Stationary Bike

  • I'm gettin' older, no doubt. Running hurts my knees. I'm thinking of an exercise bike to keep my legs in shape, which should benefit my diving.
    Problem is, there's a shitload of them online. Anyone have any good or bad experiences or recommendations for a good one?
    I figure 15-20 minutes 3 or 4 days per week. I can put on the headphones, listen to about 5 Skynyrd or Blues songs and I'm done. Easy.
    And by Christmas I'll be able to dive as good as Jake. That prick....:D

  • Maybe rope skipping will put less pressure on your knees since both feet are taking the shock at the same time. But it's a more intense workout.


    Why don't you ride a normal bike? I don't do it here because I know I'm going to get hit by a car sooner or later. For some reason I figure traffic is not so bad where you're at.

  • The stationary bikes that have a heavy flywheel give a good workout. Another option is a windload trainer. You put your bike on the trainer after removing the front wheel. The rear wheel rests on a spindle that spins as you pedal. It is easy to take your bike on and off and stores easily when your bike is not mounted on it.

  • Dick's Sporting Goods


    These look pretty good. I'm kind of torn between the eliptical and the recumbant. But somehow, sitting seems .....lazy. hah
    Dan, I live on gravel which is either dusty, or muddy and very bump and hard on tires and joints also. I have to go 7 miles to get to pavement and it's a dangerous road. People here drive like maniacs as there is no driver's education....you just go buy your license.
    Thanks and keep em coming. Jake says I'm a pussy for not just doing squats but man, it hurts my knee caps. Getting old isn't for pussies......

  • I made a trade with Jon (Belize Spearo) for a stationary bike right after I posted this thread.


    I slowly started building up from a couple minutes a day to ten minutes now. I'll keep going till I'm up to about 40 or so.


    Seems to be working. I usually build up from 50 seconds to about 1 min 20 sec dives. I don't push it really hard when hunting.
    I saw a bit of an increase last week but yesterday was .....my best ever I think. I did 3 dives over 2 minutes. 2 min 13 was my best. Only to 30 feet but I did about 15 other dives over 1 min 45 sec.


    I wasn't pushing it either because we were all split up hunting this cut inside the reef. It was really easy and I think I can do over 2 min 30 sec if I push it a bit.
    It worked too. I was down for 1 min 35 and a pretty good size cubera started approaching. We don't see big fish in this cut normally.....except this one pesky bull shark......and I waited.....and hit him but he tore off. Shit. But yeah, I'm stoked. New life for the old man. Cardio seems to work...for me anyway.

  • I'm not getting any younger myself (53) and like to keep in shape for my next spearfishing trip.


    Problem is most of my spearfishing friends are between 20-40 yrs old....very few above this so I have to keep up with the pace.


    My main business is manufacturing sports nutrition so I know a bit about sports & health.....but I'm no doctor.


    If there is one single exercise you must choose....That would be Walking...and nothing beats walking in terms of overall health benefits....as it comes natural to the human race.
    I'm talking about brisk walking, 40 minutes or so/day...4-5 times/week.
    If you can't walk outside...get a treadmill.
    Its easy on the joints and the list of health benefits are too long to mention and will strengthen your legs which are the most parts used in spearfishing.


    Ihab

  • But yeah, I'm stoked. New life for the old man. Cardio seems to work...for me anyway.


    hank--glad u got a bike already. Please remember to peddle at 60 RPM minimum. 90 RPM is even better on your knees. Also, I might suggest a heart rate monitor if you want to get a little more serious about training and working out.
    Good luck and hope this helps.


    P.S.--I can't remember back to when I was 53 years old :D

  • hank--glad u got a bike already. Please remember to peddle at 60 RPM minimum. 90 RPM is even better on your knees. Also, I might suggest a heart rate monitor if you want to get a little more serious about training and working out.
    Good luck and hope this helps.


    P.S.--I can't remember back to when I was 53 years old :D


    Thanks. I'm finding I pedal to the rhythm of the music I'm listening to . I'm downloading songs onto my iPhone ....my old favorites. This way, I"m stoked to ride the bike....or walk, which I agree is very good but both are very boring. Now I'm stoked to do it because I can rock out. 15 minutes passed by quick yesterday.

  • Hank they have sites that will give you song recommendations based on bpm which I find awesome.


    Helps keep the intensity up. I like to alternate fast and slow song to get an interval training going on

    i like to spear fish

  • Yesterday the Skynyrd song "Call me the Breeze" kicked me into high gear. hah. Then Swamp Music....
    What if I plug in SRV's Rude Mood...shit, I might have a heart attack....
    But I was panting and sweating. I don't get that walking 3 miles. And I was getting a little light headed at the end. Good thing there was no encore.....

  • I'm using this machine Bowflex Max M5 and it's very good, there's no joint impact, none. It's a combination of a stepper with an elliptical, unique machine I think. I find it hard, burns the legs big time. Once you get past that you can achieve a serious cardio workout. I would always make fun of gimmicky machines, couldn't see the point why not just grapple, run, swim or cycle. But now various joints hurt and I can't do what I used to do. This machine saved my ass. Maybe once I get stronger with it I'll be able to do other stuff again.


  • There are 3 models; M3 $1000, M5 $1600 and M7 $2500. They function the same, difference is in the electronics; how many different programs, Bluetooth connectivity etc. Main difference between the M3 and M5 is that the M3 has a manual difficulty level control, like a rotating speed shifter on a bike. With the M5 it's all electronic. I thought I would've been fine with the M3. But found that on the used market there were only M5 machines. I reasoned it's their more popular seller. Got my M5 off Craigslist for $850, like new and assembled (it ships disassembled). I was pretty sure that I'd be able to find it used as many aspirational fitness machines end up being tossed.


    I think I was lucky to discover this machine. I was at Dick's store pondering on whether I should buy weights, and a Bowflex M3 was right there along with treadmills and elliptical machines. It looked interesting so I tried it. After one minute on the machine I was considering buying it. Then tried the elliptical machines to make sure I wasn't missing out on something even better. I found my movement on the elliptical machines felt unnatural. That's when I realized how good the Bowflex Max is. It has a fan and blows air out the bottom sides depending how fast you're going, an additional detail that makes you feel like you're achieving something. And it takes up little space.


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