What exercise bike?

[V8Ford]

Hello all,

I'm fat, and would like to buy an exercise bike to help me not be fat anymore.

I'm looking to spend £200 and saw this on Argos:

http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber...

Just wondered if anyone has used one, are they any good, or is there a suitable alternative in the same price bracket?

All comments/help gratefully recieved.

Matthew

[numtumfutunch]

Cant help on the bike although it has a whopper discount and good feedback so is prob worth a punt

The best advice I would give you though is to be gentle when you start using it

I had a similar epiphany several years ago with a rowing machine and did the right and proper bloke thing of totally lathering it from the off whenever I used it resulting in me almost having an epi-dural and collapsing within 90 seconds

This is obviously cool but 90 secs of exercise is physiologically pretty useless
I blagged a cheap heart rate monitor online and then paced myself at 60% of my maximum HR rate resulting in longer and more productive workouts
There is masses of controversy about how to work out but his number worked for me primarily as I didnt flog myself into an instantaneous early bath

Best of luck

[nagsheadwarrior]

I had a much older version of that bike, they're really solid bits of kit and for the price I don't think you'd go wrong at that.

[wasserboxer]

numtumfutunch said:

I had a similar epiphany several years ago with a rowing machine and did the right and proper bloke thing of totally lathering it from the off whenever I used it resulting in me almost having an epi-dural and collapsing within 90 seconds

I'm pretty sure that's not quite the right word to use there!

[V8Ford]

Thanks all - looks like this one should do the trick.

Don't worry about me steaming in and rapidly discovering my limits, I went for a jog the other day (first
time in 7 years) and it put me well and truly in my box

[Hoofy]

I'd go for a recumbent: http://amzn.to/1jaJq7L

Three reasons really:
1) You can do other things more easily while using this eg go on your phone or tablet or watch TV or read a book which means you can have mammoth sessions on it.
2) You can really destroy your legs by cranking up the resistance and do HIIT stuff. With a standard gym bike, you can put your weight into it to move the pedals. With a recumbent, all the power will come from the legs.
3) You can hang more washing over it when you stop using it.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Have you considered an actual bike? Get out and ride it.

[V8Ford]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Have you considered an actual bike? Get out and ride it.

I toyed with the notion of getting a real bike but for me I'm put off by drivers, bad weather, storage of a dirty bike, having to drive out to places with it, I just want something I can hop on for 20 mins no fuss whilst my dinner is on the hob. The scenery here
in Cumbria is gorgeous, granted, but I'd sooner take it in on foot with the dog

[wasserboxer]

Going for a 20 minute jog / run will burn off lots more calories than sitting on an exercise bike - and recumbent bikes are even worse.

[smn159]

I can pretty much guarantee that within 6 months the exercise bike will have become a clothes airer / general room ornament and 3 months later it will be on eBay or at the tip (guess how I know )

Much better to get an actual bike / join a gym / buy a dog IMO

Also, reduce your calorie intake to lose weight; exercise to tone up / improve your fitness

Good luck anyway though

[Hoofy]

wasserboxer said:

Going for a 20 minute jog / run will burn off lots more calories than sitting on an exercise bike - and recumbent bikes are even worse.

True from a calorie-burning perspective. But a jog not jogged and an upright exercise bike not pedaled will burn fewer than a recumbent used regularly because you can do something more interesting whilst pedaling away.

[BGARK]

Bump.

How did you get on, is that argos bike any good?

I am interested in something similar but dont mind paying more, are there any premium exercise bikes that folks would recommend?

ps. are you skinny now!

[BGARK]

or maybe a rowing machine... http://www.concept2.co.uk/

[photosnob]

BGARK - I'm by no means an expert, but I have been getting healthy and trying to lose weight and gain some muscle recently.

For the fat loss I've been using a road bike, however when the weather is rubbish or I just don't fancy riding on busy roads I've used this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tacx/booster-u...

You don't have to spend that much - however as it was on offer and I was justifying it by not smoking or drinking I did. Amazon have them for around £60 for cheaper models.

You don't even really need to use a road bike if you don't fancy the uncomfortable saddle. A mountain bike will work just as well I think.

You do need a garage or something for undercover if it's horrible weather. Unless doing it outdoors is your thing. I'm widely touted as either a troll or a moron on here, so I should admit this: but I actually don't mind getting wet and going through that when I'm training.

Couple it with a heart rate monitor and you can't go wrong - if you want to take it into your house you can, however with all the sweat dripping everywhere I think it would be pretty disgusting to do.

I've also been using a skipping rope for HIIT - and can say they are amazing. Burns more calories than running. Requires hardly any room, and is low intensity on knees and other joints. Mastering a speed rope isn't easy, however I think they are one of the best HIIT exercise methods available. I use this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skipping-Rope-Crossfit-Tra...

It's very good - just bin the "e-book". However for less than a pack of fags, and a pint in London you can't go wrong. Again, I'm weird and find it therapeutic in the rain sometimes.

I won't bother posting heart rate monitors. I like garmin for them. Some have GPS and other fancy features. I've just got an old basic model which I love. Do get a watch version though, as they are much more practical for mutil disciplinary use.

[Joey Ramone]

numtumfutunch said:

Cant help on the bike although it has a whopper discount and good feedback so is prob worth a punt

The best advice I would give you though is to be gentle when you start using it

I had a similar epiphany several years ago with a rowing machine and did the right and proper bloke thing of totally lathering it from the off whenever I used it resulting in me almost having an epi-dural and collapsing within 90 seconds.

Best of luck

Please come back. I'd love to hear more about your ability to almost inject anaesthetic into your spinal column whilst on a rowing machine.