Being totally honest here. I don’t really like to exercise but I used to love to ride my bike as a kid and I’d like to get into an alternative form of that by buying (and using!) a spin bike. I’m short, just 5’ tall, and I am looking for a moderately priced bike that would fit me and I could use with maybe the peloton app. I’ve found from the google research that I’ve done that being so short does limit the selection quite a bit, and if I got something just a little too big, it would not be beneficial. I do have a real bike that I like but do not live in an area where I can just pop on it and go bike. Lots of narrow roads with ditches and hills and it’s just too dang cold. I’m a weather wimp. Any suggestions?
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@deb922 recently got a bike and if I remember correctly she is on the shorter side? (sorry if I’m mistaken!!!)
I would say keep in mind anything is likely to be pricey. Is there any option to rent a bike for a short time to see if you really like it? (maybe a call to local equipment shops for more info??)
Does it have to be a spinning bike? There are a lot of good stationary bikes out there. I recently used a recumbent one at a physical therapy session and it was great (but I’m sure not inexpensive).
I have a spinning bike that is very adjustable. Look for something with that option too.
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How about a regular road bicycle of the appropriate size for you, plus a trainer stand or rollers? Then you can choose whether the bicycle indoors or outdoors based on the weather, etc… Plus, the bicycle and trainer stand or rollers is a lot less difficult to move around than a dedicated stationary bicycle (spin or otherwise).
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@ucbalumnus we have regular bikes and trainer stands. Frankly, I hate them, and my husband who is a huge bike rider doesn’t love them either (he does spinning). We don’t find them as stable as a regular stationary bike, and my husband owns a very high end trainer stand he thought he would use in the winters. He doesn’t.
@walkinghome i know going out probably isn’t on your A list of things to do…but I would make an appointment someplace where you can actually sit on and try a number of different stationary bikes and spinning bikes. In my experience, that’s the only way to know if one will really be comfortable for you.
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I second this idea! I’ve used many spin bikes but never found one that comes close to the real feel of a road bike. My road bike/trainer combo is very natural. And as an added bonus, on nice days you can take the bike outside for a real spin.
I would also highly recommend ‘clipping in’ to the pedals.
Good luck!
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Yes I am short lol! Thanks for the tag @abasket
I invested in the Nordic Track. It took a bit of trial but it’s been very comfortable. We have a bike trainer also but I didn’t use it much.
I’m 5’1, my daughter is 5’3 and my sister in law is the same. We all bought the Nordic Track and all are loving it!
For me, the classes and rides are key. We went with the Nordic Track because it adjusts automatically with the instructor. Unlike your own spin bike or the peloton.
I bought my bike at Dick’s Sporting Goods. They had it and a few other bikes on display to try out.
My regular bike is a Giant hybrid in an XS.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I think I’m going to take Thumpers advice and go visit Dick’s Sporting Goods. I wish I had gone to at least one spin class to get an idea of what’s important and what I might like or not like. I’m going to try to resist the temptation to just buy something to have it done and instead make a thoughtful purchase.
Dicks is a good start. But I would suggest a place that specializes in exercise equipment, and has a good variety of indoor bikes, spinning and regular stationary.
I knew what I wanted, because my daughter bought her bike first. I didn’t know that they were in stock at Dick’s but I got to check the bike out before I bought it.
I bought my treadmill at a bike shop that also carries exercise equipment. This was before Covid so they delivered it and set it up for me. This store doesn’t carry spin bikes and I knew that was what I wanted or it definitely would have been a place I would have visited.
I do see a place that sells used exercise equipment in the next town over. I just hesitate to go inside stores. I’ll ask around to see if there’s some place around that I’m missing.
Are you saying you have not taken a spin class before? That’s a big purchase if you haven’t tried the movements and all to know if you like the routine .
It’s true. I’ve never attended a spin class before and I’m not sure I would like that. I like the idea of just cycling away while watching a movie for 30 or 40 minutes. The idea of someone telling me to go faster or pump it up does not appeal at all. I think my inspiration is my sister and brother in law who were both a bit overweight and got a peloton bike and started doing that without ever have attended a class. They do the rides where it’s like you are going through different cities. My BIL lost 15 lbs. since May.
The peloton app is free for 2 months now, if you sign up you can see all the classes and try them out, there are also tons of other classes on it that are great, strength, walking, pilates, etc. The bike itself is amazing for the price and they do have free financing, there is a crazy long wait for them now but you can sometimes find them at a discount on facebook marketplace (but since the wait is so long many are actually being sold at a mark up). If you are on facebook there are a ton of peloton groups, one you may be interested in before you buy is the peloton app group, they have tons of hacks for people who have other spin bikes, and thereis also also a shorty tribe for people who are short, good luck!
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@walkinghome my spinning bike has different positioning than my regular bicycle. That took some getting used to. Mine was a gift so not an issue. But if I were buying and just wanted to ride while watching TV, I’d consider a regular stationary bike.
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Going to agree with @thumper1.
I like the interaction that comes with my bike. I also agree that the spin bike is set up a bit differently than my regular bike.
If what you want to do is watch the television and ride a bike, a stationary bike will work fine.
I like the way the classes make me work with intervals and with resistance and incline. It’s like a class but in my basement. Best of both worlds. I feel like I’m getting stronger which helps with other things that I do.
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I got a Peloton in April and it really saved my sanity. I had never done a Spin Class and it took me a good week to get used to it. I am someone who needs the encouragement of the instructors or else I get lazy.
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So I found a place the next town over that had fitness equipment and I visited it today and sat on some bikes! I was the only person in the store besides the salesperson. The lowest price spin bike was almost $800 so I knew right away I wouldn’t be walking out with anything. I told the salesperson that I was a newbie and what I was looking for - something under $600 but he was really nice and I sat on two bikes and he explained what to look for in my search. He totally understood my reasoning for getting a beginner bike. I thanked him for his time and help. Based on that visit though, I am more interested in visiting Dicks and seeing some less expensive bikes.
Do you belong to Costco? They may have something in your budget.
Were you able to try a spin bike and compare the seating position to a regular stationary bike?
I was at our local Dicks last week, and I swear, I was the only customer in the store. There might have been one other, but it’s a HUGE store.
Looking forward to hearing your report!