Treadmill or bike?

butterflylover527
butterflylover527 Posts: 940 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Trying to decide if I should buy an exercise bike or treadmill.

Which one burns more calories? (thinking treadmill since your using you're arms too) *not a deciding factor though*

Which do you like better? Why? *opinion*

Just wondering :smile:
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Replies

  • sam932
    sam932 Posts: 14 Member
    i personally would buy a bike out of the yo options...simply because i fall and trip a lot.. so treadmills and I don't get along together very well lol. but treadmills do burn more calories, but you could burn just as many with a bike depending how hard you push yourself
  • butterflylover527
    butterflylover527 Posts: 940 Member
    i personally would buy a bike out of the yo options...simply because i fall and trip a lot.. so treadmills and I don't get along together very well lol. but treadmills do burn more calories, but you could burn just as many with a bike depending how hard you push yourself

    Lol, I also have little coordination! And you can go faster on bikes, which I would imagine would burn more calories....
  • sam932
    sam932 Posts: 14 Member
    haa well i myself prefer the bike and some argue that your moving more of your body on the treadmill so they say thats better for you...i myself though love the bike!
  • lauren128m
    lauren128m Posts: 75
    I would say the bike. Treadmills tend to hurt my knees after about a week of using it.
  • butterflylover527
    butterflylover527 Posts: 940 Member
    haa well i myself prefer the bike and some argue that your moving more of your body on the treadmill so they say thats better for you...i myself though love the bike!

    True, to each their own!! I tend to go on a walk a few times a weeks so I'm thinking maybe a bike so that it's a bit of a change
  • butterflylover527
    butterflylover527 Posts: 940 Member
    I would say the bike. Treadmills tend to hurt my knees after about a week of using it.

    My knees get sore easily, I heard biking can kind of help with that a bit....
  • sweet110
    sweet110 Posts: 332 Member
    Whichever one you think you will be more likely to use long term. Neither is inherently "better."

    It strikes me, however, that if you don't have an opinion as to which one is best for you, it might be worth the investment to join a gym for a month or two to figure out which one you'd prefer before you make an expensive, bulky, and space using piece of equipment. Most folks who've had experience with both know exactly which one they'd chose, without thinking. Some folks are treadmill people. Some people are bike people. (and some are elliptical people!) If you are feeling ambivalent, maybe you need more experience with the world of workout machines.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Trying to decide if I should buy an exercise bike or treadmill.

    Which one burns more calories? (thinking treadmill since your using you're arms too) *not a deciding factor though*

    Which do you like better? Why? *opinion*

    No opinion.

    Which one burns more calories?

    The one you can do for longer at more intense effort, meaning getting the HR high. And not kill you for the next day preventing that workout.

    Calorie burn is totally based on effort - you can hit the same calorie count on both. Increase the tension on the bike, or increase the incline on the treadmill.

    If you can only jog so long with a high heartrate say 150 before it feels like you are pounding your joints and hurts bad the next day, you probably could have done that same HR 150 on the bike, but won't feel it so bad in the joints, and could do it the next day. Jogging you may not be able to .

    So which one burns more calories? They will burn exactly the same depending on your level of effort put into it.

    So the extended question, over longer period of time which one burns more calories? The one that doesn't prevent you from using all the time available at high HR, or use it again the next day.

    So much depends on you.
  • lisadlocks
    lisadlocks Posts: 212 Member
    Bike. I have been going to spin class and I love it! I walk all the time and have a treadmill. Once I found the love of spin class, I will take a bike ride (stationary or not) over a treadmill everyday.
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,066 Member
    Get a decent spinning bike. They're a better workout than your standard stationary bike.

    Treadmill = no. I wouldn't take one if someone offered me one for free.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    If it was me? Treadmill. If I'm feeling lazy I'd be much more inclined to do some strolling than a bike, plus I love biking outside. Plus too long on the bike hurts my bum, but maybe that's just me!
  • butterflylover527
    butterflylover527 Posts: 940 Member
    Get a decent spinning bike. They're a better workout than your standard stationary bike.

    Treadmill = no. I wouldn't take one if someone offered me one for free.

    Like the lower, full seat? If I get a bike I have to get one like that or I'll have a sore back (and butt for that matter!!)
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    personally I prefer the treadmill. I own both and never use my bike.
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member
    I have a Nautilus stationary bike. I love it! I go for a walk, and when I get back if the baby has fallen asleep on the walk, I jump on the bike. :) It's helped a lot to strengthen my legs I think...
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,066 Member
    Get a decent spinning bike. They're a better workout than your standard stationary bike.

    Treadmill = no. I wouldn't take one if someone offered me one for free.

    Like the lower, full seat? If I get a bike I have to get one like that or I'll have a sore back (and butt for that matter!!)
    Right. That's what I ride at home, and the gym has the same. On my outside bike I have the narrow, firmer seat that makes me have to wear the bike shorts with padding. It all works though :)
  • Mceastes
    Mceastes Posts: 303 Member
    Treadmill! But I'm a runner, so that's just me. Bikes make me want to stand up after a while, guess it's just not as comfortable for me to sit for too long. But I agree with the earlier response that the best one to buy is the one you think you'll use with more intensity. Whichever one you can see yourself staying on the longest, that's the best choice. Also liked the suggestion of trying both routines out at a gym or rec center for a while and deciding before you buy. Either way, you'll get good workouts. Good luck!
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    I had a treadmill and bought an exercise bike. Now i use the treadmill at the gym........go figure,lol
  • rwblue
    rwblue Posts: 5
    I would like to suggest a real bike. Go see the world. Learn the area around where you live.


    When it gets cold, by a stand and ride indoors. Remember the rides you had in the summer.
  • FrugalMomsRock75
    FrugalMomsRock75 Posts: 698 Member
    I would like to suggest a real bike. Go see the world. Learn the area around where you live.


    When it gets cold, by a stand and ride indoors. Remember the rides you had in the summer.

    This is a distant dream for some. lol

    I have five kids. I can't just hop on a bike and take off. It would entail either everyone getting a bike and me having a freaking panic attack (I do that a lot-especially involving my kids being out in public) or me getting a bike and going in the middle of the night. And I'd have to re-learn the art of bike riding as well. It is NOT something you never forget. I got on my older daughter's bike a couple years ago and darn near killed myself...
  • mzhokie
    mzhokie Posts: 349 Member
    I would buy an elliptical machine! I have owned a treadmill for years. The biggest calorie burn I have seen is from an elliptical machine from looking at people on my newsfeed. I wish I had bought one of those years ago instead of the treadmill... better on the knees and an whole body work out.

    We have a 24 hour gym that just opened, if you have one of those in your area.... see if you can at least get a free trial week or day to test out different machines. Ours was running a special to attract new customers.
  • LAWoman79
    LAWoman79 Posts: 348 Member
    Bike. I can move my bike anywhere, and does not take as much room as my treadmill. Plus...I get do bored on my treadmill. That's just me, though.
  • sortin
    sortin Posts: 78
    Whichever you can find cheapest on Craigslist.
  • butterflylover527
    butterflylover527 Posts: 940 Member
    Whichever you can find cheapest on Craigslist.

    Lol, that's what I'm doing!!! Found a bike for $25, kind of liking that price!
  • SteffieMark
    SteffieMark Posts: 1,719 Member
    Whichever one you think you will be more likely to use long term. Neither is inherently "better."

    It strikes me, however, that if you don't have an opinion as to which one is best for you, it might be worth the investment to join a gym for a month or two to figure out which one you'd prefer before you make an expensive, bulky, and space using piece of equipment. Most folks who've had experience with both know exactly which one they'd chose, without thinking. Some folks are treadmill people. Some people are bike people. (and some are elliptical people!) If you are feeling ambivalent, maybe you need more experience with the world of workout machines.

    Great advice! I have to agree with Sweet110. :flowerforyou:
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    I think that you should only purchase after you know which one you like best. Try out and use both if you can before making a purchase and you will more likely make the right decision for yourself.
  • pkfrankel
    pkfrankel Posts: 171 Member
    Why don't you buy a bike? Not a stationary bike but a real bike. You will have much more enjoyment and exercise from riding a bike outside then riding a stationary bike in front of the TV. Plus in the winter you can by a bike trainer (turns bike into stationary bike).
  • mikewpg1ca
    mikewpg1ca Posts: 86 Member
    I concur with the others, if you don't have an opinion on if you prefer a TM or bike more, you will want to hold off on that purchase until you get a sense for what you want. I have a treadmill which I love and I have a road bike, which I put on an indoor trainer when I want.
  • GaryRussell123456
    GaryRussell123456 Posts: 87 Member
    Which one is harder. Running or cycling? Running is for sure and therefore burns the most calories in my experience. Nothing made me drop weight better than running.
  • mikes99mail
    mikes99mail Posts: 318 Member
    I would like to suggest a real bike. Go see the world. Learn the area around where you live.


    When it gets cold, by a stand and ride indoors. Remember the rides you had in the summer.

    this, times about a million! Exercising indoors is DULL... Besides, how are you going to get to the pub on an exercise bike?
  • pixiesj
    pixiesj Posts: 3
    I'd say a bike, but not the stationary kind! I cycle to and from work everyday and it really blows the cobwebs away whilst keeping me fit :) I keep meaning to go for a run but i'm really uncoordinated so i'd probably just fall on my face! x

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