The worst thing about treadmills and stationary bikes is that people could run or bike for free outside (plus cost of bike). It’s one of the dumbest and worst wastes of time and resources. It’s only possible because USA is a complete shithole with very little outside, except for places dominated by automotive violence where it’s foolish to exercise.
People who say this make me laugh because it is extremely obvious that you don’t exercise, either indoors or outdoors. It’s like asking “why would anyone ever buy an oven when you literally could just eat the raw ingredients”, presumably you’ve just never consumed food before.
There are benefits to stationary cardio. 1) More convenient 2) Easier to zone out 3) Built in pacer 4) Safer 5) Doesn’t matter if it’s snowing/raining/humid/hot/dark. 6) Can be done from home, relevant if you have kids, on call duties, etc 7) Good way for adults to learn how to ride a bike in the first place 8) two people can run next to eachother at different paces while chatting 9) can be stopped at any point and you’re never 2 miles from your destination 10) Some people just don’t enjoy riding in the road, and riding on sidewalks is illegal in many areas 11) can be set for very long downhill or uphill segments that aren’t realistic in the real world 12) easier to follow a class/routine.
Like. People aren’t just idiots. They use them because there are good reasons to use them.
Indoor cycling / running is “just as hard”, you can scale it to the difficulty you prefer.
Exercise, for 95% of people, is about being healthy. Making that more convenient means you are more inclined to stick with it which is a win. Making it artificially harder in ways that don’t directly contribute to your goals just increases the chance of burnout, skipping days, etc. Or just making it easier in ways that actively harm your goals.
I would prefer someone take every opportunity to make their exercise experience easier in non-material ways if it meant they tried a bit harder on the actual relevant stuff e.g. increase resistance, time, weight, etc.
Don’t know where you live but around where I am it can get hot enough in the summer that just being outside is a hazard let alone to exercise. How’s bout we save the paramedics some time and not get heat/sun stroke because some folks think they are badasses who can shrug off the wroth of Sol Invictus.
It’s more about being comfortable while doing it. Running or biking in scorching heat, the freezing cold, or a stormy day sucks ass whereas I can do the same things in a temperature controlled environment.
Friend of mine fell off his bike and broke his shoulder; walked the bike nine miles back home. I said, “WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL ME??! I would have come and gotten you!”
I bought carbide studded tires for my bicycle, and rode all winter back and forth to work. -20C doesn’t feel cold once you start peddling, and you actually have to unzip layers to cool off.
The summers at 35C were hot, but the sweat and moving through the air cool you.
Very invigorating feeling compared to being in a gym.
Also, safety. There is a walk bike path near me and I prefer biking than stationary bikes, but not everyone has access to safe paths. Even the relatively safe path I use, I have maybe permanently injured my right wrist due to a fall caused by a dog jumping at me (he was just an excited sweetheart, but that didn’t stop me flying off the bike). My sister also walks the path and has been chased by feral dogs, plus has to deal with creeps hitting on her. Lots of people walk with some sort of blunt instrument for safety, though personally I feel that’s over the top.
While the only serious danger and injuries came from animals, that’s still something you wouldn’t have to worry about in a gym. The creeps… maybe, but still safer in most gyms than out in the open.
I get my exercise by cycling to work, sun or storm I have to get to work. So I’ll be cycling 80km a week. That is before any extras like going to the shops or anything else.
I’ve never lived in any place in the usa that is so much a shithole you couldn’t bike or run outside. Now, obviously that’s privilege to not have lived in a bad area, but the majority of Americans do not live in a bad area. I don’t think gyms even exist in bad areas anyways.
The worst thing about treadmills and stationary bikes is that people could run or bike for free outside (plus cost of bike). It’s one of the dumbest and worst wastes of time and resources. It’s only possible because USA is a complete shithole with very little outside, except for places dominated by automotive violence where it’s foolish to exercise.
You do realise treadmills aren’t just a US thing, right?
And bad weather is also a thing, right?
Treadmills are used everywhere, my confused American friend.
No, they don’t. Because they’ve never left America once. They just like to sit in their shit and ask why it smells.
People who say this make me laugh because it is extremely obvious that you don’t exercise, either indoors or outdoors. It’s like asking “why would anyone ever buy an oven when you literally could just eat the raw ingredients”, presumably you’ve just never consumed food before.
There are benefits to stationary cardio. 1) More convenient 2) Easier to zone out 3) Built in pacer 4) Safer 5) Doesn’t matter if it’s snowing/raining/humid/hot/dark. 6) Can be done from home, relevant if you have kids, on call duties, etc 7) Good way for adults to learn how to ride a bike in the first place 8) two people can run next to eachother at different paces while chatting 9) can be stopped at any point and you’re never 2 miles from your destination 10) Some people just don’t enjoy riding in the road, and riding on sidewalks is illegal in many areas 11) can be set for very long downhill or uphill segments that aren’t realistic in the real world 12) easier to follow a class/routine.
Like. People aren’t just idiots. They use them because there are good reasons to use them.
Aka artificial exercise for pussies who can’t handle real cycling or running because they are delicate little flowers who can’t handle inconveniences.
I do indoor cycling. I also did a nonstop 400km gravel ride this summer, is that real enough for you, strong man?
Indoor cycling / running is “just as hard”, you can scale it to the difficulty you prefer.
Exercise, for 95% of people, is about being healthy. Making that more convenient means you are more inclined to stick with it which is a win. Making it artificially harder in ways that don’t directly contribute to your goals just increases the chance of burnout, skipping days, etc. Or just making it easier in ways that actively harm your goals.
I would prefer someone take every opportunity to make their exercise experience easier in non-material ways if it meant they tried a bit harder on the actual relevant stuff e.g. increase resistance, time, weight, etc.
Don’t know where you live but around where I am it can get hot enough in the summer that just being outside is a hazard let alone to exercise. How’s bout we save the paramedics some time and not get heat/sun stroke because some folks think they are badasses who can shrug off the wroth of Sol Invictus.
Imagine thinking you’re macho for riding a bike inside.
God there’s some strange people on here.
It’s more about being comfortable while doing it. Running or biking in scorching heat, the freezing cold, or a stormy day sucks ass whereas I can do the same things in a temperature controlled environment.
Also, on a treadmill or stationary bike, if you get tired or just ain’t feeling it, you’re not 3 miles away from your house or car when you stop.
Sure you can run or bike outside but if you’re a few miles in and get hurt or too tired, you’re walking back.
Friend of mine fell off his bike and broke his shoulder; walked the bike nine miles back home. I said, “WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL ME??! I would have come and gotten you!”
“I didn’t have my phone.” 🙄🙄🙄
I say you are missing the fun.
I bought carbide studded tires for my bicycle, and rode all winter back and forth to work. -20C doesn’t feel cold once you start peddling, and you actually have to unzip layers to cool off.
The summers at 35C were hot, but the sweat and moving through the air cool you.
Very invigorating feeling compared to being in a gym.
You peddle goods, and pedal bikes.
Yeah, autocorrect doesn’t care what I do. Lol
Also, safety. There is a walk bike path near me and I prefer biking than stationary bikes, but not everyone has access to safe paths. Even the relatively safe path I use, I have maybe permanently injured my right wrist due to a fall caused by a dog jumping at me (he was just an excited sweetheart, but that didn’t stop me flying off the bike). My sister also walks the path and has been chased by feral dogs, plus has to deal with creeps hitting on her. Lots of people walk with some sort of blunt instrument for safety, though personally I feel that’s over the top.
While the only serious danger and injuries came from animals, that’s still something you wouldn’t have to worry about in a gym. The creeps… maybe, but still safer in most gyms than out in the open.
I get my exercise by cycling to work, sun or storm I have to get to work. So I’ll be cycling 80km a week. That is before any extras like going to the shops or anything else.
Gyms have loads of them in the UK too though so it isn’t just being a shithole. Trivially easy to walkor cycle along coastal paths here.
I know people who spend several times more on exercise bikes than I spend on real bikes.
I have a stationary bike and a real one, and I use both. I agree with your points, but stationary bikes are not the cause.
I’ve never lived in any place in the usa that is so much a shithole you couldn’t bike or run outside. Now, obviously that’s privilege to not have lived in a bad area, but the majority of Americans do not live in a bad area. I don’t think gyms even exist in bad areas anyways.
Florida is not bike friendly. Especially here in Pinellas. We are highly competitive in rankings for casualties.
I didn’t visit Orlando or Miami, but everywhere else besides St Petersburg was lucky to have sidewalks
I dunno. I’ve lived in 4 states, and spent a lot of time in ~3 other states. Very few of them had even halfway decent biking/walking infrastructure.