exercycle question, which style?
 

Hello all, just a question, I'm in the market for a indoor exercycle bike and was confused on the two styles. Which one is recommended or do have a preference yourself. Either the standard upright bike style or an recumbent exercycle bike?

Re: exercycle question, which style?
 

Don't waste money on a bike. Get a treadmill or something else that will make you use full body motion. Exercise bikes are one of the least productive ways to do cardio.

really? cool, good to know. cheers

Get an elliptical trainer before a treadmill. Those are way less impact, and are much better at burning calories, raising heart rate, and full body workout. If you wanted to run, you could just go outside for free (I'm a runner, that's what I do, but I still use the elliptical when injured).

Ya, those elipticals are nice!

buy whatever type of cardio machine you are most likely to use long term. if you like to bike, buy a bike (i'd say a recumbant, they're more comfortable, that's really the only difference, neither is weight bearing). if you like to run, get a treadmill. i'd recommend you not get an elliptical machine unless you have spent some time on them before you buy. using them is somewhat weird... it just feels... odd... to me at least. i start off moving like i'd be going in a forward motion, but end up feeling like i'm striding backwards.

bike's are great cardio. so are treadmills and ellipticals. just do what you like. that's most important.

Bikes are fine if you just want to do cardio. If you want more, do the bike _and_ some weight training.

Personally, I've tried both styles and favor neither. If you have a hinky back, a recumbent might work better for you, but that's the only difference I've noticed.

No, bikes suck for cardio :). Please dont let these above two posters talk you into buying one.

lovely, conflicting info hehe j/k....thanks for the opinions peeps, i think i might go with the bike as thats what i do enjoy riding. will check them all out though. thanks again everyone. cheers

/ducks

Don't make Plan9 angry! He knows his stuff!

Ahah, bikes will work. I just figure that if you are spending money on equipment then you are most likely serious on getting in shape. Ergo if you are serious on getting in shape then stick to what works best. Recumbent bikes? Doing cardio in a reclined, relaxed position is the funniest concept I have seen since electric ab belts.

Get an eliptical instead, I promise your body will thank me later! A bike is just going to end up in your next garage sale or next issue of your local Recycler (which I might add is a very easy way to find an exercise bike).

i have to disagree. if you don't enjoy what your doing when you work out, then your not gonna keep it up. if you buy equiptment you don't like, then your not gonna use it and it will end up in the garage sale.

See, I disagree with you. I don't enjoy punishing myself to the extent that I do in the gym, however, I enjoy the results enough to keep me doing it. If you want results while working out, you cannot expect the effort to be fun and enjoyable. That is like expecting to make great money doing an easy no skill job... ain't gonna happen. Want big results, then workout big. You want "enjoyable" "comfortable" workouts, then don't expect much change in your physique. Simple as that. Laziness is the reason so many people are out of shape. Looking good is not easy, and if it was, we wouldn't have so many fat people as we do ;)

*note* I usually get paid for my advise so in the future I won't bother explaining or defending what is best for your body ;) I will just give my $.02 and leave it be.

well i don't want to change my physical appearance, just want to stay in cardio shape over the winter months. i'm 28 and started to notice i'm going to have to do more work to maintain my current size at 6.0ft 185lbs. I do alot of bike riding all year as my knees hurt to much to do running. years of playing hockey have taken there toll. thanks plan9 for all your advice, i will see what is the most comfortable and make sure i can return it if i don't like it!

that's nice. it's a good way to earn money/earn a living. but you don't need to explain anything to me. right now, i'm a student studying exercise science, and am ACE certified as a personal trainer.

if you want big results, if you want to be cut, have big muscles, then yeah, you may not enjoy every workout. but most people that work for that physique consider the results to be worth the cost (working out even when you don't feel like it). but that's not what everyone is after. using a bike you can get just as a good of a cardio workout as running, without some of the bad effects on your joints. working at 70% of your max. HR is 70% whether it's from running or cycling.

about "comfortable" workouts, well, the statistics are something like 60-70% of people drop out of their exercise plans within 6 weeks. why? sometimes its because of lack of time. but often it's because they don't like what their doing. if you dont' like something, you're not gonna be motivated to do it. and unless your told by your doctor that your gonna be dead in a year or so if you don't change things, most people "casual" exercisers don't get serious enough to keep up with workouts that they don't enjoy.

now come on, admit it. you do like pushing yourself to the extent you do. :D i bet you leave the gym and feel like $1,000,000. too bad not everyone does, cause then we wouldn't be having an obesitiy epidemic in this country.

excercycles are impossible to get parts for, and the motion is not authentic in any case.

Get a real bike, and find some guys to excercise with. Im on a race team and it is a great way to get in shape and show off to the ladies :D

There you go, numist! I love cycling, but cant stand the thought of a stationary cycle. Half of the fun is hauling ass down the straights, sprinting up hills, feeling the wind, knowing that I am moving... The thought of sitting still and spinning bores me--and Im not the only one. It takes a lot to make a session of stationary cycling the least bit interesting or fun.

winter months guys... can't really bike outside then... or at least, i would assume you can't/shouldn't. correct me if i'm wrong...

Then buy a pair of cross-country skis for winter time.