Remember the panic?
Suddenly, we will all be closed. Most things will close. We will have to adjust. Oh, how will we have to adjust.
To be honest, I have only one thing that worries me about the pandemic – aside from the absolutely obvious worries about catching a potentially deadly virus.
more Technically incorrect
Look, I don’t want to get too personal here, but I need to break a sweat. Yes, every day.
I needed to burn off the physical and mental elements that were wearing away on me and on me. So I would often hide to a local gym, ride a bike, lift weights, and come home looking like I’d been assaulted by a gang of shower dealers.
Pandemic panic
With the pandemic, gyms have had to close. So, like many others, I’m in a hurry on-site bicycle. It’s not easy, because many others are doing the same.
The trick is to choose a bike that’s still available. What won’t become a Peloton, That is it? Those were the glory days of Peloton’s roaring fame.
So I scoured Amazon and came across a Schwinn 170. Of course, I don’t know what one of them is, but at least I’ve heard of Schwinn.
And this Schwinn 170 is a (relatively) very reasonable $520. (It’s currently on sale for $449.)
I reasoned that I wouldn’t need it for too long. The pandemic will be over in a few months and I can shower back into my old routine. And really, how bad can this bike be?
I understand that everyone has different exercise needs. Many people like to be screened – or even yelled at – by someone much prettier than them, to dream about looking like the person screaming at them.
I never found joy in that. I wanted to ride a bike, make it difficult for myself by pedaling up and down imaginary hills, and at the same time read a book to forget that I was biking up and down imaginary hills.
For me, it works.
I disappear into crime novels and an hour can go by without a great deal of distress. Unless a lovable character is suddenly killed.
Yes, sometimes sweat drips on my novel, but who is perfect? Not me.
Putting it all together
Schwinn 170 is not difficult to put together. It’s like an IKEA bike. You get the tools, you get the instructions, and you have someone else to help you.
My wife and I tried to put all the parts together so it looked like the photo. And I sat.
No, it’s not the most comfortable bike in the world – even with the pleasantly soft seat cover. But it was one of those machines that got the job done. Most of.
We went through some stages, Schwinn and I. First, the left pedal started to click. I do not know why. But this rattle is cruel. Sometimes it happened for the whole trip, sometimes it happened for a few minutes and sometimes it teased me because it didn’t happen at all.
Also: 5 best bike pedals
Then there’s the right pedal. It began to make a humming noise, like tireless wheels rushing down the stairs. It was uncomfortable. Then it was very annoying. It lasted over a year and I accepted it.
I know you won’t, but when I found out, I was a desperate man. And did I mention I disappear in the novel, in the belief that their world is warmer than mine?
Therefore, I should mention that the Schwinn 170 has a small shelf that will perfectly fit any novel I am reading. Well, almost every novel.
After finishing, I continued
But back to clack.
One day, it just stopped. No, I don’t know why. Or how. But now there are occasional clicks, squeaks and creaks, but nothing to take me away from its (relatively) abrupt smoothness.
However, you will want to know some more details.
The bike manufacturers claim it’s bluetooth compatible, so you can track your progress on your favorite app. I never tried to make it into app-en. I just rode it, and I never even explored its 25 resistance levels and 29 workout programs.
That’s probably not enough for you, but somehow I’ve kept going up and down the hills – the show is called Pyramid – it’s been quite a while.
Also: 5 Best Workout Apps: Top Apps for Runners, Advanced Trainers, and Beginners
Yes, it’s been more than 30 months since I bought it Schwinn 170 and I still haven’t restarted my gym membership.
It keeps going, it keeps me going, and I keep going.
I realize this is not a completely fair comparison, but when you pay $2,500 for a Peloton – and even more, perhaps, to get someone to scream at you – maybe Schwinn isn’t such a bad investment.
Silence can be reduced – even if one of your pedals creaks from time to time.
