Knee Pain link link link Seat position link
One exercise you can do is sit on the edge of your bed and slowly raise your lower leg until it is parallel with the floor. No weights are needed, just make the motion fluid and keep your feet aligned as you do it. The exercise will help the muscles that keep your kneecap tracking properly. I find that a few sets of 10 reps for a couple of days helps most of my sore-knee problems.
I had knee pain until I got my seat dialed in. I was over extending my legs. Pulled the seat up closer and the pain disappeared. Don't know if that is something you have tried but that is what worked for me.
Kirkwood Elliptical Precor EFX Feb 2011
Press the ENTER button (then keep pressing it)--> MANUAL --> WEIGHT --> AGE --> then set to Crossramp of 5 and Resist to 10. Do for 30 minutes
(Kirkwood Elliptical Precor EFX) Said I was at Cardiovascular between heart rate of 115 and 140 (for my age and wieght)
Elliptical burn top of thighs 30 minutes (stairmaster, running, cycle)
Tread mill machine (to warm up0
$380 on sale $220 from Big Five
Sole E25 $1000
20 minutes to warm up 3 miles
Recumbent bike
Jon Moldenhauer likes it. Sit down with back rest
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike $450 instead of $600 list
Questions to ask
24 hour Pro
Precor EFX 576i (time elapsed, time remaining. distance, strides, total strides)
Can set cross Ramp 1-20 and Resistence 1-20
Bike Star Trac Pro
Elliptical with no handles Kirkwood Sept 16 PreCor EFX 546i $5,500 (Amazon)
Recumbent Bike Kirkwood Sept 15 Precor C842 no heart rate
Recumbent Bikes
When shopping for exercise bikes, it's better to get a bike with as many variations as possible. If you want an upper body workout as you pedal, you can easily add weights and do repetitions as you sit back in the recumbent bike seat. If you're feeling particularly tired or lazy one day, you can have an easy workout where you can read a book or newspaper. If you really want to test your limits, you can crank up the music, set the machine to more difficult levels, and add some weights for an upper body workout.
Because you sit back and lower to the ground in a recumbent bike, it is better for your body. Most exercise bikes force you to hunch over, causing a stiff back. Some dual action bikes are back injuries waiting to happen. Recumbent bikes require that you sit with good posture as you pedal.
Recumbent bikes also offer one of the few cardio workouts that put no pressure on your knees and other joints. You can't "cheat" on a recumbent bike and stand up when you're finding it more difficult to pedal. Standing like that on other types of exercise bikes puts unnecessary pressure on your knees and ankles. Recumbent bikes let your body exercise at an angle where your body weight is not stressing your joints. Even people with back and knee problems will find a recumbent bike easy to use.
Recumbent bikes can also allow men to get a great cardio workout without the discomfort that only a man knows on regular bikes or other types of exercise bikes. With the large, comfortable seats of recumbent bikes, you are much more likely to enjoy your workout pain-free.
If you move the seat of a recumbent bike up a bit to bring your legs higher, you can even target the lower abs and have to do less crunches to get the bottom of your six-pack!
www.pioneerthinking.com/mw_ebikes.html Michael Walker is a freelance author providing useful information about fitness bikes, recumbent exercise bikes and spinning bicycles.
His numerous articles offer comprehensive tips and solutions for the fitnessenthusiast. Visit http://www.all-in-exercise-bikes.com for more info -----------
The impact on your joints of a recumbent bike is even lower than that of a stationary bike. This is because your feet are more at the same level with your body rather than lower. http://www.americanfitness.net/infobenefitsofrecumbentexercisebikes.html asically all parts of your lower body stand to get a great workout from your use of a recumbent – your inner thighs, butt, calves, etc. And if you move the seat closer to the pedals, you can even workout your lower abs! If you want an upper body workout, too, you need only to bring in the use of free weights. Because you are so much more balanced when sitting on a recumbent bike compared to a stationary bike, you can even do bicep curls. • It is easy to watch TV or look out the window or even look at the pictures in a magazine while using a recumbent bike. And the more entertained you are, the more you can take your mind off of your workout, and the longer you will be able to work out.
If your looking for some great tips and info on reducing waist size and firming up to combine with your exercise bike workout look at www.free-weight-loss-zone.com/ www.weightloss-links.com Lots of resources there to help.
For advice on how to lose bodyfat and get in great shape with an exercise bike workout and a home weight lifting routine, visit this page:www.homeexercisecoach.com . You will find plenty of diet and exercise advice that will show you how to get in the best shape of your life without ever stepping foot in a boring, sweaty gym!
For nutrition and health info laced with lots of good common sense to combine with your exercise bike workout...or not, take a look at www.zone-diet-fan.comBob has some different approches on the subject that may be just what you're looking for. http://www.recumbent-bikes-truth-for-you.com/exercise-bike.html Schwinn Active 20 Series Recumbent Exercise Bike
Swinn 230
We had this problem too. I'm over 6' and my wife is 5'. I called the Schwinn customer service, and they said that their bikes were designed for people as short as 4'10", but they have had many complaints from people even as tall as 5'4" that they had trouble reaching the pedals.
The problem is the step-through design. In the older designs, and in the current Schwinn Active 20 design, there is a continuous rail from the seat to the pedal unit. This allows the seat to get very close to the pedals. The trade off for the step-through, is that it does not allow the seat to get as close to the pedals, and those with shorter legs have problems. The Schwinn person suggested we get the Active 20, or if we wanted a more robust machine, to look for one of their older designs. We found a Schwinn 213. It is a model that Schwinn doesn't make anymore, but there are a few out there if you search for them. It adjusts to fit both of us quite easily. My guess is that it is the 231 before they changed the design to be a step through. www.amazon.com/Schwinn-213-Recumbent-Exercise-Bike/dp/B000BGI5C The upright stationary exercise bike has been around for quite some time but recently the recumbent exercise bike has become increasingly popular. There's some debate about which is better. Personally, I believe they both have advantages and disadvantages. Which one is best depends on your overall fitness level and what it is you want to achieve using a bike.
Both types of bike have their negative and positive points. As the recumbent bike is a relative newcomer that's proved to be quite popular, let's take a look at it first. Advantages of a recumbent exercise bike Comfort is without doubt its biggest selling point. Many complain of being saddle sore when using a traditional upright; no matter how padded the seat is, after any length of time your rear end gets a little sore. However, with a recumbent, you sit in a chair - not on a seat - and this eliminates a sore bottom. People with lower back problems find the support offered when sitting in a seat in a reclined position enables them to cycle for longer, than they would do on an upright, thus getting a better workout. People who are overweight also find it more comfortable to recline in a chair rather than sit on a seat. Cycling in a reclined position works the gluteal muscles more than cycling upright. If you're looking to improve the shape of your butt, the recumbent is the way to go. Sore or numb wrists and fingers are a thing of the past as you hands no longer support the weight of your upper body. The recumbent exercise bike is also more ergonomic. This means that breathing is improved as abdominal muscles relax, which in turn leads to a better cardiovascular workout. Disadvantages of a recumbent bike Unlike an upright, your movement is restricted. And, many fitness experts believe that the reclined position encourages a slower, less intense workout. Advantages of an upright bike Your movement is not restricted so you can choose to either sit down or stand up as you pedal. This means that you can exercise different areas of muscle. Many models also come with handle bars that allow the rider to either cycle in a sitting up position or in a more competitive, racing position. Uprights take up less space and generally cost less because there are fewer parts to the frame. This means that for the same money you generally get a better bike with an upright model. Most fitness experts tend to agree that you get a more physical and intense workout on an upright. Disadvantages of an upright bike These have already been listed in the advantages of a recumbent bike section. In conclusion, upright bikes are more suited to those who are already in shape and want workouts that will keep them that way or take them to the next level. A recumbent exercise bike is best suited for those who've never exercised before, who have back problems, overweight, or have mobility problems. But whichever model you think is best for you, you should give both types a try out before you buy. Follow the links for more detailed recumbent exercise bike reviews on models like the Schwinn exercise bike, the Lifecycle exercise bike and many more. Best "Real World" Elliptical Trainers www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R2GA94FI1SFHJV/ref=cm_sylt_byauthor_title_full_
Elliptical machines are made with a wide variety of stride shapes, however, depending on how they are made. Some are long (more like running), but some ellipticals have their footpads attached directly to the flywheel. This means that the stride shape will be almost a circle - not really an elliptical. The stride is so humped it feels more like bumping up and down. This humped stride is ergonomically disadvantageous and makes it hard to get a good rhythm and a good workout.
Get 18" to 20" stride length
Footpads no more than 6" apart
Lastly, the elliptical motion and stride on the Sole e35 is more ergonomic and natural than it is on the 418. The Sole has a 2 degree inward slope on the pedal track that will greatly reduce ankle and knee stress that's common to some other elliptical trainers in this market. from here
2) Heart monitor - it's a cardio machine so monitoring your heart rate is a critical aspect of doing a cardio workout. You can always augment with a wrist mounted heart monitor, but having the heart monitor integrated into the electronics head is a great convenience. Heart monitoring in the head unit is implemented with either an associated chest strap or a pair of hand grip sensors - or both. Grip mounted sensors are almost always on the stationary grips (the pair of grips in the middle that do not move. That's a disadvantage because using the moving arm grips is a big part of the workout. Chest straps are better (because you get to use the moving arm grips - and it's nice not to have your hands limited in motion and/or placement) but some folks don't love straps because they get sweaty and you have to take a moment to put them on or off. I highly recommend you at least experiment with chest straps, however. Knowing your heart rate and pushing it to an appropriately challenging level is central to getting a good cardio workout.
Proper cardio training is a whole topic - but short and sweet - to find your cardio target levels: i) start with 220 and subtract your age (I'll use 40 as an example) - 220-40 = 180 (165 for me). That's your maximum heart rate, "MHR". ii) Multiply your MHR by 60% (.6) to find your "low and slow - fat burn" target, 70% (.7) to find your aerobic threshold, 80% (.8) to find your aerobic peak and 90% (.9) to find your maximum safe limit. So for the 40 year-old example: (93 for me) 180*.6 = 108 (get above this for low and slow fat burn workouts) (108 110)180*.7 = 126 (get above this for aerobic workouts) (124 125)180*.8 = 144 (this is the target for aerobic peaks) (139)180*.9 = 162 (this is your warning threshold - back off) So a good workout for a 40 year old would involve 5 minutes or so of warm up ramping heart rate up into the one hundred and teens. Then upping the resistance to bring heart rate into the mid 120s to 130s for the body of the workout (20-30 minutes) and then a 5 minute ramping down cool down with stretching to follow. This is a rough guideline - individuals are all different of course and there's plenty of controversy about how best to work out. If you're just starting out, shoot lower until you feel ready. If you're very fit, maybe you'll want to get above 80% for more time. But if you're coming from a place where you have no idea about what cardio levels to shoot for, this little calculation is a whole lot better than nothing. The great thing about using cardio levels to work out is that this will automatically compensate for your evolving fitness level. As you get more fit, you'll have to up the resistance higher to hit your target heart rates. This is exactly what you want. As long at your are hitting your target heart rates you'll be getting a good workout. ![]()
but think it'll work out well in the long run. Also, good assembly instructions too, but here are 4 simple pointers that should help you avoid any squeaking problems: 1. Buy a spray can of WHITE LITHIUM GREASE from K Mart etc. for a few dollars. 2. Before assembling each part where two parts come together, clean out the metal shavings (left from the manufacturer) inside the holes as best you can. 3. Spray the inside and lubricate all joints and rods with the white lithium grease (a better quality grease that doesn't degrade as much over time). 4. IMPORTANT: On Step 7-3 (Install Right and Left Lower Handlebars), it says to "Use the two supplied combo wrenches to 'thoroughly tighten' the hardware", but I found that if you over-tighten this, even with plenty of lubrication, it will squeak a minute into using the machine. Simple fix: Get it lightly snug, then loosen the two bolts just a bit. Lifestyler Cardio Fit The Rider from Sears
***** SEARS LIFESTYLER "CARDIO-FIT" EXERCISE BIKE *****
VERY GOOD CONDITION INCLUDES ELECTONIC MONITOR OWNER'S MANUAL The Lifestyler Cardio-Fit is a "low impact full body motion" bike with "adjustable dial resistance". It's one of the best gym equipment for tight legs, buttocks, thighs, and stomach, because it works out the entire body through movement. This equipment offers a unique form of cardiovascular benefits and greater toning results. Great way to stay in shape throughout the year. -------------------------------- LifeStyler CardioFit Plus - Exercise Machine
Originally $300 and now $30!!! Model: 831.287724 -Gently Used -Low Impact -Push and Pull Motion -Quick Set Adjustments -Dial Resistance for ease -Electronic Meter Push and pull exercise equipment for building strength and endurance with low body impact. Quick change feature lets you switch from pushing to pulling exercises. Simple to operate - sit on bike, and push with your legs, while pulling towards you, the cardioglide motion will primarily work your legs, butt, back and arms, and secondarily works your chest, triceps and abs. Great for good workout! Meter counts time, speed, Distance, calories, and repetitions. Manual: http://www.iconservice.com/pdf/287724.pdf Pickup in Wentzville, MO, Cash or equivalent only! Call (740) 463-0732 Call 209-676-0803 for
FITNESS EQUIPMENT VERY NICE UNITS MUST SEE (CENTRAL VALLEY)Date: 2009-09-15, 1:00AM PDT Reply to: sale-rjkzn-1375149336@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?] THESE UNITS ARE VERY NICE UNITS, THESE ARE OLDER UNITS BUT THERE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, ALL EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN POWDER COATED WHITE IN VERY GOOD CONDTION.YOU CAN BUY ALL OF THIS AS A PACKAGE IF YOU WANT FOR $18,900 OR YOU CAN BUY IT BUY THE UNIT. THIS IS THE LIST OF SOME OF THE UNITS CALL THIS NUMBER TO SEE EQUIPMENT 209 676 0803 THANKS
NAUTILUS RECUMBENT BIKE FITNEX RECUMBENT BIKE KAM RECUMBENT BIKE HEALTH RIDER RECUMBENT CYCLE CC125 - $225 (Sacramento)Date: 2009-09-16, 6:13PM PDT Reply to: sale-q5w2q-1378214652@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?] HEALTH RIDER RECUMBENT CYCLE CC125
Offered for sale is a Healthrider recumbent cycle model CC125. This machine has not been used much and is in excellent condition. It has an LCD console that displays all pertinent information and can be programmed for various workouts. It also has a pulse monitor. The console will also hold a book and 2 water bottles. This is a solidly built piece of equipment and is very heavy. Included is the original manual. This item was purchased at Costco for $500.00. Asking $225.00 OBO. This can be your ticket to great health or an expensive clothes hanger. If interested or if you have any questions, please call 919-5013 and please leave voice message if no answer. Thanks for looking.
Can't find this model. Health Rider only sells one model.
Diamondback recumbent exercise bike like New!#! (Sacramento)Date: 2009-09-16, 7:06AM PDT Reply to: see below This Diamondback recumbent exercise bike is up for sale. Bike is in great condition with little use! A great workout without leaving your home.
E-mail me your offers at zackkingston16@gmail.com. I have posted more pictures and info on the link below. Thanks. For More Pictures and Info Click
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