Stationary bikes at thye gym

[Gig em cyclist]

I sold my Cycle-ops trainer and with daylight savings, I don't have a chance to ride before dark during the week. I had this idea of going to a local fitness center and ride their stationary bikes. Last night I rode about 16 miles on the stationary, about 1/2 the distance of a normal ride. I was wearing cycling shorts under regular shorts and the seat of the stationary bike caused pain during on now after the ride, I have no problem with this on my bike. The stationary cycles use those type of seats that you would see on a beach cruiser which I thought would be more comfortable, but I could not have been more wrong. The soreness is now at the point that I hope it will subside by Saturday morning. Has anyone else tried and experienced this and does anyone do this as an alternative to a regular ride?

[krazygluon]

well...all the gymbikes i've seen aside from those used in spinning classes are not exactly what i'd call a decent transition for those who ride real bikes. the pedals are usually platforms or have toeclips intended for sneakers of a size smaller than mine, or worse yet, fixed straps that are too big for any shoe. the saddles just suck and the reach from seat to handlebars doesn't work so well if you're tall.

that said, I had better luck with the recumbent stationaries since the seat adjustment was all I really needed to worry about...though the pedals sucked.

[AllieP]

I bought myself a fluid trainer about a month ago. I was so excited! I just knew this was going to be the answer to my prayers. I lost 70 pounds about 3 years ago and have kept it all off except for about 5 or 6 pounds...that is until now. Our schedules at home have drastically changed and I cannot ride outside anymore. I thought the trainer would be my saviour and once again I would be on my way to maintaining and even dropping maybe another 10 pounds over the winter. HA! That's what I get for hoping and praying. I've adjusted every single thing that can be adjusted and simply CANNOT get any degree of comfort long enough to ride more than 20 minutes on it. Why is this? Does everyone else have this much trouble? Are people swapping out parts and saddles to make it feel more comfortable. I was wondering about the spin bikes at a local gym. After reading what you said -- I'm sad to say I'm ready to throw in the towel. That fluid trainer I bought was not cheap by any means...does anyone know what to suggest to me? My bike is a specialized allez with a terry liberator saddle. It was ok out on the road. Nothing feels right anymore on the trainer. I've tried all different heights on the front wheel, all diff. adjustments on the saddle, the stem, EVERYthing. I CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE anymore. My muscles are going away. I'm gaining weight. I have to figure something out. I'm desperate. Please, anyone tell me what to do. Thank you.

[merlinextraligh]

I bought myself a fluid trainer about a month ago. I was so excited! I just knew this was going to be the answer to my prayers. I lost 70 pounds about 3 years ago and have kept it all off except for about 5 or 6 pounds...that is until now. Our schedules at home have drastically changed and I cannot ride outside anymore. I thought the trainer would be my saviour and once again I would be on my way to maintaining and even dropping maybe another 10 pounds over the winter. HA! That's what I get for hoping and praying. I've adjusted every single thing that can be adjusted and simply CANNOT get any degree of comfort long enough to ride more than 20 minutes on it. Why is this? Does everyone else have this much trouble? Are people swapping out parts and saddles to make it feel more comfortable. I was wondering about the spin bikes at a local gym. After reading what you said -- I'm sad to say I'm ready to throw in the towel. That fluid trainer I bought was not cheap by any means...does anyone know what to suggest to me? My bike is a specialized allez with a terry liberator saddle. It was ok out on the road. Nothing feels right anymore on the trainer. I've tried all different heights on the front wheel, all diff. adjustments on the saddle, the stem, EVERYthing. I CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE anymore. My muscles are going away. I'm gaining weight. I have to figure something out. I'm desperate. Please, anyone tell me what to do. Thank you.

sitting on a trainer isn't much fun. Work on intensity rather than endurance. 30 minutes on the trainer with intervals can be a pretty good workout.

Stand up from time to time. breaks the monotony ,and relieves pressure.

[Enthalpic]

I bought myself a fluid trainer about a month ago. I was so excited! I just knew this was going to be the answer to my prayers. I lost 70 pounds about 3 years ago and have kept it all off except for about 5 or 6 pounds...that is until now. Our schedules at home have drastically changed and I cannot ride outside anymore. I thought the trainer would be my saviour and once again I would be on my way to maintaining and even dropping maybe another 10 pounds over the winter. HA! That's what I get for hoping and praying. I've adjusted every single thing that can be adjusted and simply CANNOT get any degree of comfort long enough to ride more than 20 minutes on it. Why is this? Does everyone else have this much trouble? Are people swapping out parts and saddles to make it feel more comfortable. I was wondering about the spin bikes at a local gym. After reading what you said -- I'm sad to say I'm ready to throw in the towel. That fluid trainer I bought was not cheap by any means...does anyone know what to suggest to me? My bike is a specialized allez with a terry liberator saddle. It was ok out on the road. Nothing feels right anymore on the trainer. I've tried all different heights on the front wheel, all diff. adjustments on the saddle, the stem, EVERYthing. I CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE anymore. My muscles are going away. I'm gaining weight. I have to figure something out. I'm desperate. Please, anyone tell me what to do. Thank you.

Raise your front wheel more. Yellowpages work.

[Pedal Wench]

I'm giving away a stationary bike that I used before I started riding a real bike. There's just no way to go back to it. Seriously, it's going away tomorrow. The seat is just all wrong, and the pedals are too far apart and my heels keep hitting the crank arm which is at a completely different angle. (After not using it for two years, I tried it one more time tonight before it leaves to make sure I really can't use it - it's useless!)

[efrobert]

I usually ride a long ride on Sundays, then a one or two shorter rides during the week. I also ride the life cycle for an hour, one or two days a week after I lift. The big seat is uncomfortable but I've gotten used to it. I actually like being able to watch TV and listen to my Ipod when I ride it.

[yonderboy]

I rode a LifeCycle all last winter because I didn't have a place to setup my rollers/trainer. The whole time I wished I could be putting the time in on my bike because it was 10x more comfortable than the big-butt seat/high bars on the LifeCycle.

A spinning bike isn't too bad, if your gym has one that is available outside of classes. At least I could use my SPDs on the spinning bike.

Needless to say, I've found a place to setup for this winter and don't plan on riding much in the gym.

[AllieP]

Well guess what I did last night? My husband came in my workout room to see how I was doing. At that moment I had my left hand pushed up on the wall beside me and my other hand reached around to grab a cabinet to relieve the pressure as I kept trying my hardest to keep pedaling away. I said "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" At this point the front wheels were on several inches of a platform he put together for me. He looked down and saw my step that I use in step aerobics. It's got a rubberized top on it (Good grippage!) He said "hey what about that? Try it, you never know." So I did. I didn't care anymore. I just wanted relief and to be able to ride longer than 30 minutes. I mean come on - I'm used to riding 1-2 hours at a time and now I can only take 20 minutes??? He put the step under the front wheel and oh my gosh. Wow - it was seriously tilted in an extreme angle but you know what? I rode 45 minutes and the pressure points were almost gone! It'll be interesting to see if it still feels that way tomorrow or allows for an even longer riding time. I can't wait! It's been a while since I could say that about riding -- I CAN'T WAIT!

[pcates]

if you're going to use the stationary bikes at the gym try a spinning class instead...spinning bikes have spd clips and having an instructor helps makes sure you actually do the workout......invest in a decent HRM as well.....its a good addition to any training program