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Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

codaris.github.io

121–130 of 137 posts

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#121
post #60

I've tried desk treadmills with a standing desk, bike desks which are designed for a laptop and under desk pedalers like this. I end up ditching them all in the end because the movement is distracting enough to not let me get into the zone. Whenever I need to focus on something I instinctually stop moving to 'free up' brain power to execute whatever I'm doing better, be it a computer game, writing or coding. Also you…

It’s the same for me except if I’m talking. When I present or have long conversations, my body automatically starts walking, and the more I walk the more I can focus on the conversation. It’s unreal, but it absolutely works. I end up pacing all over the house (thank goodness for wireless headsets) for hours. I have not found yet a way to reconcile this with the need for notes and screen when I present remotely, but for anything else it’s a great help.

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#122
post #60

I've tried desk treadmills with a standing desk, bike desks which are designed for a laptop and under desk pedalers like this. I end up ditching them all in the end because the movement is distracting enough to not let me get into the zone. Whenever I need to focus on something I instinctually stop moving to 'free up' brain power to execute whatever I'm doing better, be it a computer game, writing or coding. Also you…

I think how well you can get "into the zone" while being physically active depends partly on how physically active you are to be begin with. If your body is not used to cycling or walking on a treadmill, then you're going to find it difficult to multitask when doing that activity.

I have used a bike desk for more than a decade. I have no difficulty getting into the zone; in fact, I find the rhythmic motion actually helps.

You can get far more exercise while you work than you can in your free time, simply because time spent working > available free time for most people. It all depends on how long and how much you exert yourself. Based on my desk's power meter, I burn about 1200 calories/day while I work.

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I took up Dance Dance Revolution again, which I used to be into in high school. I thought I "couldn't do it anymore" but it just took several weeks before I was conditioned enough to not be in pain the next few days.

I love DDR and would love to play, but all my mats are destroyed!

There’s a company called L-Tek in Poland that’s making pretty sturdy ones out of wood and sheet metal. After shipping and everything it worked out to like $350. Not too bad if you’re serious about it.

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Free up" brain power: I turn off the radio when I need to focus driving on the road (e.g. traffic, rain, snow) It sounds absurds. But I think some may do the same.

> "Free up" brain power Same. When I have to seriously think about the code I'm writing - I stop the music. I think that goes against a lot of people who continuously jam music while writing code.

I usually have music playing when I work, but when I leave the zone I often realise for the last 30 minutes I had headphones on for no reason, as the playlist finished :-)

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#125
post #121
post #60

I've tried desk treadmills with a standing desk, bike desks which are designed for a laptop and under desk pedalers like this. I end up ditching them all in the end because the movement is distracting enough to not let me get into the zone. Whenever I need to focus on something I instinctually stop moving to 'free up' brain power to execute whatever I'm doing better, be it a computer game, writing or coding. Also you…

It’s the same for me except if I’m talking . When I present or have long conversations, my body automatically starts walking, and the more I walk the more I can focus on the conversation. It’s unreal, but it absolutely works. I end up pacing all over the house (thank goodness for wireless headsets) for hours. I have not found yet a way to reconcile this with the need for notes and screen when I present remotely, but…

We had student surveys at university, and one professor was admired for his leg work during lecture :-)

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#126

Is it just me or the world gone a bit over the top trying to squeeze in a million things into any given second of our time? This Under Desk Exercise Bike is like a wearable chair to me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Q1uCYK6wnjk

yea maybe, but where i live it rains most of the year so i cant get out to cycle anyway. i have an exercise bike inside but i find it incredibly boring and also my ass starts to hurt after 20 minutes because its an uncomfortable position to be sitting in... so something like this actually seems like a better idea

It seems like a good idea on paper but most likely fails in practice: I get it, that it look practical,but in reality,when one is sitting at his desk trying to do some work,the only thing you can is drink coffee or eat some snacks. Anything else is a distraction,no matter how it's wrapped and I think some of the comments on the thread who had something like this make that point too.

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "Free up" brain power Same. When I have to seriously think about the code I'm writing - I stop the music. I think that goes against a lot of people who continuously jam music while writing code.

I don't mind music when the work is mundane, but I fucking hate needing to have something playing to drown out the sounds of people around me when I need to really think (best done in silence or with cafe noise for me). I honestly don't know how people actually do hard things in an office.

3M classic superfit 33 earplugs (33 nrr) are comfortable and quiet. I buy a box of 250 and it lasts me forever.

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is "door"?

> What is "door"? A meeting room or a phone booth generally has a door :-)

Phone booth... ha.

Kids may only see these in classic media like the matrix, dr who or the original superman.

Re: Hacking a $200 Under Desk Exercise Bike

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the obvious problem is that exactly no one in the industry has ever devoted more that 3 brain cells and 5 seconds working out a universal standard to present their data. Stuff competitors! And why shouldn't they? They have minus zero interest in making life easier for their broader (and probably narrower also) consumer base.

This is a weird opinion - Garmin is arguably the market leader, and they opened up all their formats and protocols to be standards which are now widely adopted (.fit files, ant+ wireless communication), and they also now work with the competing wireless communication standard too (btle). And just looking at exercise bikes, it's true that peloton/flywheel/etc are closed. But the products in that space from the establi…

ok then, i'm wrong. Is it true that more generic manufacturers (assuming they are players in the exercise industry) are also adopting these standards?
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