Indoor spin bike help.

[DiggyGun]

Quite envious of the setup you have there! We don’t have a separate workout space in our basement so we have to make do with what we have. A kayaking ergometer had to be temporarily moved into a utility room to accommodate the Nero and our bikes. Yoga has also been a superb way for us to enhance flexibility and strength. Yin in particular focuses on soft tissue, tendons, and fascia….

So far, we’re enjoying the workouts that we get with the Nero especially my wife who doesn’t partake in riding outdoors during the winter months. There is an undeniable learning curve at first but the parabolic rollers do make it easier by steering the bike back to the center if you happen to wander slightly. It also folds up neatly and requires very little storage space if required. I’m still on the fence with respect to hooking it up virtually with Zwift and am considering the free version offered by RGT Cycling. For the time being, I’m just rocking to my tunes.

View attachment 108078

@ Prairie Dog

Had a look at these, but they do look scary and all the videos I saw, they were all using road bikes with smooth tyres. May not be suitable for Schwalbe Johnny Watts on a R&M Nevo3 GT Vario GX.

So had a look at exercise bikes and we like the NordicTrack upright exercise bikes to use when it’s too cold for the bike. We had a dusting of snow last night and with the wind chill its been around -3oC all day.

We like the look of the GX 4.4 Pro. Has anyone used or tried one of these and what were your thoughts

 

[john peck]

I have an old, analog Schwinn stationary bike from the ´50s, features speedo/odo & dial resistance.
The wife bought a treadmill for $100 & the guy threw in the bike.The treadmill is long since gone,
but I´ve put 50k+ mi. on that old Schwinn. It had 7k on it when bought. It turns over every 10k mi, &
I´ve ridden it for more than 20 years when it rains, at night, & for makeup miles. I´ve never done a
lick of maintenance* on it, An ebike should last so long. *(well I have replaced brake pads)

 

[Ade]

They both look like another good option. I think if you can keep going in what ever manor you prefer will show benefits when the spring eventually arrives again.
I do like my spin bike because it is set up in the same way I ride my bike. The same height handlebars and the same height saddle. This puts me in an aero position just like on my bike.

 

[Prairie Dog]

@DiggyGun - I'm afraid that I don’t have much hands-on experience with the current crop of stationary bikes but they certainly have made dramatic strides since the ones I rode in my youth. The challenge that I find whenever acquiring a new piece of equipment is finding the motivation to use it on a consistent basis. Obviously, riding outside when the conditions aren’t conducive might be incentive enough. Hopefully, someone will pipe up and provide some solid recommendations either on the NordicTrack that you’ve selected or another brand/model.

Here are some suggestions of keeping an indoor exercise routine not so routine.

https://sheebes.com/motivation/indoor-cycling-motivation/

I have to admit that the Nero rollers aren’t for all but for anyone wanting to replicate the feeling of riding their bike base in a more tangible scenario, they are certainly worth considering. I don’t feel that I spent the earth on the Nero. I acquired it from an online bike shop out of Germany and saved considerably than if I had purchased it from a Cdn retailer. They are much less expensive than say a Peleton or top of the line Bowflex, NordicTrack and the realism of cycling with our own bikes appealed to us. The Nero can be easily adjusted and will also accommodate a variety of bikes with different wheelbases including MTBs. That being said, they would likely require a change of tires.

 

[DiggyGun]

@DiggyGun - I'm afraid that I don’t have much hands-on experience with the current crop of stationary bikes but they certainly have made dramatic strides since the ones I rode in my youth. The challenge that I find whenever acquiring a new piece of equipment is finding the motivation to use it on a consistent basis. Obviously, riding outside when the conditions aren’t conducive might be incentive enough. Hopefully, someone will pipe up and provide some solid recommendations either on the NordicTrack that you’ve selected or another brand/model.

Here are some suggestions of keeping an indoor exercise routine not so routine.

https://sheebes.com/motivation/indoor-cycling-motivation/

I have to admit that the Nero rollers aren’t for all but for anyone wanting to replicate the feeling of riding their bike base in a more tangible scenario, they are certainly worth considering. I don’t feel that I spent the earth on the Nero. I acquired it from an online bike shop out of Germany and saved considerably than if I had purchased it from a Cdn retailer. They are much less expensive than say a Peleton or top of the line Bowflex, NordicTrack and the realism of cycling with our own bikes appealed to us. The Nero can be easily adjusted and will also accommodate a variety of bikes with different wheelbases including MTBs. That being said, they would likely require a change of tires.

@Prairie Dog
Thanks for the tips, much appreciated.

After reviewing a number of different exercise bikes from really cheap to mega expensive, we finally chose the NordicTrack GX 4.4 Pro.

There is a myriad of models to choose from, but we chose this one as it;
- is mid-range price wise
- has got a number of pre-programmed rides
- is from a well established known company
- has got a number of good reviews from a number of places
- looks more robust than a couple of bits of bent metal into a X shape
- able to use third party apps for additional variability should one desire (the wife likes this bit)

Fortunately, we have a room we can use this in, keeping it out of the main living areas.

Looking forward to it arriving next week and to start using it. Presently the temperature is -1oC, but with wind chill is -7oC. I enjoy my cycling, but this is just too cold and makes it uncomfortable.

It will also help with my fitness, which is one of the reasons took up using an eBike. After contracting Long Covid last year, I undertook a lifestyle change in February this year. Starting with a diet and the cycling, I have now lost over 5st (30kg), so this may help me to lose a bit more and improve my stamina.

Here are some before and after photos.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Outstanding achievement, DG and what a remarkable transformation!

It sounds like you have things in order and have also done your homework and researched what seems like a good choice in a stationary bike that fits your specific needs.

Don’t forget to treat yourself occasionally for the effort that you will be putting towards hitting your next goal.

 

[PedalUma]

Now it is time to get out on a real bike. Feel the wind. Use your small motor balance skills. This is so much better than any virtual game. Play and fun does not keep score. It is creative, recreative. And it is the best transportation.

 

[PedalUma]

thank you for your response.

I am reading a novel right now that takes place in NYC, "The Verifiers," It is a modern detective story that is semi-dystopian. The main character rides her bike everywhere, every day. It is transportation and fun. A protagonist legal partner rides a very expensive bike but only on bike paths and when dressed in spandex. For her it is an exclusive, strenuous, independent, and quantifiable hobby. There are all types of riders. I am of the first type. I am wondering if the main character and the attorney are about to have a steamy affair.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Hi all. I have been looking everywhere for this information but haven't had any luck.
For health reasons I am now using my exercise bike instead of my road bike due to the cold etc. I have been doing 45 - 60 minutes every other day on my magnetic exercise bike. To try and keep interested in this I thought about doing longer sessions on the weekends. But I don't know if the bike can handle it. I have a foldable bike which is smaller than a normal bike. Can this or any magnetic bike handle a 4-6 hour session? Any information would be great. Thanks.

Magnetic resistance indoor cycling bikes from what I understand are quite durable and virtually silent. I don’t see why you couldn’t continue using it for your intended purpose. When you feel able to ride your road bike, you could always hop on it for short, impromptu outings if your health permits. Anytime spent outdoors is generally more conducive to one’s body and mental well being.

To add a bit more interest to our indoor winter training sessions, we watch edited videos of past trips on a large tv screen. We find that it helps pass the time while on the rollers.

 

[6zfshdb]

FWIW, I have an earlier version of this one from NordicTrack:

Studio Cycle | NordicTrack

Ride our studio cycle anywhere you want with diverse locations. The Studio Cycle has a 7" smart HD touchscreen, 22 digital resistance levels, and more.

www.nordictrack.com

It lacks the touch screen but otherwise, it's the same bike. No programming or fancy features, just an exercise bike with adjustable resistance. I've been using it during the off season for almost 7 years now and have had no problems. I paid $579 for it new back in 2016. I see it's gone way up in price since then.

I see several on eBay right now for around $450:

✅ NORDICTRACK Studio Bike with 7” Smart HD Touchscreen & iFit Membership | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ✅ NORDICTRACK Studio Bike with 7” Smart HD Touchscreen & iFit Membership at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

And:

NordicTrack Upright Studio Bike - Black for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NordicTrack Upright Studio Bike - Black at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Djangodog]

I use a Kaiser M3I. It is very solid, quiet and has a nice feel when peddling. They are expensive and they don’t have the virtual training that some others do, but it suits my needs.

I got mine for about half of the retail price. Lots of gyms have service contracts and the spin cycles are replaced after a fairly short time. Mine was like new and had new electronics. You can often find a deal online. I was fortunate in that the one that I found was not too far away and I could choose the one that I wanted.