ellipti-go - interesting
 

Shopping for a trainer and stumbled on this. Never seen or heard of these before. Interesting mix of running and wheeling
http://www.elliptigo.com/Healthy-Runner

I always see one or two on RAGBRAI. Multiple gearing, freewheel, brakes -- if you would really rather be running, they seem like the ticket.

I guess that makes riding it fixed seem pretty tame.

Elliptigo is one of those things that keeps popping up on all of the forums every year or so. I guess the good thing about it is, it's an indoor exercise machine that moves. I'll pass on them, thanks.

I have seen one it is very over priced. ANd if you live in a hilly place your dead.

Well, I think it depends. The first couple and the last couple days are pretty hilly, so fixed would be challenging even with brake(s). I wonder how Elliptigo miles compare with regular running miles, since you have the ability to gear down when climbing hills, and to gear up when going flat or downhill.

The Elliptigo riders always seem fresh and enthusiastic at stops, but who knows -- maybe they're paid representatives, or have motors hidden inside like Cancellara's bike. ;)

I think some people would beg to differ with you.

It's said the flipping seatpost-heads around to the front of the seat tube, on triathlon bikes

is to do a more like running leg motion.

This is posted over on the News and Announcements/Recalls thread:

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/...ptical-Cycles/

It's better than this:
http://i.imgur.com/J7YZSXd.gif

No it isn't.

Try riding that thing up mount Palomar.

There are a lot of people who like riding them. It gets them outside exercising. Good for them. If it works for you and you can afford it, then well done.

I'd love to try one for the novelty of it. Unless somebody dropped it off at my house for free, I can't see ever owning it (and if that happened, I have a few friends who would put it to good use).

IMO, just about any piece of gym equipment could be improved with the addition of a pair of bicycle wheels.

Saw one last weekend in Newport Beach. The rider looked very sad.

I pass a person on one while on my way to work occasionally. The person looks like he's commuting, also.

various absurd such-like things are covered in this thread
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...57243-Row-Bike

There is a guy that tries to peddle those things at the middle trail head on one of a 20 mile rail trail on weekends around here. I also saw a couple at one of the larger bike shops in Bloomington, MN. I laughed and asked the guy working there if they actually sold any of them. I guess they're not big sellers...

A few Elliptigo riders successfully completed London - Edinburgh - London (just under 900 miles).

Treadmill Bike, as seen on the previously-mentioned older thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reyt3uiQqI8

There are 2 older ladies that ride them in our neighborhood. They passed me when I was running with little effort and I'll bet these ladies were 65 years old or so. I wonder about steering while going down hill. Not sure on that one.

I saw a bunch of people riding those things up Mt Lemmon in Tucson today. First time I've ever seen them. Do they go downhill too? Eek!

saw a designers picture of a Treadmill Bus , powered by a Horse .

Great! Soon, horses will be able to power carts without having to get their hooves dirty!

& save on cleaning up the manure from the road, by collecting it as it's discharged..

Ferment it and turn it into natural gas that can boost the Treadmill Bus...

I went to their website. Only 5 star reviews ... hmmmmmmm

There are some not so hot reviews.

The things weigh as much as a DH bike and cost more than a 105-equipped road bike, for the LOW end model, and as much as a nice Dura-Ace equipped CF bike for the high end.

I'll keep riding my bicycle :) I don't like elliptical trainers, though. Something about them just sucks. To me that is!

I'm 65 and have seen my better cycling days. I started cycling again early last spring and improved my fitness to the point that I could cruise at about 15mph on RAGBRAI.

So while it doesn't take a lot I had one pass me smartly on a hill and he was a small figure rather quickly. A previous link to the elliptigo time trials show that a speed of 18-22 was typical; this guy would have been in that range.

I have been using an elliptical trainer at my local fitness center, along with an exercycle. I have noticed that it seems to be improving my ability to climb out of the saddle. If I keep the resistance low, the burn in my legs is very similar.

Bottom line, whatever floats your boat. Don't discount them entirely.

By themselves I'm sure they are fine if that's what you like, but the times I've encountered them on public group rides they have been a menace.