Help needed - Exercise Bikes

[LAKiwi]

First post on the Fat Busters forum.<br />
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Wife and I looking at buying an exercise bike for home.<br />
Looking for general suggestions.<br />
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She's had a knee operation (about a year ago), I've got back problems (tall - 6'2" and have collapsed disk at the top of the spine). So we think we're pretty set on getting a recumbent bike - more support that way. Looked today, but don't have a lot of opinions ourselves either way on what units are good etc - and what to look for and what not to.<br />
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Have some we're interested in - couple of Vision Fitness units and a Life Fitness.<br />
So looking for any suggestions, things to look for etc - from the esteemed bunch on here.<br />
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Looked at a number of places today - the typical big department type stores (Sears etc). After looking at those type places and the fitness specific places - we're decided on not getting a cheap one (less than $600). Just too clunky, not smooth, noisey, basically cheap.<br />
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Anyone used these ones?<br />

• Vision Fitness R2250HRT ([url="http://www.staffordfitness.net/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=777&products_id=20890"]http://www.staffordfitness.net/product_ ... s_id=20890[/url])<br />
• Vision Fitness R2600RHT ([url="http://www.staffordfitness.net/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=777&products_id=20355"]http://www.staffordfitness.net/product_ ... s_id=20355[/url])<br />
• Life Fitness R1 with Advanced workout console ([url="http://www.omnifitness.com/products/product_detail.cfm?ID=1422&Name=Life Fitness-R1 Advanced LifeCycle Recumbent"]http://www.omnifitness.com/products/pro ... 0Recumbent[/url])<br />
  <br />
  Thoughts anyone?

[BartMan]

my experience of people buying exercise bikes is that they make really expensive clothes hangers...<br />
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Don't think I know anyone who has bought one and is still using it 3 months later  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Mind you, that is probably only 10 people in 20 years...<br />
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But still a 100% strike rate  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /><br />
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If you do get one though, is best to get a decent one that works  - may be a few more dollars, but will be worth it.

[Stagger Lee]

Precor do a nice bike but pretty pricey. The common thing you read about recumbent bikes however is that although they give your legs a good decent workout, a lot of users don't get the feeling of a good cardiovascular workout. Good rehab tools though, which is what you may be looking for. However, for my money I would have look at an elliptical trainer. Low impact, and a bit more interesting workout.<br />
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[url="http://www.precor.com/cons/en/efx/"]http://www.precor.com/cons/en/efx/[/url]

[fatbaldbloke]

Bart's right my exercise bike has 2 towels and a pair of swimming goggles hanging off it. Its a Schwinn magnetic with 12 programmes and it is yours for the cost of freight from Sydney  <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />.<br />
i had the best intentions like every other exercise bike owner but i much prefer to go for a walk or swim.

[Donsteppa]

I had one for a while but ended up using a real bike much more often. I found the exercise bike frustrating because it always seemed like you pedalled unnaturally fast compared to a road bike, and I got sick of the scenery staying exactly the same.

[LAKiwi]

Will see if our bike goes the same way as suggested on here.<br />
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Ended up buying a pretty high end one - a SportsArt Fitness one. Pretty slick bike. Lets see how enthusiastic I am in a month or so's time - and how much I'm still using it.