My excercise bike is EVIL!!

[Dave7]

Just getting back into cycling after many years (I'm nearly 65) and got myself an excercise bike as well as a normal (real) bike.
After 6 weeks I have built up my road cycling so I can now do 25 miles without real dis-comfort.
But that excercise bike!!
It's a Roger Black and gives time/distance/speed/callories/pulse rate etc.
6 weeks ago I could just manage 5 minutes (and that nearly killed me) but this morning I managed 60 minutes & 20.7 miles...........but it is so much harder than 'real' cycling.
I have situated the bike so I can see (make that nosey) out of the bedroom window and I have the radio on-but 'real' cycling is actually enjoyable whereas this is just hard work.
Before someone says the obvious-me and winter don't get on so this is for wet/windy days like today.

 

[Blue]

This may be a silly question; is there a resistance setting that can be eased back a bit so that you can sit and spin? If not, just think of all that extra power that will enable you to fly on the road bike!

 

[Beebo]

I managed 60 minutes & 20.7 miles

blimey, can you average 20.7 mph on the roads? i cant and i'm 30 years your junior.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Yep, I was going to say that - if you're averaging 20 mph maybe that's why it's so hard! What do you average on the road?

 

[Dave7]

This may be a silly question; is there a resistance setting that can be eased back a bit so that you can sit and spin? If not, just think of all that extra power that will enable you to fly on the road bike!

There are various resistance settings (from 1-6) and I put it on No 2 and then every now & then (if I have the puff) I increase to No 3 for 1 or 2 minutes.
There is also a computer with programmes such as "rolling" "valley" "fat burn" etc but they all seem to start on No 3 which is toooo much.

 

[Dave7]

Yep, I was going to say that - if you're averaging 20 mph maybe that's why it's so hard! What do you average on the road?

I dont know the average but I trundle along doing about 12-15 mph and occasional stints around 18-20mph if on the flat with no wind resistance.
On my last ride I was feeling quite proud as I was nearing the end (20 miles) and not out of puff when a guy came "flying" past me......I was doing 17mph and I can only guess he was doing at least 25+......I really hated that guy
I do push it a bit on the excercise bike so as to help me 'enjoy' it more when I go on the road - as against it just being hard work......
What I do find at my age is that after ANY lay off (just had 2 weeks off with a bad back) it's hard work getting started again.....so I HAVE to keep regular on the excercise bike.

 

[Broughtonblue]

I have a tv/DVD player set up in front of mine, I too find it boring so I put a comedy DVD on or a football match if there is one on and it's surprising how the time flies!

 

[oldfatfool]

Bought an exercise bike for swmbo but find it very boring and the speed it claims you are traveling is unrealistic,I suppose it is linked in some way to the watts you are putting out if you where on the flat but even then doesn't account for wind resistance.

Looking forward to delivery of a VR trainer now

 

[Wades]

That's quite a mental feat to spend an hour on one. The same as a turbo I suppose. Not sure i'd fancy it.

I do quite like the idea of one of them wii (?) based TV/ PC ones though.

 

[Dave7]

Bought an exercise bike for swmbo but find it very boring and the speed it claims you are traveling is unrealistic,

I don't suppose there is any way of checking but I don't look at it that way.........It allows me to guage how I have done this week/day against previous. I keep a brief note of time/distance/callories then average them out and compare. e.g. I have used it 16 times (since keeping the records)-the 1st one was 20 mins/6.7 miles/167 callories...........Saturday's was 60 mins/20.7 miles/533 callories.---------which allowed me to have an extra pint while watching MOTD

 

[Dave7]

Did another 1 hour session yesterday and found it slightly easier/less painful........therefor more enjoyable (if such a thing can be enjoyable). Anyway-managed to up the "distance" to 22.1 miles without actually trying to improve........which I suppose is a good sign.

 

[Fran143]

Well done.....I always find exercise bikes a bit like running on treadmill....rather be outside, having said that I may just have slipped a turbo into my shopping basket....so will see how I cope. Hope I'm as motivated and speedy as you!