Manual Treadmill?

[Runny]

At my workplace I am getting an annual fitness allowance of 200$ that I can spend on fitness equipment, a gym membership, etc. Since most gyms that are close to my house are charging more than 200$ a year and since I wouldn't go that often in the summer anyways, I am now thinking about buying this manual treadmill http://www.amazon.ca/Sunny-Health-Fitness-SF-T808M-Treadmill/dp/B001IDZHEW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384048320&sr=8-1&keywords=treadmill+foldable

Has any of you any experience with manual treadmills? Are they any good? I live in a condo so I need something small and foldable. Plus I like the fact that I don't need to plug it in anywhere, which would keep my electricity bill low.

[impaire]

One of my friends got this exact treadmill to use as a standing/walking desk. It works for that use, but I wouldn't count on running on this thing, if that is what you are looking for.

Have you considered a nice set of weights?

[Runny]

Oh that's too bad. I was looking for something to do some cardio. I usually take the bike to work in the summer, but I live in Montreal where it gets too cold in the winter to bike.

[BuildingFrugalHabits]

How about a trainer or set of rollers? http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_173072_-1___

[Russ]

Do you not have roads/sidewalks/grass in Montreal? Get something else, preferably something you can't do by walking out your front door (free weights really are great although I know you don't want them, rowing machine, etc.). Or not exercise equipment at all... for example I can use my health/fitness allowance for a CSA share, CPR classes, massages, etc.

You could also get running shoes since they're like a consumable if you walk/run a lot and like to wear shoes

If you're bent on getting a treadmill, yes the manual ones work, although they aren't at all like walking/running outside and take a lot of getting used to. If you want to run on it, the incline will have to be STEEP for the belt to keep up with you, so get one with an adjustable incline and you might even need a riser block after that. The one you linked doesn't look like it has this feature.

[Runny]

Thanks for all your advise. I am actually looking for something that I can do inside the house for the winter when there is snow outside and for the evenings when I come home and need to exercise and take my mind of things. I also have an extra $500 for massages that I get from my employer. So that fitness allowance is separate. I used to apply it to my gym membership so that I could join the next door gym for a discount. But I didn't go often enough and I don't really like taking classes so at the end it was not really worth it.

My plan B would be something else. I actually don't own a bike. I am using bixi, which is a ride share system we have here in Montreal. So I was thinking I could use the fitness allowance to buy a bike. If I buy it at the end of the year I could try buying it in two instalments so that I would have $400 to spend on a bike that I could use next summer. 

[Russ]

My plan B would be something else. I actually don't own a bike. I am using bixi, which is a ride share system we have here in Montreal. So I was thinking I could use the fitness allowance to buy a bike. If I buy it at the end of the year I could try buying it in two instalments so that I would have $400 to spend on a bike that I could use next summer.

Yeah! Save yourself the bikeshare membership and get something a little quicker / better suited for you at the same time!

[chicagomeg]

My parents had a manual treadmill for a while, it was pretty awful. Just so much resistance, you couldn't really run on it.

[frugaldrummer]

If you can find an old-school Nordic Track machine, that was a great workout.  It is a cross-country ski machine, with wooden skis on rollers and a mechanical flywheel that you adjust the tension on.

It takes a little learning if you've never cross-country skied, but it's a killer workout - both aerobic and resistance, both arms and legs.  Reasonably quiet and folds down flat.  I used to have one that I bought on craigslist used for $30. 

[Runny]

The Nordic Track machine sounds interesting. I used to do a bit of cross-country skiing as a teenager and it's an amazing cardio work out. I also double checked and a regular bike is not part of the list of fitness equipment that's covered. 

[Russ]

I also double checked and a regular bike is not part of the list of fitness equipment that's covered. 

Why the fuck not? Seems like something to take up with HR

[Runny]

Yeah. It's strange, a stationary bike is but a regular bike is not. I will make a trip to HR this week to investigate...

[SavingMon(k)ey]

I say get a trainer for your bike. Not too big, and you find them used everywhere.

[Rachelocity]

Look what I found on Kijiji! And you can use the rest of your allowance for shoes:

http://montreal.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-sporting-goods-exercise-exercise-equipment-Nordic-Track-Ski-Machine-W0QQAdIdZ540317243

[frugaldrummer]

Yes, that's exactly what I was talking about!

[Runny]

Oh nice find:) you guys are awesome!!!

[DoubleDown]

On cold or icy/snowy days when I prefer not to run outside, I either do another activity indoors (like weightlifting or boxing), or if I have my heart set on running, I climb stairs inside. If you live in a condo with a few flights of stairs, you're all set. If not, it's usually pretty easy to find a public building nearby with indoor stairs. I generally prefer that to the "stationary" machines like treadmills, elliptical machines, rowing machines, etc.