Question about exercise bike

[Donna7]

Hello! I was wondering if anyone had some advice for me...I'm looking for a recumbent exercise bicycle, and I don't really know what to look for or reliable brand names. Does anyone here use one that they could recommend? My main shopping venue will be eBay:D , so I will probably be somewhat limited as to what I can choose, but would appreciate anyone's feedback! Thanks.
Donna

[Viking Dan]

FWIW, I'm partial to stair climbers. If you are on the *ahem* husky side, it probably provides a better workout.

If possible, you're better off trying a unit locally if you can and then try to get a better price online for it. These things can be a pain in the @$$ to ship back if you don't like them.

[Donna7]

Thanks...that's a great suggestion. I'll look around. I have some old injuries to my left arm/shoulder/neck, and I can't grip much with that arm, or let it jostle around too much or dangle for any length of time. That's why I thought a recumbent bike might be the best route to go. I will definitely shop around locally first, though!
Donna

[Viking Dan]

If you're physically not able to stand, then I suppose you'd have to opt for a recumbent.

Although awkward, it is possible to do the stair climber with one arm. With practice, you can do it with no arms. ;)

Any exercise is infinitely better than none. Good luck.

[LisaS]

consider using Craig's list rather than Ebay - if you check locally you just have to pickup rather than pay shipping. There are often good exercise related bargains there.

[Viking Dan]

To be fair, you can often find pickup only auctions in your vicinity on eBay, too.

[Gaelen]

Donna7--hello and welcome in!
I also really like my mini-stepper...with cross-country ski pole-style arms, which you can use together with the stepping workout, or use for support as needed. I wasn't sure they still made the model I own--mine is nearly 11 years old, bought mainly because of its very very small footprint and store-ability (I was living in a three-room 400s.f. miniature house at the time.) But it's had lots of hard use, and except for one bolt on the footpad which stripped (so I replaced it) it's still going strong.

This is a picture of a model very like mine (http://shopping.msn.com/prices/shp/?itemId=22811766,ptnrid=169,ptnrdata=12473343). The steps fold up if you need to put it in a closet...but unfolded and ready for use, it's about 18" square, or less.

Another place to 'browse' different types of steppers, complete with pictures and information, is QVC's exercise equipment selection. They have everything from Stairmasters to mini-stepper...and also quite a selection of recumbent bikes. You could check the equipment out and then figure out what you're looking for.

Besides eBay and Craiglist, don't forget any local second-hand sports equipment stores (we have several "Play it Again Sports" stores around here), and since it's spring--garage sales. That season is just gearing up around here. ;)

[Viking Dan]

Besides eBay and Craiglist, don't forget any local second-hand sports equipment stores (we have several "Play it Again Sports" stores around here), and since it's spring--garage sales. That season is just gearing up around here. ;)

Not to mention the slew of exercise equipment I see on big garbage night in my town.

If I only had a pick up truck and a basement to myself...

[Donna7]

Thanks, all, for the suggestions. Gaelen, do the stepper handles lock in place? My grip isn't always the best on the left side, but I could possibly have someone put a wrist strap or some other support on the handle if it didn't move at all. Also, do the steppers bother your knees? I have one kneecap that doesn't track right, and sometimes it catches. I also have plantar fasciitis, which causes some problems with walking long distances (thus no treadmill for now), but I think the stretch on a stepper might actually be good for that. I'm hoping if I am able to drop some weight the knee and foot problems will improve and I'd like to get a treadmill then. Space is not really too much of an issue, if I could find something I'm able to do without causing neck/shoulder problems.
Thanks again..you guys are so much help! Donna

[Gaelen]

Gaelen, do the stepper handles lock in place? My grip isn't always the best on the left side, but I could possibly have someone put a wrist strap or some other support on the handle if it didn't move at all.

Donna, on mine, each handle has a large knob at the bottom where it attaches directly to the frame. I can tighten that up to increase the resistance, and even with reduced hand strength from carpal tunnel, I can get them so tight they won't move. The arms are more free-moving when you leave the tension looser (so that you can easily fold the unit.) Mine is regularly folded/unfolded, and sometimes I use the arms--other times not. That's a lot of twisting for the average plastic housing/screw bolts, and mine are still working fine.

Actually, what I did to mine after about five years of use (to add more weight, but it also gave me a better grip) was take two of those adjustable weights that velcro around your wrist or ankle and velcro'ed them around the handles. Worked a charm, and didn't cost me anything. I have some right-side weakness from a stroke, and had a lot of neuropathy during my first course of chemo, but had no problem hanging on to the arms, or locking them and resting my arms if I needed to do that.

Also, do the steppers bother your knees? I have one kneecap that doesn't track right, and sometimes it catches.

Actually, 12 years ago I wrecked up my left knee while training a dog (second time for that knee.) The orthopedic doc I use is part of the practice that provides ortho care to the local university's sports teams, and he has a very exercise-oriented approach to PT. He'd also rather do PT than cut, and he's the one who suggested that I do leg lifts and stairs on very light resistance, building up either time or resistance on a rotating schedule until I could do 10 minutes on the lightest resistance, 5 minutes on heavy resistance. Took awhile to get there, but my knees are actually in pretty good shape now. ;)

After wrecking up the left knee twice, I switched to the right knee :rolleyes: and put a slight tear in the right MCL (again, training a dog.) This time I was in a hip-to-ankle immobilizer, but after that came off, enter leg lifts and stair stepper. I managed another three years of teaching/training/running agility before I stopped for other reasons. A year ago I messed up the left knee again (tripped over a cat and fell into the couch--have since trained the cat to get out of the way!) I could have had surgery, but opted for a PT approach--stretches and leg lifts and ... the stair stepper. This time, the stretches were far more important. I am no longer running agility dogs, but I do still train and show in other venues. As long as I continue to stretch my knee adequately, I can still do plenty of walking when I'm not in the middle of a chemo treatment, climb NYC subway stairs, and when I'm working, use the stairs to and from my second-floor office. ;)

[kevinpa]

Donna, I have used my recumbent bike for about a year now and although it is not the only piece of exercise equipment I own.....it is my favorite.
I believe in order to have a successful exercise routine it has to be full of things you like to do. If there is no enjoyment in it you will fight it every inch of the way. With that said, I own a LifeGear recumbent exercise bike with magnetic tension and although I am currently in maintenance mode with my weight I use it about 3 times a day at least 6 days a week. That may sound excessive, but I do it to maintain blood glucose level. I have it set up in my family room and its nothing for me to sit down after a meal and watch the food network or a show I like while I bike for an hour or whatever amount of time that is comfortable to me. I used to get up at 3:30 AM and bike while I watched Low-Carb Cookworx on PBS(*cough* one of my favorite shows) when it was still on around here.:lol: The bike itself was the 2nd least expensive piece of equipment I own. I paid $169 about a year ago for it ......you may find it less now.
I can say this for a fact, if i had not had my bike and was left using my other equipment, I would never have exercise near as much as I did.

I agree with the fact that you should go try it locally....you will know right away if it is something you feel that you can do everyday......Liking what you do is 3/4 of the battle.

[Donna7]

All right, you guys have me sold on the bike AND the stepper! Kevin, do you know any nationwide stores that sell that brand? (My doctor, who is not at all overweight and looks athletic, once told me he came from a very overweight family...all his brothers and his father...and he lost a lot of his weight bike riding.) I think I probably would enjoy the bike more, but I'm willing to try the stepper, too, if only to strengthen that knee. Three of my children also have knee problems, so it might help them, too. I'll have to take a day and do some checking around...we have a Play It Again not too far from here. Gaelen, sounds like your knees and domesticated animals don't get along too well! BTW, are you still in Syracuse? We lived in Marcellus for two years while I did my nurses' training at St. Joe's. I loved the area, but my husband is a Colorado native, so he wanted to come home when we were done with school. I still miss it, though, and made so many wonderful friends there!
Thanks again to all for your thoughtful replies...just gotta go shopping now, I guess!
Donna

[kevinpa]

Kevin, do you know any nationwide stores that sell that brand?

I bought mine at the local Sears. When I look online now though, I don't see that brand.