Exercise bikes

[Peevemor]

I'm quite a big chap, currently about 105kg for 1.90m (I put on a wee bit during 10 weeks of lockdown).

I eat fairly healthily but in general the only thing that keeps my weight reasonable is doing stuff, ie. shifting my backside.

Normally during the summer months I spend quite a lot of time playing bagpipes, including different festivals most weekends. However this year they've all been cancelled.

I'll still be out and about at weekends but using nothing like the same energy as usual.

Therefore I bought an exercise bike, with a view to doing maybe 45 minutes minimum per day.

This might seem a ridiculous question for those who know about this stuff (I don't!), but will doing say 2 x 25 minutes have the same effect as 1 x 50 minutes ? It's just that if I'm going to make the effort I don't want to be wasting my time.

[Jones28]

It depends on how intensely you do it. It might be better to start at half an hour, work up a good sweat and go from there. Maybe look up some videos on YouTube of classes you could do for beginners.

I once had to explain to my MIL that doing 10,000 steps a day is a good start, but walking on the spot in the living room to get 10,000 without raising your heart rate is a waste of time.

[danhibees1875]

I guess it depends what you want out of it.

My amateur thoughts would be that HIIT would be the most "effective" way to spend your time on it.

[Peevemor]

I guess it depends what you want out of it.

My amateur thoughts would be that HIIT would be the most "effective" way to spend your time on it.Thanks. I had to google HIIT. [emoji16]

[MagicSwirlingShip]

If you’re just starting, id recommend consistency over starting any HIIT workout at the moment.

HIIT work outs are great for fat burning once you are in a good routine, but can make you feel really burnt out for a few days afterwards. This can be discouraging, especially if you’ve just started.

There’s a great interview with Firas Zahabi on a Joe Rogan podcast about working out smart, he explains it better than I can.

https://youtu.be/_fbCcWyYthQ

Once you are in a good routine, maybe after a month of consistent workouts, finish with a few HIIT bursts and the weight will fall off!

[Peevemor]

If you’re just starting, id recommend consistency over starting any HIIT workout at the moment.

HIIT work outs are great for fat burning once you are in a good routine, but can make you feel really burnt out for a few days afterwards. This can be discouraging, especially if you’ve just started.

There’s a great interview with Firas Zahabi on a Joe Rogan podcast about working out smart, he explains it better than I can.

https://youtu.be/_fbCcWyYthQ

Once you are in a good routine, maybe after a month of consistent workouts, finish with a few HIIT bursts and the weight will fall off!Thanks everyone for the replies.

I got the thing on Wednesday and have since done 25, 30 then 35 minutes on consecutive nights (using 7/9 in the hill/gear thing).

It's just I found the 35 minutes a bit long, hence my original question.

From what you're saying 2 x 25 minutes will be of roughly as much benefit, at least to begin with.

[Since90+2]

Excercise bikes can be hard work and are certainly more difficult than cycling on the road as you are not getting the downhill effect.

If you are relatively unfit your heart rate is likely to get pretty high fairly quickly. If your aim is to burn fat then you need to keep your maximum beats per minute under a certain limit. Your target heart rate will depend on your age.

[Peevemor]

Excercise bikes can be hard work and are certainly more difficult than cycling on the road as you are not getting the downhill effect.

If you are relatively unfit your heart rate is likely to get pretty high fairly quickly. If your aim is to burn fat then you need to keep your maximum beats per minute under a certain limit. Your target heart rate will depend on your age.I read something about 220 minus my age, which gives me a maximum of 167. When I'm using the bike I'm generally around 130bpm. I take it that's fine?

[Since90+2]

I read something about 220 minus my age, which gives me a maximum of 167. When I'm using the bike I'm generally around 130bpm. I take it that's fine?

What age are you if you don't mind me asking?

[McSwanky]

What age are you if you don't mind me asking?I'm guessing 53....

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[Scouse Hibee]

I'm guessing 53....

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😁

[Onceinawhile]

For the time being just get settled with something you are able to do / that you enjoy.

No point doing a super training programme for a week then giving it up because you hate it.

Get on, enjoy it and you're burning more calories than if you use it as a clothes horse.

[Peevemor]

For the time being just get settled with something you are able to do / that you enjoy.

No point doing a super training programme for a week then giving it up because you hate it.

Get on, enjoy it and you're burning more calories than if you use it as a clothes horse.My attitude is that anything is better than nothing, but I would like to get into the habit and in an effective way, knowing fine well that I'll never be a fitness freak.

[Beefster]

Excercise bikes can be hard work and are certainly more difficult than cycling on the road as you are not getting the downhill effect.

If you are relatively unfit your heart rate is likely to get pretty high fairly quickly. If your aim is to burn fat then you need to keep your maximum beats per minute under a certain limit. Your target heart rate will depend on your age.

I’m pretty sure that the bit in bold has been debunked.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/nutrition/eating-on-bike/article/izn20180124-Eating-on-the-bike-Struggling-with-Cycling-Weight-Loss-0

https://road.cc/content/feature/lose-weight-cycling-find-out-why-intense-efforts-are-better-138083

IMHO the best principle to follow is that the bigger the calorie deficit, the more fat will be burned. There is also chat about cycling fasted but I’ve no idea if this is actually any more effective that eating beforehand.

[Mibbes Aye]

I'm guessing 53....

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Maybe just me, but when I read this I couldn’t help imagining Bruce Forsyth going over to Since90+2 and saying “Mm..mm..mm...higher or lower my love, higher or lower?”

That will only make sense to veterans of Eighties TV!

And yes I know it’s in his profile :greengrin