Spinning bike vs other at home cardio options

raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Looking for an option for cardio. Since i have a bum ankle, spinning is the best choice and less taxing on the ankle.

Spinning looks like fun but wondering if others have found success with it. The dvds and other machines might hurt the ankle too much but maybe there is another option im not thinking about.

Please provide any info on what you have done for cardio at home.

Oh and i said at home because i go to the gym 4 days a week and want an option to do at home and still be at home when my kids wake up or go to sleep.

Replies

  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
    If you're wanting to get into Spinning I would also suggest getting a bike and a "Turbo Trainer" it's basically a spin bike but you're on a real bike. That way you can take the bike outside when it warms up. That's what I do over the winter months. And paired with Zwift time flies by.

    As far as Spin Bikes go, you get what you pay for. If you go with a Peleton, CycleOps, or similar you're going to get a much better bike.
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    Don't know about home because I spin at the gym.

    I like it.

    Have you tried a class at the gym to see if you like it first? You might try a rowing machine there too.

    At home I just walk.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    CincyNeid wrote: »
    If you're wanting to get into Spinning I would also suggest getting a bike and a "Turbo Trainer" it's basically a spin bike but you're on a real bike. That way you can take the bike outside when it warms up. That's what I do over the winter months. And paired with Zwift time flies by.

    As far as Spin Bikes go, you get what you pay for. If you go with a Peleton, CycleOps, or similar you're going to get a much better bike.

    ^^^^ This is pretty much what I'd suggest too.

    A good quality spinning bike is not cheap, this option gives you a lot more variety (I have an ancient Kurt Kinetic Road Machine - it's stood up very well to a lot of use over many winters)

    I also invested in a Concept2 rowing machine a few years ago and have never regretted it. They probably have one at your gym that you could try just to make sure it doesn't bother your ankle. Great cardio & full body workout!
  • janettles
    janettles Posts: 69 Member
    I like indoor spinning also. That said, for freshness, I would suggest some variety in your workouts. In light of your ankle difficulty, I did a quick search for "sitting workouts" and found several videos. This half-hour chair workout https://fitnessblender.com/videos/workout-at-work-32-minute-chair-workout-video looks promising. Also, strength training with light or heavy weights (or even cans of beans) would introduce some variety. Calisthenic-type workouts like sit-ups and other floor work could also round out your activity a bit.
  • wildtxn
    wildtxn Posts: 97 Member
    I love riding during the summers and have invested quite a bit into a couple of nice bikes. Winters are brutal where I live and was in the same boat as you. I purchased a KICKR from Wahoo fitness and have it hooked up with my computer and a TV in a spare room. With a power meter, heart rate monitor and cadence with app controlled resistance it provides one hell of a workout in the convenience of my house. I use the trainer road software paired with a set of videos from Sufferfest I'm set for a ton of different rides. The videos control the resistance automatically and can be set up to adjust off of your personal FTP. It isn't the cheapest of options, but you can use practically any bike you wish on it and swapping is quick and easy to take it off and go outside for a ride in nicer weather.

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