Exercise bike or treadmill at home?

[LostAtTheFair]

I would like to rent either an exercise bike or a treadmill for use at home when the DCs are in bed. Has anyone else done this? The cost is within budget but I'm worried about space and noise. I'd prefer a treadmill but am afraid that the pounding will cause the DCs to wake up!

[Bluntness100]

Treadmill is much noisier than a.bike and takes up more room, so think it will need to be the bike.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Treadmill is very noisy, but I hate a bike (get a sore arse) and would go for a treadmill.

[HiDBandSIL]

I have a treadmill and it is noisy unfortunately. How soundly do they sleep and where would the treadmill be in relation to them? Can you use it at a different time of day? Could you try it for a month? I'm also not keen on bikes.

[LostAtTheFair]

Thanks for responses. I'm also not particularly keen on bikes but one would be better than nothing. Although I do have my heart set on a treadmill and it wasn't until recently that I realised about the noise. One DCsleeps soundly one not so much. I would ideally be using the equipment in the converted loft but not directly above either of their bedrooms. But I could compromise for a treadmill and could have it in the dining room downstairs if it could fold away when not in use. Is the noise from a treadmill mainly from the motor or from the pounding?

[Bluntness100]

It's the pounding and yes it's loud. I have one and when it used to be in the house , and it was a very large house, it could be heard in most places. Now I have it in an outbuilding I use as a little gym. What about a cross trainer/elliptical that would maybe work?

[DramaAlpaca]

The noise from a treadmill is mainly from the pounding, the motors are fairly quiet. I can hear ours when others in the house are using it, but the rhythmic sound of someone running on it is quite soothing actually.

I'd vote treadmill over bike, definitely.

[LostAtTheFair]

Good to know that it's the pounding. I agree that an elliptical would make sense but I really don't like them either - I'd actually rather a bike than an elliptical. We have an outbuilding in the garden but I think that it would be too cold in winter and I wouldn't leave the children to go there. Another option is a rowing machine - I quite like them in the gym but I use them for short warm ups usually rather than my main cardio session. Does anyone know about rowing machines as a main cardio machine? I can't imagine the lower body getting much of a workout but maybe I'm wrong?

[LostAtTheFair]

Also is the pounding noise muffled at all if there's a rug under the treadmill? Or is it just the same as if it's on a hard floor?

[Popskipiekin]

A rower is a full body workout. Think it's one of the better options and low impact for joints too as well as your house!

[DramaAlpaca]

I haven't tried a rug under our treadmill, it's on a wooden floor, but yes I reckon it would muffle some of the sound.

Our treadmill gets used quite a bit, by all members of the family. We also have an elliptical, but it only ever seems to get used as a towel rail.

Just for info, a decent treadmill is a large piece of kit and even if they fold up for storage they take up quite a lot of space.

[Socksey]

What about an elliptical stepper....

[AnaMaleka]

Rowing is an excellent full body workout..if you're in the right position. If you're only feeling it in your upper body, something's not right.

[exercisegirl]

Another vote for Rowing Machine

[LostAtTheFair]

Thanks all

[Bridechilla]

Lost any rental company recommendations?