Cycling: Indoor Trainer vs Exercise Bike?
Discussion
Have got back into cycling in a big way.
Of course, having been down south too long, I'm not going to want to go out in a couple of months when dark & cold prevail.
So, I'm going to either get a cycle trainer or an exercise bike.
I'm thinking about the "Elite VOLARE MAG ELASTOGEL TRAINER" for £115.
[pic]http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/volaredigitalmag.jpg[/pic]
This looks very good, but then I saw that I can get an exercise bike from Argos for about £40 - it seems a no-brainer so what's the catch?
Why should I spend £115 on a cycle trainer, thus putting mileage on my bike's running gear, when I could get an exercise bike for a fraction of the price?
Of course, having been down south too long, I'm not going to want to go out in a couple of months when dark & cold prevail.
So, I'm going to either get a cycle trainer or an exercise bike.
I'm thinking about the "Elite VOLARE MAG ELASTOGEL TRAINER" for £115.
[pic]http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/volaredigitalmag.jpg[/pic]
This looks very good, but then I saw that I can get an exercise bike from Argos for about £40 - it seems a no-brainer so what's the catch?
Why should I spend £115 on a cycle trainer, thus putting mileage on my bike's running gear, when I could get an exercise bike for a fraction of the price?
Because the majority of exercise bikes (particularly around the £40 mark) are built like sh1te, uncomfortable, have a bad action and a load of other vices. At least go to a sports shop where they have a few different ones to try if you can, you should see the difference. Its just like a cheap and cheerful rower vs. a Concept II...you will see the difference.
Hmmm.. the other problem is that the £115 Elite trainer config will give me no telemetry, as my cat-eye is driven from the front wheel - it's about a £50 upgrade to get the telemetry...
At about £80 I can get an exercise bike with all the telemetry gubbins I like on it, plus flywheel/air resist wheel.
Personally, I can't be motivated to exercise if I can't measure my results...
Edit: Also, is there an add-on that'll propel flying ants into my face at 30mph? I just need that realism.... and protein...
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 18:57
At about £80 I can get an exercise bike with all the telemetry gubbins I like on it, plus flywheel/air resist wheel.
Personally, I can't be motivated to exercise if I can't measure my results...
Edit: Also, is there an add-on that'll propel flying ants into my face at 30mph? I just need that realism.... and protein...
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 18:57
Alex has hit the nail on the head, anyone who has used a concept will understand the difference.....I went looking for treadmills, ended up with a Life fitness T5i, won't bore you with the costs, but teh difference between a Carl Lewis and this is night and day.
In the end you pays your money and takes your choice, IMHO you should be thinking of around £4-500 for something decent, that will last and has a good feel to it when used.
Try it before you buy it, and don't compromise, you'll only regret it.
kevin
In the end you pays your money and takes your choice, IMHO you should be thinking of around £4-500 for something decent, that will last and has a good feel to it when used.
Try it before you buy it, and don't compromise, you'll only regret it.
kevin
CarZee said:
Have got back into cycling in a big way.
Of course, having been down south too long, I'm not going to want to go out in a couple of months when dark & cold prevail.
So, I'm going to either get a cycle trainer or an exercise bike.
I'm thinking about the "Elite VOLARE MAG ELASTOGEL TRAINER" for £115.
This looks very good, but then I saw that I can get an exercise bike from Argos for about £40 - it seems a no-brainer so what's the catch?
Why should I spend £115 on a cycle trainer, thus putting mileage on my bike's running gear, when I could get an exercise bike for a fraction of the price?
If your bike can't take the added miles you put in on a a trainer then, no offence mate, but you need a new bike!
They are designed to reduce as much as possible the stress by holding the bike at the rear skewer. Providing you're not in and out of the saddle then it'll be fine. You should be changeing chains and sprockets every few thousand miles anyway.
With regard to static exercise bikes; fine for those that don't have bikes as far as I'm concerned.
You're legs and lungs will benefit much more from riding your normal bike than jusmping onto somthing substandard where you can't make a serious effort.
As for the 'telemetry' issue. You'll know when your trying. If you need a HR monitor to tell you that, you need to press on a bit more.
warmfuzzies said:Ouch!
IMHO you should be thinking of around £4-500 for something decent, that will last and has a good feel to it when used.
My bike didn't cost that much and it's a decent bike! (Claud Butler Cape Wrath)
I suppose this is why 99% of exercise bikes end up as interim clothes horses.
Okay.. so I'll either have to stop being such a pussy and go outside (oh, and clean the bike repeatedly
) or stump for the trainer and the telemetry.Selmer said:
You're legs and lungs will benefit much more from riding your normal bike than jusmping onto somthing substandard where you can't make a serious effort.
As for the 'telemetry' issue. You'll know when your trying. If you need a HR monitor to tell you that, you need to press on a bit more.
I would agree, but I'm not so sure.
I bought an exercise bike 3 years ago, and each evening I spent 19minutes on the bike and aimed to cycle 5 miles in that time. As the year progressed the distance upped itself to around 7 miles and the friction went from absolute zero to something really stiff. Friends and family used to mock me when they saw me sweating away and would take the seat to show how to "really cycle fast" and would give up after 4 minutes.
I felt I got my monies worth (all £70 of it) after every night for 9 months.
I really need to start again unfortunately.
Selmer said:
If your bike can't take the added miles you put in on a a trainer then, no offence mate, but you need a new bike!
Selmer said:
As for the 'telemetry' issue. You'll know when your trying. If you need a HR monitor to tell you that, you need to press on a bit more.
I know, but I like numbers... they motivate me... I can chart and assess my performance over time.
I don't use an HR monitor on he bike, but I guess that'd be the only way to see like for like performance metrics during different sorts of exercise.
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 19:58
Thanks for all input so far! 
The former, for now.
I've read elsewhere about tyre wear issues with trainers.
"What qualities should I look for in a 'good exercise bike'?" is the next logical question.
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 20:43
satch said:
it depends on what you wan tit for - general fitness or sports specific. if the former a general good excercse bike should suffice
The former, for now.
I've read elsewhere about tyre wear issues with trainers.
"What qualities should I look for in a 'good exercise bike'?" is the next logical question.
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 20:43
CarZee said:
Selmer said:
As for the 'telemetry' issue. You'll know when your trying. If you need a HR monitor to tell you that, you need to press on a bit more.
I know, but I like numbers... they motivate me... I can chart and assess my performance over time.
I don't use an HR monitor on he bike, but I guess that'd be the only way to see like for like performance metrics during different sorts of exercise.
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 19:58
That's fair enough. Absolutely, you can compare sessions and determine how well you are improving over time.
With a bike on a trainer though (providing you set it up the same each time) you can use gears/magnetic resistance to gauge your effort.
For example, 5 minutes on 53:15, 3 minutes on 53:14, 2 miinutes on 53:13 and so on. A cheap HR monitor could add to the analysis, without becoming too embroiled in the stats. Apart from doing VO2 max stuff and lactate samples, a lot of the numbers are incidental anyway.
I do feel though that most of this stuff that is offered is purely a distraction for the mind numbing tedium you'll have to endure as you work your way through the minutes in your kitchen/garage/hallway.
It is a known fact that time slows down when on a trainer.
CarZee said:
Thanks for all input so far! satch said:
it depends on what you wan tit for - general fitness or sports specific. if the former a general good excercse bike should suffice
The former, for now.
I've read elsewhere about tyre wear issues with trainers.
"What qualities should I look for in a 'good exercise bike'?" is the next logical question.
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 20:43
The thing is, you'll wear a tyre no matter what type of trainer you go for; the Elastogel ones might reduce tyre wear a bit, but the steel rollers 'bite' less. It depends how you set it up. Care and common sense with ensure you get a realistic feeling. A good quality tyre at the correct pressure will also help.
just use a 'spare' training wheel for trainer sessions only.
Go for it
The tax payers of this country have spent millions making cycleways, cycle paths and cycle lanes, the latter narrowing carriageways and making life more difficult and frustrating for drivers.
Now the soft buggers don't want to use them because it might get too cold or dark.
FFS
It's no wonder we're crap at sport.
Now the soft buggers don't want to use them because it might get too cold or dark.
FFS It's no wonder we're crap at sport.
O/T
Carzee, I seem to recall a thread either myself or you started about buying a mountain bike...maybe a year ago?
It seems the difference is that you actually brought one and appear to use it, where as I sat on my lazy fat arse, spent the money on beer and am still a unhealthy lard arse.
Carzee, I seem to recall a thread either myself or you started about buying a mountain bike...maybe a year ago?
It seems the difference is that you actually brought one and appear to use it, where as I sat on my lazy fat arse, spent the money on beer and am still a unhealthy lard arse.
Rob P said:More like 2 years ago.... JFDI!
O/T
Carzee, I seem to recall a thread either myself or you started about buying a mountain bike...maybe a year ago?
It seems the difference is that you actually brought one and appear to use it, where as I sat on my lazy fat arse, spent the money on beer and am still a unhealthy lard arse.
sparkythecat said:
But the fuel & road tax I pay on the two cars I own should cover those costs, right?
BTW What Basingstoke have done is make every effort to accomodate cyclists off the road, which I think is marvellous both as a motorist and a cyclist. You can pretty much traverse the whole town in any direction without having to use more than a mile of road in an 8 mile trip.
>> Edited by CarZee on Wednesday 3rd August 21:14
sparkythecat said:
The tax payers of this country have spent millions making cycleways, cycle paths and cycle lanes, the latter narrowing carriageways and making life more difficult and frustrating for drivers.
No cycle ways, cycle paths or cycle lanes around here (as far as I'm aware)
And personally I wouldn't fancy cycling on the main roads or country lanes for fear of being hit by a vehicle. Hi CarZee - nice to see you back
cosmoschick said:
No cycle ways, cycle paths or cycle lanes around here (as far as I'm aware)
Your profile says your in Sussex
Just Googled Sussex cycle path. Apparently there's loads of them.
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