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Buy Cheap Endurance T10HRC Commercial Treadmill with Heart Rate Control on Sale

Thursday, January 28, 2010


Buy Cheap Endurance T10HRC Commercial Treadmill with Heart Rate Control on Sale

Endurance T10HRC Commercial Treadmill. Now you can march to the beat of 25 state-of-the art fitness programs designed by some of the industry's top athletic trainers, targeting your optimum performance levels for running, endurance, distance, fat burning, cardio fitness and more. With all the top features of our finest treadmills, including Heart Rate Control, the Endurance T10HRC is the quintessential choice for discerning athletes and dedicated running enthusiasts. The extra large running surface and one touch speed adjustment are perfect for all runners. A powerful 3.0 horsepower motor will hold up to any user. The Endurance T10HRC is built according to demanding specifications and standards of professional health clubs, offering you the freedom and convenience to achieve a world-class workout in your own home. Try to find a better treadmill or a more efficient workout, and you'll end up at the gym. The Endurance T10HRC is built to challenge you to a lifetime of cardio fitness and keep your finger on the pulse of peak physical conditioning.

Product Features

  • Lifetime Tread belt and Shock Absorbent, Low Maintenance Deck. Endurance tread belts are guaranteed for life
  • Extra Thick and Durable Tread Belt. Multi-ply tread belts are fusion-seamed for strength, flexibility and smooth travel over the phenolic deck. Endurance tread belts are guaranteed for life
  • Safety Key Stop System. Endurance treadmills will only operate when the safety key is engaged on the control panel. This gives you the ability to instantly shut down operation if you need to
  • Casehardened steel rollers feature a large diameter design with a wide-radius crown to drastically decrease wear, substantially increase surface contact and provide superior belt tracking
  • Endurance In Home Lifetime Warranty that covers everything. Forever. Period
  • Dimensions: 57.00" h x 32.00" w x 77.00" l, 297.00 pounds

Customer Reviews

Love My Treadmill5
We have this treadmill at school for our PE students so I figured it would be a good choice for me. It is easy to use and is very sturdy when walking or jogging. Other treadmills I see seem really cheaply made compared to this one. It weighs 300 pounds and is a commercial treadmill so it may not have the personalized user settings others may have. I am walking about 2 miles a day right now about 5 days a week and the impact on my joints and feet is so much better than walking in the park. This is a very long treadmill so if you daydream and lag a bit, you won't fall off the back. It seems like the quality and the warranty make it a good buy and Amazon had the best price. I would definitely recommend this one.

GREAT MACHINE5
TREDMILL CAME IN FAST AND NOT HARD TO INSTALL. MY WIFE LIKES IT AND THAT MADE MY LIFE PLEASENT.



Buy Cheap Sole F83 Treadmill on Sale


Buy Cheap Sole F83 Treadmill on Sale

Work up a sweat from the comfort of home with this Sole F83 treadmill designed with a 6-window LED display that includes a message board for clear instruction and feedback. The folding treadmill is equipped with a 58-in x 20-in belt for taller users and a high-output 3.0 continuous-duty HP motor. It has convenient speed/elevation controls in the handles that allow you to easily change the speed and incline.

Features

  • Features a 3.0 horsepower motor and lift-assist to easily fold
  • Includes grip pulse monitoring and a heart rate chest strap
  • Six standard programs, six user-defined programs, and two heart rate programs; speed range is 0.1-12 miles per hour
  • LED display tracks your speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace
  • 375-pound maximum weight capacity; measures 33 by 78 by 58 inches (W x L x H) when assembled; folds to 70 by 45 inches (H x D)
  • Dimensions: 23.00" h x 39.00" w x 83.00" l, 340.00 pounds

Customer Reviews

Terrific treadmill 5
The Sole treadmills have been very highly rated by many sites. I discovered this fact during extensive research I conducted when I decided to set up a "work out" room. I wanted to buy quality equipment but not pay premium prices just for a brand name. Sole treadmills sounded like the best "bang" for the buck. I got the F83 because I wanted a folding model. The F85 is their top of the line, but I'm the only one who'll be using it, so I felt I probably didn't need the bigger motor (3.5hp compared to 3.0 in the f83) for my purposes (I am by no means a runner). Now, I ordered mine directly from the Sole website, but for the same price that I found on Amazon. It is shipped by a common freight carrier. I ordered it at the end of October. It was just delivered yesterday, so I waited nearly one month to get it.

I'd like to point out that anything you order that is the size of this treadmill will almost certainly come via a freight carrier. Which means it will take a long time. Now, I paid extra to have them take it off the back of the truck and carry it into my house. The delivery was a nightmare, as they came over 6.5 hours late and were reluctant to drive their semi into my neighborhood....but that is not the fault of the manufacturer. It's just that one doesn't get to choose a freight carrier and it's not like I could pop over to a post office and pick the thing up myself. It's massive. Anyway, it comes in a very, very large box. The deck with the belt is already assembled. You just have to attach the two arms that extend up, attach the computer console and finally the bar across the middle that the drink holder sits onto. Really pretty simple assembly, except that the treadmill is very heavy so be sure to assemble it somewhere where you have plenty of room to maneuver around it.

Once assembled, it's a nice piece of equipment. I played with the speed and incline. It's very smooth and pretty quiet. It has two fans that you can tilt around at the top of the console, though they aren't strong enough to really cool you down. It comes with a chest belt for heart monitoring. I have a polar watch, so I was wearing a polar transmitter and it picks it up too. I haven't tried all the programs, but the manual goes through them all and is fairly helpful. When you're ready to stop, you press the stop button and the incline lowers and the belt slows down gradually for you...it's nice not dealing with an abrupt stop that might catch you off guard. Folding/unfolding is really easy. You lift up the deck at the back..it's not very heavy to do..and it locks in place. To unfold it, you push the tread deck forward with your left hand and use your right to pull a lever. It does not crash down...there is a self lowering process that gently lets the deck down. I'll get some pictures of mine up in a few days. I'll update in a few weeks after using it for some time. But so far I'm very pleased with it.

Update:1/1/09
Well, I've been working out now since around November 1st. I have a bike, elliptical and this treadmill. Since I started my program I've lost 30 pounds. I was totally out of shape at the beginning. I still have a ways to go, but really enjoy my cardio workouts. I use the treadmill every 2 to 3 days; I find my joints do better with the non weight-bearing equipment for daily use. This treadmill is really terrific though. I typically do a manual program and change the speed and incline to keep my heartrate where I want it. I have done the "fatburner" program once and the HR controlled program once. I just like being the one to control what I'm doing. I love using the fans on my face. The pockets on the console (one on left, one on right) hold a lot of stuff, including water bottles and remotes. I don't have an MP3 player, so I've not used that feature. This treadmill has definitely met my expectations and I really love it. I expect I'll use it more and more as I continue to lose weight and become more fit. I've done some very light jogging on it and feel it is very comfortable. I'm very pleased with my purchase and continue to feel it is a "5 star" product.

The Reviews Are Right! Highly Recommended!5
This is a great treadmill! It just arrived two days ago and I'm very impressed with the build quality. The motor is smooth and the display looks sleek! It's also very solid and quiet. There's no difference running on this this treadmill vs. the $5000+ treadmill at the gym.

One thing, if you are 5'10" or shorter, go ahead and save some money by purchasing the F80. The deck on the F83 is a few inches longer but it really isn't worth the money - unless you are 6' or taller. I ran full stride on it and there was plenty of room behind me.

Great Treadmill with minor kinks5
First of all, this is a great treadmill. It looks great, rock solid when running, very quiet and with just perfect amount of cushioning (gotta believe that it has 40% less impact on joints than running on asphalt).

I actually ordered F80 directly from Sole Fitness. I was trying to decide between F63 and F80, but the better ('whisper') deck (which is really quieter than on F63), warranty, and larger motor made me choose F80. I was surprised to see F83 delivered instead. It was quite nice because I am over 6 ft tall and extra 3 in of the deck is quite good for me. The only other difference is the heart rate % on F83 console, which is not that important. Oh yeah, and F83 is a bit heavier.

Talking about weight, it IS heavy. However, I was able to move it with my friend from garage to the basement (unpacked, of course) with no problems. However, if we had to go upstairs instead of downstairs, it would be much harder. Assembly took about 45 minutes. Those clip nuts are really bad idea, but they worked. All holes aligned just fine. However, my treadmill wouldn't turn on. What a disappointment (read more on Customer Service below).
Now that it works, I love it. Very quiet, smooth. A huge motor which you don't even hear.

A couple of minor issues are:
1. Heart-rate programs HR1 and HR2, while turned on indicate the same thing that they are for weight loss even though HR2 is supposed to be Cardio. Not a big deal because of issue #2.

2. Heart Rate programs will never be used by me. I tried HR2 and I gave up after 5 minutes at speed of about 2 mph (and no, this is not the warm-up, which I bypassed). The programs are so careful as to not to overshoot your target heart rate that they start toooooooo slow for toooo long. On the other hand, using HR2 button as an Autopilot to keep you current heart rate constant worked just fine. So, if I want to use HR program, I would reach my target rate with another program or Manual and then press the Autopilot button.

3. I wish the unit had a couple of buttons to store user info such as age and weight for a couple of users, so you don't need to enter it every time. Although it does remember the previous value entered (you still need to press Enter after it shows it to you). Also, I wish it remembered the maximum speed for each program used in the previous runs just as with age/weight (I have to press UP button too many times each time I choose a program to select higher speed).

4. The console had a little crack at the bottom (under the STOP button) and the middle part of it was scratched (a lot of micro scratches) during shipping due to packaging - the console had to be wrapped with a plastic and it wasn't.

As for some of the complains with Sole treadmills about speakers and fans...the fans are not strong but still they are good for keeping your sweat from dripping all over the treadmill. I ran once without the fans and the sweat was all over. The speakers are not your home-theater-quality speakers. But they are fine to use for 30 minutes while running.

Now about my experience with Sole Technical support (or should I say Spirit Fitness, which actually makes these treadmills for Sole?). I got a call back the next day I reported the issue. The tech said that it is either the console or the harness that is defective. It was Friday and he said he would take it to the shipping warehouse and it would be shipped the same day. On Monday I called and he said it wasn't shipped and he didn't know why. However, he would not do anything else because he did his job: he took the package to the warehouse and his job was done. On Tuesday I called and he said "it seems to be shipped" but no tracking number. On Wednesday I called and he said "it WAS NOT shipped". So, I had to talk to his manager, who promised to find out and call back. Never called back, of course, just as the tech, whom I asked to call back with the tracking number. So, it was finally shipped on Thursday. However, as it turned out, my unit was not defective. One cable near the motor was disconnected (probably during the shipping) and I didn't notice it first when I looked for the problem there. The tech didn't even ask to look there. Anyway, I am glad I got the new console as it was not cracked or scratched as the original one that went back.


Buy Cheap Sole S77 Treadmill on Sale


Buy Cheap Sole S77 Treadmill on Sale

The Sole S77 treadmill has a user-friendly console with a 6-window LED display that includes a message board for clear instruction and feedback. The information displayed at all times includes speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse and pace. There is also a 1/4-mile track feature and a convenient speed/elevation adjustment in the handles.

Features

  • Features a 3.5 horsepower motor and Cushion Flex deck with a 20- by 60-inch running surface
  • Includes grip pulse monitoring and a heart rate chest strap
  • Six standard programs, two user-defined programs, and two heart rate programs; speed range is 0.1-12 miles per hour
  • Six-window LED display tracks your speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace
  • 400-pound maximum weight capacity; measures 33 by 75 by 58 inches (W x L x H) when assembled
  • Dimensions: 17.00" h x 34.00" w x 78.00" l, 150.00 pounds

Customer Reviews

Great treadmill, loving it!5
I got my S77 about 2 months ago, and have used it constantly. It is quiet at anything under 10mph, changes speed and incline fairly quickly, and has quite a long running surface. I am 6'2" and 250lbs, and it has no problem handling me.

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at the S77, though.

1. The fans blow, and I don't mean air. If you must have airflow, set a fan next to the treadmill and point it at yourself.

2. The speakers are not audiophile quality. They do, however, play music from an ipod, etc. just fine, and plenty loud. You are 15" away from them, it doesn't take much.

3. Hill mode is different than what I expected. It is not a bad thing, just different. On most gym treadmills, i.e. Star Trac, etc. you set a speed, and Hill mode adjusts the incline only. On the S77, you set the MAX speed, and the speed and incline are adjusted together, not always linearly. I ended up liking it better, actually.

As far as emulating normal Hill mode, it is quite easy. Set the program to Manual, choose your speed. Then, use the GIANT incline buttons to select your incline manually, changing it every so often. I am a clock watcher, so regular increments come easy for me, and I don't mind doing this myself.



TLDR - Great treadmill. Awesome treadmill. Consider it fanless, though.

OH YEAH! Yes, the assembly was quite easy. However, have a friend available to help you lug this around. Everything is light, except for the motor/running surface, where 95% of the weight resides.

Solid Performer5
I reviewed several treadmills in the $1500 - $3000 range and felt the Sole S77 at $1899 was the best solution for my needs. I weigh 190 pounds and run 5 to 7 miles five times per week on this treadmill. My wife and daughter also use the treadmill for walking and occassional runs.

We've only had the treadmill for 4 months but already have 800 miles logged on it. I have no complaints and think it's a solid performer... very sturdy deck, smooth tread, easy to use panel.

Two 'negative' comments about the S77... 1) as many already pointed out, the Sole treadmills are heavy and require two people. The driver brought it into my garage and from there (with my wife's help) I used my handtruck to move it into the basement where I have our exercise rooom. 2) The 'cooling' fans are useless. But I didn't buy it for the fans, so I don't care. The exercise room I finished already has ceiling fans, along with a floor standing model. So we have plenty of air flow.

The treadmill is right next to our Sole elliptical which we've had for 2 1/2 years (primarily used by my wife and daughter). This was another reason why I bought the treadmill from Sole because the elliptical is built the same way. Great machines that I know will last my family for many years.

Good, solid home treadmill5
Overall, this is a great product.

I'm glad I went with one of their larger models. The shorter running deck would have been a disappointment.

They deliver these things through one of those trucking services that just drop the box at the front door, and then you sign for it. (I was fortunate that the delivery guy helped me get it inside, but they are not required to do that. This is important because the box is HEAVY... no way one person could move it inside.)

Set up was very easy... someone has really thought this out.

The build quality for a home system, at this price, is very good. Don't expect a trend mill that you saw at the Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton.

The speakers are pretty lame, but do the job for Podcasts, and Audiobooks. Music doesn't sound so good, but again, it's tolerable.

After much research, and for the price, I'm glad I ended up with the Sole S77.

Btw, I opted for this vs. a folding treadmill. After all, there's not much need for a folding treadmill. It's not like your space looks BETTER when you fold it up. And if you need to vacuum under it, it's easy to move.


Buy Cheap LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-N-Stor Compact Treadmill on Sale


Buy Cheap LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-N-Stor Compact Treadmill on Sale

For light users looking for a simple, portable walking treadmill the TR200 is a must have! This ultra compact, fold n stor treadmill quickly and easily fits under a bed, or stands up in a closet or behind a door. It's also fully assembled and ready to use in minutes right out of the box. The console features a large, easy to use display with 6 exercise programs and motivating readouts.

Product Features

  • Fully assembled treadmill that folds compactly and fits under bed or in closet
  • Blue LCD console tracks your time, calories, distance, steps, speed, and incline
  • Quick-start speed and incline buttons; 3 speed and 3 incline programs
  • Built-in speakers and headphone port; contact heart rate grips
  • Measures 30.5 x 51.5 x 60.5 inches (W x H x D); lifetime frame warranty

Customer Reviews

Perfect for my needs5
I live in a downtown condo and wanted something compact to fit into my spare bedroom / office. I was looking at this unit which I bought and an Evolve treadmill. Both treadmill dimensions allow for under the bed storage or in my case under my futon which is what I was looking for. I also was looking for something that I could do some fairly consistent walking 3- 4 days at 20-30 minutes...I am not a jogger or runner (BTW I would not see this unit being ideal for real heavy running use). I was looking for a treadmill that I could use my iPod with which both units do. It came down to (2) factors for me why I picked the TR 200. The first is that my unit has incline which the other unit does not...I use the incline a lot to burn more calories and mix up my walks. What is really nice is since I change the incline often I use the buttons on the console that I can go to a specific incline. The second and not as important was that the motor size is a little bit bigger than the other compact units I looked at. The treadmill is 100% assembled in the box...I cut the back end of the box and rolled the treadmill out so I did not have to lift the treadmill out of the box. I am very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend this treadmill for those limited on space or for walkers.

Bigger is not always better...5
I bought this treadmill and have it set up in my bedroom. I wanted a compact treadmill that I could keep in my bedroom so that it would not be "out of sight, out of mind"...the best part is that if I want I can fold the treadmill up and put it in my closet. Other things that I really enjoy with this treadmill is the console. It has the buttons that you can push that take you directly to the speed or incline that you want to be at. The console is easy to read and I like to watch my progress during my workout so the profile is nice, it is on the smaller side but is ample to show your status. It does come with program options but I have not used them yet as I just keep the treadmill in manual mode and adjust the speed and incline based on how I feel. The treadmill is very quiet and smooth when changing your mph's and it does allow you to make changes to a tenth of a mph. I typically am between 3-4 mph BUT note that this treadmill only goes up to 8 mph so if you need to go faster you should look at another treadmill.

Shipping information: the treadmill was delivered by ABF and I received a call 4 days after I ordered to schedule a delivery appointment. The treadmill was delivered to my garage and I had to get it in my house and upstairs into my bedroom. It really is as simple as this...take the box top off, remove the styrofoam and tear down the back of the box. Once this is done, you can lift the back of the treadmill and it rolls right out of the box and to where you want the treadmill. lift up the handlebars and lock them in, plug in the power cord, attach the safety key and push START...there is NO assembly whatsoever! AWESOME!

Other comments...the treadmill does have speakers and they are what they are---nothing spectacular but they work. I have a iHOME in my room but if I want to adjust the volume or change the song I have to get off the treadmill so it is easier to plug my iPod into the treadmill and you can place the iPod into the magazine rack. It does have a speaker jack but I don't see me ever using these but it is there. Contact pulse grips are nice and I hang my towel on the handlebars.

It fits us...and our budget5
I was looking for something that would not overtake our den and simply used for walking. (When we want it completely out of the way we have folded it flat and rolled it under the pool table.) We looked at the Evolve unit, Phoenix unit and utlimately decided on the TR 200 because it has incline and felt more comfortable with this brand with the online awards and reviews.

Their is no assembly which was great! We used a handtruck to get the unit down into the den --- SO I WOULD NOT GET ANY ADDITIONAL DELIVERY OR ASSEMBLY SERVICES. The speakers are just OK...sound is much better thru the headphones. The buttons to push to go to specific speeds and inclines are very nice.

Very pleased with this unit. It is very quiet and also we are very surprised how sturdy and stable the treadmill. Woudl recommend this for anyone looking for a good quality walking treadmill or if you are limited on space.


Buy Cheap Schwinn Active 20 Series Recumbent Exercise Bike on Sale


Buy Cheap Schwinn Active 20 Series Recumbent Exercise Bike on Sale

Stay in shape with a recumbent bike that features 11 programs to keep you motivated and challenged. The BioFit¿ Seat Design features 2 position height adjustment with lumbar support for a comfortable ride.

Product Features

  • Compact recumbent exercise bike for the home with 11 workout programs
  • Grip heart rate sensors enable you to monitor your fitness level
  • Computer controlled, eddy current resistance with 8 levels
  • Workouts include six preset profiles, one manual, three heart rate control, and one target heart rate
  • 275-pound maximum user weight: measures 58.5 x 26 x 36 inches
  • Dimensions: 13.00" h x 23.00" w x 37.00" l, 81.40 pounds

Customer Reviews

love this bike5
I bought this bike in February in preparation for knee surgery. It was extremely easy to put together - I had it together in one hour and I am a woman. It comes with all of the tools you will need. The display is nice and large and easy to understand without the manual. I used it to recover from knee surgery and now I ride it almost every morning for 30 minutes and I can really tell the difference in my legs and in my weight in general. I mostly wanted to express how easy it was to assemble and operate. I have had no trouble with it at all. I love this bike.

Very satisfied5
I've had this bike for about 5 weeks now and am very pleased with my purchase. I just sit in front of the TV and play PS3 for about 1-2 hours every day and burn plenty of calories. The chair is much more comfortable than our old standard exercise bike, which is paramount when using it as much as we do.

We also looked at the more expensive, older Schwinn model. Personally, we liked this one better, and it's 200 bucks cheaper. This one was more comfortable and also much more easily adjusted, which is nice when you have 2 people using it at very different heights. This one hasn't been on the market as long, so I'm not sure how it'll last over the years, but so far it's been strong and sturdy. Still, we got a 3 year warranty (not from Amazon) just in case. Even with the warranty it's still much cheaper than the $[...] Schwinn model.

As for negatives, you can get a lot of resistance from this bike, but each step up is a big jump. It would have been nicer to be able to ramp up more gradually. Also, I believe the calorie burner count is too high. I have a hard time believing that I can burn almost 1000 calories in an hour (although I do get the resistance up pretty high and break a good sweat).

All told though, this is an excellent bike at an excellent price. Highly recommend.

Schwin Active 20 Series Recumbent Exercise Bike5
I've had this bike for about three weeks and I really like it. The bike is sturdy and assembly is easy. There are six preset hill programs to choose from, or you can use one of the six manually levels. Instructions and use of the computer are easy as well. One of the things I like about this bike is the fitness rating option, using the "recovery" button. It monitors your heart rate for 1 minute after you stop exercising, using the pulse sensors in the handles. It monitors the rate your heart slows then gives you a fitness rating from F1 (best) to F6 (worst). I get my heart rate up as high as I can on level 2 just before I stop exercising, and then I hit the recovery button. After exercising for three weeks I've have dropped from F5 to F4. My resting pulse rate has dropped from 80/minute to 65. I have bad knees and hips, but this bike does not aggravate them at all. If you want to strengthen and tone your legs, just put it up to level 6 and do about 20 reps. Level 6 can't be maintained for long, unless your a body builder. You may choose to get a more expensive bike, but I think this model will give you all you need for a good cardio workout.

Buy Cheap Schwinn Active 10 Series Upright Exercise Bike on Sale



This Schwinn upright exercise bike has a multi-functional console display that provides feedback that you need for the results you want. The integrated target heart rate programs keep you at the heart rate you choose. The BioFit¿ seat design has a 9 position height adjustment and contoured seat for a comfortable ride. There are 11 programs to keep you motivated and challenged.

Product Features

  • Compact upright exercise bike for the home with 11 workout programs
  • Grip heart rate sensors enable you to monitor your fitness level
  • Computer controlled, eddy current resistance with 8 levels
  • Workouts include six preset profiles, one manual, three heart rate control, and one target heart rate
  • 275-pound maximum user weight: measures 40 x 20 x 53 inches
  • Dimensions: 10.50" h x 23.00" w x 30.00" l, 57.80 pounds

Great Bike!5
This bike is great! Got it and set it up in under an hour. Installation is straight forward. The person who rated this one star, Im pretty sure you were installing the left pedal the WRONG way. At first I went to install the left pedal and had the same problem as you! Then found out that the left pedal is threaded COUNTER-clockwise and the right pedal is threaded clockwise like normal. Make sure your turn the nut for the left pedal to the LEFT not right. Bike has great resistance and extremely quiet.

Buy Cheap Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike on Sale


Buy Cheap Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike on Sale

Only Schwinn® can leverage more than 100 years of cycling expertise into better-engineered fitness products, and the Schwinn® 230 Recumbent Bike, with its walk-through design and scores of innovative features, is no exception.

Products Features

  • Compact stationary recumbent exercise bike with 6 preset programs and 16 resistance levels
  • Easy-to-read LCD monitor displays time, distance, speed, calories burned, and more
  • Comfortable recumbent seat with dual-position lumbar support and fore/aft seat slider
  • Recumbent handlebars with integrated heart-rate grips; wide Bio-Fit pedals
  • Water bottle holder; 10-year frame warranty; 1-year warranty on mechanical and electrical

Customer Reviews

Comfortable workout machine at a great price5
CHOICE: I was looking for an indoor exercise machine that I would love to use on a daily basis, while taking in a show or read. Many reviewers of the upright Schwinn bike complained about discomfort, and owning a top-shelf Cycleops fluid trainer I know what that means, so the upright bike was not an option to me. I also passed on an elliptical machine because the bobbing would probably make it strenuous to watch TV and interfere with my motivation. So, having decided on wanting a recumbent bike, I picked this model even though there were no reviews at the time. I believe the #213 bike Schwinn 213 Recumbent Exercise Bike to be the older model of this (even though Schwinn ships both models currently), and it has gotten mostly good reviews.

SHIPPING: a lot of people had major problems when they ordered the #213 bike via Amazon (read the reviews, sort by lowest). I took the plunge anyway, hoping that my Amazon Prime membership would kick in (faster shipping often means less damage). The system gave me odd and changing dates all over the place (will ship in 2 days out, expected arrival one week out, ..) and there was only 1 shipping option (Standard). However, the bike was delivered via UPS within two days like I had hoped. The box was a bit "roughed up", held together with straps and it even had a small hole on one corner. Also, on the inside, some styrofam was broken; obviously the thing was dropped at least once. I wouldn't call it damaged though, and all parts ended up ok. Incidentally, I live in a non-elevator building, and to get the bike to my 5th floor apartment, I took it apart in the lobby, then walked up the stairs about five times with the parts. That worked fine, except for the fact that the bottom- piece was really heavy, but hey, it's about exercise :)

ASSEMBLY: in short, this was painless. There is a small booklet which explains everything step-by-step. Some pages look complicated because of the exploded parts illustration, but they're not - just read the simple instructions instead of focusing on the picture. All the tools and screws were included in a blister pack, and labeled correctly. The only small mistake I made was to forcibly connect the computer cable the wrong way (hint: the plugs are NOT the same on both ends, even though they look alike). I think it took me a leisurely 60-90 minutes to assemble the bike; if you have help or you mean it, you could do it in less.

BUILD: first of all, the bike looks better than I expected. More futuristic than industrial, and not all that ugly in my living room. Some parts feel a little cheap to the touch; for example, the front flywheel is housed in plastic which chips and cracks easily, the bike computer weighs nothing and has these foil buttons, and the "bio-whatever seat with lumbar" is entirely made out of foam, and nothing is adjustable on it either. I guess "lumbar" is not the same as "lumbar control", as in a car seat.

WORKOUT: this bike is *silent*. I couldn't believe it, coming from the Cycleops trainer, but the only sound I hear is my workout pants swishing- absolutely great to watch TV. When I pedal, the bike wobbles a little, which at higher intensities makes it more difficult to read a book that you put in front of the bike computer (there is a bracket to do just that). However, I must admit that the seat really is comfy, and it would be no problem to actually hold a book while working out. The bike computer has a few programs as expected (ride in the park, interval, plateau, etc.) plus manual mode and a somewhat useless BMI calculator. It retains the weight, age, and time you entered last time which is a convenient plus over gym machines. The range of resistance is great, from virtually none to definitely hard to push. The heart rate sensors, as I expected from reading the reviews on the 213 model, don't work very well: it takes about 40 seconds to display a realistic number once you touch the sensors. This is something that my Polar wrist watch does much faster (not to mention wirelessly and pc-downloadable, but of course at a price), so I use the Polar.

NITPICKS AND RECOMMENDATION: It would have been fantastic if the bike computer had a Polar telemetry option like most of the machines in gyms now do. Also, it would be great if the front tube could be folded back when not in use, because then I could hide the machine behind the sofa. But all in all, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and would recommend this bike to others. I use it every day.


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