Is there a treadmill with no handles that would be good for treadmill desk?

November 19, 2011 2:14 PM

Is there a treadmill with no handles that would be good for treadmill desk?

I just set up a standing desk. I want to add a treadmill, but all the manual treadmill models I can find have big handlebars that look like they'll bump into the desk. Are there any manual treadmill models without bars—just the flat part on the ground?

posted by morninj to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

You need handles to use a manual treadmill. There's no other way to get enough purchase to actually get the track moving. You'll need to invest in a real treadmill
posted by Patbon at 5:09 PM on November 19, 2011

Best answer: Unfortunately, the only way I've seen this done makes you buy the desk and the treadmill together, which you probably already know about and are trying to DIY due to the cost. May I suggest a handle-less stair stepper? Or, as I've read on the interwebz, people just hack the size of the handlebars down and put the desk on top of them; a little google search took me to a couple blogs and forums where people made their own, so maybe seek those out for more specific advice.
posted by sm1tten at 8:13 PM on November 19, 2011

It does exist, but will set you back 800 dollars. I am saving up for one.
posted by rockindata at 7:04 AM on November 20, 2011

Response by poster: @Patbon I was planning to use my desk.

Looks like I'll be doing some hacksawing. Thanks, all!
posted by morninj at 9:54 AM on November 20, 2011

That's possible then, I just don't see how you can actually get work done with your hands thusly occupied. Good luck
posted by Patbon at 10:08 AM on November 20, 2011

The handles on my treadmill were almost horizontal, so I just laid a custom cut piece of plastic across them (plywood would do just as well) and put my laptop on that. Voila, treadmill desk!
posted by platinum at 3:59 PM on November 20, 2011 [1 favorite]