How to use and choose an exercise bike

How to Use and Choose an Exercise Bike

Exercise bikes can be used for cardio exercise, building endurance, burning fat and calories, and strengthening muscles. No matter what you use your exercise bike for it’s good to know basic use and safety. There are two styles of exercise bikes – upright and recumbent – and their operation is the same. To get started, position yourself onto the seat. Put your feet on the pedals and adjust the seat so that you come close to full knee extension but not all the way, then adjust your seatback angle for comfort. When you’re ready, start pedaling! This will start the machine and you can then select your workout program from one of the preset exercises or personalize your workout to your own liking. If you want to use your exercise bike to increase your aerobic fitness, try doing intervals. After a warm-up, go as fast as you can for 30 seconds, than slow way down for a minute and repeat. To end your workout, slowly decrease your speed until you come to a complete stop.

Here’s a safety tip: If there are straps on the pedals be sure to use them – it could prevent injury due to slippage or overextension. And remember – always consult a physician or healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program.

While the basic use of an exercise bike is pretty easy, shopping for a home exercise bike can be very intimidating! There are so many different brands, models and styles it can be next to impossible to choose the right one for your home. For most people, buying a home exercise bike is a major investment. It’s also a good investment for those who have decided to make a conscious effort to be fit and healthy. That is why it is important to put together a checklist that identifies attributes that are most important for you and your workout. Here are some tips that should help you out:

1. The first thing you should consider when choosing an exercise bike is the construction. A well-constructed exercise bike is something that everyone in your family can enjoy. You will want an exercise bike that is built with high alloy steel or aluminum frame that is strong enough to support the heaviest person. Some machines come with a weight limit – make sure that limit won’t inhibit your workout.

2. Watch out for noise! A major consideration for a home exercise bike is the amount of noise it can produce. A loud machine can drown out a lot of noise – kids, television, oven timers, etc. And some small, repetitive sounds can drive a person crazy and provide you with one more reason not to exercise. We recommend testing an exercise bike before you buy it. Sit on it and go through the motions so you can assess the noise level and see if it’s something you can live with.

3. Choosing between an upright bike or a recumbent bike is up to your own personal preference. Upright exercise bikes are great for those who prefer a classic seated position – and they are perfect for those that want to try spinning workouts at home like they may have experienced in the gym. Recumbent bikes put you in a seated position more like you would find while sitting in a chair – these are great for people that have avoided exercise bikes in the past due to back issues. Test them out and see what you like the best.

4. And finally, don’t forget the bells and whistles! The newest models come with many extra features, including LCD or TV displays, cooling fans, and audio systems or a heart rate monitor. Using a heart rate monitor during your workout will help you adjust the speed or incline to keep your heart rate in the optimum zone. It’s a good investment in your health!

Advantages of high-end fitness walkers (rollators)

Advantages of High-End Fitness Walkers (Rollators)

The Rollator has been in use in Scandinavian and European countries for many years, but has only recently become popular in the United States. A Rollator is best described as a standard walker on wheels. Various other names describe the same product ie Rolling Walker, Walker with Wheels or Fitness Walker.

Depending upon the producer of the Rollator or Fitness Walker the wheels come in different sizes. However, in general, four larger wheels in turn replace two smaller wheels and two posts of a walker. The handles of a Fitness Walker typically feature caliper brakes or ‘hand brakes’. The user can squeeze these hand brakes to lock the wheels in place, or release them to continue walking. There are special Rollators made by various companies that work the handles whereby when squeezing the Walker is released and when the handles are released the unit will stop. This is especially useful for Parkinson’s patience whereby the unit needs to be ‘parked’ when standing in position and before proceeding to walk.

A Fitness Walker typically contains a larger basket for storage purposes, along with a canvas seat and back between the handles. The handle frame on some models also serves as the back for relaxing. This seat and back allows users to take short rest breaks when desired. The storage area of a Fitness Walker is often larger and more stable than the wire basket of a standard walker

Another major advantage is that with a collapsible design, a Fitness Walker can also be folded and stored in a car’s trunk or rear seat. Standard walkers can be folded into thirds, but they lose the compact folding ability of a Fitness Walker.

It is very important to consult your doctor when considering the purchase of a Fitness Walker as long-term studies are limited as to it’s long effect on the body. As each individual disability is unique and research is limited it is up to the patient with their doctor’s advice to assess the effects on the body of various Rollators or Fitness Walkers. This is especially important for patients recovering from various surgeries as proper exercise and walking styles must be adhered to.

A Fitness walker promotes a healthier state-of-mind and the ability to stay independent while achieving a certain level of exercise for the body.

As a good Fitness Walker bears a good portion of the person’s weight at hip level, much of the stress is taken off the ankles and knees while walking. At this point it is critical to have a Fitness Walker that promotes the body’s natural walking motion.

One particularly good Rollator (Fitness Walker) we have found is the

Volaris S7 Fitness Walker

The X-foldable construction facilitates fast fold up even when moving and makes this Rollator (Fitness Walker) stand steady in folded position. It can access bathroom stalls and other tight areas as the folded with is apprx 12-13”. This means that the Volaris S7 Fitness Walker requires less space and is easy to transport. As both the seat and the handles are easily vertically adjustable, the sole version of the Fitness Walker is suitable for wide variety of users. It is also made up of Ultra high grade aluminum for lightweight properties and high strength composite material on the handles, seat and other connecting parts for long lasting use.

Main specifications of the Volaris S7 are:

Weight of 7.2kg (16lbs)

Width < 59cm (23.25”)

Height 75-95cm (29.5″-37.40″)

User weight max 140kg (308lbs)

Folded 9.1″ (W) x 27.60″ (L) x 29.50″ – 37.40″ (H)

Hand Brakes part of grip handles (Dual wheel locks)

There is also a new high-end Fitness Walker called the

Trionic All-Terrain Walker

This Fitness Walker is new state of the art fitness equipment and a Rollator for the active user all in one.
The Trionic All-Terrain Walker offers increased access to most any outdoor environment. This mobility apparently comes from it’s patented Trionic climbing wheel with ability to climb up to 5” curbs or obstacles. It is made up of T-6000 aircraft aluminum for strength.

Main specifications of the Trionic All-Terrain Walker are:

Weight of under 12kg (26lbs)

Width < 76cm (30”)

Height 76-94cm (30″-37″)

User weight max 150kg (330lbs)

Folded 16.5″ (W) x 41.73″ (L) x 29.50″ – 29.92″ (H)

Single Hand Brake Modification available to Mount left, right or or center (Operates Both Brakes) with dual wheel locks

Regardless of your reasons for choosing a Fitness Walker (Rollator), you owe it to yourself to check out the high-end market as well.

Best elliptical machine – top features when buying an elliptical

Best Elliptical Machine – Top Features When Buying an Elliptical

Looking for the best elliptical machine? Ellipticals are one of the most popular choices in fitness equipment today.

They give you a lower impact workout than other machines. They can also be lighter and more compact than other machines.

Plus, because you use both arms and legs they give you a lower rate of perceived exertion. (This means you actually worked harder than you felt like you did – which can add up to more calories burned).

But there are so many brands and models on the market. How do you choose the best elliptical machine for you?

This article reveals 6 key features to consider before buying. So you can choose the best machine for you.

1) Stride Length.

This is one of the most important features when buying an elliptical. Stride length is the farthest distance between the pedals during the elliptical motion. Stride lengths vary from 12 – 21 inches.

Stride length is important as a longer stride length works your leg muscles more fully, giving you a more effective workout and helping to burn more calories. Plus a long stride gives you a smoother, more fluid feel.

Cheaper ellipticals usually offer a 12 – 14 inch stride. For the average height person an 18-20 inch stride is good.

Taller people or those who really like to pick up the pace may prefer a 20 inch or even a 21 inch stride.

2) User Weight Capacity.

Along with unit weight and quality of construction, user weight capacity is a great indicator of the stability of the elliptical. You don’t want a machine that shakes or wobbles when you pick up the pace.

User weight capacities usually run from 200 lbs up to 400 lbs. Cheaper ellipticals run around 200-250 lbs and might be alright for 1 user under 200 lbs.

The higher you go – other things being equal – the more stable a machine you get. A great user weight capacity, especially for heavier users or more than 1 person is 300 – 350 lbs.

3) Resistance.

Resistance is basically how hard your legs have to push during the elliptical motion. Resistance gives you more of a challenge while you work out.

Increasing resistance can help you burn more calories, push to the next level or build intervals into your workout to boost metabolism.

Most elliptical trainers offer a range of resistance levels. Look for a trainer that makes resistance changes easy (i.e. one-touch resistance adjustment) vs a dial that you turn to increase resistance.

4) Incline.

Incline (also called Ramp) is not the same as resistance. Until a few years ago incline was only found on $4000 commercial models. However it’s starting to make it’s way into the home elliptical market.

Incline allows you to automatically increase your workout slope so you work different muscle groups. This optimizes your workout and burns maximum amount of calories.

Some ellipticals offer automatic incline (where you press a button to increase incline). And some offer manual incline (where you have to get off the machine to set it). Although incline isn’t necessary to have, many people really like it.

5) Footprint / Folding.

The footprint is the width and length of your elliptical. While ellipticals in general are smaller than treadmills, they can still take up a lot of space. If space is limited in your home, make sure to consider the elliptical’s footprint before you buy.

Another option to save space is to buy a folding elliptical. Some manufacturers are starting to make elliptical machines that fold up and this can save space if workout area is limited.

6) Console.

Elliptical consoles come in many different shapes, colors and sizes. Many give you standard feedback like speed, time, distance, calories burned and heart rate.

One thing that many of the best elliptical machines have is a back-lit console. This makes the display bright and easier to read.

Consoles that are not backlit (usually found on cheaper models) can be very hard to read. This is especially true if you have poor lighting in your workout area.

So those are 6 of the top key features to consider when choosing the best elliptical machine for you. Other popular features include upper body arm bars, personal trainer workout programs and built-in speakers for your iPod or Mp3 player.

Finally, when buying your elliptical trainer, remember to consider everyone who will be using it. Consider their weight capacity, height (for stride length), workout preferences and fitness goals. Do this and you’re practically guaranteed to find the best elliptical machine for you.