Benefits Recumbent Exercise Bike 2014: 2014-05-25

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Proper use of exercise bike?

PrayerLady

I just got an exercise bike and am so excited to begin using it. I have 2 questions. First, how high should the seat be adjusted? Should your leg be able to fully extend as the pedal rotates down toward the floor? Also, should the entire foot be placed on the pedal or should you be pedalling with the ball of your foot only. I just want to make sure I'm properly aligned and doing it right.

Answer
It depends on the exercise bike... and the user.

If the bike is equipped with a very wide "tractor" saddle then the height should be adjusted to avoid contact with the inner thigh. This generally means that the saddle is quite low. Ten minutes of thigh rub will encourage chafing and other nasty things. Unfortunately, this type of saddle does not allow you to be "doing it right". Regrettably, these models end up covered with dust in a storage area or used as a clothing rack after a very short time.

If the bike is equipped with a real bicycle saddle it should be adjusted front-to-rear so that when the pedals are parallel to the ground the tibia (lower leg bone) should be perpendicular to the ground. Next, it should be high enough so when the ball of the foot (the joint that connects the whole toe with the rest of the foot) is on the pedal parallel to the ground that there should be a slight bend in the knee. Note that this adjustment may change the first. Finally, the saddle should tilt to avoid excess contact with soft tissue and solid contact with the "sit bones"... hands must be on the handlebars in riding position when this adjustment is made.

All adjustments will need to be tweaked as you become more familiar with the bike and your own style.

Is an exercise bike the answer?

spaced

I have had a painful knee for three weeks .The pain did go for a few day ,but now its back .Do you think that an exercise bike will help? It a bike with a proper supported seat ,not a saddle .Thanks in advance.

Answer
No the bike will just irritate it further. Treadmill exercise is the most natural way to exercise because it simulates walking and all humans natural movement is to walk. Read here what I'm saying. Take care, hope the knee feels better!!! Also, noni juice is a natural joint lubricant. GOOGLE: online health mart noni :all my best!!!

How many calories do you burn on an exercise bike?

Meepsters

Recently I've been riding the exercise bike out my my carport once a day for 30 minutes. Usually I ride at around 25 - 30 MPH.
How many calories a day should I lose if I keep doing this?

Thanx in advance for any answers to my question.

Answer
what is your sustained heart rate? mph is a superfluous measure in the whole calorie equation. I can desend a hill at 45 mph, with only the slightest rise in my pulse. wheeee!! then again, I can turn around at the bottom and climb the same hill at 10 mph, with my heart rate monitor on speed dial to 911!!

How much CALORIES did I burn in 30 minute bike exercise?

Kj Jhkj

I worked out 30 minutes on the bike moderately. Its an exercise bike. I was sweating a little bit and my heart beat went up a lot.

I am 210 and 5'6 female. Yes I know I am overweight and I am trying to lose weight.

30 minutes is not a lot and thats why I plan to do more :)

My bike said 175 calories in 30 but can you please tell me how much REAL calories?

Answer
Your bike is within 30 to 50 calories (over the actual).
The variables include your actual peak heart rate and how long you sustained that peak rate. Your age, gender, and weight are also considered.

Keep up the good work.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Best Exercise bike to buy? UK?

jim j

I want to by a exercise bike for my dad for his bday. I dont have much money, and the main things i want is a heart rate monitor built in if poss and it to be as quiet as possible!

thanks

p.s im in the uk

Answer
Ermmm well the cheap way is to get some rollers and put a bike ontop. You can buy a heartrate moniter in any bike store.

is this exercise bike good to buy?

Me Nagato

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9237386/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CSports+and+leisure%7C14419152/Trail/searchtext%3EEXERCISE+BIKE.htm

what is the benefit of this exercise bike and what it will help me to improve.

Answer
me

Cycling is a good cardio exercise. It will improve cardio, stamina, and endurance. It will also aid in a managed diet program, burning 35 calories per mile. Muscles worked are in the lower body.

Soccerref

Looking for a recumbent exercise bicycle for my home. Any suggestions?

Samuel Tay

Looking for a recumbent exercise bicycle for my home. Any suggestions?

Answer
Wal-Mart. I bought my Stamina brand recumbent bike from there about two years ago for $128.00. the price might have gone up a little since then though. It's great! Here's the link to it on Wal-mart.com...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7680164

It looks like the price is $134.00 now but it's well worth it. Stamina has a superb customer service department and excellent warranty coverage.

I hope this helps.

I need a bike for college, any advice?

hanalily

I'm going to UGA which has a pretty big campus. Although they have a nice transit system, I would like to use it to a minimum because of the crowded conditions. I have a cruiser bike and my dad has a mountain bike. My bike is bulky and my dad's bike is uncomfortable to ride (it's tall for me and seat hurts my bum). I'm female and short, and would just like to know what kind of bike is best. I'd like something light weight, easy to use, and cheap. Please and Thank you.

Answer
As far as "Cheap" goes, go to Craigslist.org in your area and see what is available.
http://athensga.craigslist.org/bik/

You might consider getting a Recumbent bike. They fit everyone and are very easy to ride and super comfortable. And you can find them on Craigslist too.
http://athensga.craigslist.org/search/bik?query=recumbent&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=

In the results you will find stationary bikes too, just ignore those. If nothing in your area is there then look outside your area. I did that when I bought the two Recumbent Trikes that we have, one was north of us and one was south. I got both for the price of one of them NEW!

Here is the results of a search for recumbent bikes in Atlanta:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/search/bik?query=recumbent&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=

You can also try Ebay:
http://sporting-goods.shop.ebay.com/Outdoor-Sports-/159043/i.html?_nkw=recumbent+bike&_catref=1&_dmpt=Exercise_Fitness_Cardio&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

Lastly no matter what kind of bike you get, Get a good lock and use it. Also get a helmet and wear it. Also, a mirror.

You are going to think that these bikes are too expensive but these are NOT Walmart quality either. These are quality bikes and super comfortable too. Remember you get what you pay for.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

What is the best men's mountain bike for $400 or less?

Rami

I haven't been on a bike for long while and want to buy one mostly for exercising purposes and riding with my wife and 12 year old daughter. I don't need a hardcore bike just something that is not too high maintenance and won't fall apart after a few rides.

Answer
Either a used bike from craigslist IF & only IF you know what you're looking for & at. Or...a new "put it together yourself" model from Bikes Direct. If you don't feel up to the assembly & tuning up process, take it to a bike shop or ship it directly to a bike shop for assembly.

I'll ask you a question. Why a mountain bike? Will you be riding on rough off-road trails? Or on light trails & pavement? If the latter of the two - you don't need a mountain bike. You NEED a comfort and/or hybrid bike. Read this article from R.E.I. - How to Choose a Bicycle - http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/bicycle.html

More links below from Bikes Direct. Get a good one. 24 speed that has a "cassette" rear cog, not a "freewheel". Also look for double wall rims.

Bike suggestions?

Algore

I have multiple sclerosis and until a few days ago I could not walk. So my muscles have lost a lot of strength. I am going to use a bicycle to get in shape. Unfortunately, I still can't go outside. Would you recommend an exercise bike or a regular bike with an indoor trainer so I could take it out when I am able. Please also include what types of either you would recommend. I have about $500.

Answer
My mom has MS and used a recumbent exercise bike to get her legs back in strength. Once she was finally able to "graduate" to road riding, she purchased a 3 wheel recumbent.

You might want to run this by your physician first, but recumbents tend to work well for people with muscular atrophy because they do not place any stress on the back or neck (in a recumbent you are seated, with your legs in front of you).

Most modern exercise bikes are recum. style so you should have no problem picking up a good used one for less than you have to spend. I would check both ebay and craigslist in your area, I imagine someone has one for sale (I saw one recently in DFW in the free section of craigslist).

Note: if you do get a recumbent to use with a magnetic trainer, you will have to go with the 2 wheel variety (which may be a little more difficult to learn on).

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

How many exercises should you do for each muscle group?

Devin

And how often?

I'm trying to gain definition as opposed to size. Although I do think that my arms could use another inch.

I'm trying to get more defined as opposed to gaining size. Altho I do think my arms could use another inch.

Answer
Definition comes from the loss of subcutaneous body fat and that comes from diet.

The key to fat loss is not exercise, it's diet.

Any exercise will burn calories but no exercise will burn fat unless your diet allows it. You can burn fat in your sleep or you can run all day and never burn any fat. It all depends on your diet.

Fat loss is determined by calorie control, not by exercise. Good exercises for burning calories are speed walking, biking, swimming, dancing, etc. and ANY other physical activity which makes you move a lot of weight for a long time. But NO exercise is good for burning fat if you eat too many calories because you can always eat more calories than you can burn but you can't always burn as many as you take in.

Too many people waste energy and time because they do not understand this one simple point. The result is too often giving up in frustration, abandoning gym memberships they continue to pay for, and many other unnecessary problems not the least of which is a lack of success.

An average person must walk about five miles every day for a week to burn the calories equivalent to a pound of body fat. So, unless you think walking about five miles a day (or doing an equivalent amount of exercise) with no guarantee of fat loss makes sense, focus your fat loss program on diet.

Diet for fat loss. Exercise for fitness.

Continue building muscle because it does not preclude fat loss and provides more muscle to be defined. And, above all, ignore anything you've ever learned from bodybuilding websites, magazines, gym rats, etc. There is more bad information in the bodybuilding world than good which is probably why you said what you said about building definition rather than size. The two are NOT incompatible.

To find out how the best minds in nutrition in the world (at the US NIH) have recommended for decades we lose fat, read my answer about how to lose fat --> http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=As615QJM4X_3ID9_05qmmlXty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20111028185603AAVcP4D

I can't answer the question about how many exercises you should do because to do so, I would have to create a program for you from scratch and I don't have enough information to be able to do that assuming I had the time which I don't. What I can tell you is you should do at least one and as many as 2 or 3 for the major muscle groups. However, never do more than one set to failure of each exercise. You shouldn't be spending more than 1-2 hours per week training for strength.

You should study.

Your body has no choice but to follow your brain. So, you should feed your brain a steady diet of good information if you want to be all you can be. It's YOUR body and it has to last a lifetime so it's worth the investment. Don't ask questions of random strangers with no credibility in this or other online forums. Use high quality resources for information instead. The basic principles of health, fitness, and nutrition are not that difficult or hard to understand.

Avoid the internet unless you're using trusted sites in dot gov or dot edu domains. The dot coms are usually driven by profit motive and you'll find bad information in most websties including WebMD, Livestrong, Bobybuilding.com, etc. and especially in this forum and others like it. And, avoid magazine and other cheap commercial informational products about fitness, glamour, muscle building, fashion and fads. Don't be part of the "herd" unless you want to look, feel, and perform like the "herd".

Use books, especially late edition text books on subjects such as nutrition, anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology...especially exercise physiology. You can find excellent information resources at your local public or Uni library or for sale cheap online at Amazon.com and Ebay.com.

Always follow the science. Use critical thinking. Be skeptical and do not believe anything without cross checking it with trusted sources. Grow your personal knowledge base and everything else will follow with relative ease.

You have one body and it has to last a lifetime. It's worth the investment to learn how to care for it properly.

For more information, check out the following links.

Body by Science: http://www.bodybyscience.net/home.html/?page_id=18
Drew Baye: http://baye.com/
Mike Mentzer: http://www.mikementzer.com/aerobic.html
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_intensity_training

Good luck and good health!!

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Can anyone offer pointers on getting a really cheap bike?

Kyle

We're broke, but my girlfriend wants a bike and I agree 100 percent. Just something to get her some fresh air, exercise, and generally get her out of the house and give her some freedom (she doesn't have a car or driver's license). It doesn't need to be anything fancy, but every article on google says that, if you buy a cheap bike, it will burst into flame the first time you ride it. I don't buy that, and even if I did it's either a burning bike or no bike.

She'd ride it on good pavement, five miles round trip max. Cost is really the limiting factor. Is there any possible way I can get something for 50 bucks or less?

Answer
Depends where you are but it shouldn't be a problem. Seeing that it's winter (depending on where you live) bike's are generally cheaper now.
Try
craigslist
kijiji/ebay classifieds
garage sales
flea markets (most of the bikes I buy at flea markets are $10-$20).
some pawn shops but they're usually overpriced.
I get most of my mountain bikes at municipal/police auctions and pay $5-$15.

Most likely at that price you'll have to get some work done. It's good to be handy at this stage or know someone that is. If you live in a fairly large city or near a university you can search for a local bike co-op. Lots of used parts, all the tools you need and there's usually someone there to guide you along. Some bike shops have the same service and they charge a nominal fee to use their workshop.

If you need parts - flea markets and craigslist are two places you can get used (and new) parts for dirt cheap.

Cables and pads are cheap no matter where you go and it's something you can do on your own. Check the rims to make sure they're fairly straight with no dents. Replacing a wheel is costly unless you can find one used. If you have to replace a chain that's about $12 for a cheap one. You can usually find used tires on craigslist and flea markets for cheap.

The other thing you want to watch out for on a $50 bike or less is the crankset/bottom bracket. Grip both pedal arms and try wiggling it and see if you can feel any play or looseness. If it's loose you'll have to replace the bearings and sometimes the bottom bracket cups and/or the axle. The parts for that aren't expensive and it's a cheap fix IF you can do it yourself. If you can't then don't bother buying the bike as you'll have to get that serviced and you won't be able to afford it if you're bidget is $50.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Can I lose weight on this exercise bike?

If not what would you recommend me ?

Answer
I am assuming exercise bike in your case if not then i guess riding a bike is not a good option for a busy person or someone not living in a nature friendly environment.

an exercise bike can do wonders if you use it the right way here is a link to which will help you get everything out of an exercise bike

http://searchwarp.com/swa8052.htm

otherwise if bike doesn't seem like a good idea i would prefer a plan which doesnt even consume enought time its easy and simple:

If the bottom line for you is getting results in the easiest, least disruptive way possible then I would HIGHLY Recommend a combination of Calorie Shifting with an Interval Exercise program. For the small amount of time & effort they require they have the best results of ANY weight loss methods I have personally seen or used, hands down. Iâll explain both below for you

The Most Effective Diet & Workout Programs from 2009;

DIET
Eat to Lose Weight: The Calorie shifting diet does what no other diet can, burn fat by eating more! The way it works is you switch up the types of calories you eat every day and their sources.
So for example one day is a greater amount of protein which would be sourced from animal meats. The next day might be a high fat day sourced from good fats such as coconut oil, olive oils etc with moderate whole grain intake from a source such as brown rice.

What this way of eating does is stimulate your metabolism through eating, the best part is that you don't have to starve or even do much of anything besides eat according to the recommended schedule or using calorie shifting diet generator software. Best of all you can eat as much as you want every day of the allowed foods so youâre never hungry while on the diet.

WORKOUT
15 Minute Workouts: Itâs been proven that quick high intensity 15-20 minute workouts are the most effective ways to burn fat from a workout. What these exercise programs do is elevate your metabolism very rapidly to its peak levels and pushes it for about 15 minutes. Itâs incredibly basic however the results have been shown to be as or more effective than exercising for over an hour a day! Iâve posted a link below the most popular and cheapest high intensity workout program.

If youâre looking for more information on how to do both of these fat burning methods you can refer to my sources below.

People can generally lose anywhere from 8-16 pounds in just their first week doing these 2 programs.

exercise equipment?

Mike Mahon

Hi,
I started running on the treadmill, i do 40 mins at night time. 10 mins of running and 30 mins of fast/slow walking.
I like to get another exercise equipment, just so i can rotate what i do everyday. My main aim is to loose weigh. I am 200pounds, 5,10 height. Which equipment do you think it's worth it to buy? i'm not looking towards spending a lot of money.
thanks

Answer
An exercise bike can be a worthwhile investment. Get one that's of good quality, say in the price range of $300- $500.

An exercise ball is another good choice - it's cheap and helps you heaps in strength training.

And dumbbells for weight lifting- cheap and very effective in boosting muscle growth.

Here's more insight into exercise equipment: http://www.perfect-body-toning.com/home-gym-exercise-equipment.html

What's the best exercise bike?

avpwilson

Answer
There are many exercise bikes, from recumbent to mini.
Check out http://bestexercisebikesguide.com

I need to know what makes a good exercise bikes?