squirrell

Ok, all, got a question. Cold weather has driven me to YMCA for my work-outs. I've been using this cool stationary bike they have (an Expresso I think it's called) that has a video screen mounted on it. YOu pick the program you want, and it shows a computer animation of people riding through the scenery and trip that you picked. YOu can set the pace rider, too.

Anyway, there's some good mountain routines on there and I've been doing there the last week or so. It's like you're riding up mountains, down, etc. The resistance automatically increases/decreases depending upon the onscreen situation. You also select the gearing you want too as you are riding.

At times, using the various mountain programs, I've actually found myself standing to pedal, just as if I was really taking on a incline. I've been burning up just as many calories as I would riding my Trek, too.

so--here's the question. I live in a VERY flat area but have chances several times a year to go into other parts of VA that are hilly/mountainous. I always find myself sucking when on this rides because I have no hill training.

Is this stationary bike program any help in hill training or am I wasting my time using the hill scenerios? It does feel like a good work-out but I'm wondering about the hills specifically. I know it's not realistic but do y'all think it might give me some help in hill training at all? I really want to be able to keep up on the hills next time I meet up with my group to ride.

lil brown bat

It's a helluva lot better than nothing, that's for sure. I'd say the best indicator if it's good hill training is what it's doing to your heart rate. Get a HRM and see what it says. And, btw, if it's the bike estimating your calories burned, be careful about accepting that as gospel -- unfortunately, exercise equipment is notorious for, ah...optimistic estimates of calories burned.

Ka_Jun

My guess is helping, but you have to huck the elliptical next to you to be sure.

squirrell

I've had a Polar F6 that I've been using for months now. When the program gets to the hilly parts on the screen, my HR can easily get up to max in no time. Today, I had to actually stop for a few and let it come down before continuing.

lil brown bat

I guess it depends on how you intend to hillclimb, then. If your hillclimbing is going to be of the stand-on-the-pedals-max-effort type, what you're doing helps; if you're aiming for the spin-in-low-gear type, maybe not as much. Will this exercise bike allow you to mix those modes -- have resistance high to approximate a hill, but change gears?

squirrell

Yeah, it has "gears" that you can change to approximate resistance on a real bike.

lil brown bat

Well, there ya go. What I'd try is to set the resistance to approximate a hill, but then shift gears as necessary to maintain a proper cadence all the way up the "hill".

Missbumble 

Hey Squirrel - I say increasing your HR on the staitonary Bike has to help!! It wil build your aerobic training if nothing else! Enjoy

Alathea

Expresso doenst account for weight/gender in their calorie calcs. You have to divide out distance by time to find your speed for the time, then take that can compare it to calorielab.com or something for the 'tier' you fall into for 'bicycle speed X'. You then take that calorie per 15 minuts (on calorielab) and divide it out by 60 to get cal/min, then multiply by time. It lets you add your weight to it, and although it still sets you into a range of say 16-19 MPH, its still closer than some calculators.

Mr. Beanz

2 years ago, not sure if they can still hear ya!