School Me on Spin Bikes

lefty

lefty

Well-known member
Dearest BARF-

You folks on here are a VAST pool of knowledge. (You notice that I didn't say what kind of Pool), but I digress.

Let me start by saying that Mrs. Lefty is a badass. She has had a Sunny Health Spin bike for about 3 years and she has broken 3 bottom brackets.

https://outdoorchimp.com/products/s...yt4o1dSyhoFPuy1BvScS6ILH9FjoSk5waAiyBEALw_wcB

She LOVES the bike, and she only wants me to fix it, but I want to buy her a new Spin Bike- that will last. I don't want to spend $2,500 on a Peleton, but I'm will go higher than the $299 that I paid for the Sunny Health bike.

Any ideas?
 
Bay Arean

Bay Arean

Well-known member
Ya gotta think that some health clubs who have been closed will just stay closed making some available. I know its a dastardly thought to take advantage but...

How to find 'em i dunno. If they dump them on the market all at the same time, the value goes down.
 
DucatiHoney

DucatiHoney

Administrator
Staff member
I have found the spin bikes at sport clubs to be insanely ill-fitting. It's pretty amazing how much they suck across the board for nearly every body type. On some level, I suppose they should be applauded for their universal failure. It looks like your Mrs. has found that not to be the case, because what you show in your link seems to be just a standard spin bike, but unlike most of BARF, I don't proclaim to actually know. :laughing

Bikes are a pretty personal equipment. If she likes that ONE, I probably wouldn't mess with it too much. Fix it or get her that exact model. If you want to try something different, the more adjustments it has on it, the better--and make sure it has a good return policy. I've returned/rejected bikes before after test riding them and having them for a while. Saddles, pedals, shoes, inserts, shorts--it all makes a difference. If one thing is off and you ride a lot, life can start sucking real fast. I had one bike that would invariably mess up my right knee. No problems on any other bike. I don't do trainers outside of the gym, but this SIP sh!t is making me really want a Peloton.
 
DannoXYZ

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
Spin bikes are crap. Real bikes have outboard roller-bearing bottom-brackets. Can handle 2000w output continuously without failure for decades. Get real bike and put it on trainer. Even better, rollers.

You need the natural rocking motion that offsets pedaling forces (follow someone on road, you'll see bike rocking laterally). Without rocking, all those forces go into your knees (spin-bikes do not rock).

Also most spin bikes are set up horribly and knee-damage is guaranteed with seats that are way, way too low. Seat to pedal-spindle centre should be 1.05-1.10x leg-length. Velodrome riders may use up to 1.15x for max-power. Multiple different methods agree to within 1mm. https://road.cc/content/feature/166709-how-set-your-saddle-height Problem is most people going into spin-class or getting on their own spin bike don't know how to adjust bike to within this 1mm. They just hop on and barely know if they're not fitted properly, especially on gym bike that may have been grossly adjusted out of whack by previous user.
 
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Blankpage

Blankpage

alien
Better be out of the house if she's pedalling on rollers. The noise will annoy the shit out of anyone within a half mile.
Spin bikes take up the least amount of room and are the right tool for the job.
If you have more room get an elliptical and toss the spin bike in the trash.
 
Killroy1999

Killroy1999

Well-known member
IMOH, stationary trainers are torture devises and I can only spend 10 min on them. Get a all around bike that you can take outside and if you have to be stationary attach that bike to a "bike trainer".
 
UDRider

UDRider

FLCL?
+1 on zwift. It's a game changer.

So what exactly is your max budget, or what you want to spend.
If she already has a road bike that collects dust you can get kickr core, or any other smart trainer, and use that with zwift.
 
lefty

lefty

Well-known member
Thank you all for the feedback. I just bought her a Cannondale Habit Carbon Mtn Bike. She loves it, but she also loves her indoor spin bike.

We ran into a guy over the weekend and he told us about Zwift. I will look into those bikes that work with that app.

I'm trying to stay under $1K, but I'm willing to go higher,,,,,,,, (I must keep her happy, otherwise I might incur some sort of "Accident".)
 
E

ejv

Untitled work in progress
We have had a Lemond Fitness soon bike for several years. Still works without any repairs. I like it. Looks like the current price is $1300. When we bought it it was maybe $2000 but probably about 8 years ago. More competition now.
 
TheRobSJ

TheRobSJ

Großer Mechaniker
My wife has the Peloton. She knows I used to ride a lot of mountain bikes 20-25 years ago (my Klein still hangs in the garage). For months she’s been damn near begging me to try her Peloton. The thought of all that peddling and literally not going anywhere is stupid to me. If I was going to ride a bike, I’d just ride a real bike...which I really have no interest in anymore. But a few weeks ago she buys me the shoes for the damn Peloton. I tried it. And yeah it’s nowhere near as satisfying as riding a real bike, but better than being stagnant and turning into Jabba the Hut in these times. So I suppose I’ll ride it here and there. Maybe next time I’ll just ride it without a “class” running since I know how to interval train without some overly enthusiastic spandex lord telling me what to do.

I’ve been running everyday the past couple weeks. I don’t like that either. Can’t I just go back to work and burn calories there?
 
UDRider

UDRider

FLCL?
lefty said:
Thank you all for the feedback. I just bought her a Cannondale Habit Carbon Mtn Bike. She loves it, but she also loves her indoor spin bike.

We ran into a guy over the weekend and he told us about Zwift. I will look into those bikes that work with that app.

I'm trying to stay under $1K, but I'm willing to go higher,,,,,,,, (I must keep her happy, otherwise I might incur some sort of "Accident".)
Click to expand...

Why does she like her spin bike?
Reason I ask MTB can be mounted on smart trainer like kickr core. Once you connect it to zwift it will provide feedback depending on terrain. You can also choose workouts.
If she just likes it because she can jump on and do workout that can be done with smart trainer and MTB.
 
R3DS!X

R3DS!X

Whatever that means
Real bike and get a smart trainer. you can connect them to various levels of apps that can have structured workouts like spin classes or you can even "virtually ride" I have a wahoo kickr(smart trainer) and use Zwift(application)
 
R

rcb78

Well-known member
First off, I agree with everyone above and say get a smart trainer and have way more fun. If you want to use it with her MTB I would suggest looking at a direct drive version so that you don't have to deal with shredding the knobby tires and listening to the insane whine of them on the roller. Make sure that whatever you get allows for different axle types so that it will work with all bike types you have now and into the future. My Hammer will do 130 & 135 QR, along with 135/142/148 thru axle. Wahoo does the same, and I'm pretty sure Tacx does too.
That said, if she really, really wants her stationary fixed, replace the bottom bracket with a higher quality one. Contact Phil Wood or White Industries. They both still make high quality BBs for square taper setups. Get the spindle length measurement and give them a call to see what they can do.
 
C

Circacee

Well-known member
I bought the other half a Keiser M3. They're commonly found at LA Fitness/24HR fitness gyms. Works well.
 
lefty

lefty

Well-known member
UDRider said:
Why does she like her spin bike?
Reason I ask MTB can be mounted on smart trainer like kickr core. Once you connect it to zwift it will provide feedback depending on terrain. You can also choose workouts.
If she just likes it because she can jump on and do workout that can be done with smart trainer and MTB.
Click to expand...

I have no idea- (why do they do any of the things they do???????), but I want to keep her happy (and myself "Accident Free", ie, no pillow covering my head while I try to sleep) :laughing

I've taken your advice and I'm researching various bikes. Many of the high end one require a monthly membership. One of the few that does not, and is highly rated is the Bowflex C6.
 
Climber

Climber

Well-known member
lefty said:
I have no idea- (why do they do any of the things they do???????), but I want to keep her happy (and myself "Accident Free", ie, no pillow covering my head while I try to sleep) :laughing

I've taken your advice and I'm researching various bikes. Many of the high end one require a monthly membership. One of the few that does not, and is highly rated is the Bowflex C6.
Click to expand...
Does she get endorphins after 20 minutes of riding or so? I've heard it's almost like feeling the pleasure of having sex for a long time.

My wife gets endorphins and can go indefinitely once they kick in.

I've never had them from exercise, I wish I did, it would have made my endurance training for all of my sports much easier!
 
lefty

lefty

Well-known member
I did it. I just bought the Bowflex C6 with the 5 year protection plan!!!!

Now, I just need to purchase a nice tablet to mount on it.
 
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