Elliptical Bicycle.

http://www.elliptigo.com/products/description/

I've never seen one before, kinda cool. If you have "men's health" issues and are uncomfortable sitting on a seat, this works. Other than that, what's the advantage of an elliptical?

Dan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRQv37VfWJs

I've ridden one. Its interesting to say the least. I couldn't get comfortable with it because my feet were to big for the pedals (I have size 13 feet and I was wearing boots). All in all I think the idea has potential.

Taiden wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRQv37VfWJs

Dean Karnazes is a machine! If you get a chance, read his book UltraMarathon Man.

why not a treadmil bike?

or something a bit more similar is the randy ross stepper bike... even have a nice vid to go with the add... (note NSFW) http://www.randyrrross.com/videos/?vid=1

Seems like a silly way to overcomplicate simplicity...

If I had that many problems that I could sit on a seat and use pedals, but still had feet, I'd probably just take up running or swimming or rowing.

Otherwise, I much prefer to have the freedom to do this: even though I probably never will...

http://www.streetstrider.com I got a streetstrider last month and think it rocks! Different from the bike, you use your arms to "row" and lean to steer. Much like skiing. It is no way near as efficient considering energy spent vs speed but it is a better workout and more fun.

914Driver wrote: http://www.elliptigo.com/products/description/ I've never seen one before, kinda cool. If you have "men's health" issues and are uncomfortable sitting on a seat, this works. Other than that, what's the advantage of an elliptical? Dan

My neighbor kid has one of those. I checked it out when he was riding it. It seems like the worse of both worlds from trying to combine a scooter and a bicycle.

If I had to give up conventional bicycles, I'd go for a recumbent. Might still lose a lot of the handling, but at least there'd be a gain in aero... Maybe even a trike to take advantage of the low seating. How weird to choose between single-track and car-like steering on such a similar vehicle... The width gives me heebie-jeebies for shoulders of the road, though.

ransom wrote: If I had to give up conventional bicycles, I'd go for a recumbent.

It may be just a coincidence, but nearly every recumbent bike rider I see in my area seems to have a long scraggly beard and is wearing dark socks with sandals. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just an observation.

No wheelies; no want

I have been searching for a way to look more rediculous than the average tool on a road bike in spandex shorts, cycle shirt, silly helmet and wrap-around sunglasses.

This plus a feather boa should do nicely.

914Driver wrote: Other than that, what's the advantage of an elliptical?

The elliptical is the pinnacle of fooling people into thinking they've exercised. This is like, the mobile version of that.

PHeller wrote: If I had that many problems that I could sit on a seat and use pedals, but still had feet, I'd probably just take up running or swimming or rowing. Otherwise, I much prefer to have the freedom to do this: even though I probably never will...

That looks for all the world like my local riding area. Apparently taken in Green River, so I guess that's not surprising. Yeah, what I get to ride after work

The elliptical bikes are weird, but I hadn't thought about people who weren't able to ride a normal one. In that case, I guess it would make sense. But I'd also go for a recumbent myself. They're fast.

stuart in mn wrote:

ransom wrote: If I had to give up conventional bicycles, I'd go for a recumbent.

It may be just a coincidence, but nearly every recumbent bike rider I see in my area seems to have a long scraggly beard and is wearing dark socks with sandals. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just an observation.

I seriously and literally made the observation to my girlfriend about an hour and a half ago that recumbents are the sandals-with-socks of the cycling universe...

EDIT: But that doesn't change the fact that if I couldn't ride a normal bike, that's the way I'd go over an elliptical bike.

In reply to Osterkraut: My streetstrider is a killer workout. Tougher than a bike, supposed to burn a thousand calories an hour and I have no reason to doubt that. Way tougher than a bike and more fun in the corners.
Not to knock the other toy but the elliptical bike does look a little silly. But the strider is bizarro too.

ransom wrote:

stuart in mn wrote:

ransom wrote: If I had to give up conventional bicycles, I'd go for a recumbent.

It may be just a coincidence, but nearly every recumbent bike rider I see in my area seems to have a long scraggly beard and is wearing dark socks with sandals. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just an observation.

I seriously and literally made the observation to my girlfriend about an hour and a half ago that recumbents are the sandals-with-socks of the cycling universe... EDIT: But that doesn't change the fact that if I couldn't ride a normal bike, that's the way I'd go over an elliptical bike.

Don't get me wrong - I think recumbent bikes look like they would be a lot of fun, but they do seen to attract a certain kind of person.

Back in the early 1970s, for some reason my parents went out and bought one of these:

It was called a PPV, for People Powered Vehicle. They barely used it, but I drove it around quite a bit and it was a blast. It had three speeds, and a single brake on the front wheel. With a single front wheel it was a little like driving a Reliant Robin (with two passengers it was fairly stable but when driving solo I rolled it a couple times.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_powered_vehicle