Hi all
I'm thinking about getting the exercise bike at Walmart for $88. Has anyone tried this particular bike with the flywheel? I don't have alot of money to spend , but I figure a stationary bike could help me get into routine, so that when I wake up in the morning I can just hop on the bike and start pedaling without the worry of injuring myself while I'm still half sleep. I know I also run the risk of buying some low quality junk. But I also hate exercing in front of people too. Any advice for a low budget student? Should I buy a cheap bike?

I donot know about the flywheel Walmart bike but I suggest a recumbent bike over an upright bike. Recumbent bikes seats are larger so one can bike longer without comprimising comfort. I think stationary biking is a great idea. I personally donot like going to the gym. I do lots of biking in town and I also own a stationary bike for years and I absolutely love it. I can pedal and at the same time easily read or watch TV.

Piper

You'd probably be better off checking garage sales or the classified ads. People buy high quality equipment all the time, use it for a week and never touch it again. There are some "second hand" sporting goods stores too that won't sell broken equipment. I'm very wary of WalMart equipment... or WalMart anything, really. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Keep your body lean, your blood clean and your mind sharp. -Rollins

I bought a recumbent bike at WalMart last year at this time because I was living far from work and would do my cardio at home after my gym workout. Eventually I moved closer to work and do my cardio at the gym now. So, the bike sits in my bedroom collecting dust. I tried to sell it, got one call and that person never showed up. It's not cheap quality but if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have bought it and wouldn't recommend anybody doing so either.

Hello, Ok, you all are going to laugh at me...I have a Kathy Ireland/K-mart recumbant bike and the whole family loves it! (No, it's not pink.) The only thing that I have to remember is to turn the resistance down, so my mother-in-law can handle it after I'm done using it. We got it brand new for $89.00 and there was very little assemblying to do. I like it because it has the resistance knob on it and it's hands free, so on the nights I feel lazy...I can watch TV and play gameboy or read while I'm on it. Even the house cat loves to sit on it! A previous poster mentioned yard sales, which are also great...just be sure to try the stuff out first and ask if it comes with a manual, because some of those bikes can get pretty fancy. Another cheapo way to go about it, is to keep an eye on the free column of the classified adds. You'd be surprised at some of the good exercise equipment you can find!

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Magpie

thanks for the replies. I think I'll skip on exercise bike at walmart, beacuse more than likely you probably get what you pay for, I'll try to check around at some garage sales or the classifieds.

The one I own is a Tunturi. I paid something around $200-$250 for it 7 years ago. I had no problems with it at all.

P.

I bought a flywheel bike from Walmart with the rowing type handles. I think it is great. I have it right beside my bed and in the morning when I wake up, I get on it for about an 1/2 hour. It seems to burn more calories than the treadmill I use at the gym. I've had it about 6 months now and it still is in good shape. It's very stationery and looks and feels almost brand new. I don't see a problem with it at all.