Anyone use a recumbent exercise bike during winter?
 

My wife has been expressing interest in doing something to get herself in better shape. We tried all kinds of exercise equipment at a few local sports stores and the nicer recumbent bikes seem to be a good fit (at least in the store) I explained to her that she'll need to ride it at least 20 minutes a day, pretty much every day to have it do any good. I kind of liked the better units myself as far as comfort, but does anyone here have any experience with these for longer durations? I can ride my Fluid2 trainer, but thought this might be a nice change of pace or wifey and I could ride side by side to take away some of the boredom...

Thoughts??

the ones in the gyms (i.e. Lifecycles) are abysmal in my opinion. I've been forced to use them on occassion on business travel. They hit different muscles, and just don't feel right. I've found it almost impossible to get a decent aerobic workout on them , and I can't spin a decent cadence on them. Anyone I've ever seen use one was working at a pretty low level. My take is that if you want to do 20 minutes at 125 watts at 60 rpm while you watch TV, and the alternative is sitting on the coach watching TV, this could be a good exercise option. If you want to train to ride a bike forget it.

I hear ya. My wife has been through breast cancer, chemo, surgery and basically feeling the worst she has felt in her life over the last year or so. She's finally feeling well enough to try some exercise and I'm just not thinking that putting her bike on my trainer is going to cut it. Saddle sores, etc will stop her from doing it for any length of time (I think). I need something she'll actually use and not sure where to turn.

Thanks, Merlin...good info.

I 2nd merlin's opinion.

When I was 290 lbs, I used the 'bent stationary alot, because using the treadmill hurt my knees and sitting on the bike hurt as well.

It's definitely different. My gym has both the regular exercise bikes and the recumbent exercise bikes. While I hate the 'bents... i try and switch my workout up and the recumbents are good for at least that... as far as not getting a good workout with them, I'd say that it's what you put into it i guess.

I get cardio exercise four times a week almost every week. I am age 56, aerobically fit with a tiny VO2 max and better than average core strength. I try to ride on the road for 2-3 hours twice a week. I use stationary cardio machines for exactly 60 minutes a session for my other cardio. I have a lot of time on LifeCycle uprights, LifeCycle recumbents, Climax stairclimbers and lots of treadmills. I like walking fast on a treadmill on a 13% slope best. I also like the LifeCycle recumbent, warming up at 70 rpm and increasing to 85 rpm.

As long as you use a pulse monitor, a 70 to 80% max pulse rate and go at least 40 minutes; I think you can get an excellent workout on a LifeCycle recumbent or quality treadmill. I think cyclical trainers and stairclimbers require more core strength than someone on a new exercise program is likely to have. I think upright LifeCycles place too much weight on the butt and hurt just like comfort bicycles do on long rides. I think the reclining LifeCycle is easiest on the core. I can easily ride the recumbent LifeCycle when my lower back hurts.

I think a recumbent LifeCycle is the best cardio machine for someone who wants to get in shape. You can watch TV or listen to an Ipod. I agree that it is different from riding on the road. I like it, in part, because it is different.

Thanks, JHG...I'm hoping she'll use it as it doesn't seem like an easy thing to return... I plan to use it for in between rides at night just to do "something".

Well...picked up the Schwinn 213 from Sears last night. Based on reviews (over 50 of them) this is *the* best value recumbent under $1000. The bikes I really wanted were $2000+, but I'm not willing to spend that until I see this thing getting serious use... Won a consumer reports best recumbent also. 40 minutes assembling it and I have to say it appears well designed and built. Lots of nice touches like haevy powdercoating, chromed hardware, silicone gasketing to reduce vibrations, etc. Computer has a ton of built-in workouts including recovery tests, BMI (like that works), etc. This thing is as smooth as my buddie's $2300 recumbent (we'll see if it stays that way) Anyway, I did 10 miles on it last night watching TV and it was really comfortable, completely silent and not at all boring (yet). When you change resistance the speed reflects the new "gear" so if I'm pedalling at 85 RPMs and go up a step in resistance, the speed goes up accordingly. Nice feature that I didn't even think about when looking...maybe they all do that..dunno...anyway, seems pretty nice for the $$. Sears offers a 10% off if you use a Sears card, 110% pricematch and another 5% if you don't take their no interest till APril 07 dealio so I got a great price. 90 day return policy also so if it isn't getting used, it goes back.

I'll report back in 89 days :)

I ride my MTB on snowy days and take the occasional spill. I wind up on the ground. That's recumbent. Does that count?

My mom has one of those at home and professed to like it, until she came for a visit and tried my wifes bike on the Cycleops. Guess what's going up for sale on ebay?

My problem is that at the cadence I can spin on the thing, to get at a decent workout level I'm working at a high resistence using different muscles, and my joints and muscles hurt before I begin to get aerobic. I guess this would be different if you got used to it. IMHO, it's probably an ok piece of fitness equipment, particularly for people that aren't looking to totally torch themselves (and hence may be a good choice for the OP's application) but not much of a training device for bike racers or fast bike riders.

EXACTLY!!! They suck, you can't get any RPM going without bouncing all over the dang place. Constructed specifically for the general Gym population:

Fat people who don't want to break a sweat or actually exercise, but want to think that they are....

Take a look at the Lemond recumbert.... hands down the most comfortable recumbert made. I believe they only make one model as of now. Everything they did on this recumbent is well thought of in regards to human biomechanics and comfort.

At one point last night I was spinning at 105 RPM for about 5 minutes. I wasn't bouncing around, had my heart rate in the 60% zone and felt pretty comfortable. It's not the same as my 5500 and being outside, but c'mon..what is?

Looks beautiful, but at $2400, I need to see if my wife is going to use this thing. I've found that in that price range there are several really good recumbents. I did not see the Lemond before now. Thanks for the tip!

Yea, lots of these things end up as coat hangers.

I had a decent experience with one of the Schwinn Recumbent bikes (2 models up from the bottom I think). Here is what it looked like if I remember correctly (sold it to buy a treadmill -- which I use more; then just sold that for Kreitler rollers. Yes, i can't make up my mind!! haha)

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-213-Re.../dp/B000BGI5CI

That's the 213 and the one I just bought. Like I said..probably the most reviewed recumbent out there and seems to be well liked. But...if no one gets on it and rides it..well..my kids think it's cool.

I used mine for about 5 months Biggziff -- I think you will really like it as I know I did. And, I had ridden actual recumbent bicycles in the past also. So, I had some idea of the differences to expect from a DF upright compared to a recumbent.

It was quite sturdy, heavy, and well-made. I hope I get as good or better workout from my new Kreitler rollers now that I have those instead of a exercise bike or treadmill! :D

It sounds like it might be a good option for what your wife needs. I'm currently using one at the gym since I can't ride outside and I'm able to keep a cadence of 85-95 rpm, though most of the other people as I look around are spinning much more slowly. It's definitely not comparable to riding outside, but it might be more comfortable for her. Good luck!

Thanks, Brandy. I too noticed that most people seem to spin in the 50s. My wife was doing the same thing. I gave her a few tips and she go into the high 60s and immediately felt the difference. She did 20 minutes last night and felt pretty good about it so, one small step......

3 months before I purchased Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike for my wife which is more comfortable than regular bikes.It really helped to burn her calories and tone legs and glute muscles.Studies show that 20 minutes every day spent on a recumbent bike workout can increase your heart rate and make you more resistant to coronary heart diseases.

this thread needs more bikinis cervelos and flip flops

I agree to a point, but I've been using the Planet Fitness upright bike this winter for 20 & 30-minute sprint interval sessions...and for that long, I can stand it, and it gets me a good workout. It's different position than my road bike, (it has elbow pads and exended bars that put you in a very high, non-aero Time trial position)....but close enough to work most of the same muscles.

I'll use the recumbent for a recovery day, but the upright for High-intensity intervals.

I don't believe this. Show me the data!

Just kidding. Kudos on getting your wife into a workout she enjoys.