I hate exercise bikes !!

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Location
North West
Awful, dull things. I resigned myself to the fact that as much as I dislike them it's sometimes the only option when working to keep training so I'm forcing myself to use them in hotel gyms. Going weeks without doing anything and then starting again is no good. My arse already hurt so bad after a 15 hour flight Saturday that it just made the experience Sunday all the more unattractive but I selected 'hill programme' level 14, 30 mins and off I went.....well that's it, I didn't go anywhere. I just sat, pedalling, staring at the same concrete windowless wall. 30 mins on the weights then repeat the next day. It's not so bad if you can go running but not always the friendliest of countries.
Thinking for Europe I might invest in a bike box Alan and take a bike with me but not possible in many places I go.
Does anyone have any good ways/routines for keeping fit, bike fit whilst travelling or ways to make an exercise bike better than a kick in the nads ?
 
Maybe a folder?
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
Same here.... I spend two weeks in hotels in Africa and I hate exercise bikes; the saddles are always fat and sweaty and set up wrong, the position all wrong and they are massively boring. I get bored swimming too so generally I don't do much exercise on trips apart from lifting a glass of beer. The good news is that if you cut out carbs and eat sensibly with plenty of quality proteins you will actually feel rested and stronger when you get back home, although the cardio-vascular fitness takes a couple of rides to recover.

I've considered keeping a spare bike in South Africa but nowadays you can hire if you need.
 
OP
OP
rideswithmoobs
Location
North West
Same here.... I spend two weeks in hotels in Africa and I hate exercise bikes; the saddles are always fat and sweaty and set up wrong, the position all wrong and they are massively boring. I get bored swimming too so generally I don't do much exercise on trips apart from lifting a glass of beer. The good news is that if you cut out carbs and eat sensibly with plenty of quality proteins you will actually feel rested and stronger when you get back home, although the cardio-vascular fitness takes a couple of rides to recover.

I've considered keeping a spare bike in South Africa but nowadays you can hire if you need.

Exactly, everything about them sucks. How safe is it cycling in South Africa though ? A couple of my colleagues are South African but live in uk now. One was from Zimbabwe before moving to Durban. Cycling is great if I'm going to Italy, Spain, Portugal etc but India, Brazil, Kuwait, Saudi, Israel etc. Not so good. I rarely drink and eat best I can but miss training and cycling and want to do some audaxs next year so really keen to keep the intensity up even when working
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
As long as it's no longer than two weeks you should benefit from the break from cycling, just eat sensibly and don't guzzle too much beer.

Cycling in SA is OK if you go out early enough to beat the taxis on a Saturday or Sunday. But mountain biking is more popular for good reason.
 
OP
OP
rideswithmoobs
Location
North West
As long as it's no longer than two weeks you should benefit from the break from cycling, just eat sensibly and don't guzzle too much beer.

Cycling in SA is OK if you go out early enough to beat the taxis on a Saturday or Sunday. But mountain biking is more popular for good reason.

Problem is it can be a week, 3, 5 or a few days. Home 2 month or home 2 days and no schedule or ability to plan ahead so like to keep training
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
Then the best you can do is keep the heart rate turning over so as not to lose cardio fitness. I climb the stairs to my room 2 or 3 times a day, which is less unpleasant than the gym. In Johannesburg and Addis it's a good little workout because you are at altitude.
 
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