urbanknight

I don't have a trainer at the moment, but my wife has an elliptical and I might need to do some indoor training over the next week. Will this work similar muscles or at least give a cardio workout that will benefit my cycling or should I just call it a rest week?

FrankBattle 

It's 1 week. Relax. Rest. Enjoy life. Soak in American Idol.

FastFreddy

Not all elliptical trainers are the same -- they vary in that they work somewhat different parts of the legs. I use one at the gym where I workout and consider it good cross-training. It's a lot different from riding a bike -- but, to me, that's a good thing. All of the trainers that I've tried can be adjusted to make it as challenging as you'd like.

Bontrager

Yes. Anything's better than just sitting on the couch watching American Idol.

urbanknight

As a musician, I can agree with that.

oboeguy

Not like cycling, but excellent cross training. I did a fair amount of training on an elliptical when riding was out do to a knee problem (which wasn't affected by the elliptical).

kwrides

We have an Octane Elliptical that my wife uses 4 times a week. On rainy days I will use it too. You can setup an interval workout based on HR zones that I really like. It also has a setting where it will tell you to do all kinds of different movements to work different body parts, "Push with your arms", "Squat and spin in reverse", etc. When I do an hour on that, I can really feel it in my glutes.

Bishbike

+1

FrankBattle 

But but but. Just limit the food intake. It will actually do your body good ..

urbanknight

Do you have any idea how hard that is to do?

Quijibo187

including just sitting on a couch.

s4one

I think elliptical is total crap, my friend and I come to a conclusion that its more fit towards people that have to go through rehab. I'm not hating, I had to go though bs rehab before..

If your physically fit, I would suggest running on a treadmill or stair masters.

LowCel 

I use the elliptical machine at the gym three times a week. It is a great way to burn 400 or so calories in 30 minutes and it is easy on my knees. I think it's a great way to cross train. I generally do the elliptical on the mornings that I don't work out my legs then I get on the bike (trainer) in the evenings.

gear

My favorite (non bicycle) bicycle training tool is an elliptical machine. The one I use does not have moving arms; it has a ramp that can be raised. If you use one of these with the ramp all the way up and as high a resistance as you can do for an hour a day; you will drop some weight, build your aerobic capacity along with the muscles in the upper part of the back of your legs and butt. Add some squats for your guads and you have a great off season program.

I'm not sure the type of elliptical machine that has moving arms and no ramp will do that much.

LowCel 

I just finished doing 33 minutes on the elliptical machine (kind with no arms). I did the hardest level on the weight loss setting. I burned 340 calories and got a pretty good workout. Not a bad way to start the day.

daredevil

Like biking, the elliptical is low impact, just what my two hip replacements need. I think it's a great off the bike machine!

For one thing, it's as close to running as I can do.

CastIron

Have one at home and concur it's a good workout, but different from cycling. I can get close to the motion if I only use my legs and lean forward. It's kinda-sorta close to a standing sprint. I use it to blow off steam when an hour on something else has little appeal. Winter then.

jrn

When I was recovering from knee and ankle surgery the elliptical was a great way to get my aerobic fitness back up. As pointed out already it's a great way to burn calories without smoking your legs - I would routinely burn around 600 in a half hour at my maximum output when I was in really good shape.