[TinaTiny82]

Hello!

I have a fairly expensive exercise bike stored at my house and have been using it daily. I was wondering if anyone has had weight loss success using an exercise bike? I do use the elliptical a lot at the gym, but the bike at my house is very convenient. Pros and cons of the bike?

[QuilterInVA]

The elliptical and the exercise bike are both good forms of cardio exercise. What do you do for strength training?

[saef]

Yes, I use the bike a lot. I have recurring foot problems -- badly arthritic joint in my big toe & plantar fasciitis, both in my left foot :-( -- which keep leading me back to using an exercise bike for most days of the week.

I've been able to get very good cardio workouts on the bike. I can't believe how much my breathing & endurance have improved since the same time last year. Now when I do go running, if I stop, it's usually due to foot pain, never to laboring in my breathing & heart rate.

But I push myself on the bike. I put it on the "random" setting for hills & I set the resistance up to three or four. (I have to use five on the brand of bike in my commercial gym.) I ride for an hour straight & I make myself work hard for the entire hour. I try to keep it about 110 rpm, and at least 95 rpm on the hills.

The drawbacks have been the monotony. (If you do this six days a week, like I do, you'll be less eager to get in the saddle over time.) I try to make sure my iPod is fully charged & full of good tunes. Also I prefer to have CNN or some other visual stimulus, even with the sound off.

Another drawback is saddle sores on my butt. I get them even in spite of wearing padded cycling shorts of decent quality. (That's another thing you'll want to invest in -- I have five pair now & buy them whenever there is a good special.) Maybe I'm the only one on this site who rubs her butt raw in spots, because I notice people don't seem to talk about this. I go through a lot of extra-strength cortisone ointment.

Also, now & then I will get a uniquely placed cramp that runs along the back of my leg from my butt down into my upper thigh. I have to stretch a lot when I get off the bike to relieve it. And sometimes my left hand will get numb from gripping the handlebars. A lightweight padded pair of gloves helps this, too.

The funny thing is, I've been using an exercise bike for a couple years now, have gradually worked up the resistance, and do about 15-18 miles a day on it. But I haven't ridden a real bike in years. I mean, the kind you'd actually have to balance on & steer, as well as peddling like a madwoman. I'm all about the peddling & that's all.

[TinaTiny82]

Originally Posted by QuilterInVA

The elliptical and the exercise bike are both good forms of cardio exercise. What do you do for strength training?

Well, I just recently started lifting weights 3 days a week. However, I only know the arm and upper body exercises, so I'm hoping to do a session with a trainer at my gym to get me familiar with other lifts.

saef: Wow, thanks for the insight! So far I can handle 30 minutes at a time (2 sets, a 15 minute break in between) on the bike at level 8 (it goes up to 16) and I usually do the hills or plateau setting. The good thing is, my bike is in the room with the TV so monotony isn't exactly a problem yet. Dah! Yes! I got a saddle sore yesterday and have been wondering what it was!!! I will definitely invest in some cycling shorts, I had no idea they could make a difference. Thank you so much for all your help!

[Mrs Snark]

I have a nice Lifecycle at home that I often ride when the weather precludes me for hitting road on my regular bike and it gives me an AWESOME workout. I can make it very, very challenging and there is no coasting either!