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I need a high-quality exercise bike
Jacobkosh
Gamble a stamp.I can show you how to be a real man!Moderator mod
Gamble a stamp.I can show you how to be a real man!Moderator mod
Winter is rapidly approaching, and as I can't drive anymore due to poor vision, the cold makes getting out to the gym difficult. Last year, when I was frozen inside my house, my only recourse for cardio was sort of half-jogging up and down the (short) length of my house. I'd like to do better this year.
Specifically, what I'd like is a comfortable, heavy-duty recumbent exercise bike. I mean like something that you'd find in a gym or a physical therapy center, something meant to stand up under a lot of use. I'd like to be able to crank out a couple hours a day on this thing while listening to podcasts, and I don't want it to shake itself apart or pop a chain or whatever these things are apt to do.
Obviously some rinky-dink $300 thing is not going to do the job, but I'm not sure what will. I don't know what brands are good, I don't know what I should expect to pay. My vision also makes long stretches of online research way more of a pain in the ass than it needs to be, so I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction. What are the good brands? Even better, what are the good models? How much should I expect to pay? What other things should I know that I don't know enough to ask about right now?
Specifically, what I'd like is a comfortable, heavy-duty recumbent exercise bike. I mean like something that you'd find in a gym or a physical therapy center, something meant to stand up under a lot of use. I'd like to be able to crank out a couple hours a day on this thing while listening to podcasts, and I don't want it to shake itself apart or pop a chain or whatever these things are apt to do.
Obviously some rinky-dink $300 thing is not going to do the job, but I'm not sure what will. I don't know what brands are good, I don't know what I should expect to pay. My vision also makes long stretches of online research way more of a pain in the ass than it needs to be, so I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction. What are the good brands? Even better, what are the good models? How much should I expect to pay? What other things should I know that I don't know enough to ask about right now?
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I hate it, it's everything I despise about exercise. It's really pretty great. It's exhausting and if you decide to do interval training it can make you legitimately sore and feel like throwing up. It can also accept a wireless heart monitor if you're into that sort of thing. Being able to ignore the handlebars and just use your legs, or use the pegs and destroy your arms makes it feel like there's some built in variety.
I used to have a recumbent and it killed my back and never felt quite right. It was a Schwinn, though I can't remember the model it lasted me for years and I eventually gave it away before moving because the things are heavy. I'd probably buy another Schwinn if I had a need to. You can almost always find exercise equipment on sale in late January when everyone falls off the new years resolution wagon and returns stuff.
Important things about bikes is that if you're not used to sitting on a seat, it will be very painful to do so for long periods of time. It doesn't mean there's something wrong with the seat... your ass is just not used to sitting properly and will be much less sore after a couple of weeks, the discomfort was less with a recumbent but there was still a break in period. With the Airdyne, it was really uncomfortable and I had to stand and pedal every few minutes just to relieve the pain. It doesn't mean you need a new seat, it means your "sitting bones" aren't used to the load.
I've put 60 minutes a day on the Airdyne for the last month and aside from having to tighten up some of the bolts because of break in, the thing is super solid. From what I understand it's a really popular design for crossfit people, so any local gym may have something similar set up.
Edit: I'm 260lbs and 6'3" with back issues and it fits me just fine. A big problem with cheaper bikes is they don't really work for people over 6'.
I usually watch netflix on a tablet I prop up on the handle hook and it works decently well to keep my mind from getting too bored doing long steady state.
It's more comfortable on my butt too.
I have a version without Bluetooth and the new ride with people thing.
https://www.schwinnfitness.com/270/100515.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwpeXeBRA6EiwAyoJPKgX3RKHN_bqFNszDdrFUbQhRCjw6v4ANYhYYyuxir_Tyc5_flBo93RoCm54QAvD_BwE&adID=SDOSG2SSL2&psearch=1&gclsrc=aw.ds
That's using magnetic resistance, which is probably a good choice for the OP. Basically, there's almost no moving parts. The pedals are connected directly to the flywheel, which has nearby magnets to slow it down. Therefore, there's very little to break, which is good if you plan to use it for 2 hours/day.
I think that's why he mentioned the trainer. Even better if you're not using your bike. I know you take the rear wheel off and maybe there's more to it, and then hook it up to the machine, which provides resistance. I think the virtual worlds part is on your TV or computer screen?
https://zwift.com
Can connect via Bluetooth to a trainer and dynamically alter resistance to mimic climbing a hill.
It wouldn't be that bad, honestly. Lowest end direct drive is 600ish (direto/flux), you could probably just use a daydream or the Lenovo mr set for 200 or so, so under 1k and likely would last forever
The sweat might be a bit of an issue with that
The again Beat Saber exists so
Pro-Form 185U. Out of production now but they have newer models.
Features: It has a dial. If you want to have more resistance, you turn it one way. For less resistance, you turn it the other way. There's an SD card slot that does... something, I don't know what. It has a heart rate monitor which I occasionally use to make sure I'm still alive. There's also a cupholder. It takes two D batteries which you need to replace occasionally.
Durability: I'm a larger guy and it hasn't broken yet.
It's the only cardio that I actually enjoy.
I do 2000m at the beginning of every workout at the gym.
For a recumbent bike we have these at the gym I go to
https://www.solefitness.ca/R92-recumbent-cycle.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8f_eBRDcARIsAEKwRGc9vk9FiaW1H6zOQlDZef4iTc9O4VG4Y5iY3k1Aq9VHPuOWBugffE4aAqtOEALw_wcB
Super comfy and built like a tank.
Not sure if they're available where you are.
The SIZE of those cupholders. I am in awe.