Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - So I got an excercise bike... now what do I do with it?

Duh... ride it...

Some random thoughts about the whole thing:

I've been riding 20-min a day for about the past 2 weeks I did 3 sets of 20 with breaks in-between on Saturday, Sunday and Monday because I had the day off and I felt like it. The instruction manual said not to do over 20-min at a time for the first few weeks. In other words don't over-do it.

It's ok, it's enough like riding and I'm thinking of it more as a way to get some exercise, not as the primary weight loss tool. That is going to be diet, I've been pretty good the last 2 weeks and I'm loosing weight, very slowly, but I'll take it. Cut WAY back on fast food, pop, & junk. Eating more fruits & veggies and going to see where this takes me until I plateau. I'm hoping that the regular exercise will help me fight the winter blahs. I've been riding in the summer, lazy in the winter. Loose weight, put it back on, start again. Something has to be different.

The settings are not like riding my bike, but hey it's cheap. Too much resistance and I can't spin, it becomes more like leg presses, but I've got a setting that sorta mimics my favorite gearing on my bike.

It is boring if I don't do something to distract myself. I ended up pulling the trigger and will have dish-network installed this Saturday. They have a dvr deal which will give me lots of options for when I don't have something good to read or write while riding. The only reason I'm allowing this is because I will ride a lot while watching it. I've made up my mind that I have to 'earn' watching it.

Humorously the bike looks fast, even though it doesn't go anywhere.

I do like the foot straps, I think I'll have to go clipless this year on my recumbent.

I am looking forward to being strong at the beginning of the season this spring.


Ok then, what should/shouldn't I do

Things I do on my stationary setups...

Stationary recumbent:
- Watch movies
- Play X360 games
- BS on Skype or telephone
- Organize my mp3 playlists
- Play fetch with my dog (she hands me her ball if I sit still anywhere for more than about 30 seconds)
The stationary 'bent is my "long inside miles" bike for when it's super crappy weather and I won't go out on the roads, so I look for things to keep myself distracted from the fact that I'm in my living room instead of out on the road. I use that bike for slow, steady riding.

Stationary trainer (rear wheel clamp, traditional frame bike):
- Watch TV
- Sprint intervals
The wheel clamp trainer isn't letting the bike go anywhere, so I can stand and hammer. It's good for catching up on a couple of recorded TV shows and doing some sprint training. My stationary trainer is a 20 year old piece of junk that squeals like a car with a bad serpentine belt at select speeds, and eats tires like I eat Twizzlers. I don't spend more than 60 minutes at a time on it.

I've got a set of rollers on the way, which I'm hoping will be good for more than just making embarrassing videos of me falling off them.

The stationary 'bent is my "long inside miles" bike for when it's super crappy weather and I won't go out on the roads, so I look for things to keep myself distracted from the fact that I'm in my living room instead of out on the road. I use that bike for slow, steady riding.

Careful now, at some point it's going to occur to you that 'bents are good for "long outside miles" too...and then you too will come over to the dark side. :recum::D

Careful now, at some point it's going to occur to you that 'bents are good for "long outside miles" too...

I'd never deny that fact... but I can't play Mass Effect 2 on a lowracer on the street, can I? :D

The stationary 'bent was originally purchased for my fiancee for her PT exercises, but her ankle and knee got worse instead of better and she can't ride it. I realized how comfortable it is (except for the wide Q-factor, since it's an exercise bike) and took to putting in some miles on it.

recently I've been doing an intervals exercise I saw somewhere, perhaps Bicycling mag:

5 min warm up
3 min hard interval
3 min cool down
3 min hard
3 min cool down
3 min hard
8 minute rest

repeat the set of 3 intervals for as much time as you have to exercise. On the weekend I did 70 minutes on each day, longing for springtime the entire time. The hard interval should peak at your max heart rate, which is about 155 for me

Once I get some milk crates freed up i'll do a similar routine of single-legged pedalling.

Time for an update, don't you think?

I am still riding 30 minutes every day during my lunch time. How is it going for you?

Hi Peter, thanks for asking for an update. I've joined up on the Biggest Looser thread and have been updating there. I've been riding the exercise bike for at least 20-min a day and at least 5 days a week, usually doing double 20-min rides on at least 2 of those days. Since buying it I've lost somewhere around 14 pounds and have been hovering around the 280-lb mark for a while now. It was a good purchase, and I'm really glad I did it. Sounds like you're out-riding me, I'll need to step it up to 30-min rides I think. :)

I've got a set of rollers on the way, which I'm hoping will be good for more than just making embarrassing videos of me falling off them.

Make sure you set up the video camera from day one if you really want some future entertainment.

I haven't used my rollers in years but I set mine up in a narrow hallway so I could hold my self up while getting clipped in. Just don't fall over it could be a bad crash falling into the walls. I was also thinking that putting the lawn furniture cushions around the rollers would make a softer landing.

Good luck, it really developes the balancing skills.

2 20 minute rides is more than one thirty minute ride - and besides, we ain't competing - it's all good!

I am still focusing on spinning, so low resistance, but high RPM - bout 80-90 now - good and sweaty!

I tried "standing on the pegs" yesterday...bad idea! neither knee is up to it yet...too notchy, and weird...havn't lost any lately, but haven't gained either - so I call it a win!

You should try walking backwards some 500 yards per day - it's quite something, and really works on the 'quads' it seems...least for me, plus it helps with balance, and evening your stride - so says the PT DR... Glad to hear you're still at it!

I can't wait til spring, and I SWEAR I will be riding my REAL Bicycle as soon as the weather turns...hence the faithful stationary work for me!