Originally Posted by
NewPainNoGain
Hello,
I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but I figured some people must have gone through something similar and have some advice.
I recently decided to get back in shape and to start, got a stationary recumbent bike. I've been using it for a few months, 3 times per week for 30 minutes, doing intervals. When I first started, my quads burned (between the mid upper thigh and the knee on the direct top, not the side). I thought this would get better in time as I built the muscle. However, if anything, it's getting worse. My intervals are getting shorter and shorter in terms of how I can push it before it really burns (like 30 seconds or less). Then I subside and the burning dissipates. There's no lasting pain or problems after the biking is finished, but it is a lot of discomfort at the time and it doesn't seem to be improving.
Any ideas for what could be happening and how I could address it? I'd really appreciate it!
+1 on mixing it up.
-1 on remarks about bike fit because in your case you're riding a
stationary recumbent! Doing intervals like this, while sitting in a chair and not really being able to balance out your effort by using your upper body is an ill advised way to attain bike fitness. Just curious why you're not riding an actual bike, outside? If it is a time thing and you really are limited, why not try spinning? These bikes are more like
real bikes and you can simulate climbing and intervals, sprints - you name it on this style bike.
With all this being said, I do have a friend who got fit while doing long sessions on a stationary recumbent. He lost like 80 pounds and he "cured" his type 2 diabetes this way. He was not a competitive or adventure seeking type person when it came to outdoor riding so he only aspired to lose weight and gain cardiovascular fitness through the use of the stationary recumbent.
Me on the other hand - you would have to duct tape me to the d*mn stationary recumbent for hours on end.