Anyone own an exercise bike?

And use it?

I've been searching Craigslist and checking a few places out for an inexpensive exercise bike. I am terribly out of shape and not having much luck getting out with my daughter for walks. It's been in the upper 90s here a lot. She is not an early riser; so that doesn't help either. (neither am I, truth be told!) I have a treadmill; but it's terribly loud and I can't use that safely when she is up and around me.

So I think a bike is my next best option. I can work to my level and slowly increase it with what works for me and my personal limitations.

So any advice on what kind to start with? I like the upright ones because they are more compact; but do the recumbent ones give a better workout? I don't like the idea of the fan ones with little fingers around my house. I also need to consider price tag.

I've been watching the same person post and repost and post again the same Nordic track bike for like a month on CL. They post it like every other day at least in different categories and reword it... But they haven't changed the price... hmmm.... I'd love a bike backed by the name of a company like that; but I'm not wanting to pay what they are asking and they don't appear to want to negotiate much or they'd have sold it by now.

I used to have a recumbant stationary bike but sold it. It looked similar to this one. And it wasn't too expensive. I think I got it new, on sale for around $120.00.

http://www.best-exercise-bikes-revie...ike-stand.jpeg

I went with a recumbant bike because of my back issues. I figured a bike that allowed me to recline ever so slightly would be more comfortable on my back. Also, I am large and my stomach gets in the way of some exercises so I figured a recumbant bike might be easier for me to use because it would displace the position of my stomach somewhat.

I used it for several months and enjoyed it. But it was hard for me to use. I found that because of my stomach when I pedaled, even though I was slightly reclined, it was hard because it was like having weights on my upper legs to work against and I couldn't pedal for very long at a time....maybe a few minutes here and there throughout the day.

In 2005 I broke my foot in 3 places and dislocated 2 toes. My foot has never been the same. I found that pedaling on the bike really bothered my foot.

I ended up selling the bike a couple years ago for $50.00.

One thing about a recumbant bike vs a regular one is that the seat is by far more comfortable to sit on. You don't get that chaiffing in the thighs that you get from a regular bike seat. And if you like to read, reclining a bit is more comfortable than sitting straight up.

We have one we've had for a very long time. I think we bought it in the 1980s. DH uses it once in awhile, but I'm not a big fan. I have a fairly cheap elliptical which I prefer over the bike. It was a gift from my sister, but I think she paid well under $200 for it and its held up pretty good. It does make some noise, but not as bad as some of the treadmills I've heard, and I feel like I get a fair workout on it. I think its hard to find any really decent home exercise equipment for not a lot of money.

I like the exercise bikes that you can take outside and go places with. Cheap + fun!

One of my GFs at work bought an exercise bike about 6 weeks ago. She likes her bike, but she has found that she can't use it for long periods as she has some foot problems and some issues with her right knee; I think she got it at Sears, some place like that.

Before you buy a bike from CL, why don't you check around at stores first? Places like Dick's or Sears. Not to buy, but to get on and try them out. You may find that you like one type of bike over the other and you need to know this before you buy.

When we bought our elliptical, I went to Dick's with a tape measure to measure the length and even the height with me on the machine. We knew that the elliptical would be in the bedroom and we wanted to make sure there was room. I was recovering from knee surgery at the time, so I was limited in how long I could be on it, but because it's an investment, it's important to make sure you know what you want.

I see them out in the trash on a regular basis. Check a pawn shop or Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.

Most exercise bikes are like the one Jeff Foxworthy owns. He says it has less than 20 miles on the odometer, and most of that is from the baby spinning the tire. He says they mostly use it for hanging their jackets and coats on in winter.

an exercise bike is an EXCELLENT idea! many people think it has limited benefits but actually it not only tones the entire lower body can also work your abs if you put some effort into it! the great thing about it is that even if you have knee pain you can do it, and i've been struggling with an old injury that causes knee pain whenever i want to run or do anything that involves jumping

after some time on the bike my knee actually improved! only physical therapy had a positive effect like this.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

I like the exercise bikes that you can take outside and go places with. Cheap + fun!

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LOL! When I was in my early teens I was always out on my bike. Then one day, in my late teens, I was standing in the garage and I realized my bike was nowhere to be seen. My step-brother used to borrow it all the time. So it was either stolen right from my garage or he rode it into town and it was stolen there and he had to walk 6 miles home and never confessed. Now I'd need to get a baby seat, helmets for both of us and then not get run over. DD would probably enjoy that; as long as it's not another +90 degree day!

Originally Posted by Winchester

One of my GFs at work bought an exercise bike about 6 weeks ago. She likes her bike, but she has found that she can't use it for long periods as she has some foot problems and some issues with her right knee; I think she got it at Sears, some place like that.

Before you buy a bike from CL, why don't you check around at stores first? Places like Dick's or Sears. Not to buy, but to get on and try them out. You may find that you like one type of bike over the other and you need to know this before you buy.

When we bought our elliptical, I went to Dick's with a tape measure to measure the length and even the height with me on the machine. We knew that the elliptical would be in the bedroom and we wanted to make sure there was room. I was recovering from knee surgery at the time, so I was limited in how long I could be on it, but because it's an investment, it's important to make sure you know what you want.

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Thats a good idea. I've not heard back from the add I replied to on CL so I might do that first. I used to use a recumbent style one at the gym in college; but I liked being on an upright one best. I have nearly fallen off ellipticals before nearly blacking out. Anything with super concentrated breathing has made me do that (like flute playing) so with that and my current shape I know I want something I can take really easy if I need to.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

I see them out in the trash on a regular basis. Check a pawn shop or Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.

Most exercise bikes are like the one Jeff Foxworthy owns. He says it has less than 20 miles on the odometer, and most of that is from the baby spinning the tire. He says they mostly use it for hanging their jackets and coats on in winter.

Click to expand...

LOL! Thats what my treadmill has become! They are great for drying clothing! It used to get more use; but it's so darn loud!! It got to be such a pain to get off and settle DD back down because it would wake her from her nap. I don't feel safe using it with her around either; so it's a drying rack/hiding place for Noodles!

Originally Posted by eternalrx

an exercise bike is an EXCELLENT idea! many people think it has limited benefits but actually it not only tones the entire lower body can also work your abs if you put some effort into it! the great thing about it is that even if you have knee pain you can do it, and i've been struggling with an old injury that causes knee pain whenever i want to run or do anything that involves jumping

after some time on the bike my knee actually improved! only physical therapy had a positive effect like this.

Click to expand...

That's good to hear!! I think my friend did some time on an exercise bike when she was in PT after having knee surgery and getting her acl repaired. She got into running eventually though.

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

Now I'd need to get a baby seat, helmets for both of us and then not get run over. DD would probably enjoy that; as long as it's not another +90 degree day!

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Yeah, the heat does suck, but usually if you go in the mornings, even on the hottest days its not bad. What my sister likes best though actually is a jogging stroller. These are just the taller ones with three semi-big bicycle wheels.

There are tons of these available on craiglist easily for under $100, since people just outgrow them, and resale is usually pretty good. Her boy loves it and falls asleep half the time from the breeze and motion even if he was fussy when tossing him in there.

I just remember our stationary bicycle and problem was that it was just so boring it was never really used much. If you do get one, I'd look for those magnet types that run quiet, so you can watch TV at least. Ours was very noisy.

I think I read somewhere the magnetic ones are good for varying your level of your workout too. Good to know they are the quieter ones!

I have a decent stroller we walk with on a road near here but since we aren't done having kids I'll keep my eye out for a deal on a jogger. I live on a fairly busy country road; but just a few houses up I can go on one with slightly less traffic. Plus it has a good enough shoulder that is kept mowed. There are houses but also fields along it. It's a decent walk. I like it best mid-day because there is no "rush hour" traffic from the few neighborhoods that are back that way. Plus it's straight enough that I can see cars coming in either direction from a distance. There is a stable up just a bit farther than we usually go that had like 6 or 7 foals out this year too. Once it cools off a tad we can go farther and see them. Stuff like that makes long walks more enjoyable! I deffinitely got bored on the treadmill. Plus I couldn't hear the tv over it or read while walking.

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

LOL! Thats what my treadmill has become! They are great for drying clothing!

It used to get more use; but it's so darn loud!! It got to be such a pain to get off and settle DD back down because it would wake her from her nap. I don't feel safe using it with her around either; so it's a drying rack/hiding place for Noodles!

Click to expand...

DH used to throw pieces of clothing over the treadmill instead of throwing things into the clothes hamper in the bathroom. I got to the point where I'd just throw the clothes on the floor and eventually he realized that clothes do not belong on exercise equipment.

We put the treadmill in the basement because it was so noisy. That and when I would run on it, the vibrations would literally shake items off DH's bureau! Since it's in the basement, I can do what I want and don't have to worry about any kind of vibrations or noise. Most of the time in the basement, I'm using my iPod. When the treadmill was in the bedroom, I'd watch tv, but the tv would have to be so loud to drown out the treadmill noise, that the loud volume got on DH's nerves.

The elliptical is much, much quieter. But Mollipop has such a fascination with the elliptical that I'm always afraid I'm going to smack her and am constantly looking around to see where she's sitting. I think I finally have to her to the point where she can sit in the catnapper and watch me from there. But now? I have to go through the same thing with Tabitha! She's fascinated, too!

I can't shut the bedroom door when I'm using the elliptical as Mollipop has a "thing" about closed doors. She gets very upset and will actually start to yell at me...even if she's in the bedroom with me, she doesn't like the door being closed. (The things we do for our cats...... )

LOL! I used to have to watch Mooch and Noodles with the treadmill too. I wish we had a basement; but they aren't common around here. If we ever move, I deffinitely want one!