To the Cyclists

I'm all good for a road bike. Use it for my commute.

I'm tempted by one of these while we have lockdown / recovering from my knee injury.

Definitely not keen on the turbo trainer ones.

Wondering what the difference is between a spin bike and an exercise bike. To me they seem the same thing?

Very different.  I have a Tomahawk spinning bike and it’s as close to a road bike as you can get, but unlike a road bike (excluding fixed wheel) there is no free wheeling.  You have to pedal.  And plenty of spinning music around to help you along, it does.

The difference for me is the flywheel, 18kg - 22kg wheel with an intensity adjust knob, like a break really.  The weight is really noticeable, not resistance but weight.  Work to get going, work to keep going. Easy to switch between cardiovascular and muscle building with a twist of a knob.

And typically they come with what look like strange handlebars but these are very useful, adjust you riding position to change how you exercise.  Sit, stand or forward like a racer.  (Or rest an IPad). A change of position makes cycling very different and very demanding.  Great for a workout. And low impact on the knees.

and if mine is anything to go by, quiet and stable.

Some exercise bikes have all sorts of fancy programmes adjusting resistance to simulate flat roads, hilly roads etc.  Spinners tend to have more simplistic approach, suits me.  No frills, just good solid exercise.  And judging by mine, maintenance is limited.

Bought mine about 6 years ago.  Mrs dOh and I use ours pretty much every day.  

No more than £300 for a bike. Not keen on a subscription

The picture is pretty much the same look as my spinning bike.   But I’ve had a look around and there are exercise bikes that look like this too.  Care needed.  Limited to 7 hours a week, bit of a concern.

The peloton bike comes with delivery and set up plus a link to online classes.  The bike itself is nothing special.  but you are buying an exercise package rather than a bike.  OK if you want to feel like you are in an exercise class with a trainer.  Not really for me.  I watch TV, listen to music or play on my iPad whilst exercising.

the Flywheel is important, 18kg minimum.  Exercise bikes tend to be far less, 7kg ish and work on resistance.  Drive belts come as a belt or chain like a bike.  Mine has a drive belt.  Works fine thus far and gets used a lot.  And no oiling.

value?  Who knows, I searched around for a spinner, having done gym spinning classes for two years.  Went for one that was likely to get well used for a lot of years.  Took a punt and it worked well.  Tbh apart from handle and seat adjustments and the drive belt there ain’t too much techy stuff on them. The computer on mine is very basic but does what I want.

really depends on what you want.  

I think you're on the money with the no free wheeling part. In my mind that is the difference.

Thank you. Very kind.

Looks good.  I wish you well and hope you enjoy it (if that’s the right word) as much as me.  One of the guys who posted was a personal trainer who offered his advice.  Highly recommend this.  This is a great form of exercise but despite looking simple can offer tremendous benefits if used the right way, for example intervals.  Plus warm up and warm down.

good luck.

I need some myself!!

I'm off Turbo Trainer at the moment…(suspended)...after picking up a chest infection a few weeks ago.... Then the rainy very wet cold cycle commute on Thursday almost wiped me out...

The cold weather affected me, but I think sleeping in a very cold bedroom started this off...

Just about recovering...trying to get well enough for Wednesday's cycle commute...