Does anyone wear out their exercise equipment?

Gary Ward

Gary Ward

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Challenger1
Have you?
I think I am getting to the end of one of my schwinn air dyne bikes?
Thinking maybe I should look around at others after 25 years of Schwinn?
And if you don't mind me asking, what type of exercise equipment do you use?
 
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My first wife wore out the foam on the handgrip of her treadmill. Turns out, coat hangers are tough on that foam....

Current wife wanted a treadmill and, since I knew she was serious about using it long term, I spent the $$$$ on a True commercial unit. That thing has been moved twice in the past 14 years and the original belt is still in great shape and tracks like the day it was installed...no adjustments ever. (and actually has never seen hanging clothes;))
 
Wore out the belt on a tread mill. Lasted about 4 years.was used on a regular basis. I now live in a smaller condo ,so I now walk outside .
 
I bought the air dynne used 25+ years ago and the evolution comp used about 20 years ago. Both were like new when I got em.
I used both a lot and then periods of low use. When I start feeling bad I get back on them.
I have one at home and one at the hangar.
Lately I have been using them again 6 days a week.
Lost weight in the last month or so by using them and not eating much.
My back has been hurting now that I am older and am wondering if a different style would be better for me?

I love my schwinns but maybe I should consider a different style of schwin ?
Both are rusty from sweat and one has some slop in the peddles.
TIA for any expertise.
 
I’ve worn out many components on a few bikes. I’ve yet to crack a frame though.
 
This is the evolution comp that I just got off of, that is sweat on the black plastic cover and there is slop in the peddles.

I may need to stretch more so my back doesn't hurt?IMG_4902.jpeg
 
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For airdyne bikes you can't beat rogue. Pricey but they last forever and take a pounding.
 
For indoor spin bikes, Star Trac, hands down. They make commercial gym equipment but you can find them used for a decent price, and they last forever.
 
Could it be your antique seat design causing your hips to move in such a way as to hurt your seasoned back? If you don’t have a modern bike seat, might want to try that out.
 
Fatigue cracking on my kurt kinetic trainer. It doesn’t take too long to get up to a million revolutions on a bike you ride often.
IMG_0489.jpeg
 
Pretty much wore out my body, esp my joints & feet, hiking.
I have to decide which routes to spend my last few micrometers of knee cartilage on, not a lot left.
 

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Old97 said:
Fatigue cracking on my kurt kinetic trainer. It doesn’t take too long to get up to a million revolutions on a bike you ride often.
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Forgot about those things. On my third for the same reason and I don’t do a whole lot of indoor work anymore that isn’t in a spin class.
 
My bench is getting worn out. Some brand I’ve never heard of (LineX or XLine) from Costco 24 or 25 years ago, adjustable bench that goes from decline to flat to upright. It’s starting to get a bit wobbly, but being only 14 gauge steel and standard-grade Chinesium hardware I have gotten more than my money’s worth.
 
Cardio machines at the gym where I go sometimes have ‘out of order’ signs. So even expensive heavy-duty gear can go bad.

Air-dynes are brilliantly designed - the energy dissipation comes from air resistance in the paddles, instead of frictional rubbing of two surfaces. The latter scheme is inherently going to wear out fail. The air resistance scheme of an air dyne has less that can fail.

It’s great that you’ve gotten good use of your old one. Stairs are about the only thing that comes to mind that’s going to be even more reliable.
 
Stairs have always been reliable to me. Knees, not so much. My last project in Vietnam was spent in the north - two cities roughly sixty klicks from Hanoi. We were doing pilot testing work for the replacement of their respective water treatment plants. For six weeks I didn't have access to a gym, so I resorted to running, and stair climbing. I'm not sure which one did my knees in, probably the stairs more than the running, but by the time I was ready to go "home" to Saigon, I could barely walk. A few days of rest and rehab on the stationary bike and I was feeling better again. Those bikes were interesting - you got a video display, and one of the viewing options was recorded rides through different locations. There were two 30 minute rides through San Francisco, one along the wharf and the other along the Skyline, which I've been down countless times. Which, is an odd feeling in a foreign country seven thousand miles away.

Commercial cardio equipment does break down at the gym, but it's also used and abused 24/7. That said, the only reason I would buy one for the home is if I lived in a remote area with less than acceptable outdoor weather a good portion of the year.
 
My first treadmill died but that was likely more a cause of the kids using it to launch waterballoons rather than onveruse.

I've been using my NordicTrack "Commerial" 2250 for six years now. The console died. I still think it was a software issue of some sort, but they sent me a whole new top section. I've still got the old one that I intend to debug if I get the inclination.
 
flyingron said:
I've been using my NordicTrack "Commerial" 2250 for six years now. The console died. I still think it was a software issue of some sort, but they sent me a whole new top section. I've still got the old one that I intend to debug if I get the inclination.
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I would think that getting the spare working would be more of a concern if you couldn't get it to incline. :)
 
The wife and I have burned up a few StairMaster PT 4000s' over the years. It is now cheaper to buy a "hardly used" used one through Craigslist than it is to get some of the parts.

We have a Precor 5.35 Elliptical X-Trainer that I am going to have to tear into soon as some of the parts are getting worn and there is a bunch of surface rust from the sweat. I am seeing them from come an get it to $500.00. The one we have I bought used 20 years ago for $1,000.00. It owes us nothing.

I am now on the hunt for a Life Fitness Lifecycle with their hill program for the winter... I have a few in the area.. they're not selling fast so, time is on time is on my side...

I actually have a commercial account with National Gym Supply to get parts... and these things are not that hard to fix.. I recommend these guys if you're doing your own repairs... they know their stuff and are glad to give you help when needed.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Those bikes were interesting - you got a video display, and one of the viewing options was recorded rides through different locations. There were two 30 minute rides through San Francisco, one along the wharf and the other along the Skyline, which I've been down countless times. Which, is an odd feeling in a foreign country seven thousand miles away.
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Our gym has these... I find it distracting.. but hey that is me..
 
Put me in the guy who wears out footwear camp, I hike and walk briskly, depending on where I am. The upper body builds stuff and fixes stuff, so it is healthy but not particularly buff. I probably need to stretch more and work on joint mobility.

I've never personally enjoyed mechanical workout equipment, but have used some at the community center for specific rehabilitation, after issues. When I bought some for the family, it collected more dust than use.
 
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