Do you use your exercise bike?

[Ashlotte]

DH wants an exercise bike for Christmas. It seems like everyone I know that has had one buys it with the best of intentions, uses it for a while, then gets sick of it and totally for forgets about it. I really don't want one because I feel like they are a major eyesore and just take up too much space. Please prove me wrong! Do you have one? Do you use it?

 

[tasha99]

Yes! I use it to hang clothes that I'm drying because they're too delicate for the dryer. It's very handy that way.

 

[Swimalie]

Does your husband have a regular bike? If so, you could get him a wind trainer.
http://www.trisports.com/cywitr.html?gclid=CJDkjKX95LMCFQ-f4AodGmAAgg

You would also need to get a brick for the front to hold the front wheel up. Look for an adjustable one with a handheld remote. It's a lot smaller than an exercise bike and cost about the same, once you have the bike. And let me tell you, it's a serious workout!

 

[ElenaRN]

I don't have an excersize bike, but like pp I have a bike trainer.

I use it a lot. I was using it about 4x/week in the summer. It's in the garage and its colder, so I've only been using it about once a week now.

We got our trainer on Amazon and it was about $80. It works great for us. We are not serious cyclists, just want to have a cardio machine at home.

 

[Sadie22]

DH wants an exercise bike for Christmas. It seems like everyone I know that has had one buys it with the best of intentions, uses it for a while, then gets sick of it and totally for forgets about it. I really don't want one because I feel like they are a major eyesore and just take up too much space. Please prove me wrong! Do you have one? Do you use it?

If your husband wants to exercise, don't discourage him. Encourage him. Exercise is important to good health.

 

[wiigirl]

If your husband wants to exercise, don't discourage him. Encourage him. Exercise is important to good health.

This...

 

[willowsnn3]

No. It's just been sitting around taking up space for about 3yrs now. I had to have it tho. Was not satisfied til I bought it. Then the hassle of assembling the darn thing just turned me off altogether. Maybe I should have bought it pre assembled, lol. I love my treadmill tho.

 

[LJSquishy]

I would say the majority of people who purchase exercise bikes don't use them. However, if you really think your husband will use it (ie: does he already do some form of exercise?) then it is a worthwhile purchase. I would personally much rather have an eliptical machine or a treadmill but I suppose he wants the bike for a reason.

My husband has a fluid bike trainer which means you use your normal road/mountain bike and it holds the bike so you can pedal without the bike actually propelling forward. It has different resistance settings and you can still ride your bike outside anytime you want. It is a great addition to have if your husband already has a bicycle but wants to use it indoors (or in yucky weather).

I do agree that supporting your husbands' desire to exercise is important and so ultimately you should probably buy him "something" whether it be the exercise bike, treadmill, bike trainer, etc. I would be very hurt if I asked for a health-related item such as this and my husband didn't support me. I totally get where you are coming from as to whether or not it will just collect dust or actually get a lot of use, but you should probably just get it.

If you (and he) are open to a gently used exercise bike, Craigslist always has a million to choose from. They are those people who bought one and never used it! lol Same with any other excercise equipment!

Edited to add: Regarding the eyesore comment, I couldn't agree more! BUT of course it is worth it if he uses it! I do know they make some models that fold in half when you're not using it so it will take up less floor space and you could slide it into a corner I guess.

 

[scrdofbugs]

Yes, I use my bike faithfully for the past year and I have lost 40 pounds. I know it's not huge but I am so proud.

 

[ceecee]

We use it just like we do our Nordic Track and Treadmill..never! Hadn't thought to use it as a clothes rack, although I do need one.
Seriously....look at garage sales or Craig's List, I'm sure you could find a nice barely used one cheap!

 

[LostSock]

I had an older one that worked perfectly fine and I couldn't hardly give it away. I tried selling it at a yard sale for $10. two different yard sales. I eventually put it by the road with a "free" sign on it. Somebody finally took it.

Check craigslist for a used one. When he doesn't use it anymore, sell it to the next sucker on craigslist.

 

[LostSock]

Yes! I use it to hang clothes that I'm drying because they're too delicate for the dryer. It's very handy that way.

You too?!

 

[Sadie22]

I will add further that your husband should try out any potential purchase in a store. This is not something to purchase as a surprise for someone, and that may be a reason why some do not get used. Some of the less expensive models are not sturdy and will rock during use. Also they may not offer sufficient resistance or be properly proportioned for the intended user. Some are more easily assembled and more easily adjusted than others. There are uprights, which can have uncomfortable seats, as well as recumbent bicycles.

DS has an old bicycle set up with a resistance trainer on the rear wheel. He has another bike for trail-riding.

 

[ktlm]

Part of whether he uses it might depend on whether it is in front of a tv. I used mine for about a year because we had a TV in front of it, and I would put on an hour long show and tell myself I had to ride for the whole show. I didn't get bored with it as long as I had something to watch and I rode it pretty much every day. Then we moved and the bike got put in a room where we did not have a tv at the time. That was it for the bike. I rode it once or twice and without the tv was so bored I couldn't do it anymore. I never got back in the practice of riding it again.

 

[angwill]

Yes, I have had my eliptical exercise bike for about 10 years now and I ride it every morning. I really need a new one because it used to have digital read out so I knew how far/fast I went and other read outs but that died about 5 years ago. I need to find someone who bought one but never uses it that would sell me theirs cheap just to get it out of their house. lol Edited to add mine is where I watch TV while riding as well.

 

[Ashlotte]

Well, he ended up talking me into it and we got this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007595TKU/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00for his Christmas present. He does exercise now and that's why he wants it. He says all he does at the gym is the exercise bike anyway and he could save the travel and extra showering time by doing it at home. I definitely want him to be healthy and exercise, but I also want to make sure we aren't wasting our family's resources. As long as he uses it, I'm okay with it (especially if it ends up being cheaper than the gym in the long run). He is planning on setting it up in the garage and putting a tv out there, so hopefully that will retain his interest.

 

[niffer5150]

I have a treadmill my sister used as a clothes hanger for eons. I use it almost everyday. i'm down 30 pounds and fit into my "wishfull thinking" jeans. it's infront of a tv and I mounted a board arcoss it so I can set my laptop on it and surf the web. it's easy to burn 700 calories without noticing if you just plod along and get lost on youtube for awhile.

 

[aubriee]

I had an older one that worked perfectly fine and I couldn't hardly give it away. I tried selling it at a yard sale for $10. two different yard sales. I eventually put it by the road with a "free" sign on it. Somebody finally took it.

This is exactly what my neighbor did with theirs. She put it in two garage sales asking $25.00 for it the first time and $10.00 for it the second time. After not getting any offers for it, she finally put it out by our mailboxes with a "Free" sign on it and someone picked it up. I've got one that's just taking up space in my garage. I don't really want to get rid of it though, because I keep thinking I'm going to use it one of these days. I picked mine up at a garage sale for $10.00.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

We have one in our garage, I got it at Goodwill for like $10. It has been sitting there for about 4 years or so. I have used it a couple times, and I always intend to drag it out and start using it again. We also have a treadmill in the guest room. I have actually used it a little bit more, but I havent used it in a few months. I keep intending to get back on there. At least I know it is there if/when the mood hits me to get back to exercising.