Exercise bikes

[Khimaira]

Can someone give me some info on exercise bikes. We have a kettler one at home that doesn't get used as often as it should. It's a standard, what I would call normal one with a control panel and ten or so programs. I've never managed beyond 3 . You can sit more or less upright and hold a book or lean forwards to the handlebars.

DH wants to get a new one (not sure where he thinks we can get the money from) and wants me to agree. It would be a racer style. It looks hideously uncomfortable to me. Is it? Does it make a huge difference? He wants me to go into the shop and try one but I daren't with the two DC in tow and sitting on it for 2 minutes is hardly going to give me an idea of what it is like to use. Does anyone have any experience of the two types? I've never been on a racing bike, DH does have one.

Why don't you use the one you have? Seems a bit bonkers to update something if you aren't going to use it.

I don't know much about them, we have an old one at home that DH uses every day but I don't like it - its one that has the belt thing you tighten for resistance but it doesn't feel smooth to me. If I updated ours I would go for one I could do a bit of spinning on, so could stand and pedal as well as sit.

None of them are comfy for a start but I just think you (or your bum) just get used to it.

I have an ex-gym spinning bike. They are really pricey new but I bought it 2nd (or more likely 3rd or 4th) hand on ebay. It allows you to sit more upright, or stand, or lean forward in a racing position. I really dislike the wide seat and upright posture on many standard bikes.

You turn a wheel to alter the level, but there are no automated programmes and no display. You can get videos / downloads of spinning type 'classes'. You judge how hard you worked by how much you sweat and your heart rate, not by a display of calories burned / distance travelled.

Works for me! Mine is a Lemond Revmaster but there are other possibilities too.