Exercise bike or real bike: opinions wanted!

Just get an exercise bike for the house.

get both

I go further and work harder without noticing as much on my actual bike but I do have a stationery bike as well. I can tell you that 100% of the time I get on my stationery bike I don't do as much and I feel like I've done 10 times more.

i think you should get the out door bike it would be a better work out and more fun

Not sure what you are comfortable with as far as bikes go, but a lot of times you can find a decent used bike at Goodwill stores. Over the years we have found more than a couple really nice used bikes at great prices. They may also have an exercise bike, but likely the quality won't be very good.

Just a thought. Hope you find what works best for you!

Real bike! Sweating my brains out pedaling to no where is not much fun, but riding through a neighborhood or a nice park with the wind on my face, so much better.

Plus there is always something to be said about an exercise where you have no choice but to keep going....if you're on a stationary, you could quit at any time, but when you're out on a bike, even if you're tired, you HAVE to keep going to get home.

Can you buy a little tent/trailer thing to bring the kids with you, or are they old enough to ride also?

And for the winter, you could spend an additional $80 for a bike trainer to turn your outdoor bike into a staionary bike, but you cannot turn a stationary bike into an outdoor one.

As someone who loves biking, I would say that there is no substitute for outdoor riding! When it's unpleasant, I will hit up the exercise bike at the gym and am almost always disappointed. Being indoors and on a flat terrain with a timer in my face certainly sucks the fun out of it and makes it feel like a chore - like another exercise that I'm just trying to get through and be done with. However, I think maybe an exercise bike is a good place to start. I can do 5 miles on an exercise one in much less time and with more ease than on a regular bike. You have to consider how terrain would effect your ride. Some roads that look flat actually end up having slight inclines and can be very challenging. Also, with your budget you may be unable to find a nice road bike that works for you. So perhaps give the stationary one a go and once you've lost more weight and if you find that you enjoy the ride, treat yourself with a road bike

I also like riding bikes whether it's outside or inside. I actually got a brand new outside bike for Mother's Day. That was awesome! However, speaking from experience with children, you would probably benefit from an exercise bike more. So that way you can ride a bike early in the a.m. or late @ p.m. when the kids are sleeping or if it rains/snows, you can ride inside as well. I ride the exercise bike on a daily basis in the building in which I work. It has a physical therapy department. I am so lucky! Good luck on making the right decision!!

You've asked a lot there, and somewhat contradictory.

If you only have $100, you really don't have enough for a decent bike of any kind.
Not sure why SPEED of getting around is important (per your last line), especially if you are considering a stationery bike.

Why not just go for a walk. Start there. It's way more cost effective and you can see if you like exercising at all.

Good luck

Um, Target has plenty of bikes for $100 or less. Mine worked just fine for me for 2 summers of riding 10-20 miles several times a week. I did upgrade to a better bike, but mostly the only thing wrong with the Target one was that it was heavy, but hey, gives you a better work out!

Craigslist and garage sales are also a great place to check when low on funds and just starting out.

REAL BIKE! You can buy a trainer for your real bike for the winter time... Mount it up and ride indoors while it is all snowy outside! You can't take a stationary bike and do that.

Yeah you for getting out there and getting on a bike!!! I love to cycle... I have a road bike and a commuter bike (sans cute bike with basket to ride around town). If you are just getting into it... Right now would be a good time to go to the bike store. Lots of bikes are on sale right now because they are releasing the new bikes for 2012 soon. Therefore you can probably find a more expensive bike for less. In reality it is all about what feels comfortable to you... Make sure you test it out at the shop and make sure it fits right. To me the reach is the most important part since if your bike doesn't fit properly you can have back pain, wrist pain,etc... Fit is very important! Also.... GET A HELMET! You may look like a nerd but nerds are smart... So be smart and protect your nugget.

If I could suggest a bike for a beginner I would suggest a fitness bike... Trek has a fitness line along with other bike companies. It has skinny yet nubby tires that you could ride on the road or a dirt path as well. They are also built for comfort. All around a great bike for someone just starting out that may bump up rides in the future.

GOOD LUCK!

I ride my bike on trails and really love it. I go a lot further outside, with all the changing scenery you don't get bored. Living in NY though, there isn't a lot of months of riding, so I am looking at the trainer, just slide your back tire into and and you have a stationary bike. Try craig's list, or call the local bike shop. They might have some used ones, or customers that are selling. Good luck!

I have both and only use the stationary when its really bad weather out. I rode the stationary primarily throughout my weightloss journey starting in January. This got really boring really quick! Felt like a hamster on a wheel, unbearable. I will now actually ride my mountain bike even when there is a slight rain out. Makes things interesting. Plus you get to see the scenery of the woods, plant life, and wildlife. Its something different every day. Good luck with your decision.

real bike, no question.