Exercise bikes / Choices / Concept2 Rower

[Muse]

I bought a Sportneer Bike Trainer Stand Steel Bicycle Exercise Magnetic Stand with Noise Reduction Wheel in April, have my old Miyata road bike on it in a spare bedroom.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071HQFKBY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3ONLCJ4888948&psc=1

Meantime I have no bike for the street (put a slick wheel on the back, took off my knobby 1 3/8" tire). Thought of buying a new bike, assembling at home, but my sister told me about exercise bikes and I've been shopping them at Amazon. She bought herself a folding model. So, I figure why not get an exercise bike instead of a new road bike?

Buying an exercise bike to me looks difficult if I want to get what's best for me. How do you decide that? There's so much out there. There's the Peleton, about which I know nothing other than it's prestigious and expensive.

A folding model might make sense, but I could put a non-folding model in that bedroom... maybe it would be the best idea. I can afford something good, but think even this cheap folding model might "suffice."

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081GBYCNX/ref=ewc_pr_img_5?smid=A1QTWVII9COUS6&psc=1

It's about 47lb, will fold up and I could put it in the bedroom's closet if I stop using it. Or just leave it there. Figure to make that room a guest bedroom by and by, am outfitting it now for workouts during the pandemic. A reviewer there said he likes it because at 330lb capacity (he's 6'1" and 301lb) he finds it sturdy (it's also evidently relatively simple to assemble). I'm 5'10" and currently 182lb. He also likes that it has 10 resistance settings, although he wishes that it had a bit more resistance. I figure I'll probably be OK at top resistance or lower, but who knows? I think QR on these can be sketchy, is my sense from the reviews. Several of the folding bikes' reviews indicate that many people find they don't accommodate taller people well, in spite of manufacturer's claims.

Anyone have experience in this realm? Folding versus non-folding exercise bikes?

 

[Viper GTS]

I have a Peloton in my household. I've never used it because it sits right next to my Concept2 rower. If I wanted a bike today I'd get the BikeErg - it's about 40 percent of the cost of a Peloton and has no ongoing costs. The Concept2 resistance module is shared among all their products and is rock solid. Tens of millions of meters on a rower is nothing, they basically last forever and even the oldest ones are fully supported today. They support Zwift if you're into that and the Concept2 log is good.

Unless you have a serious road bike habit and want to drop $1500 on some of the modern day trainers the BikeErg is where it's at IMO.

Viper GTS

 

[Muse]

I have a Peloton in my household. I've never used it because it sits right next to my Concept2 rower. If I wanted a bike today I'd get the BikeErg - it's about 40 percent of the cost of a Peloton and has no ongoing costs. The Concept2 resistance module is shared among all their products and is rock solid. Tens of millions of meters on a rower is nothing, they basically last forever and even the oldest ones are fully supported today. They support Zwift if you're into that and the Concept2 log is good.

Unless you have a serious road bike habit and want to drop $1500 on some of the modern day trainers the BikeErg is where it's at IMO.

Viper GTS

That Concept 2 BikeErg is obviously high quality. What concerns me is that it requires a forward position. I find on my bike trainer that I am spending most of the time leaning back. I have a rack in back, an aluminum version of the Pletcher and on top of that rack I have bolted a large steel wire basket that was made as a front basket, but adapted by me to be a back basket. On top of that basket I have for bike trainer purposes laid a foam roll, around 3' long, maybe 6" diameter, perpendicular to the direction of the bike and horizontal. I have it attached with stretch cords. I lean back and put my hands on that roll while peddling, all the while watching nature videos with my earbuds for sound. It's not exactly recumbent, but not your usual upright bike position either, since I don't have my hands on the handlebars.

The Lanos exercise bike in the OP has two positions, upright and recumbent. I'm thinking I would probably like the recumbent position/posture better. You need to adjust the frame for each position. I'm thinking now I might prefer a dedicated recumbent exercise bike, such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085RX6CNQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A34F1R3JLA7Q32&psc=1

 

[Scarpozzi]

Funny Viper....I rowed in college and spent more time on those pain machines than I care to remember. I always crack up in gyms when I see people with bad form pulling as fast as they can, moving fast up the slide and not actually spinning the machine/moving the numbers.

I bit on an Echelon yesterday for $500. Works with Echelon or Peleton along with a tablet OR you can use it without (stated by a number of reviewers that were upset that functionality wasn't mentioned or highlighted):

Echelon Connect Sport Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike + 30-Day Free Membership Trial - Walmart.com

Buy Echelon Connect Sport Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike + 30-Day Free Membership Trial at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[A///]

Sunny is supposed to be a good brand.

 

[Muse]

Sunny is supposed to be a good brand.

I saw one Sunny that looked interesting, foldable with a semi-recumbent position and decent ratings. Need to read read read reviews... that's the only way I'm gonna settle on one. Meantime I've been roller skating (quads) almost every day about 6 miles total, up and down a ~1 mile gentle hill (well paved, but has a lot of speed bumps). Wild fires right now, but am wearing an N95, so the air hasn't been bothering me. I'm looking at this Sunny:

Amazon.com : Sunny Health & Fitness Comfort XL Ultra Cushioned Seat Folding Exercise Bike with Device Holder - SF-B2721 : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Sunny Health & Fitness Comfort XL Ultra Cushioned Seat Folding Exercise Bike with Device Holder - SF-B2721 : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[Muse]

Well, I was just checking out that Sunny. There are two points I particularly look for in my reading reviews. A lot (seems most) of these, most all, have one or both of these particular problems:

1. The leg extension isn't enough. I'm not all that tall, 5'10", but I want the extension enough so each leg comes near straight on the downstroke. This is recommended on bicycles by people in the know. Most bike riders have their seats too low. It's kind of hard to get this from reviews, but I'm trying.

2. The maximum resistance should be adequate, not too dang easy.

In (2.) there the Sunny seems to fail, per this answer to a question:

"I agree with the five-year-old kid. Even with the dial cranked all the way up to level 10, the resistance is way too low. This has turned out to be a big problem for me, because I feel like I've outgrown the bike after just three months of use. I'm riding it for 40 minutes at the highest resistance level, and it's still too easy. I may need to buy a new bike. I think that this bike is suitable only for people who are interested in doing a very light exercise regimen. Anything beyond that, and you'll find yourself wishing that you had a way to increase the resistance further."

 

[deadlyapp]

Well, I was just checking out that Sunny. There are two points I particularly look for in my reading reviews. A lot (seems most) of these, most all, have one or both of these particular problems:

1. The leg extension isn't enough. I'm not all that tall, 5'10", but I want the extension enough so each leg comes near straight on the downstroke. This is recommended on bicycles by people in the know. Most bike riders have their seats too low. It's kind of hard to get this from reviews, but I'm trying.

2. The maximum resistance should be adequate, not too dang easy.

In (2.) there the Sunny seems to fail, per this answer to a question:

"I agree with the five-year-old kid. Even with the dial cranked all the way up to level 10, the resistance is way too low. This has turned out to be a big problem for me, because I feel like I've outgrown the bike after just three months of use. I'm riding it for 40 minutes at the highest resistance level, and it's still too easy. I may need to buy a new bike. I think that this bike is suitable only for people who are interested in doing a very light exercise regimen. Anything beyond that, and you'll find yourself wishing that you had a way to increase the resistance further."

Impossible to tell, however if the resistance is that low with the dial up, more than likely their resistance brake (friction? magnetic?) is broken. I've never seen a single bike that had low resistance when cranked all the way up. Usually you can get it to basically hold the wheel stopped.

 

[Muse]

Impossible to tell, however if the resistance is that low with the dial up, more than likely their resistance brake (friction? magnetic?) is broken. I've never seen a single bike that had low resistance when cranked all the way up. Usually you can get it to basically hold the wheel stopped.

Yeah, I was wondering. But a lot of reviews of exercise bikes have people complaining that the max resistance is insufficient for them. Most have 8 resistance levels, the dials all look alike. A few have 10 levels, like that Sunny. I saw one that has 16 levels, but someone said even the max isn't sufficient!

 

[deadlyapp]

Yeah, I was wondering. But a lot of reviews of exercise bikes have people complaining that the max resistance is insufficient for them. Most have 8 resistance levels, the dials all look alike. A few have 10 levels, like that Sunny. I saw one that has 16 levels, but someone said even the max isn't sufficient!

This is generally why if I talk to someone who wants magnetic resistance, I tell them to stay with a tried and tested bike like the concept2 or the ones used in spin classes. Honestly I prefer air bikes where the resistance is only dictated by how hard you pedal.

 

[A///]

Magnetic resistance is usually better than physical resistance a la felt pads or hard leather like on real old school spin bikes. The flywheel weight will matter a lot. I do believe Sunny sells upwards of 60 lb flywheels. Electromagnetic resistance bikes also exist in their catalog.

Many of the bikes you see at gyms are magnetic or electromagnetic. I've got a decent big three for compound lifts, but even a high set magnetic bike will cause me to go to a crawl or just stop.

When I used them at the gym, I usually go for just enough resistance laced with my pedal speed to get my heart rate up to a comfortable zone where I'm not panting for air but also have to work hard to keep my body fed with oxygen. My go to rule is if in 10 minutes after starting I'm not sweating in an air chilled room, I'm not working hard enough.

I saw one Sunny that looked interesting, foldable with a semi-recumbent position and decent ratings. Need to read read read reviews... that's the only way I'm gonna settle on one. Meantime I've been roller skating (quads) almost every day about 6 miles total, up and down a ~1 mile gentle hill (well paved, but has a lot of speed bumps). Wild fires right now, but am wearing an N95, so the air hasn't been bothering me. I'm looking at this Sunny:

Amazon.com : Sunny Health & Fitness Comfort XL Ultra Cushioned Seat Folding Exercise Bike with Device Holder - SF-B2721 : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Sunny Health & Fitness Comfort XL Ultra Cushioned Seat Folding Exercise Bike with Device Holder - SF-B2721 : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

That's not the one I'd recommend. Do you want something like a spin bike at the gym? Their other models will be better. I have a friend who has a particular model. She loves it, and it's not too big. It's easy to move around thanks to the front caster wheels.

 

[Muse]

I don't know what a spin bike at the gym is like. At the gym, when I use their aerobic equipment (before the pandemic) I'd use what I think is an elliptical stair stepper. The seated bike type affairs I tried there weren't comfortable on my bottom, was my impression.

TBH, I don't really know what I want. Just something that is reasonably comfortable, gives me a real good aerobic workout. I've been watching nature videos and I think being able to do that on the machine is a big help. I watched the whole Ken Burns National Park series since the pandemic, started rewatching it. I have others too, also disks, a Roku TV and figure to subscribe to Netflix 4K. Also am about to hook up the 43" TCL Roku TV to one of my rooftop antennas, but I probably won't bother with TV while working out cause I hate commercials.

I was skating/biking (1/2 way on each to/from my gym, which is 5 miles away) 3x/week before the pandemic and that provided good aerobic. I took up wearing a HR monitor a few months before the gym closed, which was real good because it pushed me. I'm still doing that on my bike trainer, also when skating the streets. So, a HR monitor on the equipment I buy might be nice if it works well, but it's not crucial if I can just have a place I can put my Android phone with the HR monitor app running and use my chest strap HR monitor. That means I don't have to be concerned with keeping my hands on the metal sensors, which could be an issue on some equipment, especially if I want to use various hand positions.

 

[deadlyapp]

Spin bike is like this:

However it seems like you are concerned about your back position on a bike like this. You want a lazy man's bike (aka recumbent).

Most of the consumer grade recumbent bikes are going to be very low quality and I wouldn't expect to last longer than a year or two max with regular light usage.

 

[Muse]

Spin bike is like this:

However it seems like you are concerned about your back position on a bike like this. You want a lazy man's bike (aka recumbent).

Most of the consumer grade recumbent bikes are going to be very low quality and I wouldn't expect to last longer than a year or two max with regular light usage.

Lazy, maybe. Well I am up in years, goddammit. Turned 77 on the 2nd. My PT sister warned me about shoulder issues with the leaning forward contraptions, I told her I usually am leaning back on my bike trainer, hands on the gizmo I attached to the back. Thanks for the words here. I don't know what I'm gonna choose, figure I'll get something. Meantime I have my trainer and the streets to skate... right now with an N95 cause corona and the dang wildfires that are threatening to wipe out a whole lot of rural CA.

"I would not run around the corner to see the world blow up" - Henry David Thoreau

74 days until the big one! Vote... vote early, vote Democratic!

 

[mike8675309]

If you are just looking for an aerobic workout, don't limit yourselves to bikes.
Rowers a great for an aerobic workout. (heard great things about the water ones)
Stair steppers are great, though how are your knees?
recumbent stationary bikes are available as well.
Watch your local craigslist for items coming out of Gyms as many have suffered and maybe closing.

 

[Viper GTS]

If you are just looking for an aerobic workout, don't limit yourselves to bikes.
Rowers a great for an aerobic workout. (heard great things about the water ones)
Stair steppers are great, though how are your knees?
recumbent stationary bikes are available as well.
Watch your local craigslist for items coming out of Gyms as many have suffered and maybe closing.

If you're willing to try a rower get a Concept2 and you're basically guaranteed to extract what you paid for it if you don't like it. I luckily had mine long before covid but they are going for 1.5x retail on the used market right now. So go through the waiting list and try it, if it doesn't work out make a profit and go buy something else.

I know a lot of people hate them but I really don't mind putting in 60+ minutes on it.

Viper GTS

 

[Muse]

If you're willing to try a rower get a Concept2 and you're basically guaranteed to extract what you paid for it if you don't like it. I luckily had mine long before covid but they are going for 1.5x retail on the used market right now. So go through the waiting list and try it, if it doesn't work out make a profit and go buy something else.

I know a lot of people hate them but I really don't mind putting in 60+ minutes on it.

Viper GTS

Aren't rowers pretty much like rowing a boat? I'm concerned because I've had some shoulder issues. Might not work out for me. I haven't done any rowing on machines except the kind where you're raising a stack of plates with each pull.

Stationary recumbents interest me. Semi-recumbents too. I'm thinking maybe a combo upright and semi-recumbent like the Lanos I linked early on in the thread. But the one review that got me thinking very positively about that $200 machine was by a big guy, 6'1" 306lb who said he hadn't tried its recumbent position.

The little research I did on that Concept2 indicated that they have several machines. I'll have a look.

 

[Viper GTS]

It's like rowing a sculling shell, which is probably unlike what you are thinking. The key is that the seat slides - You aren't just sitting still and paddling.

Muscles Used While Rowing

Rowing uses 80% of the body's muscles

www.concept2.com

Much better than a bike IMO unless you specifically are trying to improve your road bike performance. FWIW I fucked up my shoulder pretty good almost two years ago in a fall. It still causes me issues but rowing does not aggravate it at all.

Concept2 rowers were popularized in recent years by CrossFit which has made their value retention ridiculous. There's almost no point to buying used over new because the prices are frequently nearly identical. With fitness gear essentially unobtainable thanks to covid I would definitely buy new since it will likely be cheaper. Buy used only if you want one immediately and you can find one locally. Don't be afraid of old ones if you can find one for sufficient discount you can fully refurb them with parts direct from Concept2 including upgrades to the newer performance monitors.

Viper GTS

 

[deadlyapp]

+1 to a rower. Far more full body workout than a bike, even an air bike that uses arms.

If your shoulder feels aggravated in a forward leaning bike, then you aren't sized or set up on it appropriately. Same thing with a rower. You should have zero shoulder pain with correct form.

 

[hardhat]

I have a sole LCR for a stationary recumbant bike and it's awesome. Pretty expensive, but has great control over resistance, is very quiet, and I have had no issues with it in the three years I have owned it. Very good for apartments because it is quiet, but also very heavy to move.

 

[Muse]

I have a sole LCR for a stationary recumbant bike and it's awesome. Pretty expensive, but has great control over resistance, is very quiet, and I have had no issues with it in the three years I have owned it. Very good for apartments because it is quiet, but also very heavy to move.

Can you link it? What exactly do you have... thanks.

 

[hardhat]

Here's what I have:

SOLE LCR Exercise Bike

Light Commercial Recumbent Bike Ideal for apartment complexes, physical therapy clinics, fitness studios, school weight rooms, and home use, the Sole Light Commercial LCR recumbent bike is a top choice with its new features: Wireless charging pad, 10.1" Android Touch Screen, screen mirroring...

www.soletreadmills.com

I think I paid 1200 for it, plus shipping. Looks like the pandemic has increased prices all over, unfortunately. There is a heartrate monitor if you grip the handlebars. Or you can buy some other kind of monitor.

 

[Muse]

Here's what I have:

SOLE LCR Exercise Bike

Light Commercial Recumbent Bike Ideal for apartment complexes, physical therapy clinics, fitness studios, school weight rooms, and home use, the Sole Light Commercial LCR recumbent bike is a top choice with its new features: Wireless charging pad, 10.1" Android Touch Screen, screen mirroring...

www.soletreadmills.com

I think I paid 1200 for it, plus shipping. Looks like the pandemic has increased prices all over, unfortunately. There is a heartrate monitor if you grip the handlebars. Or you can buy some other kind of monitor.

Thank you. Looking at the graphic I wonder if I'd have an unobstructed view of my 43" TCL Roku TV/Monitor, on which I've been watching nature videos.

I actually have 3 HR monitors! I gave a 4th to my sister. They are all:

Amazon.com : Powr Labs Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap - ANT + Bluetooth Chest Heart Rate Monitor with Chest Strap - HRM Run Bike Tri Cycling - Chest Strap Heart Monitor for Strava Zwift Wahoo Garmin Polar Peloton : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Powr Labs Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap - ANT + Bluetooth Chest Heart Rate Monitor with Chest Strap - HRM Run Bike Tri Cycling - Chest Strap Heart Monitor for Strava Zwift Wahoo Garmin Polar Peloton : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Works great, AFAIK, it's the only one I've ever owned. Why I have 3 is hard to explain. In covid I decided to not venture out to give one to my sister but order her one and have it shipped to her. The other spare was ordered as a spare. It's cheaper than the famous ones but the reviews are as good or better. I use Myworkout with it on Android, which is pretty awesome. Been using those on my now ~daily skates, just keep the phone in my pocket and review the data when I'm done. No taking my eyes off the street to look at no damn phone, could take a nasty spill.

 

[hardhat]

Well..
The front of my bike is about 8 foot away from my television (it is at an angle). The bottom of my television is 4' 5" off the ground. I am 5' 10". I can see the full screen without problem. If the tv were 10"-12" lower I think I would start to lose the bottom of the screen.

The bike itself is rather long at 5', so make sure you have room. If you do a lot of skating I would say that is in general a better cardio workout. The bike really only works your legs, while skating will work your core quite a bit as well.

The resistance is more than sufficient for me. It has 40 levels, and I can feel significant resistance at level 12-13, similar to an outdoor bike. Level 25 is like running in knee deep water. Levels above that are very difficult.

 

[Muse]

Well..
The front of my bike is about 8 foot away from my television (it is at an angle). The bottom of my television is 4' 5" off the ground. I am 5' 10". I can see the full screen without problem. If the tv were 10"-12" lower I think I would start to lose the bottom of the screen.

The bike itself is rather long at 5', so make sure you have room. If you do a lot of skating I would say that is in general a better cardio workout. The bike really only works your legs, while skating will work your core quite a bit as well.

The resistance is more than sufficient for me. It has 40 levels, and I can feel significant resistance at level 12-13, similar to an outdoor bike. Level 25 is like running in knee deep water. Levels above that are very difficult.

Right now, the bottom of the screen of that 43" 4K TV/monitor is at 3 feet off the floor.

Certainly sounds like a robust quality machine.

Skating, I'm loving it right now, it feels athletic, I am outside, which is great. I literally did not leave the house for a couple months at least because of covid-19 pandemic. Right now, they're advising people to not go outside if possible because of smoke from the wildfires and that's apt to continue for a couple weeks, and who knows, could be more, we're really AFAIK just entering fire season. However, I have N95 masks I bought expressly for the wildfire smoke around here. About 3 years ago I was racing to complete major renovations on my garage before the rains came, wildfires sprang up and N95's were cheap off Ebay and I stocked up. So glad I did! I've given away a bunch this year, but still have a bunch. I am skating now wearing an N95, the smoke isn't bothering me AFAIK.

Now skating is great but I could fall, and get injured. I mean I'm trying to skate hard, am pushing myself and with that comes danger. I always wear gloves skating (or biking, actually) and a year ago started always wearing a bike helmet after my physical therapist ragged on me for not wearing one. Even so, skating comes with risk on unpredictable streets. Also, the rains will come and I won't skate if it's gonna rain. So, I need indoor aerobic. I could even supplement my skating with indoor aerobic now. I'm gonna study this thread some more.