Stationary Bikes - Cheap, but are they worth it....

[QueenKaprice]

I don’t have a gym membership, and haven’t for some time. I used to go to the gym all of the time, and then I stopped. Why? Well, I always had a partner to go with and when those buddies of mine got married or absolutely dominated and thrown on a leash (see marriage) by a girlfriend, they stopped going to the gym which kinda spiraled down to me not going either. It isn’t that I am indolent, I just like having somebody to go with, and having a spotter when pushing up 135lbs is always a necessity . Soon after canceling my gym membership, I invested in a stationary bike.

A decent/stable treadmill is going to run you more than $500, which is why purchasing a decent $130 stationary bike seemed like the obvious choice. I would rather have an elliptical machine, since it is so very easy on the joints, not to mention it is friggin awesome for cardio, but those are also very expensive and not the logical choice for a pauper like myself. If you have a gym membership, ALWAYS take the elliptical machine route for your cardio. You can’t go wrong, and can burn a crapload of calories, comfortably.

I am just going to get this off my chest without any unnecessary buildup. Stationary bikes hurt your ass, and you may find your ass going absolutely numb if you are on it for more than 20 minutes (unless you are taking it easy). Its the cheap mans way to do cardio, and I now I am not 100% sure whether it is more of a liability than an asset. Whenever I feel like doing some serious cardio on that bike, I first have to build myself up a little bit because I know that not only will I be undergoing the standard cardio pain of heart racing, perspiring, lungs expanding, muscles aching etc; but that I also get to endure pain in the gluts followed by numbness. If you are considering purchasing a stationary bike, be sure you test it out for a good 20-30 minutes prior to purchasing (that probably won’t be possible), otherwise save your cash. Unless you are a featherweight, you will want a seat that is either a perfect fit for your trunk, or an imperfect seat made out of goosedown, lots of it, and preferably without the quills. If you happen to already own a stationary bike, and the seat isn’t a good fit, try HIIT (high intensity interval training) for 10 minutes which is just as good as a 20-30 minutes at a medium pace.

Signing out.., gotta do my bi-daily cardio. Oh Lord.

-Wrote this at

 

[Ride_On]

Not all stationary bikes are going to do that. Most of them that cost $130 probably will, but even ones you can get for under $200 don't have to be that uncomfortable. Additionally, ANY bike is going to hurt if you ride for extended periods of time and are not used to it. It's just the nature of the movement. This is an unfortunate experience for you, but certainly not the end all be all of stationary bikes.

 

[BikeSwimLaugh]

Cycling....by means of road bike, mountain bike, stationary bike or whatever you choose...it an excellent low-impact means of using the largest muscles in our bodies to burn, burn, burn calories. BUT like any cycling, there is a comfort-curve when it comes to being 'in the saddle'

A common mistake is to figure the bigger the seat, the better...or the more padding you wear the softer it'll be. Wrong. Anyone who hasn't ridden for a while will be very sore after their initial ride, but over time the "sit bones" toughen-up and you'd be surprised how long you can comfortably go.

I can ride for 3.5 hours and not have even a hint of soreness...but this didn't come overnight. In all reality, it should only take a few weeks of regular riding to achieve this level of comfort...but it certainly helps having the right equipment.

It's a 2-fold approach; the seat AND the cycling shorts. If you bought an inexpensive stationary bike you probably have some goofy-wide seat. You may want to visit your local bike store and for about $35 invest in a quality seat that has some gel or padding. You actually don't want anything too large, perhaps something about 5-6 inches in width that has a nice center-divider to relieve pressure. The next step is some cycling shorts, some compression and a snug fit will reduce chaffing and keep you comfortable. Be careful of over-padding..all the thick padding can bind, collect moisture and become quite uncomfortable. I go for a medium-padded seat and a medium padded shorts. No problems, but again...it's an aquired comfort. Stay with it. Everyone in spin class starts sore and can't believe how hard it is...but in short time it's a breeze.

Good luck!