magohn

I may have a chance at getting a "free", hardly-used, weight machine (pictured). Lets be honest, 9 out of 10 times they turn into clothes hangars but Im talking myself into taking this machine for free by convincing myself that I stuck with the biking so why not this. The question is: Is a machine like this useful in strengthening my biking skills? Is it worth losing the "spare-room" for? Any other clydes use one?

Im 290lbs and a slow but steady rider.

Any opinions welcome.

Thirstyman

if someone offered me that I'd take it.

DoubleTap

My opinion, no, and I'm a pretty avid weightlifter. I bought a very sophisticated system about six years ago, and I use it fairly regularly, but it's still a pain in the neck when you move. I have mine in the basement, so it's out of the way, but it's just too unwieldy if you want to relocate it, even move it to a different corner. I also have a very complete system of barbells, dumbbells and bands. I find that these days I can do more with those than I do with my rack system.

I guess is also depends on your goals. I was formerly into powerlifting, so I needed the system to help spot me with the heavier weights. Now, I'm just into fitness and I do better with the dumbbells and bands mentioned above. I'm also doing a lot of bodyweight exercises now, and that's been a huge help.

Wogster

You would be using the machine for upper body, you can probably get just as much by starting with a set each of 5lb and 10lb dumb bells, you need 2 sets of exercises, one for the arms and shoulders, the other for the core (most larger guys have poor core strength). The dumb bells are good, because the weight isn't enough that you need a spotter, but is enough to do a lot of good. The most important part, you can change the workout. This is important, you will get incredibly bored doing the same exercise all the time, in the same place. Dumb bells you can always move to another room or even out on the back porch when the weather is nice. You can also add heavier ones if you find the need.

CraigB

If you meant your question literally, I'd say no, it won't improve your bike skills. You could conceivably use it to improve strength, but not skills.

Sayre Kulp 

I second DoubleTap on this one. If you own your home, have no plans to move, and have plenty of free space for a behemoth like that, then sure, I'd take it for free. Otherwise, a pair of dumbells (particularly the kind that are adjustable) and some resistance bands are about all you need.

Agave

Although you would have an excellent clothes hanger.......

dgrenthum

Around here there are so many gyms costing between $10 and $15 a month, I wouldnt bother with an at home weight machine. Those machines are too limited in what they can do, i would rather be at a gym. Also if you dont use it, it will sit in your spare room for eternity because it will be too big of a pain for you to move it.

DoubleTap

This.

I have this model that I'll give somebody if they'll come get it. https://www.prospotfitness.com/p500.html

clydeosaur

It's up to you. But having the convenience of getting a quick workout in whenever you feel like it is nice. The gym I belonged to shut down 4 years ago. I bought some of their equipment when they closed down. I try to use them roughly 1/2 hour a day 4 days a week. The reason most of them become clothes hangers is because they are either junk gyms, or (in most cases) people don't make the commitment. Wether you have your own equipment, or get a gym membership, if you don't make an effort to make it apart of your life style, it won't matter.

Mr. Embrey

I'm not a clyde, but if you have the space, why not? If it turns out you don't use it, pass it on for someone else to try.

late

Sigh.

The cheap home gyms are junk.

Here's the deal.

If you want to work out at home, you can.

If you want the convienence of a gym, go to the gym (I signed up today)

If you want to work out at home, it's easy.

You will need stuff.

Go to Perform Better and order the econo-bands with handles. I have the whole set, but the small one is kinda wimpy.

Kettlebells are pretty cool, I just started with them this winter. They are dynamic, and the basic move is a half squat with
you swinging up while you come up. Walmart has a good price. The 5 pound there is quite cheap and you can find the moves on Youtube.

I have some dumbells. I don't use them much.

I do things like deadlifts with the rubber bands. If you want some serious rubber bands for squats and dealifts... get Superbands and cut them so you have use them that way. I call the big one The Beast.
https://www.performbetter.com/detail....tegoryID_E_281

Bands and weights stress the muscles in different ways. They both have advantages and disadvantages.

So with deadlifts and squats, once a week I want to do them in the gym, and once a week here with the bands.

If you want to buy a machine, get a used Concept 2 rower. It's terrific.

CraigB

Wow. And I thought I had a handful with my old Soloflex machine.

exile

At first I was like "get it". But looking it over from the picture it is hard to tell if it is a quality machine. If it is not, then I would pass.

First, do you enjoy working out? If you don't, it is unlikely you will use it.

If you do enjoy working out then in what type of environment? I had a home barbell equipment, but didn't enjoy working out by myself. I enjoyed going to the gym.

What kind of exercises do you do? Is the machine capable of duplicating what you enjoy doing? The machine pictured looks centered around upper body exercises (primarily chest and back). Would you need more variety?

zjrog

I've got a machine similar to the OPs picture sitting in my basement. It was given to me by a good friend that turned his basement gym into a climbing zone (not real high, but plenty of difficult grabs, including the ceiling...). In the year I've had it I think I've used it maybe a dozen times. Partly because its in my unfinished basement. Partly because of more excuses than I usually come up with... I have a membership to a gym, that I used to use for just racquetball and the jacuzzi. I am also allowed 3 hours a week at work for excercise... That I am currently using towards my physical therapy.

magohn

Well, I decided to pass on the gym. You guys have never led me wrong in the past and the overwhelming response seems to be in the negative. I was so tempted because it was "free" but I am concerned with it just sitting in the spare room and becoming a coat hanger. Instead, I went to the local Target and looked at weights. I picked up a 10lb "KettleBell" weight for $25 with an instructional DVD on core strengthening. Small, compact and not an issue for the space being used.

Again, thanks guys. I think I made the right choice.

socalrider

10lb kettlebell is way too light for you.. You need to start at 20-25 and once you get stronger progress up to 30-35lb kettlebells and then more. There are some great workouts done via youtube. These are two of my favorites for starting, the 1st one is a little more advanced but shows you many different moves that can be done with kettlebells..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsMK8gpC0E8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNaoE...eature=related

The idea with the kettlebell is that you need to have enough weight to load the muscles, 10 lbs is just not enough weight..

magohn

Hi socal..

I went with the 10lb because they had a video running in the store and it looks mighty dangerous the way they throw the balls around. Also, I want to get the "technique" down before I start throwing 35lbs around and drop one through the ceiling.

Once I am confident that I want to continue with the exercises AND I have a good general knowledge of what Im doing - then I will go for a 35lb'er

Thanks much for the links.

socalrider

10lb kettlebells are usually for people who are around 100-110lb.. Your cash would be better spent on a 20lb to start, most places like cardiofit start men off at 25-35 depending on how out of shape they are.. You will pick it up real fast. If you do not have enough weight to load the muscles, you will not get much of a workout..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPvGPUlAPW4

twobadfish

You can get a gym membership with a robust array of equipment to work out on for $15/mo. With a single machine like that one of two things WILL happen

1) You are at home; you are too easily distracted/lack the motivation to do a proper workout
2) You will get bored of the same few exercises

Your home lacks the atmosphere and variety of a gym. As well as the "eye candy" to get a good workout. So much of a workout is mental. And sitting in a spare room in your home - alone - on the same machine is going to get old really, really fast.

Of course, that's just my experience.

cod.peace

I agree 100% with this. I started out with a kbell ~9 years ago when the smallest on the market was 18 kg. I also have a 24 kg and have messed around with a friend's 32 kg. Also on hand (and currently unused) is an 80 lb sandbag. My recovering herniated disc can't handle that (yet) but I have returned to using the 18 kg kbell this past week. Sometimes it's just too snowy, icy, and salty to ride, you know?

ericsday

i hate home weight machines, they are always loose, and flimsy. just too uncomfortable to do a good workout. its better to just do lots of pushups, situps and lunges

late

10 pounds is plenty to start with.

The dvd is crap.

Look at some videos on Youtube.

irwin7638

If your muscle to weight ratio improves,so will everything else you do.
I bought a soloflex about 25 years ago and found it to be the best piece of furniture I've ever lugged through 7 moves, but you have to use it regularly.

Marc

sillygolem

SANDBAGS!

If you don't mind making your own they're super cheap and great for core strength and stability.

You can pick up a postal scale pretty cheap, buy playground sand at your local hardware store, order some thick (look for the highest mil) plastic bags, and put varying weights of sand in them. These can then be added to an old duffel bag or exercise sandbag. You can build an entire weight set for around $60-$80.