# Are You Annoyed at the Sight of People Cheating on the Stair Machine **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764 "2013-11-13T00:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/1 "2013-11-13T00:37:30Z")
So at the gym, there is a machine which simulates climbing lots and lots of stairs. Sometimes you see people on it putting lots and lots of weight on their arms. Apparently this allows you to do the machine at a higher level for the same amount of effort. The question is this: Do you find this annoying? If so, why? I myself find it slightly annoying although it is difficult to say why. Stair machine cheaters aren’t hurting anyone; at most they are putting some unnecessary strain on their elbows. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/2 "2013-11-13T00:47:59Z")
I really don’t take much notice of what others are doing, I have my own workout to worry about. Besides, the only person they’re hurting is themselves. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/3 "2013-11-13T00:57:31Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I really don’t take much notice of what others are doing, The older I get, the more I’m able to do this. So someone is “cheating” at climbing stairs, it’s still a hell of a lot better than being a couch potato. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Bisector](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Black\_Bisector](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Bisector)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/4 "2013-11-13T00:59:50Z")
I figure on those kind of things: Whatever, hopefully they will get to a fitness point they can stop the silliness and really go for it. I did some awfully goofy things in the beginning. I really only correct people when they do stuff that might actually hurt them. I try to always be positive. “Hey, I noticed you like that, have you tried doing this? It’s good to shake things up every now and again!” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/5 "2013-11-13T01:12:46Z")
I just figure maybe they know something I don’t, or they’re going for high reps/low stress, but mostly, it’s none of my business. I sure as heck don’t want fifteen people walking up and telling me that I’m stretching out wrong… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/6 "2013-11-13T01:14:26Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > The question is this: Do you find this annoying? If so, why? I figure that as long as they’re at the gym I’m all for it. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/7 "2013-11-13T01:42:01Z")
I used to be annoyed by this - unreasonably so. That was about 10 or so years ago when I was training for a marathon. Now that I’m older and trying to get back to a reasonable level of fitness, I don’t have the luxury (i.e., breath or attention span) to care about what anyone else is doing. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/8 "2013-11-13T01:49:45Z")
Gym annoyances are things that actually impact me in some way. Unnecessary noise, hogging equipment without using it, neglecting to restack weights. If I were bothered by the way a stranger exercised, it would be clear evidence of an unhealthy obsession with other people’s business, exacerbated by an arrogant attitude that I knew what was best for everyone and could improve the world overnight if everyone would just bend to my way of thinking. If I were self-aware enough to comprehend this, I’d seek professional help. Unlikely, but we can always hope. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/9 "2013-11-13T01:58:58Z")
I don’t get annoyed, but I do find it slightly amusing when I’m watching people on the bench press (Which is right in front of the treadmill). They’ll load it up with all this weight, but when it comes time to do the actual reps, they only come half way down and back up again. Then they hop of the bench press all but too proud of themselves. Sorry guys, if you really want to brag to people that you can bench six reps of 250, you need to bring that barbell all they way down to your chest. (or a couple of inches away from it.) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/10 "2013-11-13T02:01:02Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Sometimes you see people on it putting lots and lots of weight on their arms. Maybe they want to look like Britney Spears. And, no, it wouldn’t annoy me in the least. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/11 "2013-11-13T02:52:55Z")
I don’t go to gyms largely because I don’t want to annoy people with my idiosyncrasies. And also so I am not tempted to judge others, most of whom are doing their best. When I’m in my yoga class, I try to follow this sage advice: “Keep your mind on your own mat.” It kept me from losing my focus and falling flat on my face. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/12 "2013-11-13T10:25:00Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > So at the gym, there is a machine which simulates climbing lots and lots of stairs. Sometimes you see people on it putting lots and lots of weight on their arms. Apparently this allows you to do the machine at a higher level for the same amount of effort. > > The question is this: Do you find this annoying? If so, why? > > . No, its not cheating. Its adapting to suit the machine, because they can’t change the machine to suit them. Its even making it safer to use the machine ? If you don’t weight enough, you are at risk of bouncing up… or straining something. Also people may feel awful pains from trying the excercise they are not ready for . Let them get started on the machine (any which way) and get used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/13 "2013-11-13T10:46:22Z")
Cannot imagine caring about it. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/14 "2013-11-13T12:20:53Z")
It’s worse than kicking puppies. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/15 "2013-11-13T12:41:29Z")
I don’t care. But maybe that’s because I have no regard, no regard at all, for elbows.I don’t like elbows really. I think elbows are assholes. Fuck elbows. Fuck them to death. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/16 "2013-11-13T13:00:02Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Gym annoyances are things that actually impact me in some way. Unnecessary noise, hogging equipment without using it, neglecting to restack weights. I completely agree with these annoyances. Anything that impacts my workout or me is probably going to ping my annoyance center of my brain. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > If I were bothered by the way a stranger exercised, it would be clear evidence of an unhealthy obsession with other people’s business, exacerbated by an arrogant attitude that I knew what was best for everyone and could improve the world overnight if everyone would just bend to my way of thinking. If I were self-aware enough to comprehend this, I’d seek professional help. Unlikely, but we can always hope. Haha, pretty much this. Plus, if I were to pay attention and knit pick people’s form and how they do exercises I would never actually get into my own workout. Further, I’d probably nit-pick my own form more than I already do. > [@blondebear](#): > > Maybe they want to look like Britney Spears. And, no, it wouldn’t annoy me in the least. Aware. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/17 "2013-11-13T13:03:23Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > So at the gym, there is a machine which simulates climbing lots and lots of stairs. Sometimes you see people on it putting lots and lots of weight on their arms. Apparently this allows you to do the machine at a higher level for the same amount of effort. > > The question is this: Do you find this annoying? If so, why? > > I myself find it slightly annoying although it is difficult to say why. Stair machine cheaters aren’t hurting anyone; at most they are putting some unnecessary strain on their elbows. There’s no other way to adjust the force involved. If you don’t bear weight with your arms, then the machine’s force is equal to your weight. The maximum speed is then determined by your aerobic capacity. If you want a different kind of workout, you need to adjust the force of the machine. The only way to reduce that force is to bear some of your weight with your arms. Alternatively, you could go in the other direction, adding weight in a backpack and setting the machine to a slower speed. The speed/force nature of the workout matters. Many years ago I did a two-week backpacking trip around Mont Blanc in late summer. For the first 10 weeks of summer prior to that, I rode about 1000 miles on a bicycle. I was spinning 90-100 RPM the pedals while riding at my aerobic limit, which resulted in pretty modest pedal force. Although I was aerobically fit, riding like that was absolutely inadequate preparation for walking on mountain trails with a 40-pound pack, where the movements are slower and much more forceful; at the end of the first day on the trail my legs were incredibly sore, almost to the point of immobility. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/18 "2013-11-13T13:18:34Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > So at the gym, there is a machine which simulates climbing lots and lots of stairs. Sometimes you see people on it putting lots and lots of weight on their arms. Apparently this allows you to do the machine at a higher level for the same amount of effort. If they are using the machine for a shorter time that is a good thing for somebody who is waiting. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/19 "2013-11-13T14:11:38Z")
People “cheating” on the stair machine doesn’t bother me a bit. But, _man_, just don’t let me catch some 40-year-old guy trying to get six-pack abs! ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764/20 "2013-11-13T14:22:22Z")
What next? People slapping their feet down too hard when they run on the treadmill? What is this world coming to? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-annoyed-at-the-sight-of-people-cheating-on-the-stair-machine/673764.md?page=2)