NWPR - Exercise machine recs?

[sdlaura]

I'd like to get some kind of cardio exercise equipment for our garage. Mainly because I prefer to work out in the morning, but DH leaves for work at 5 am, so I can't leave the house while the kids are asleep to exercise. I'd prefer something like an elliptical, stair machine, etc. rather than doing stuff with a video. While I like to run outside, I feel like time stands still when I run on a treadmill, so those are out.  At the gym, my favorite machine is the giant "stair mill" but those things are huge and probably really expensive....

Does anyone have any recommendations, or where to start in terms of using a dealer vs. Craigslist or something like that? Thank you!

[vvvvvfee]

+1 to being curious about this. i'm looking for something as cheap as possible. i was investigating exercise bikes on amazon recently, but i'm short (5'2") and it seems like most of them are not usable by people who are under 5'4" or so.

[sdlaura]

vvvvvfee, from what I've found so far, it seems like there are three routes to buying a machine:

1. Buy from a local person on Craigslist or similar site
2. Buy from a company that sells used/refurbished gym equipment
3. Buy a new machine from a dealer

Prices scale up accordingly. I definitely think the local person route is the cheapest. But could also mean you get a machine that is old and may break quickly with regular use. So I'm not sure how much more to spend if I want a warranty, or how exactly to pick which machine...

[supertrooper1]

I bought a spin bike about a year and a half ago and it's been a great investment for me. I spent $300, so it wasn't a cheap one but I didn't want to pay too much in case I didn't use it. I don't like to run and an elliptical was hard on my feet. Within 10 minutes on the bike, I'm sweating like crazy. I usually do a hard 20 minutes. Reviews recommended 49 lb flywheel and I wanted a quieter one, so I went with a belt driven instead of a chain.
This is the one I bought:
www.amazon.com/Sunny-Health-Fitness-Indoor-Cycling/dp/B00467H5YW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1487187059&sr=8-3&keywords=Sunny+bike

vvvvvfee, I'm 5'6, so I'm not sure if it would adjust low enough, but I think it would because my seat could go lower if I wanted.

[mae0111]

I was coming in here to tell you how much I love my Nordictrack treadmill, but that really won't help you, I guess...

Honestly, I did hate the treadmill for a long time, but I've grown to love it over the past 8 months or so. It's in our (unfinished) basement, but my MIL gave us her supposedly broken TV (which works fine), and DH hooked up an apple TV that he bought using airline miles. I watch all different shows on demand while running intervals, and the time flies by. Could you get a cheap walmart TV and hook your phone or iPad up to it to watch TV while you ran?

[sdlaura]

mae0111, that's my plan - to have a cheap TV, or even watch shows on my iPad with wifi!

[mae0111]

I used to watch my iPad while on the treadmill, and looking down while I was walking/running really messed up my neck. It's much better with the TV.

[mustardseed2007]

If you own a bike, you can buy a bike trainer for a few hundred dollars. The cycle ops fluid is a good one but it costs about 350 new. There are also cheaper brands out there. But it's nice because they don't use a ton of space unless your bike is actually in it.

The way it works is that you put your bike in it, there's a roller on the back for the back tire, and then you ride it as if you were riding your own bike. There are actually local face book groups for triathletes here and people sell their stuff all the time including bike trainers. 

I think if I were just into general fitness I would probably buy that or a spin bike-spinning is such a great workout. 

For me personally, I would love to own a treadmill for running late at night or when the weather is poor, but I'd also love to own an elliptical because every time my triathlon coach writes me a cross training workout, it involves an elliptical. 

Row machines are also nice because you can get a good workout and if you get the right one they fold up really well to the point that they are about the size of a jogging stroller. So storage is easier. 

[pengy86]

We got a bowflex max trainer and we love it. It had a very small footprint (it fits in the corner of our basement) and it's like an elliptical crossed with a stepper machine. We bought it around new years and they had a good sale going on. You might be able to find one on Craigslist if you wait long enough but we couldn't find one when we were looking. The company shipped it out within a week and it was pretty simple to assemble (you can pay someone to do it if you wanted).
www.bowflex.com/max-trainer/compare

[librarychica]

I bought a commercial-style elliptical off of Craigslist 6 years ago. Paid $1200. Yes, it was a lot of money and moving it was a bitch but it is so solid and has been really handy to have. Between the elliptical in the bedroom and the weight rack in the garage we are never joining a gym again.

[sdlaura]

Thanks librarychica - I think that's very similar to what I'm looking to do. The warehouse resellers and dealers seem to be selling the machine I'd like for $3k+, so if I could find something similar for half of that or less, I think I'll go for it. I'm glad you're getting use out of it!

How did you move it? Did you rent a truck?

[librarychica]

sdlaura, we borrowed my dad's. The hardest thing was getting it on and off and moving it to the right room. I recommend a ramp. Those things weigh so much! No wobble in use, though.

[sdlaura]

Feb 16, 2017 9:56:54 GMT -5 librarychica said:

sdlaura, we borrowed my dad's. The hardest thing was getting it on and off and moving it to the right room. I recommend a ramp. Those things weigh so much! No wobble in use, though.

Thanks! Hopefully we will only be moving one from a garage to a garage, so no stairs, but we'd definitely need to rent a truck with a ramp.

[mustardseed2007]

I would love to have a power rack at home. It'd have to be in the garage. Adjustable dumbbells are more universally useful but power racks are so fun.

[enigmaticdrscully]

MH and I both purchased gym-grade ellipticals off craigslist before we were married. Both had been in gyms that had upgraded. We've had them for 8 (mine) and 9 years (his). I had a cheap (non-gym-quality) elliptical when we met, and I literally used it until it died. Ours have withstood 4 moves (including the original move when it was purchased, for which we rented a U-haul).