get the hang of doing this - it feels like riding on ice. However, the professional cyclists love it because it forces you to be very smooth (which is generarally more energy-efficient). The other kind is a kind-of stand that you clamp on to your back axle. This supports the bike upright so that you can't fall down. The rear wheel runs on a small roller, and there is generally some kind of resistance to the turning of this roller - sometimes magnetic, sometimes it drives a fan in either a viscous fluid or in the air. This type of trainier is available quite cheaply, and they are safe and easy to use. The only downside is that they tend to wear the rear tire of the bike much faster than riding on the road.

--Terry.
 
I've used stationary trainers for years. Started out with a Blackburn I picked up in a thrift shop for 10 bucks, and recently bought a Minoura from Nashbar.

They have the great advantage over the more traditional rollers in that you can't fall off. (hehe- or at least, it's hard.)

Make no mistake, these devices are boring. I use structured workout plans that have you shifting gears and cadences a lot, and I use a heartrate monitor.
Another good idea is a fan. Without the passage of air, you will get very hot very fast. Be sure to hydrate just as if you were on the road.

You can obtain a decent one for under 100.00. If you plan to mount a mountain bike with knobby tires, you can either replace the rear tire with a street model, or buy one of the rim-drive trainers.
 
We have a Tunturi that my wife uses 2-3 a week and has done so for ~ 10 years. Very durable.
 
Make sure that the one you get has big handles and stuff sticking out, and sits high off the floor. It will then work much better as the clothes hanger it will transmogrify into after a few months. ;)
 
WildCat said:
Make sure that the one you get has big handles and stuff sticking out, and sits high off the floor. It will then work much better as the clothes hanger it will transmogrify into after a few months. ;)
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I must add ours does double duty as a clothes hanger as well. :p
 
WildCat said:
Make sure that the one you get has big handles and stuff sticking out, and sits high off the floor. It will then work much better as the clothes hanger it will transmogrify into after a few months. ;)
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I know-----that's why I don't want to spend too much on it................
 
the double rollers are hard to learn, but you are forced to get a work out. it's easy to slack off on the (admittedly cheaper) quick rack for the back wheel.
if you slack on the rollers, you fall off. very motivating.
the easiest way to learn is to set it up in a doorway. if you think you are going to fall, just grab the frame.

i miss my bike:(
 
I use a Tunturi recumbent exercise bike when I can't ride outside. An inside trainer just isn't the same as riding outdoors, but at least with this I can read at the same time.
 
Get a recumbant exercise bike. Here's why:

You can read while you are on it. (added: BrianT beat me to it)

Don't listen to folks who say "you can watch TV" on other exercise bikes. TV cannot hold you interest very well when you are physically active.

Reading keeps your mind occupied. Get a good book and you'll find you burned through a 40 minute workout without noticing. Of course, you are drenched in sweat.

I made some CD-burns, put them in my CD changer, and pedalled away reading a good book.

I'm still using my recumbant after many moons. It has yet to become a coat hanger. Its packed away right now since I am moving, but it will be used again.

Get a large fan, even for the cold months. You'll see why.

Don't get me wrong, rollers are great, but they are more for bicycle training than for straight exercise. They take time to learn how to use and there's not much you can do while using them. I had a set of Kreitler's and I sold them late last year.
 
Ralph said:
I know-----that's why I don't want to spend too much on it................
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If you're looking to save money, you might consider one or more of the following:

1) Look for stores that specialize in secondhand exercise equipment. These won't necessarily be the cheapest, but they might be significantly less expensive than new.

2) Check local classified ads to find someone who's selling what they're not using.

3) Place a "want to buy" ad in a local paper. You might find someone who has something they're not using, but who hasn't gotten up the gumption to place an ad themselves.


There's plenty of this sort of stuff out there. For many people, it's much easier to buy the hardware in a fit of well-intentioned resolve than it is to actually continue using it over the long term.


_Q_
 
kookbreaker said:
Don't listen to folks who say "you can watch TV" on other exercise bikes. TV cannot hold you interest very well when you are physically active.

Reading keeps your mind occupied. Get a good book and you'll find you burned through a 40 minute workout without noticing. Of course, you are drenched in sweat.
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huh? i love to watch tv while on the exercise bike. makes the time fly by.

i'd probably read on the bike too but i'd hate to have sweat pouring on my beloved books.

i have a lifecycle myself. big initial investment but works as good as new after about 8 years. and plenty of space to hang your dry cleaning on.
 
There are a few games you can play with the TV too, such as sprinting during commercials....

My wife bought me one of those videos of a scenic road ride you were supposed to watch while riding the trainer.....not too bad, but it had a dreadful new-agey soundtrack.
 
Also think about getting an elliptical trainer. A friend of mine has one that I would love to have, but can't afford at the moment (just other priorities, it's about $600). But try before you buy.

Every exercise bike I've tried has a seat that I consider too soft.. not a consideration for most people, but something to put on your checklist.
 
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