Spin Bikes

[TimSJ]

Hey all,

the wife wants a Spin bike for the house. She is training for a triatalon this summer.

Anyone have one. Like it don't like it. Looking for some reccomendations. Huge range in Prices don't want to buy a $1500 one if there is a $500 one out there that is jsut as good.

thanks
tim

[SportsJunky]

I never use it at the gym. What is the difference between a spin bike and a stationary bike anyway?

[scotty2hotty]

I would recommend a wind/bicycle trainer. If she's training for a triathlon it would be a good idea to spin on the actual bike she's going to be riding. Just google it to see the many options.

Huge price ranges as well, but simple ones are cheaper than stationary bikes.

[macker]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

I would recommend a wind/bicycle trainer. If she's training for a triathlon it would be a good idea to spin on the actual bike she's going to be riding. Just google it to see the many options.

Huge price ranges as well, but simple ones are cheaper than stationary bikes.

Good advice! I got a trainer from http://www.blackburndesign.com/trainers.html and that is the way to go as you can train on the bike/bikes you plan to use. Once you have the trainer you will likely spend about $40 per winter on tires as you will want tires that you can wear down on the trainer.

[pylon]

I bought one about 2 and a half months ago, and have lost a little better than 20 lbs so far doing 50 kms a day / 5 days per week on it. Different than triathlon training, but still highly effective.

I just find it 10 times better than a standard stationary bike for the riding position being very close to a road bike, and the actual riding style being mych more similar to an actual bike. Also the one I bought allows you to put a proper saddle on it, not a big plushy one.

This is the one I bought I picked up at Sears:

http://www.sears.ca/product/xterra-i...58137-16416860

[pylon]

Originally Posted by macker

Good advice! I got a trainer from http://www.blackburndesign.com/trainers.html and that is the way to go as you can train on the bike/bikes you plan to use. Once you have the trainer you will likely spend about $40 per winter on tires as you will want tires that you can wear down on the trainer.

I thought about that route, but I didn't want to have to replace a $500 drive train on my bike, and a $100 set of tires before I even hit the road on mine this spring, let alone buy a $400 trainer. It would have cost me more to go the trainer route, than just buy a spin bike.

[TimSJ]

Originally Posted by pylon

I bought one about 2 and a half months ago, and have lost a little better than 20 lbs so far doing 50 kms a day / 5 days per week on it. Different than triathlon training, but still highly effective.

I just find it 10 times better than a standard stationary bike for the riding position being very close to a road bike, and the actual riding style being mych more similar to an actual bike. Also the one I bought allows you to put a proper saddle on it, not a big plushy one.

This is the one I bought I picked up at Sears:

http://www.sears.ca/product/xterra-i...58137-16416860

Thanks Pylon,

This is actually the one I am looking at for her. Like it so far any negatives about it.

I would consider the trainer as well. But maybe if one of these things was sitting in the house i would drag my fat ass onto it.

[macker]

Originally Posted by pylon

I thought about that route, but I didn't want to have to replace a $500 drive train on my bike, and a $100 set of tires before I even hit the road on mine this spring, let alone buy a $400 trainer. It would have cost me more to go the trainer route, than just buy a spin bike.

You should be able to get the trainers under $400 now as they have come down quite a bit and you won't need to get a set of tires just a rear trainer tire as that is the only tire that wears on the trainer. Cyclepath has these for $40-$45. I have used both of my road bikes on the trainer and never had a problem with the drive train but I would be pretty upset if that did ever happen.
For me it boils down to using the bike I race with and being able to work on shifting and simulating a race when I am training. I also like that my trainer folds up neatly and I can take it to warehouse workouts or hotels if traveling. You can also use your mountain bike on the trainer but I haven't done that yet. I wouldn't want to have to store another bike so the trainer works for me. Either way is a good idea though as it will get you into shape!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

don't like it. Looking for some reccomendations. Huge range in Prices don't want to buy a $1500 one if there is a $500 one out there that is jsut as good.

I'm no expert by any means, but in my experience there's nothing to make you lose interest in working out more than cheap home exercise equipment. Consumer grade equipment tends to be uncomfortable, shaky, and not built for a lot of use (considering your wife is training for a triathlon Im guess it would get a lot of use!). My guess is anything from Sears falls into this category.

Try to get as close to gym-quality equipment as your budget will allow.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

Thanks Pylon,

This is actually the one I am looking at for her. Like it so far any negatives about it.

I would consider the trainer as well. But maybe if one of these things was sitting in the house i would drag my fat ass onto it.

It is pretty good for the price. Not a gym club bike, but very solid, and heavy. Not "shaky" like a body break bike, or as seen on TV type of equipment. However, I was not prepared to spend $2000-3000 on a gym club bike, when I just dropped $2500 on a new road bike which I will be on exclusively in the summer. I looked at about 10 different bikes that were sub $1000, and it was the best one for the price, and it has a calorie counter, odometer which a lot did not. Also it has the best riding position I could find to replicate a road bike.

I still spin at the gym, but I use this bike on my off days at home, and I find it actually gives me a better workout, since it has a bigger flywheel (50 lb I believe).

Can't go wrong for the buck, and as with anything at Sears, if it breaks, they just give you a new one.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by macker

You should be able to get the trainers under $400 now as they have come down quite a bit and you won't need to get a set of tires just a rear trainer tire as that is the only tire that wears on the trainer. Cyclepath has these for $40-$45. I have used both of my road bikes on the trainer and never had a problem with the drive train but I would be pretty upset if that did ever happen.

I had this dicussion with the guy at Ridleys. And did the spinner on his suggestion. The bike I bought is Altegra across the board, which is pretty expensive to replace. Not dura-ace expensive, but close. He said the drive train stays "fresh" for about 5000 kms, before it starts needing to look at maintenence. At 200 kms a week, that is a lot of wear to put on a bike, that isn't being used for its intended purpose. I figured the cost of the spinner, offset the cost of the wear I would otherwise put on my road bike.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

Thanks Pylon,

This is actually the one I am looking at for her. Like it so far any negatives about it.

I would consider the trainer as well. But maybe if one of these things was sitting in the house i would drag my fat ass onto it.

Maybe there's a deal on that Sears one. You might want to click through GoFlamesGo's site to check: http://www.calgarydealsblog.com/2011...ness-sale.html.

[kevman]

Has she considered rollers?

Rollers do a better job simulating cycling and will help maintain her stabilizers and balance while letting her ride her own bike. It's too easy to just hammer away on a stationary bike without realizing how much you're bouncing around.

Perhaps most important is the fact that you can flip your rollers upside down and ride across the floor backwards!

[Khel]

Originally Posted by pylon

I bought one about 2 and a half months ago, and have lost a little better than 20 lbs so far doing 50 kms a day / 5 days per week on it. Different than triathlon training, but still highly effective.

I just find it 10 times better than a standard stationary bike for the riding position being very close to a road bike, and the actual riding style being mych more similar to an actual bike. Also the one I bought allows you to put a proper saddle on it, not a big plushy one.

This is the one I bought I picked up at Sears:

http://www.sears.ca/product/xterra-i...58137-16416860

How do you find this for stability Pylon? I'm 6' 200lbs, does it seem solid? handle bars not woobly etc?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Khel

How do you find this for stability Pylon? I'm 6' 200lbs, does it seem solid? handle bars not woobly etc?

We are about the same size, I am 6'1 210 lbs and I find it fine. I started at about 235lbs as well, and it was fine then. I also lean into it pretty good to when I am on high resistance setting.

They had one set up in Chinook last time I was in there. Just go sit on it and see what you think.