elliptical or exercise bike?
- Thread starter johnny101
- Start date
theleip
2
If you have the money to spend the ellipticals. They provide a better overall workout since they include arms, get you standing, and can also use reverse running which can work your body in a completely different manner. However you can't go cheap with a elliptical. You are looking at $500 for a decent sturdy model, and thats real entry level. If trying to do HIIT which i recommend then you might need to spend a little more, those machines if not high quality will not be great for going all out as fast as you can when needed.
If money is tight then i would go for a bike, still a great way for cardio, you can spend a lil less and still get a nice sturdy model, and are great for HIIT workouts.
So it basically just comes down to the money you can spend and what type of cardio you plan on doing. I personally still can't afford a good quality elliptical so i opted for the bike.
If money is tight then i would go for a bike, still a great way for cardio, you can spend a lil less and still get a nice sturdy model, and are great for HIIT workouts.
So it basically just comes down to the money you can spend and what type of cardio you plan on doing. I personally still can't afford a good quality elliptical so i opted for the bike.
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Smooth Fitness = 300lb max
Just like everyone else, i did all my research online and came to the conclusion that if you want a decent elliptical, im going to have to spend more then $1500us. If you spend anything less you'll end up with a machine made for a casual user. Also the builld quality goes down hill when you spend less then $1000. Commercial grade elliptical usually range from $2000-$5000. I ended up buying a Smooth Fitness CE 3.2. Im 5'2" and I have friend that are +6' and Smooth is perfect for all of us. I could have got a bike, but id have to spend $1300 on it if i want the ability to accommedate my friends. When looking for an elliptical, the thicker the frame usually means the higher the max weight the machine can handle. I would rather spend double ammount of money my wife is willing to spend on something and grow into its capabilities, then to spend half of what im willing to spend and break the thing due to inferior build quality/engineering. Plus, I like all the bells and whistles... Forget about keeping up with the "Smiths" and the "Jones"... i want to be the "Jetsons"
Just like everyone else, i did all my research online and came to the conclusion that if you want a decent elliptical, im going to have to spend more then $1500us. If you spend anything less you'll end up with a machine made for a casual user. Also the builld quality goes down hill when you spend less then $1000. Commercial grade elliptical usually range from $2000-$5000. I ended up buying a Smooth Fitness CE 3.2. Im 5'2" and I have friend that are +6' and Smooth is perfect for all of us. I could have got a bike, but id have to spend $1300 on it if i want the ability to accommedate my friends. When looking for an elliptical, the thicker the frame usually means the higher the max weight the machine can handle. I would rather spend double ammount of money my wife is willing to spend on something and grow into its capabilities, then to spend half of what im willing to spend and break the thing due to inferior build quality/engineering. Plus, I like all the bells and whistles... Forget about keeping up with the "Smiths" and the "Jones"... i want to be the "Jetsons"
An elliptical, or a Schwinn Airdyne bike. I have been using the Schwinn for 14 years and the Elliptical for 8. Both give a great workout. The Schwinn is top of the line and much less expenssive than a top of the line elliptical. You can find them on ebay for 200-300 and new on sale for $499.
i think the elliptical is way better. after highschool i was a gym freak. i was at the gym 4 times a week, and i would do the elliptical about 30-40 minutes a day, i found that overall, it was much better it worked my arms as well as legs and butt, where as the bike only did my legs.
Save your money and buy a jump rope with weighted handles. You'll get a better workout and you won't clutter up your house with another POS.
I agree that you need to spend some $$$ for a good quality elliptical. After much debate (in my own head to justify the expense LOL) I broke down and bought a Precor and I have absolutely no regrets. I enjoy that workout as much as a workout can be enjoyed. However, it doesn't have the arm movement feature, but I didn't want that because of impaired vision and vertigo etc. and it's perfect for me.
if you buy an elliptical i suggest strongly you try it out in the store for a good 5 minutes or so before you buy it. When i went shopping for mine, i tried about 10 of them out, and got one hell of a workout. But keep an eye open for fluid motion. Some of the even more expensive ones, had a very jerky (not elliptical) motion. Plus, one of them started hurting my feet after like 5 minutes. You dont wanna get stuck with something like that cause youll get stuck with a very big paperweight
Also I suggest not even considering anything under the $700 mark. Anything less than that is just cheaply made and wont last.
All in all, the elliptical is much better than the bike because it utilizes the entire body.
Also I suggest not even considering anything under the $700 mark. Anything less than that is just cheaply made and wont last.
All in all, the elliptical is much better than the bike because it utilizes the entire body.