Stationary Bike - What The Pedal!

nicolepburgess91

So I am joining a gym for their 7 day free trial (I've never used a gym before and don't know if it is for me) when my TOM is over. And the stationary bike really interests me. Mainly because I hate waking/jogging/running.
But I don't understand what the...pedal...this thing is and how it works and how it's supposed to be cardio or how this whole thing is a workout benefit.
Can someone get real detailed on all of this for me? Like are there speeds on the bike? Do you have to push hard to make the pedals go? Is it like riding a real bike?
Help!

kikicooks

It's just like riding a real bike. You can set the resistance to be harder to pedal.

nicolepburgess91

Can you adjust the seat on the ones in the gym?

kikicooks

Yes, the seats can be adjusted up or down for your height.

TR0berts

Depends on which type of stationary bike you use.

One is called a spin bike - used for spinning classes. It has a knob that you manually adjust to change the resistance, making it harder (like going uphill) or easier (like on flat land).

There are two (recumbent, which is where you sit with the pedals in front of you; and "regular," which is like a normal bike, just stationary) that typically have different programs you can use, that will change resistance for you. You'll have to tell the bike what level you want - the higher the level number, typically the higher max resistance. These also are able to be manually adjusted by pushing buttons on the console to adjust resistance, if you don't want to use the programs. This would probably be good the first time, so you have an idea of what you can handle.

There are sometimes others, such as those with the fan-type front wheels and/or handles that you can move with your arms. I wouldn't bother with these, unless that's all that's available.


I'd recommend one of the bikes in the second description, if available. You can have as much - or as little - control as you want.

HershFam5

Morning! When I first started working out, I did it at the gym on the stationary bike. Once it cooled down, I hit the real bike. The real bike was harder due to you have to really concentrate on your balance and it works your upper body.
I didn't start changing the resistance till I could pedal for 15 minutes without hurting, then I gradually made it harder and harder. I bought a stationary bike for my house for those days I can't be outside, I'm still working the legs.
Best of luck!!

PaulaWallaDingDong

I could probably tell you if it was a cybex of Life Fitness, but you really should just ask the people there. I work in a fitness center and it's never a bother to help people get started. Honestly, I didn't have any experience when I started and wound up learning about machines as I was helping new members use them.

The bikes we have: you have to start pedaling to turn the machine on, and keep pedaling as you work through the settings. Then once you have the program set, or set your own resistance, and time if it asks, you just go.


ETA Oh yeah, I forgot about the spin bikes. I'm not sure about those. I'll have to learn this weekend lol

nicolepburgess91

Is this good for burning calories or building muscle? Because I'm mainly trying to lose weight right now. Tightening up is good, but burning calories is my main goal.

MaybeLed

HershFam5 wrote: »

Morning! When I first started working out, I did it at the gym on the stationary bike. Once it cooled down, I hit the real bike. The real bike was harder due to you have to really concentrate on your balance and it works your upper body.
I didn't start changing the resistance till I could pedal for 15 minutes without hurting, then I gradually made it harder and harder. I bought a stationary bike for my house for those days I can't be outside, I'm still working the legs.
Best of luck!!

I did something slightly similar to make sure I was progressing
I set the bike to a medium resistance so I had to work but I wasn't struggling, and downloaded a (free) couch to 10k app. So when it says 'walk' I aim to cycle at 15-20 km/h speed. When it's set to 'run' I aim for >30km/h.

This way I'm not just peddling aimlessly for 10 minutes till I get bored. I listen to podcasts at the same time. Most bikes will have settings so you can look at time/speed/distance and work on those.

ETA: I chose those speeds because that's what felt comfortable, after a bit of trial and error, YMMV.

JeromeBarry1

The billionaire owner of a local football team was described in the local press as "fat". He decided to do something about that. First thing in the morning since then, he does an hour on a stationary bike in his bedroom.
Jerry Jones is today quite slim and trim. That's what the pedal is up with that.

jemhh

Have you ever seen a stationary bike in person?

lemurcat12

nicolepburgess91 wrote: »

Is this good for burning calories or building muscle? Because I'm mainly trying to lose weight right now. Tightening up is good, but burning calories is my main goal.

It will burn some calories, depending on how hard you ride it. Running is a more efficient way to burn, but I think it's comparable to walking (lots of variables to both, of course), and if you like it, that's important. Riding outside burns more calories normally (although so does spinning), but it's a good way to work up to either if they are not currently possible or seem intimidating. Most gyms will have multiple kinds of stationary bikes (even my office building workout room does, along with a few treadmills and some dumbbells and weight machines), and many will have spin bikes and spin classes also. Best way is just to check it out -- I promise it is extremely self-explanatory.

The ones I am familiar with have different programs, and you can do ones that are more challenging if you aren't great at pushing yourself, like hills or intervals, and pick a low number to start with and regularly move it up and/or increase time on the bike. It's also a lot easier to read when stationary biking than on a treadmill, IME.

nicolepburgess91

jemhh wrote: »

Have you ever seen a stationary bike in person?

No. To be entirely honest, I havent. Just pics on the internet

NorthCascades

nicolepburgess91 wrote: »

Is it like riding a real bike?

No.

jemhh

nicolepburgess91 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

Have you ever seen a stationary bike in person?

No. To be entirely honest, I havent. Just pics on the internet

Ok. That gives me some context for your questions It sounds like people have mostly answered them but, in summary, they are similar to regular bikes except they stay in one spot. They are similar to treadmills or stairmasters in that there's often a digital readout where you can pick a program to follow or you can set your resistance level or desired workout time. There is a type of bike called an Airdyne that has two long handles that you move forward and backward, similar to those on an elliptical machine, while you pedal.

Machka9

nicolepburgess91 wrote: »

So I am joining a gym for their 7 day free trial (I've never used a gym before and don't know if it is for me) when my TOM is over. And the stationary bike really interests me. Mainly because I hate waking/jogging/running.
But I don't understand what the...pedal...this thing is and how it works and how it's supposed to be cardio or how this whole thing is a workout benefit.
Can someone get real detailed on all of this for me? Like are there speeds on the bike? Do you have to push hard to make the pedals go? Is it like riding a real bike?
Help!

nicolepburgess91 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

Have you ever seen a stationary bike in person?

No. To be entirely honest, I havent. Just pics on the internet

So ... do you know what kind of stationary bikes the gym has?

It's kind of hard for us to answer questions about one when we don't know what kind it is ... because they can be different. Some gyms have the old dial tightening system to increase resistance ... some gyms have a newer system where you select the resistance you want from a screen.


And also ... if you've got a 7 day free trial, make the most of it by asking questions to the staff. That's what they are there for. Ask them to give you the grand tour and show you how to use all the equipment.

Theo166

If you've never seen an exercise bike in person, we really can't explain how it all works in a text post.

- go to youtube and search for "exercise bike review". You will likely get many very instructive videos on how they work and perhaps issues some have.

- ask your future gym to show you how to use their specific machines. Others have already said the staff are eager to show you the ropes and get you started.

Francl27

I suggest something else, personally. I know that some people claim to have great burns on them, but I can give it my best and my heart rate monitor never gave me more than 230 calories burn for 1 hour. Fitbit gives me even less.

So not worth it when I can walk an hour and burn 320 calories, and my legs are way less sore afterwards too.

Strudders67

When I signed up to MFP, I added my various exercises / times and it was interesting to see that the number of calories burned was very different for each type of cardio exercise. Comparing each (brisk walking, rowing, stationary bike & cross-trainer) by entering the same timeframe into MFP, the cross-trainer (elliptical) seemingly burns most. I'm not allowed to run due to knee issues but I will sometimes go on the treadmill and do a brisk walk uphill, however whilst that exercises your legs and heart, the cross trainer also has handles so you can also do a bit of work on your upper body too. As others have suggested, start by talking to the gym team and ask them to show you how to use the equipment. To help tone up as well, do weights.

abovethecity

Riding a stationary bike is one of my main exercises and has been for the past two and a half years losing weight. I get around 500 cals burned an hour on my Fitbit charge 2 from it @ 5'2" and 157 lbs. - but I only eat half of that back. My bike says I go around 18-21 mph - not sure how true it is though - with numerous amounts of resistance.

fitmom4lifemfp

Riding a stationary bike can be an excellent workout. It just depends on how much effort you are willing to expend. It's great for your leg muscles, and there is no impact on your joints, so it's often used for therapy in rehabs. I love them.

TxTiffani

I use mine daily! I've never had good strong ankles and my arches can get really painful if walking too long or running for sure. Exercise bike is my cardio of choice. I ride almost daily anywhere from 30-90 min depending on my schedule. You can even do high intensity interval training on the bike for weight loss. It's something I've recently tried incorporatinf after reading how it's great for weight loss. You would probably want to get used to ridding the bike first and when it feels like it's getting easy bump up to hiit. Warm up for 5-10 min then I increase my resistance to level 3 and go as fast and hard as I can for a min then go back to level one intensity for 2 min still riding around 14-16mph then repeat for 15-20min. It definitely gets my heart rate up and thoroughly wears me out;)

UK2ME

Although the caloric burn might not be as high as running minute for minute, the nice thing about riding a bike (be it stationary or a real one) is that it's non-weight bearing. If you are prone to shin splints or problems when you hammer on your lower joints, riding a bike is a great way to get started on some activity. Yes, if you do it enough it will tone muscle, but it's definitely a good cardio activity for fat burning too.

annacole94

It's one kind of cardio. If you trial a gym, try different machines. You might like the bike, or the elliptical, or the rowing machine. Make sure you have something to entertain yourself - some gyms have TV screens on the equipment (bring headphones) or you can bring your phone with music or an audio book. Gym cardio is really, really, really boring if you don't have something to watch or listen to.

PrincessMel72

I ride the stationary bike (recumbent bike with the pedals in front, seat back) at our apartment gym every day after work for 30-45 mins. It gets my HR up into the target zone fairly quickly, I'm able to do calorie burning workouts on it just by selecting the different programs, and it'll do interval training as well. So far so good. I can't walk on a treadmill or jog (I have horrible knees) so this is the next best thing to swimming laps (our pool is still far too cold for that). Good luck!

FattieBabs

tiffanifair wrote: »

I use mine daily! I've never had good strong ankles and my arches can get really painful if walking too long or running for sure. Exercise bike is my cardio of choice. I ride almost daily anywhere from 30-90 min depending on my schedule. You can even do high intensity interval training on the bike for weight loss. It's something I've recently tried incorporatinf after reading how it's great for weight loss. You would probably want to get used to ridding the bike first and when it feels like it's getting easy bump up to hiit. Warm up for 5-10 min then I increase my resistance to level 3 and go as fast and hard as I can for a min then go back to level one intensity for 2 min still riding around 14-16mph then repeat for 15-20min. It definitely gets my heart rate up and thoroughly wears me out;)

This! doing interval training does help you burn fat. I tried the recumbent bike but it hurt my bad hip so I prefer the upright bike. Glad it is stationary as I am sure I would fall off a real one! I have noticed my legs getting stronger. I try to up the resistance a bit every time I go...