Elliptical Trainer vs Stationary Bike

When I joined my first commercial gym back in 1988 I began to explore new approaches to weight training. The wide assortment of weight training equipment was staggering for someone who had worked out in the basement for years with just a barbell set and a weight bench. My new gym had a vast array of equipment — Olympic plates, exercise benches, power rack, leg presses, etc. My weight training was about to enter a radical new phase that would propel my gains to the next level.

By contrast, in a small area at the front of the gym was the cardio section. The selection of equipment was limited to a few different brands of stationary bikes and a rowing machine. There were no treadmills or elliptical trainers. The elliptical trainer was another 7 years away. Basically it was the stationary bike or nothing. At the time, this was fine since I was much more focused on weight training. I’d hop on a stationary bike for 10 minutes for a quick warm-up prior to commencing my weight workout.

I stuck with stationary bikes for many years. I eventually became aware of the need to increase my cardio work. My time on the stationary bike increased to 30 minutes and I also began setting aside sessions that were dedicated to cardio and ab training. I tried stationary bikes from Schwinn, Tunturi, and Life Fitness. I eventually settled on the newer bikes from Life Fitness, which for me had the smoothest feel and best consoles.

However, I never really enjoyed my cardio sessions on the stationary bike. It was just too darn boring! Sure, I trie