Elliptical bikes
 

Just curious if anyone owns/uses an elliptical bike and what do you think of it.

I don't have one yet, but I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger on it. I assume you're asking because you've used stationary elliptical machines and like the exercise, as I do.

The product field breaks down into two types: those with active arm motion and those with passive arm motion; these are my own designations.

There are only two active-arm-motion machines I'm aware of: StreetStrider and FreeCross. Both are lean-to-steer three-wheelers; you drive with all four limbs.

There's almost no information on the FreeCross, but it's made in Germany and appears to be built like a Mercedes; 20" Big Apples all around, a NuVinci N360 hub gear, and steering dampers. Weight ~60 lbs, rear fender standard, front fenders optional, folds for transport. No credit card sales; bank draft or PayPal is specified, but I contacted them and they will accept a cashier's check from a reputable bank. Price about $3000, shipping included.

The StreetStriders appear to be more lightly built but aren't; their frames are steel instead of aluminum; weight about 54 lbs. They've produced a lot of variations but now only offer two: a three-speed or seven-speed IGH with everything else identical. Go to their site and note the "Sale Ends ..." teaser at the top of the page ... it's the same sale, they just keep renaming it about every week. Meant to pull in a panic buy or two. Decent deal, though; they throw in an indoor trainer and free shipping; about $1000 for the 3-spd and ~$1300 for the 7-spd. They've gone cheap on a couple things; I think they should have built these with a steering damper, but the rear wheel is 20 x 1 3/8" or 37 x 451, and the selection of tires for it is very narrow.

The StreetStriders have a rear fender, but no option for front fenders. One of the things I cheer them for is that they offer luggage capability; no one else seems to have thought that might matter. They have a custom rear rack and I think two luggage pieces; they show a custom pannier. Don't fall for their Bundles without giving it some thought. I'd get the rack and fasten a milk-crate to it.

As to the passive-arm products, that market is dominated by Elliptigo. They off long-stride models (LS) with three choices of IGH; they have the Arc line, called 'compact-stride', and they offer a SUB, or Stand-Up-Bicycle. All are true bicycles with two wheels and handlebar steering.

I took short test rides on an Arc and a LS model. I was quite impressed at the quality of workmanship. I had problems with both, though, and dropped them from consideration. The LS is notorious for the noise it makes; it's like somebody swishing a shovel-blade through loose gravel. Also there was, to me, something subtly wrong about the way it felt; it was very smooth, but I thought it was weird and I didn't like it.

The Arc bothered me a lot because of a feature of its foot-platform; they're pivoted in the middle, and at the point in the pedal stroke where your weight shifts from front to back and vice-versa, the pedal flops over abruptly. No-go on that one, for me, also. I think they should find a way to buffer that motion somehow.

Aside from that, both the bikes I tried were very easy to get on and off of, very stable and smooth, very easy to handle. They put you way up in the air, so visibility is excellent. Elliptigo has a fanatical fan base, and I'm not surprised; they just weren't to my particular liking. They're expensive, too.

Just on the chance that you haven't tried anything at all elliptical, you should do that first. If you don't have membership in a fitness center, you can likely get a week's trial membership cheap. I'm still rebuilding my engine from years of disuse, and a cross-country program on the elliptical is very intense; I'm only good for 15 minutes so far before I turn to jelly, but I like it, and I like the idea of using all four limbs to power an outdoor ride.

Hope this helps.

My FIL is one of those "eliptigo fanatics". Then again, he's fanatical about a lot of things... Bikes, Jogging, Mustangs, Elipitigos... It's kinda insufferable how athletic he is... ANYWAY, I tried his eliptigo once. ONCE...

I didn't like it much at all. It felt stable, and using it was surprisingly easy, but that elliptical motion just doesn't do it for me. It was like taking many baby steps on my toes and I didn't really feel like I was getting a full range of motion in each stroke. On the bike and when I jog I'm so used to extending my leg that it just felt wrong (like being in a low gear bombing down a hill "wrong").

Maybe if I was more invested in using the darn thing I'd learn to love it, but right now it just seems like a fad that I just don't get!

If a great workout is priority #1, they seem great. If you don't mind maximal anti-aerodynamics. (Have never ridden one)

They always seemed to me to be more of a cross training tool for runners than something that would interest cyclists.

Some runners have complained that none of the ellipticals truly emulated a running stride, so some guy built a bike that does--herky monster, called Cyclete Trail Runner. There's also one called the Bionic Runner.

Personally, I don't care if it's an exact running stride; to me it's a good workout, and better if I can do it outdoors.

I would not even want the stationary one they buy for gyms ,

let alone be seen in public on one on wheels. :lol:

Another drawback of the long stride rigs is that the rollers require fairly frequent replacement if you ride quite a bit.

Yes, and not just the rollers, but the track liners they roll on--little black strips of something, two to a side. They sell kits with both the rollers and liners, another consumable to keep after in addition to tires. That whole track design seems problematic to me. They've covered the whole underside of the chassis so that nothing can splash up on it from underneath, but it's quite easy to imagine stepping onto it with a little mud or sand on your shoes and that finding its way into the tracks. Other sources are possible; many of us have been blasted by grit when being passed by a big truck, or just from wind gusts. How big of a chunk would it take for you to feel it?

The Cyclete has its tracks open to the bottom so that nothing accumulates; Elliptigo should consider trying that.

Speaking of the Cyclete, though, I'd hate to be on one and have the rear tire go flat. You'd need to take most of the bike apart to get the rear wheel off.

I think the greater use of the elliptical trainer is to exercise the coordination ability of the upper and lower limbs.
Then the elliptical bike should be no different.

Probably less susceptible to theft, too. It's clearly a piece of exercise equipment, which many people immediately associate with torture.