The treadmill was invented as a prison rehabilitation device

[jalk]

Treadmills are an ancient invention[1] and not invented in 1818 as the article suggests. And I'm sure they were frequently "fitted" with slaves or prisoners

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treadwheel

[foxyv]

> These devices are no longer used for power or punishment, and the term "treadmill" has come to mean an exercise machine for running or walking in place.

Weird, they still feel like industrial age torture devices ^_^

[m3kw9]

Lobster used to be prison food

[lucidguppy]

I dare you to eat overcooked boiled lobster - day in day out without butter.

[sdca]

Somewheeere beyond the seaaa

[edflsafoiewq]

    Now 'tis oakum for his fingers and the treadmill for his feet
    And the quarry-gang on Portland in the cold and in the heat,

[okfine]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Poetry/comments/2p88e1/help_can_som...

[gweinberg]

Like the song says, "The more it stays the same, the less it changes."

[jhallenworld]

The one at Sugar House in Charleston, SC was famous for punishing slaves.

[RaceWon]

IMO stationary bikes fall into the same category. A major brand of these gizmos, that buys much TV ad time, shows people using their device, while outside the window it appears to be a glorious day--the sun is shining, and the trees are all green. Get on a real bike fer Pete's sake; improve your balance, improve your driving, sweat your ass off and have a blast!

[dang]

Please don't post flamebait to HN. There's an interesting historical article here. We don't need to start provoking one another about whose lifestyles are better.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

[chc]

This assumes that you have enough space to go biking, that the area is safe for biking, that the temperature is comfortable for biking, and several other factors that could all tilt the scale away from "riding a bike would be more enjoyable than a stationary bike."

So I think you're much too eager to dismiss the value of stationary bikes.

[scarface74]

I don't use bikes but I do have a home gym with weights a treadmill and an elliptical. I never liked running outside. I don't have to worry about the weather, I can do it while catching up on TV or watching a technical video.

My exercise induced asthma has gotten worse over the years. I can do strength based workouts for hours with out breathing problems like brisk walking at the maximum incline and high resistance and incline on the elliptical. But my running days seem to be over.

[skookum]

Have you considered that the glorious day featured in the ad is for aesthetics and mental association, and not actually representative of when most people use their stationary bikes?

I try to get out on the trail when I can, but not all of us live in locations where regularly getting on a real bike is compatible with having a full-time job. Between sunrise/sunset times and weather, in the Seattle area you're going to have to be quite dedicated to get on a real bike 3-4 times a week year round.

[daveFNbuck]

Most of the advertisements I get for real bikes are e-mails from my coworkers explaining why they're in the hospital and won't be coming in today. An exercise bike avoids these hazards as well as sunburns, seasonal allergies, weather, and temperature. You also get more control over what kind of exercise you're getting and can easily scale it as needed.

[always_good]

I wouldn't be surprised if the modern westerner has issues related to never being alone with their own thoughts instead of always needing the mother's tit of music or Netflix while they do anything.

Though it's not something I discovered the value of until I was halfway through my 20s.

[dragonwriter]

> IMO stationary bikes fall into the same category.

Stationary bikes alone suck, but as part of a gym (home or otherwise) they are pretty useful for exercises that are rotated through fairly quickly. Regular bikes are quite awkward for that.

[colbyh]

They still are, IMO.

[always_good]

This comment doesn't even make sense. How is it a point of opinion? And how is someone jogging at home or the gym paying reparations for something in the context of TFA? Are they making atonement for being a couch potato?