Looking for recommendations on a clothes rack, er I mean stationary bike.

[Kali]

It has been suggested to me that a stationary bike would be better for my knees than walking/hiking for now. (I am in for a knee replacement possibly as early as this summer)

There seems to be a hell of a lot of them out there. Consumer reports top two recs are well over $500 new so I will be watching for used ones as the New Years resolutions fail and wear off...

Anybody have any personal recs, and do you actually use them after a few weeks?

[unblock]

1. Lol! No, clothes rack. You had it right the first time!

that’s literally what we use ours for!

[Kali]

2. I have seen them used for that way more than I have ever seen anyone riding one. LOL

I would be putting it in the living room for now and I am motivated to do what I can to get the new knee, but I imagine it will go out to the garage before the year is out.

[unblock]

4. Mrs. unblock got a thing you put your real bike into

That way you’re riding the outdoor bike you’re used to.

Don’t know the brand or anything.


She got run off the road by a truck a couple years ago, cracked a couple ribs and banged her up good. She healed a long time ago, but hasn’t been on a bike since....

[Kali]

7. I have seen those

but I haven't ridden a real bike in decades so don't have one.

[Botany]

3. Join a gym that has them

Stuff brought into you home will not be used as much as stuff @
a gym because you have to make the effort to go there and once
there you are going to work out.

[Kali]

6. I actually do work out at home.

Nearest gym is 20+ miles and I am still too intimidated to go there. I do go to a public pool in the winter but working out in public is not for me. Yet, anyway.

[Botany]

9. I understand but a gym can give you lots and lots of things to do @ your own pace

And don't worry about people judging you because if they do then it is their
problem not yours. 3 to 4 days a week, have a trainer show you what to do,
and how to use the machines .... and life will be good. Good chance you will meet
some very nice people too. If they have a smith machine/bench press then that would
be great ...... don't worry about the amount of weight but on doing "sets" and
doing the exercise right.

[Kali]

14. I know.

It is just out of my comfort zone for now. Possibly in another 6 months or a year. I drive even further to swim twice a week so that distance thing IS a bit of an excuse, but I also do a formal hour to 90 minute workout now. I use bands, weights and bodyweight resistance combined with yoga-like moves.

although I complain/suspect the main work seems to involve just getting up and down off the floor! Um, why can't I do all the floor things in a row and then do the upright stuff all together???

[Alpeduez21]

21. There are a few coaches who recomend getting up from the floor as exercise

It is something the body can't really get used to. Just doing that for five minutes will jack your heart rate, work every part of your body and give you a life skill. None of that "I've fallen and can't get up," stuff.

[Kali]

34. Definitely!

And I am hella lot better at it now!

[LeftInTX]

12. Does your physical therapist have one?

They will sometimes allow patrons to pay a fee to use their facilities. Especially since the nearest gym is 20+ miles away.

My PT had equipment that the gym didn't have, so she allowed me to come and use her equipment until I got in better shape.

[Kali]

15. Haven't seen a PT yet.

When the doc looked at my xrays he was wondering how I was even walking as it was He said nothing but replacement was going to fix that. My knees have been shot for years, but a few months ago the left one quit being able to straighten out completely. I thought maybe they could chisel whatever is blocking it out but apparently not, so I have to lose a bit more weight and call him when I am there. Hope to have that done in 3 months or so (slow and easy for this, want it to be a permanent loss)

[TreasonousBastard]

5. I was in ALDI last month and bought a contraption that you slip an actual bicycle into and...

make a stationary one.

Only 50 bucks.

(It's still in the box)

[Kali]

8. LOL - still in the box.

I have seen those but I don't have a real bike so...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. Get one like this

[Kali]

24. I can totally see this happening to me.

[Nay]

33. I BOUGHT THAT TOO!! But you know what, when I brought it home, Mr Nay didn't

want to have anything to do with it. He'd rather have the gym model that has the recumbent seat. Well, so would I, but I figured the cost would be prohibitive.

Now, I'm wanting some advice about good recumbent exercise bikes.

[dewsgirl]

10. Have you checked out elliptical machines? I used to have one, I think it would be

Easier on the knees.

[Kali]

11. I haven't checked anything out! LOL

I am barely a convert to intentional workouts as it is. I was blessed (or cursed?) with natural leanness and was physically active most of my life. Combine that with lack of competitiveness and being a total doof, and I just didn't need any kind of formal exercise, never played sports beyond what was required in PE and hated that. Well, the bad knees, gravity and old age are now taking their toll.

I am doing an on-line fitness and nutrition program called Precision Nutrition (can't recommend them highly enough, they have really turned my situation around). My coach there is who said I might want to try the stationary bike - I will ask her about the elliptical (after I go look up what it even is LOL). I also need to talk to my ortho doc as well before I purchase anything, but wanted to see what the DU wisdom might be.

[uppityperson]

13. I bought a Proform hybrid a few yrs ago and like, use it.

After much research, I decided on this one and like it as it's recumbent bike and elliptical, easy to switch between the 2 modes. It wasn't expensive, and reviewed something along the line of not for serious athletes but middle aged out of shape people looking for a workout. IE, me.

The stride of the elliptical is a bit short for me, but I'm not doing serious training. I like and mostly use the recumbent bike, like it much better than the upright bike I'd tried prior.

It was delivered and I found it easy to assemble, just do each step in order.

I keep a calendar by it to mark when I ride, how long and #rotations. Otherwise it's too easy duo just not do it. I use my tablet when riding too, read, games, du.

[Kali]

16. Thanks! Will Look that up

People commenting on Consumer Reports were complaining they only reviewed standard bikes and not the recumbent. They seemed to be more popular for the non- actual biking crowd.

[uppityperson]

17. My knees do better with a recumbent and I notice the difference when I don't use it

I get busy with work, or get sick, and don't bike for a couple wks and notice it's more trouble to get up off the floor (I sit, kneel, down low a lot dealing with home bound people, getting down to their level or checking feet). A week of biking and I'm good again.

[Major Nikon]

18. I have one that I use quite a bit

I've had it for many years and I think I got it at Costco. I use it when I don't feel like using my actual bike to go out riding.

Here's what I would do if I were you:

First it's probably worth figuring out what exercise machine best fits your particular situation and which one you like using the best. The biggest benefits to just about all of them is improving your cardio fitness and weight management, so there's many ways to accomplish those objectives. All you really need is something to get your heart rate up and keep it there. So maybe your best fit is a stationary bike, but maybe it's a rowing machine, or an elliptical, or some other machine. A bike is a good way to go as generally speaking they are lower maintenance problems than some other options, and they don't take up a huge amount of room. There's basically two different types of stationary bikes which are the upright which has a similar riding position to most real bikes, and the recumbent which features a more reclined riding position. Recumbent bikes are perhaps a little gentler on your joints and especially your back and is probably the better choice if all you want to do is stationary. Upright stationary bikes are better for folks who also ride outside.

Even without getting into the various features an exercise machine might have, already you have a lot of options to sort through. Probably the best approach to narrowing them down is to go to a gym and try out the various machines to find out what you like the best. Lots of the big gyms have a trial membership where you can go use the gym for a few days for free or a reduced cost. Just beware of them trying to obligate you in some way as that's what pretty much all of them want to do.

There's a lot of cheap exercise machines out there which aren't worth what you pay for them regardless of the cost. There's also gym quality machines that are very expensive and probably more than what you need because they are designed to be used for several hours every single day and you just aren't going to do that in a home environment. Between those two extremes there's a good array of high quality exercise equipment that's just below gym quality and won't break the bank. You might get lucky and find something good on craigslist because lots of people are selling perfectly good equipment they just never wound up using, but just be careful that you're getting something you really want and not just something that's a good deal. Costco and Sams also generally have good models to pick from.

[Kali]

19. good idea, costco

will check that out too.

[Alpeduez21]

22. Do you like riding a stationary bike?

Have you tried it? I understand you gym intimidation but you could try out their bikes for half an hour see how you stand it. Personally, I like the bike. Put me on a treadmill and I want to kill myself after 3 minutes. I do the spin class twice a week. We have a little group that chats and supports each other, it's nice.

[Kali]

25. I have no idea, never rode one.

I doubt if I would like a treadmill either, I never liked to walk (cowboy genes, don't like to be on foot) but did ride a bike a lot as a kid.
Never saw myself as a person who would enjoy a formal workout but I find I actually do, do there is that.

I might just grab a fairly cheap one off amazon and see how that goes, see if I can stand it and what features I might want to look for. If I don't find a used one to try before that. Logistics can be a bit of a problem for me in terms of even going to look at stuff. Takes 20 minutes to get to town, an hour+ to the city.

[Phentex]

23. We have an old Edge recumbent bike

that I bought off Craigslist. It's solid as a rock. The seat feels good which was important to me and so far hasn't needed anything but new batteries from time to time. I wouldn't say it's easy on the knees but it's all adjustable so you can change the resistance if you feel your knees suffering. It gets consistent use and is especially nice when the weather is bad or you just have a few minutes to exercise. I often don't push myself too hard on it but watch tv and find that 30 minutes has disappeared before I know it.

We also have a rowing machine which I find myself using much more than the bike at the moment and for some reason is easier on my knees than the bike even though I bend at the knees. But some days I do a little of both.

I would definitely shop for a better used bike. But I am cheap.

[Kali]

26. Oh I am cheap too!

For sure, especially stuff for myself. I need to work on that.

[True Dough]

27. I haven't used a stationary bike

I have been a faithful elliptical user for the past three years. That said, I just ordered this the other day (no, I did not model for the picture):




I think it will be an even more intense workout than the elliptical.

Good luck finding a bike, Kali.

[Kali]

28. Looks like something I could hurt myself on.

[True Dough]

29. I wouldn't rule that out for myself either

My first post after trying it out might be from a hospital room!

[Kali]

30. LOL!

[Orrex]

31. How about...

[Kali]

32. !