Exercise bike vs real life
Discussion
Hi all,
Over the past 6 months or so I've been trying to get a bit fitter - I'm 6ft and 75 kg so by no means a fatty. I go to the gym a couple of times a week and do typically 10-15km at a time burning around 200 calories. I can feel the improvement and I'm steadily making progress.
I bought a mountain bike last year but it hasn't really seen much use. As it was nice weather last weekend, I got it out to have a ride and literally within about a mile or so I was absolutely blown out (lungs burning, light headed, slightly dizzy, the lot) and had to head home. I tried again today again and exactly the same thing happened, it's taken about half an hour to fully recover.
There are a couple of hills I'm negotiating but nothing too major and I wouldn't say I was starting out too quick either (was going 10-12mph). Obviously riding an MTB on relatively smooth surfaces isn't ideal as there's a fair bit of rolling resistance but is this the main reason?
Any idea of what I'm doing wrong - why can I go for 15km in the gym but can barely last a mile in real life
My bike:
Over the past 6 months or so I've been trying to get a bit fitter - I'm 6ft and 75 kg so by no means a fatty. I go to the gym a couple of times a week and do typically 10-15km at a time burning around 200 calories. I can feel the improvement and I'm steadily making progress.
I bought a mountain bike last year but it hasn't really seen much use. As it was nice weather last weekend, I got it out to have a ride and literally within about a mile or so I was absolutely blown out (lungs burning, light headed, slightly dizzy, the lot) and had to head home. I tried again today again and exactly the same thing happened, it's taken about half an hour to fully recover.
There are a couple of hills I'm negotiating but nothing too major and I wouldn't say I was starting out too quick either (was going 10-12mph). Obviously riding an MTB on relatively smooth surfaces isn't ideal as there's a fair bit of rolling resistance but is this the main reason?
Any idea of what I'm doing wrong - why can I go for 15km in the gym but can barely last a mile in real life
My bike:
McFsC said:
Put the seat up, it looks very small for someone 6ft. Your legs should be appraching straight at the bottom of your pedal stroke.
Probably not the answer you were looking for but it will help.
I did put the seat up a bit today before my ride but this wouldn't make a massive difference would it?Probably not the answer you were looking for but it will help.
Gym fit isn't real world fit.
The bike weighs a fair bit, and you have to move that weight, plus wind resistance, rolling resistance.
I suspect you went off too fast expecting it to be easy. The same things happens to treadmill runners on the first run outside.....
Slow down, stick to it, it gets much easier.
The bike weighs a fair bit, and you have to move that weight, plus wind resistance, rolling resistance.
I suspect you went off too fast expecting it to be easy. The same things happens to treadmill runners on the first run outside.....
Slow down, stick to it, it gets much easier.
By exercise bike do you mean one of the ones where you plonk your bum on it and 'do pedalling', or a spin bike?
I used to find that the 'exercise bikes' had cranks that were too short and while you could get your pulse up you didn't really 'get going'.
On a real bike, your core is working to hold your body weight up, your arms are working, obviously your legs are working but longer cranks need a slightly different action, and it takes a couple of minutes for your lungs to open up properly and get going. Raise the saddle another couple of inches, stay 'out of the red' for ten minutes, just roll along. And stick at it!
I used to find that the 'exercise bikes' had cranks that were too short and while you could get your pulse up you didn't really 'get going'.
On a real bike, your core is working to hold your body weight up, your arms are working, obviously your legs are working but longer cranks need a slightly different action, and it takes a couple of minutes for your lungs to open up properly and get going. Raise the saddle another couple of inches, stay 'out of the red' for ten minutes, just roll along. And stick at it!
Nice looking bike, but its too clean!!!! Get out the os map and find some bridleways, old white roads etc, riding on the road will be dull. I appreciate you do need a bit of countryside around you to make this work though but its a good workout if you can make it happen. riding off road is akin to interval training so it does help improve fitness quickly
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 20th April 20:43
RichB said:
joema said:
As for saddle height... Leg should never be locked at any point
I think the point being made is that one's leg should be straight when one's heel is on the pedal, this will ensure it's not locked straight when the ball of one's foot is on the pedal. 
this, exactly this. And if your hips start rocking you've gone too high.lol I'm the opposite, can knock out 70 miles on the bike and still feel fresh, but 5 mins on an exercise bike and im shattered, hate it and its tell me im not bike fit
OP: try a road bike on some flat smooth tarmac, you will probs fair better...
As many posters have already said exercise bikes aren't really like the real thing
OP: try a road bike on some flat smooth tarmac, you will probs fair better...
As many posters have already said exercise bikes aren't really like the real thing
Quhet said:
Yes.
Thanks all for the advice/reassurance. I guess that I'm just being impatient and expecting a bit too much. I'll go out tomorrow morning and have a ride along the canal, slowly but surely I'll get there!
And please don't forget that Gym 'machines' can be set to make you think you are doing well.....Thanks all for the advice/reassurance. I guess that I'm just being impatient and expecting a bit too much. I'll go out tomorrow morning and have a ride along the canal, slowly but surely I'll get there!
As in, YOu are getting very motivated by riding 15 miles - but are you?
Quhet said:
I'll go out tomorrow morning and have a ride along the canal, slowly but surely I'll get there!
This could be a part of the problem................... the canal will be rough and bumpy so you can't get into a rhythm I would suggest a road circuit to start with which is smooth and more like the gym machines.Magic919 said:
I'd switch to doing intervals on the exercise bike. Warm up then do a minute flat out with a two minute rest. Crank up the resistance for the high intensity bits and wind off for the gentle two mins. Aim to do five or six then have a few minutes warm down.
Absolutely not, he's not aiming to beat Mo Farrow, he just wants to go for a gentle ride Do that sort of stuff once you've established your fitness, not as a nyoob...
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