Marks
I tried the R1 an R3 made by Life Fitness but when I pedal my foot hits the rod between the bike and the pedal. I am 6'1" and also bowlegged. The XBR55 by Spirit Fitness is not quite as smooth as the R1 or R3, but doesn't have the above problem. It is also less expensive.
Spirit Fitness claims the following advantage:
"Through research performed with a leading sports scientist and physical rehabilitation expert,
Spirit engineering has developed a breakthrough in pedal design. Typical stationary exercise bikes
are wider than a normal road bike. The reason is to allow for the braking mechanism, pulleys,
drive components and beauty covers. Since the bike is wider, so is the distance between the
pedals; this width between the pedals is called the Q factor.
Spirit has designed our pedal system so the Q factor is the smallest in the industry, but we did not
stop there. We have also custom designed and tooled a new pedal that provides a two degree
inward tilt to compensate for the Q factor not being perfect. Having a small Q factor in addition to
the two-degree inward tilt of the pedals puts the user into a biomechanical neutral alignment. This
means that your feet, ankles, knees and hips are lined up properly ensuring a comfortable
workout."
Would this be good for someone who is tall and bowlegged or is this the opposite of what I should be looking for? If so, would it be better to purchase the Life Fitness and just place my feet on the outer side of the pedals (or would this create unnatural strain?) Thanks!!
Answer
Why only look at recumbent exercise bikes? There is no particular reason to concentrate on this type of bike unless you have back problems. You might want to talk to someone who specializes in bike fitting to assess your needs on a bicycle. Q factor is well known to those who ride bicycles. It is very easy to achieve a low q factor on an upright stationary bike, but that is not the only issue in bike fitting. The position your feet assume on the pedal is also important. If you pedal toes out the way you fit yourself is not the same as if you pedal toes in. The absolute best option is a well fitted bicycle on a trainer. Bicycles can be custom fitted much better than any exercise bike. Once you buy the bike, you can buy a trainer to use it on. The beauty of this arrangement is that you can also ride the bicycle outdoors on the road which is a much more interesting way to train
Why only look at recumbent exercise bikes? There is no particular reason to concentrate on this type of bike unless you have back problems. You might want to talk to someone who specializes in bike fitting to assess your needs on a bicycle. Q factor is well known to those who ride bicycles. It is very easy to achieve a low q factor on an upright stationary bike, but that is not the only issue in bike fitting. The position your feet assume on the pedal is also important. If you pedal toes out the way you fit yourself is not the same as if you pedal toes in. The absolute best option is a well fitted bicycle on a trainer. Bicycles can be custom fitted much better than any exercise bike. Once you buy the bike, you can buy a trainer to use it on. The beauty of this arrangement is that you can also ride the bicycle outdoors on the road which is a much more interesting way to train
Got a bruised knee cap. Shoould I stay off the exercise bike?
Hurt it playin roller hockey. I ran into the goal tender's whole body and tripped over him at the knees. Its got a tender sensation in the back of my knee and a bruise on the cap itself. Doesn't hurt to walk on. Its been 2 days and I have a game next sunday. I don't know if i should keep from exercising longer.
Answer
If it is just a superficial bruise over your knee cap, you should be fine. But if it hurts to sit down (take weight off your knee) and flex and extend it, I'd ice it and stay away from vigorous exercise for a couple of days. This could mean you actually bruised the bone or perhaps even fractured it (of course, you'd be in serious pain and probably would have gone to the doctor had you fractured it). However, if it does not hurt to bike, nor is the joint stiff (from swelling), go ahead with it.
The tender sensation on the back of your knee is a little worrisome, but if you are more concerned about the knee cap, I am sure you will be fine. It just all depends on how exactly you fell. In any case, ice, rest, and elevation will speed up recovery.
If it is just a superficial bruise over your knee cap, you should be fine. But if it hurts to sit down (take weight off your knee) and flex and extend it, I'd ice it and stay away from vigorous exercise for a couple of days. This could mean you actually bruised the bone or perhaps even fractured it (of course, you'd be in serious pain and probably would have gone to the doctor had you fractured it). However, if it does not hurt to bike, nor is the joint stiff (from swelling), go ahead with it.
The tender sensation on the back of your knee is a little worrisome, but if you are more concerned about the knee cap, I am sure you will be fine. It just all depends on how exactly you fell. In any case, ice, rest, and elevation will speed up recovery.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment