Time to resuscitate this thread.
I have been injured for last 5 months and have lost some fitness and all enthusiasm. The weather hasn't been great either. I keep seeing these machines in the gym and wondering should I give them a go. Reading back this thread seems a good idea. Anyone uses these as a part of their training and can recommend a workout to get fitter and faster on the climbs?
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I use these in combination with a treadmill for most of my training. Definitely helps me fitness wise, and a good session on there leaves me in a right state... although doesn't necessarily translate to climbing ability on the fells... Usually do my main run on the treadmill, then anything between 15 and 40 mins on the stair machine as fast as I can keep up for that time, usually around level 14-15...
Location: Sunderland, Adnan? I think I have found a stairmaster a few miles down the coast from you: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2013755
That looks ace. Good spot ak
I have been using the Stenar version.
I had a go on the machine last night. 5 minutes on max (20) missing out the middle steps then 5 minutes on 13-15. Quads were burning, I was sweating so it must be doing something. or maybe I am just too unfit atm
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There's a challenge at my gym at the moment which is to "climb the Eiffel Tower" in the fastest time. It's a bit of a farce with people whacking it up to 18 or 19 then hanging on for dear life with their arms taking most of the weight on the handles, and their legs barely doing anything, but it's all for charity....
2731 steps. I did it 'properly' at the end of a hard training session and took about 23 minutes, although could easily be done faster with fresh legs.