Which Machine for best Cardio workout?

**sssrocket** · 07-06-2004, 03:26 AM

Hi all,

New member here, first post, but I have been here cruising/lurking here for a while.

I am looking at getting a rowing machine for my cardio workout.

I hate running machines,BTW

I am looking to do cardio every 2nd day in the week, in between my free weights workouts.

Is this the best equipment for my cardio workout?

Is there another machine I should be looking at?

Appreciate the help
Cheers
Steve

**HoboWithaRolex** · 07-07-2004, 08:14 AM

a rower is a good back excercise, but bad cardio

buy a treadmill, eliptical, or a stationary bike

**MiloMan** · 07-07-2004, 10:37 AM

Any exercise that gets your heart rate up where it needs to be, and keeps it there long enough, is a good cardio exercise.

**DPLongo** · 07-09-2004, 02:53 AM

Anything that you will actually DO is fine. Bike or treadmill is probably your best bet, but "different strokes" and all.

**MiloMan** · 07-09-2004, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by DPLongo
Anything that you will actually DO is fine.

Exactly, and most people are much better at buying exercise equipment than they are at using the stuff - which is why there are so many "like new" pieces of fitness equipment for sale in the local paper's classified ads. Lots of good buys there!

**never2late** · 07-09-2004, 06:51 AM

If you already have a bike, you may want to consider a piece of equipment that I don't see mentioned too often (probably due to it's sport-specific nature): rollers.

Rollers will not only provide one of the best cardio workouts (long-distance road racers use them in the off-season), but will provide an additional benefit of developing a high degree of balance and smoothness to your body movements. This balance transfers over to your everyday body movements as a whole -- which can be of benefit for BB'ing as well . . . especially posing. Note Arnold and Franco in the ballet studio in the beginning of Pumping Iron as an example of importance of balance and fluid-like motion, i.e. gaining that extra edge.

Rollers can be tough and frustrating for a novice. You'll find yourself off of them more than on. But as time goes on, you'll begin to get in the groove with just straight peddling, then move on to developing the ability to move and twist your upper body while staying on track. Be careful though, and do not exercise around anything close by that you could fall onto . . . the first time you begin to work on balance, you'll be off of them within a second or two -- it happens quickly. Fortunately, you're not really moving with any velocity, and just go over. I'd recommend not having your feet placed in any toe-clips (if you have these) until you get the hang of it.

After one season, you'll notice quite a difference in the way you walk, move and turn with your upper body -- and you'll also begin to notice how others do not. Plus, you get the cardio workout as well, and they're much less expensive than the various cardio machines that you see out there.

Of course, I'm referring to the rollers that do not have the bike "attached" or clamped on with the front wheel -- both front and rear wheels are spinning and free.

I believe that the benefits -- when combined with BB'ing -- are at least worth looking into.

**tatupaul** · 07-10-2004, 05:16 PM

thats interesting can you please post a pic or link of what a roller looks like ?

**never2late** · 07-10-2004, 07:53 PM

Here's a link. It should bring up a picture of a set of rollers (if it works):

http://www.nashbar.com/profile_morei...u=11191&brand=

Once you get the hang of it, you can get out of the seat and sprint, use your different gears for more or less effort. A few of the more expensive models have either magnetic or oil-based variable resistance, etc.

But for all practical purposes -- and for use as only cardio conditioning -- a bare-bones set like the one above is fine. One of the rollers is adjustable to the wheelbase length, so you can adjust and use with either mountain bikes, road bikes, or track bikes.

For developing balance and fluid movement however, they simply cannot be beat.

**Danton1759** · 12-15-2004, 08:01 PM

I am assuming you cannot use rollers with a mountain bike. Is that correct?

**Andrew69** · 12-15-2004, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by HoboWithaRolex

a rower is a good back excercise, but bad cardio

What?
A good quality rower will work more muscles in your body than any other cardio equipment.
Rowing is the BEST cardio.Period.

**pureenergy** · 12-15-2004, 10:12 PM

The stairclimber system without a doubt! I've done all the machines, but damn is that one sexy.

**teewoods** · 12-19-2004, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by HoboWithaRolex

a rower is a good back excercise, but bad cardio

buy a treadmill, eliptical, or a stationary bike

Are you insane!!! where do you get off posting stupid advise??? The rower is the most superior cardio equipment bar none. Studie shave shwon it get the heart rrate up more than any machine. 2.5 times more than the bike and elliptcal and 40% more than the treadmill. Its also the most feared equipment...go to any gym and you'd see people run away from the machine. Lets see you do 2000k in 7mins Mr its bad for cardio

**DPLongo** · 12-20-2004, 02:43 AM

The best cardio machine is the one you'll actually use.

**Vigor** · 12-23-2004, 07:35 AM

TotalGym or Weider Total Body Works

**mufdvr420** · 12-24-2004, 11:23 AM

just a suggestion but insteed of spending all that money on some bulky epuipment, buy a heavy bag, nothing beats a heavy bag workout. also every time you hit the bag it is different work out you can work on different combos instead of the same old work out on a machine

**Deadgame** · 12-25-2004, 11:17 AM

http://www.changingshape.com/resourc...calculator.asp

**theplastickid** · 12-31-2004, 03:55 AM

You are all mentioning this big expensive machinery but you forget the small things that are also great... like skipping, i have found this to be one of the best cardio workouts ever, if you really go at it fast. You can make ya heart almost jump out of ya chest!

**Captain Crunch** · 01-01-2005, 03:08 AM

What DPLongo said

The best cardio machine is the one you'll actually use

**HoboWithaRolex** · 01-01-2005, 08:14 AM

let me clarify, although it is good for getting up the heartrate, it is not a good machine to use for cardio because it works the back muscles so much it will causes overtraining of the back

**Andrew69** · 01-01-2005, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by HoboWithaRolex

let me clarify, although it is good for getting up the heartrate, it is not a good machine to use for cardio because it works the back muscles so much it will causes overtraining of the back

LOL, Im not even going to try and convince you otherwise.

**xtremecondition** · 01-02-2005, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by HoboWithaRolex

let me clarify, although it is good for getting up the heartrate, it is not a good machine to use for cardio because it works the back muscles so much it will causes overtraining of the back

Sounds like we should all toss our bikes out too as they would certainly cause overtraining of the legs...

**NAYTCH** · 01-07-2005, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by HoboWithaRolex

let me clarify, although it is good for getting up the heartrate, it is not a good machine to use for cardio because it works the back muscles so much it will causes overtraining of the back

What kind of rower are you talking about? If you have ever CORRECTLY used a rowing ergometer or rowed competitively you would know that leg drive is where a majority of your power comes from. That is the reason for the sliding seat. If you are feeling it mostly in your back, you are using improper form. Go to ConceptII.com for more info on proper form.

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