Crosstraining while injured - why the stationary bike?

Convenience, I would assume.

I guess the on the stationary bike it is easier to not hurt yourself because no obstacles like hills.

Or maybe because it is so boring it will make you tough.

When I was injured I started riding a bike outdoors to stay fit... and eventually switched from running to cycling (after a second injury). On stationary bikes, there are no rests- just constant motion. Outdoors, there are corners, traffic lights, downhills, and fresh air.

On the stationary bike, if you aggravate the leg injury, well, just stop and start healing. On the road bike, you've still gotta get home somehow.

I highly recommend spinning. Go to a spinning class or just find a spinning bike. it's a MUCH better workout than a stationary bike and a road bike. it got me through a 6 month injury. Also... aqua jogging. I switched between the two... definitely would not recommend the stationary bike.. it's really hard to get your heart rate where it needs to be on there.

spin wrote:

I highly recommend spinning. Go to a spinning class or just find a spinning bike. it's a MUCH better workout than a stationary bike and a road bike. it got me through a 6 month injury. Also... aqua jogging. I switched between the two... definitely would not recommend the stationary bike.. it's really hard to get your heart rate where it needs to be on there.

I have done a little stationary biking before while injured and have done a spinning class once in my life. Besides the class portion, what is the difference in the actual bikes. I honestly didn't notice.

'Go to a spinning class or just find a spinning bike. it's a MUCH better workout than a stationary bike and a road bike'

Is a spinning bike that much different to a stationary one?

i've also wondered why the stationary bike recommendation. when i've been injured, i've gotten outside to ride for two to five+ hours a day and managed to retain both my fitness AND my sanity.

i agree that there's the downside of having to get back home if something goes wrong while out on the road, and there's the added danger of having to come down hard on an injured leg if you have to dismount from the bike pronto. also, with an ankle injury (which i had once -- actually, a lower fibular stress fracture), i had to wait a couple of weeks before riding because i was too tenuous getting in and out of my pedals.

i run because i love to be outside in the weather and the woods (i'm a trail runner, primarily), and being inside on a stationary bike or aquajogging in a pool just doesn't feed my soul.

anyone have more convincing reasons to ride to nowhere?

ukathleticscoach wrote:

'Go to a spinning class or just find a spinning bike. it's a MUCH better workout than a stationary bike and a road bike'

Is a spinning bike that much different to a stationary one?

Yeah what's the difference?

wondering same thing wrote:

Yeah what's the difference?

For once a spinning bike doesn't have a plushy seat designed for grandmas. Also far better geometry, you can actually set the seat and handlebar at roughly same height.

Also, no deadspin, which results in a rounder gear.

Usually you use clip pedal and shoes on your spin bike which is far superior to what most stationaries offer.

no longer stressed wrote:

i run because i love to be outside in the weather and the woods (i'm a trail runner, primarily), and being inside on a stationary bike or aquajogging in a pool just doesn't feed my soul.

anyone have more convincing reasons to ride to nowhere?

Not really. I rode a stationary bike because I had a gym membership but not a real bike, and because I thought it was safer to be inside (I'm highly doubtful of my bike handling skills). I think one of the reasons it's recommended is simply because it's easier to control and monitor the effort.

I've never had an issue with the indoor bike or with aqua-jogging. But then again, I also have no soul. :p

Nutella1 wrote:

far better geometry, you can actually set the seat and handlebar at roughly same height.

That is true of all touring and racing bikes, whether on a bike stand or outside.

no deadspin, which results in a rounder gear.

Almost all touring and racing bikes have round gears, which does result in deadspots. What exactly do you mean by this?

Usually you use clip pedal and shoes on your spin bike which is far superior to what most stationaries offer.

You can use clip pedals on any touring or racing bike.

The stationary bike offers the most benefit due to the fact that you can manipulate the resistance and gauge the RPM. Also the heart monitor really aids in how hard the effort is.

Overall the stationary bike offers the best way to get fitness/maintain it. With that, you also have an endless unobstructed path.

more curious than curious wrote:

Nutella1 wrote:

far better geometry, you can actually set the seat and handlebar at roughly same height.

That is true of all touring and racing bikes, whether on a bike stand or outside.

no deadspin, which results in a rounder gear.

Almost all touring and racing bikes have round gears, which does result in deadspots. What exactly do you mean by this?

Usually you use clip pedal and shoes on your spin bike which is far superior to what most stationaries offer.

You can use clip pedals on any touring or racing bike.

He was comparing spinning bikes with ordinary statinary bikes, not with road bikes!

Nutella1 wrote:

wondering same thing wrote:

Yeah what's the difference?

For once a spinning bike doesn't have a plushy seat designed for grandmas. Also far better geometry, you can actually set the seat and handlebar at roughly same height.

Also, no deadspin, which results in a rounder gear.

Usually you use clip pedal and shoes on your spin bike which is far superior to what most stationaries offer.

Thanks

Those stationary bikes in the gym are bit rubbish & those 'comfy' saddles are bad for you. Injured at moment might do a bit of spinning as free at gym I go to. Also going to dig my road bike out of the shed

Right - Spin bikes are superior to stationary bikes by a far stretch.

If you can, go outside and ride your road bike, because it's so much more fun. But if lack of quite roads or time (spin is much more time efficient - no downhills) are prohibiting this then spin is an excellent alternative.

This is one of the things that drives me nuts about the athletic trainers at my college. Seems like no matter what the injury is, no matter what sport the student-athlete lays, if there is rehab or light duty training involved their go-to plan is "ride the stationary bike". Once in awhile they'll think outside the box and recommend the eliptical. We have a pool and a well stocked fitness center, why not mix it up; some stationary bike, some swimming, some pool running, some ergometer, etc.

Unless you have very long steep downhills, it is pretty hard to spin out on them. If you have a 53x12 you're going to spin out around 45mph.

I think the biggest problem is traffic/traffic signals. Even if you have a few stops though, you can work through them and get as good/better a workout than spinning on the roads. Plus, you get to avoid the freaks at gym.

A fixed gear on a bicycle would be good, as it would eliminate any coasting.