Exercise Bikes

[J4MIE_P]

Hey Guys,

Slightly new here so don't know if this is in the right section, but seeing as though I'm a beginner it can't hurt

I have just been to my gym for the first time and thought I'd make use of their exercise bike seeing as though the weather doesn't want me to get out on the bike.

I set the bike on a Level 12, seeing as though the gent said it goes upto 20, maintained an average of 90rpm. But somehow that equated to 27mph over my 20mile ride.

Would you suggest it would be worth trying say Level 15/ 16? Just so that I can get an accurate representation of riding on the road with realistic figures?

 

[AndyRM]

Just so that I can get an accurate representation of riding on the road with realistic figures?

In my experience, you won't. 'Cycling' on a machine in a gym is like 'running' on a treadmill; a pale imitation of the reality.

Using an exercise bike is a decent way to build and maintain fitness, but I wouldn't rely on the figures you get as an accurate representation of what you'd be capable of in the wild.

 

[J4MIE_P]

In my experience, you won't. 'Cycling' on a machine in a gym is like 'running' on a treadmill; a pale imitation of the reality.

Using an exercise bike is a decent way to build and maintain fitness, but I wouldn't rely on the figures you get as an accurate representation of what you'd be capable of in the wild.

Fair enough
Well it's kept me out of the bad weather and still got my legs spinning So I can't complain too much.

Just hoping tomorrows weather is a little better so I can crack out another 25 odd miles!

 

[ColinJ]

I've got a computer on my gym bike and it claims to know how many calories I burn. It is complete and utter fantasy though - there is no connection between the computer and the friction brake acting on the flywheel. The speed readout is equally meaningless because it doesn't relate to any real-life cycling. Is that 30 kph uphill, downhill, on the flat, into a headwind, a crosswind ...?

If I pedal at a particular cadence with the brake off, the computer displays the same calorie burn as when I jam the brake on so hard that I can barely pedal!

The only number I use on the computer is the elapsed time. I do so many minutes with a very low resistance, then tighten the brake a little and do another couple of minutes and so on. The rest of the numbers are just marketing hype.

 

[SWSteve]

Does anyone else find exercise bikes boring and more uncomfortable than normal bikes.

 

[J4MIE_P]

Does anyone else find exercise bikes boring and more uncomfortable than normal bikes.

I just don't popped the Giro on my tablet and watched that for some motivation

 

[doog]

Does anyone else find exercise bikes boring and more uncomfortable than normal bikes.

Not if you have a Turbo, then its the same bike

 

[ColinJ]

Does anyone else find exercise bikes boring ...

The answer to the boredom is to try harder, and do it to fast, loud music!

... and more uncomfortable than normal bikes.

I have a cheap gym bike which was very uncomfortable when I bought it. It seems to be designed for some tiny lifeform because it was impossible for me to get a decent position on it!

At 6' 1", I'm only moderately tall but the maximum saddle height was 4" too low for me. I cut up some timber, got some long bolts and made a 4" seat post extension which fixed that problem.

The saddle was wide and squelchy so that had to go. I replaced it with a proper one from my junk box.

With my saddle height corrected, the front of the bike was too low so I raised that with a couple more pieces of timber.

The other thing which annoys me is that it has short BMX-style cranks and cheap flat pedals. I would prefer longer cranks with threads for SPD pedals but I put up with what is on there.

 

[SWSteve]

The answer to the boredom is to try harder, and do it to fast, loud music!


I have a cheap gym bike which was very uncomfortable when I bought it. It seems to be designed for some tiny lifeform because it was impossible for me to get a decent position on it!

At 6' 1", I'm only moderately tall but the maximum saddle height was 4" too low for me. I cut up some timber, got some long bolts and made a 4" seat post extension which fixed that problem.

The saddle was wide and squelchy so that had to go. I replaced it with a proper one from my junk box.

With my saddle height corrected, the front of the bike was too low so I raised that with a couple more pieces of timber.

The other thing which annoys me is that it has short BMX-style cranks and cheap flat pedals. I would prefer longer cranks with threads for SPD pedals but I put up with what is on there.

The exercise bikes I use are at a gym, so the saddle is adjusted on massive steps, the saddle is big enough to park on.

The music is my own issue to beat

 

[ColinJ]

The exercise bikes I use are at a gym, so the saddle is adjusted on massive steps, the saddle is big enough to park on.

Oh, in that case - yes, I would find those bikes uncomfortable!

 

[vickster]

I use mine pretty much every evening in front of the TV, better than sitting on the sofa grazing while watching TV! Mine is quite decent and fairly comfortable, a bit creaky, turn the TV up!

 

[Gravity Aided]

Athletic club and trainer in my basement both have DVD players. I watch epics, mainly. (El Cid, Lawrence of Arabia, The Last Emperor, The Wild Bunch, Ivan the Terrible, Ben-Hur) It was a long winter over here as well.

 

[rb58]

I find there's a big difference between the 'spin' bikes (not a disasterous representation of a real bike) and 'gym' bikes (about as a near to a real bike as a can of beans).