Elliptical vs exercise bike

[CaptainNJ]

i find the bike is easier if you dont want to exert much effort.

[Screenwriter70]

I use an old exercise bike when I'm not doing Zumba. I walk for an hour 1-2x a week, weather permitting.

[Steve McDonald]

Originally Posted by turf3

Well, first of all, the elliptical machine does not support your body weight, it's still there resting on your legs.


I use all of:


Running (outdoors)
Walking (outdoors)
Cycling (outdoors)
Elliptical (harder on my lower back)
Stationary bike
Treadmill (running pace)


I think for best fitness you need to mix up your exercises.

There are elliptical, stand-up bikes that go on the road and they put more weight on both your legs and your back, than a sit-down bicycle would.

[turf3]

Originally Posted by Steve McDonald

There are elliptical, stand-up bikes that go on the road and they put more weight on both your legs and your back, than a sit-down bicycle would.

I've seen those things but they seem very difficult to ride in a straight line. They are a problem on the bike trail.


Since when climbing a hill out of the saddle on a standard bicycle you're pulling up on the handlebars with your arms and thus applying more than your body weight to each leg in turn, I'm not really sure how you're going to put more weight on the legs than that.


As noted above, I believe in mixing up the forms of aerobic exercise.

[Volobjectitarian]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

Walk outside.

Neither an elliptical nor a bike will replicate the bone strength benefits of walking.
Both support your body weight, so you lose most the strengthening walking does.
A treadmill would better than either machine, but I'd still walk outside unless you live in Delhi or Beijing

This.

And to get around the excuse of the -40 degF wind chill thing, on those days, walk up and down your stairs for 10 minutes. If no stairs are available, learn to squat your body weight. When you can do 1, try to do 2, then 3, etc.

Scorpio is absolutely right about the bone and joint strength benefits of anything that requires supporting your body weight.

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by lchoro

You may have to do step aerobics and get one of those 80's videos and legwarmers.

This. You can get a couple of Used DVD 's. Cost is next to nothing, it's weight bearing, and as tough or easy as you would like.. And they're fun!

[reebo]

OP was from 4 years ago. Presumably they’ve figured it out.