Carbon road bike or gym membership -HELP Please

BarnsleyBoy

Although I am a long term cycle commuter (everyday for the last five years) I have recently discovered the joy of strava and the everyday challenge of beating both myself and fellow cyclists.Now I currently own a cyclo cross bike (for me its the perfect commuter comfy, safe and able to deal with our shocking pot holed roads) anyway my works gym is shutting down and as such I was considering joining a local gym.It has however occurred to me that for the price of gym membership I could buy a carbon racer and turbo trainer. (Paying for it monthly of course)
Would this be a good idea.Could the biker and trainer replace the need for the gym.Would a carbon bike be a much better step up in relation to my strava quest than my current cyclo cross. Could anyone offer me their advice regarding this predicament.

alex222

Can't imagine many on this forum would advise a gym membership over a new bike.

sigorman85

Jesus what kind of gym do you go to

imposter2.0

Not sure if serious...

kingstonian

madasahattersley wrote:

A gym membership is what, £30-£35 a month?

Can easily be double that.

simon_masterson

What's wrong with your existing bike/what are your goals for using the gym?

fatsmoker

If you're worried that cycling won't give you a full body work out, why not try doing someting else as well as cycling - I started karate 2 years ago, thught I'd hate it but actually really enjoy it. It's a great workout and you learn a new skill, unlike the gym. If I ever did get into an altercation with a driver while on my bike I wouldn't be too afraid.

iPete

Depends what you are trying to achieve in the gym?

If you have room for a trainer, do you have room for say, kettle bells? Hoping to get some myself, miss the gym.

LegendLust

It's a no brainer

DeVlaeminck

If you enjoy the gym then join a gym, if you want to go faster on a bike get the carbon bike.

lakesluddite

My solution to a similar quandry (although a new bike wasn't in the equation):

Let gym membership go - join local Leisure Centre Gym with pay-as-you-go option, buy turbo trainer.

I found that during the lighter/warmer months, a monthy gym membership just wasn't worth it, and for those few days when cycling was out of the question, then paying a fiver or so wasn't too bad. I must have used the gym over winter about 10 times, that's all.

I also run and swim to keep fit and provide a different type of workout. I also do karate, as someone else has mentioned.

BarnsleyBoy

Thanks for your advice so far.Membership for a decent gym is in the region of £30. I figured with a decent deposit I could put this money to financing a carbon bike.(However now thinking may be better getting a high end alloy with better kit rather than a cheap carbon) anyway I was considering all round fitness (yes I do have the kettelbells and I also attend a boxing gym on a weekly basis) so maybe the bike would be the better option at least I would have something to show for it. (My current bike as stated is a cyclocross bike its a brill commuter but figured that a dedicated racer would keep me up with friends on strava.

LegendLust

BarnsleyBoy wrote:

Thanks for your advice so far.Membership for a decent gym is in the region of £30. I figured with a decent deposit I could put this money to financing a carbon bike.(However now thinking may be better getting a high end alloy with better kit rather than a cheap carbon) anyway I was considering all round fitness (yes I do have the kettelbells and I also attend a boxing gym on a weekly basis) so maybe the bike would be the better option at least I would have something to show for it. (My current bike as stated is a cyclocross bike its a brill commuter but figured that a dedicated racer would keep me up with friends on strava.

If you want to concentrate all your efforts on cycling fitness then buy a copy of this http://www.velopress.com/books/tom-dani ... advantage/ and then treat yourself to the high end alloy

simon_masterson

BarnsleyBoy wrote:

Thanks for your advice so far.Membership for a decent gym is in the region of £30. I figured with a decent deposit I could put this money to financing a carbon bike.(However now thinking may be better getting a high end alloy with better kit rather than a cheap carbon) anyway I was considering all round fitness (yes I do have the kettelbells and I also attend a boxing gym on a weekly basis) so maybe the bike would be the better option at least I would have something to show for it. (My current bike as stated is a cyclocross bike its a brill commuter but figured that a dedicated racer would keep me up with friends on strava.

Carbon fibre isn't magic. Moreover, a cyclocross bike is in many ways a road bike. If you're struggling to keep up, it is probably not the bike's fault. If you like cycling, buy the best bike you can afford. If you want to keep up with your friends, go out and train as hard as they do. If you want to work out, go to the gym.

diy

shop around and get a second hand race bike. I personally think the gym is a must once you get to a certain level within your ability. But there is always the option of a used spin bike rather than a turbo trainer. They are a lot more flexible than a normal bike on a turbo and you can thrash the nuts off them without worrying about causing damage to the frame.

Personally I'd go decent used carbon bike circa £600 - look for Boardman carbon, planet X, ribble etc.. All perfectly good road bikes, light enough to get you well on the way. Then you have enough for the gym.

For me the gym is all about meeting attractive, recently divorced, frustrated bunny boilers anyway, not really about training or exercise at all But jokes aside if you want to train to the next level IMO you need to do more than just cycle.

Anonymous

A half decent carbon bike would be a big step up re. strava IME.

Would get rollers instead of turbo trainer.

Would cut out something else in my life and/or do some overtime and still have some sort of gym activity if you wanted/made use of it.

Was your work gym free? Are your work giving you cash now that its no longer a perk?
Can you get bike on cyclescheme?

de_sisti

BarnsleyBoy wrote:

offer me advice regarding this predicament.

Mate, make up your own mind. It appears you already have done and you probably wouldn't
follow the advice anyone on here gave you anyway.

buckmulligan

I totally agree with diy.

If you think you've got the discipline to actually go and train at the gym/turbo and can deal with the relative boredom of spinning compared to real world riding, then I'd go for that hands down. IMO training in a controlled environment like that yields better improvement per hour in the saddle than out on the roads. A new bike might look nice, but it's not going to make you fly up the hills much faster, hard hours of training will. And turbos/rollers seem like a good idea, but how much it will get used is another matter and you should consider the wear and tear on your tyres and drivetrain etc in this as well.

At the end of the day, you know your enjoyment/tolerance of these activities and which would fit best into your work/home life. You should pick the one that will get you on the bike for the most hours per week, because that's where fitness and speed come from.

bigjim

I love the gym. I don't think it's always correct that gym use declines in the summer. We seem to get a lot of rain in the summer and the gym is a good place to hangout when you can't ride. I'm sure I ride as much in the winter as summer. I'm also a social animal. I like club runs and the social side of the gym. I would never spend time on my own on a trainer. Just can't do it. A spin class at the gym is a different matter. I've also got a good pool and sauna at my gym and classes like Pilates and Yoga etc included in membership.
What makes you think a carbon bike makes you faster?

stevenb

For me its any bike compared to a gym.
Ok the gym had great equipment and fitness coaches, classes etc so the social side isnt too bad but cycling clubs are social too.
For me just getting out in the fresh air on two wheels is a feeling that I experience with my running too. Me, freedom, exercise. Its great.
I do core exercises 4-5 days of the week anyway eg stomach, arms by doing push ups, curls etc.
I dont want big muscles so I stick with a damn good cardio work out by varying my bike training sessions eg hill climbing days, sprinting, fast endurance, slower endurance and so on.
I feel stronger than Ive ever felt before in my life.