Tell me why the exercise bike is worth it?

innerhottie
innerhottie Posts: 163 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I rotate cardio on the elliptical , treadmill and the bike. I can get over the deficit in calorie burn between the elliptical and treadmill, but the bike just seems like wasted time... the calorie burn is less than a third of what I can get on the other machines.

I know it is good to vary your routine and it is better on your joints, but I always feel like I could be doing more. On the other hand, I break a sweat immediately on the bike... even though it takes a while to get my heart rate up.

Any opinions out there?

Replies

  • ohnoetry
    ohnoetry Posts: 129
    The only way I'll use an "exercise bike" as part of my cardio routine is with Spinning. Spinning is awesome and I burn upwards to about 600 calories an hour (YMMV). But otherwise yes, I get what you mean about not burning enough calories!
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    Get a proper bike and see the outside world then it's worth it
  • jdm_taco
    jdm_taco Posts: 999 Member
    no resistance knob? I sweat buckets when I use bike at gym and become winded more easily than running
  • innerhottie
    innerhottie Posts: 163 Member
    Thanks for the input. I think I am going to keep up the routine and see how it goes.

    As far as an outside bike... I am a total clutz. I would probably fall off and hurt myself! LOL.
  • garciabnm
    garciabnm Posts: 138
    also, while an exercise bike may not burn as any calories as an eliptical,. the workout you get should be more intence. Meaning , and i may be wrong here, you work out more muscle and targeted areas. I know when i do it , i seem to work my core,and lower back more than running, or the eliptical. But more over, i agree with what the other guy said, get a real bike and breathe the air, 20-30 minutes on a real bike and you'll see the calorie numbers go way up.
  • Possible_Infinity
    Possible_Infinity Posts: 83 Member
    Get a normal bike and watch the LBS melt off...
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    12 seconds normal speed, 8 seconds fast as you can, 12 sec normal, 8 sec fast...... do that for 20 mins straight & tell me it's not worth it. I sweat buckets. Then I'll do it 3 more times. Then just go flat out for 10 mins. 90mimns total & I'm up over 1000 cals.
    Get a normal bike and watch the LBS melt off...

    Not for me. I rode 60 mins to work & back each day...... I was still fat.
  • NoeHead
    NoeHead Posts: 516 Member
    Sometimes when I miss spin class I get on the bike(not the life fitness bike, the same bikes used in spin class) and do intervals. Spin class is still worth more than going on the bike alone it's helped me run better actually and my legs are getting a nice shape.
  • timeasterday
    timeasterday Posts: 1,368 Member
    Lately I've been going into the spin class room at the gym while nobody is there and riding the stationary bike. I'm recovering from some hip issues so I can't run but biking does not cause me pain. I can work up an incredible sweat and burn nearly 500 calories in 30-40 minutes if I really push it. I can't do that on my bike outside because I can't get that steady-state resistance on roads & trails. That's pretty much the only cardio I can do right now.
  • Possible_Infinity
    Possible_Infinity Posts: 83 Member
    Come on Guy, No way that happened...

    I challange anyone to bike to work for a month and not drop weight...

    Get a normal bike and watch the LBS melt off...

    Not for me. I rode 60 mins to work & back each day...... I was still fat.
    [/quote]

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