Hi tisseltass

you have probably found a bike by now but I thought I’d share my experience especially for anyone else that may see the thread title and look further.

I have a Keiser M3 at home – they’re expensive but quiet (very important to me), smooth, adjustable for seat height, fore/aft and handle height and fore/aft. I’ve had it for nearly a year now and I love it – very reliable and easy to use – also light enough to move from a corner to the centre of a room when needed.

There are lots of HIIT protocols you can follow (see the book) some as quick as a few minutes (with 2-10 x 10 sec high intensity bursts).

I tend to use the GCN (Global Cycling Network) 20 minute men workout on youtube. It has 7 HIT intervals – it’s not the same as any mentioned in the book or previous studies but it suits me. GCN have another 20 minute workout with women but it’s quite demeaning so I avoid that one. They also have several longer work outs with HIT included but I like the quick one.

I have also bought several cycling digital DVDs from Virtual Active (www.vafitness.com/) – these are 30 minutes long and take you through amazing real life vistas. They’re not strictly HIT at the intensity in the book but you can modify them to do a HIT session for say 20-30secs at the end of every 5 minute block. I love starting my day in Italy or the Rockies or even New Zealand, all in the comfort of my own home.

Hope this helps.

Hello janecw

‘Which bike?’ is becoming a bit of a FAQ on this forum, so thanks very much for your comment about the Keiser. I deferred the decision by hiring a bike, just so that I would have something to compare any eventual purchase with. The hire period is ending soon, so the search for one to buy will begin in earnest.

Cheers!

Hi DeeB

I would have loved a Keiser M3, too but, like you, had to look at cheaper options.

I eventually bought a Reebok ZR9 Bike, from Argos, for about £200. It certainly made me sweat – assembling it from the flat pack delivery hahaha! It’s not bad at all – it has enough resistance to be able to do HIIT.

I must admit I was a bit spoiled by the heavy duty gym-standard bike which I had hired previously. It was proper beefy! Seemed to have a greater resistance at max level compared to my own one. To buy a new one from the company would have cost £1500. However, I later found out that they sell reconditioned ones for around £300 – £400 so that might be worth looking into. The firm is called Hire Fitness uk. It might depend whereabouts you live, as to whether there is an agent in your area.

However, I’d say the one I have bought is good enough.

Hope this helps – let us know how you get on.
BB

Just to let you know,

I got a Keiser M3 (reconditioned) after all, it was a good recommendation Jane, thank you, and thank you again BB for the idea of a reconditioned bike, I haven’t used it yet, but it looks like it’s made of sturdy stuff.

Dee