Our Opinion of the Tunturi F90 Spinning Bike

Tunturi were one of the first, if not the first, to produce an exercise bike four decades ago. They have recently added two spinning bikes to their line up including the F90 spinning bike. With their extensive knowledge they've produced an excellent product with a few user friendly features.

The F90 has a console which displays RPM, speed, time, distance, energy consumption and heart rate. Most spinning bikes do not have a display, like the Tunturi F70 spinning bike, however Tunturi have added the display for the home or gym user who wants to see their progress and heart rate. The F90 has a heart rate transmitter built into the console so when used in conjunction with a heart rate strap, not supplied, you can see your heart rate on the console display.

The F90 has an emergency brake which is a useful feature on any spinning bike, it is operated via the red handle below the console.

All Tunturi exercise bikes come with a 15 year manufacturer’s frame warranty and all other components are covered with a 2 years parts and labour warranty.

You can extend the parts warranty on all components to 3 years by registering your product free of charge with Tunturi on their website.

This means that in the unlikely event of any problems a Tunturi service engineer will visit you and carry out any necessary repairs. This type of warranty is far more desirable than a return to base warranty and reflects the faith Tunturi have in the quality of their product.

If the idea of a spinning bike sounds appealing please visit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk

Why Should I Use An Elliptical Trainer?

Elliptical trainers have been around for over a decade now, however it is only really in the last four or five years that they’ve become so popular. Previously in the large gyms there would be more treadmills than any other piece of cardio vascular equipment. Nowadays there are normally equal numbers of elliptical trainers, also known as crosstrainers, as there are treadmills.

The advantage of using an elliptical trainer over a treadmill is that they are low impact. When you run your feet are leaving the ground and impacting on the tarmac or treadmill sending shocks up your bones which can cause problems for people with weak joints or shin splints. Running is good for helping with increasing your bone density, but for a lot of people with weak joints running is not an option. This is where an elliptical trainer is ideal, your feet never leave the ground and it’s easy to regulate the resistance to get your heart beating to a level where you’re working out aerobically.

Elliptical trainers are very smooth and they work out your arms and shoulders as well as your legs. The original elliptical trainers just worked out your arms but Reebok was one of the first manufacturers to add the arms to give you a full body workout.

Elliptical trainers vary in size, stability and functionality depending on the model. As with most exercise equipment you get what you pay for and ideally you should look at spending £250 upwards for a basic home model and up to £3000 for a good commercial model. Always look for a branded product which has a good warranty, a good warranty is a sign that the manufacturer has faith in their product. I would look for a minimum of two years parts and one year’s labour warranty. Manufacturers such as Tunturi, Reebok and Nautilus have a reputation of producing good elliptical trainers. I’ve tested most of their 2007 model ranges and I’ve been impressed with them especially Tunturi’s as it looks really clean and stylish as well.

If you’re looking for a low impact easy workout then I would recommend an elliptical trainer. If you’re now interested in a elliptical trainer then please visit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk

Our Opinion of the Bremshey Explorer C Crosstrainer

The Bremshey Explorer C crosstrainer is Bremshey’s premium model with the added benefit of a larger flywheel and 17 programs, 6 different personal data memories and measurement of energy in Watts. The 6 personal data memories are stored individually on USB memory sticks which come supplied with the Explorer C crosstrainer. The increased flywheel weight gives a smoother feel in use contributing to the quality feel of the Explorer C. The console is easy to read with the two LCD displays being backlit and the wheels on the front support make it easy to manoeuvre. The build quality and finish of the Explorer C crosstrainer is better than I expect and assembly is relatively straight forward compared to some models.

All Bremshey Crosstrainers come with a manufacturer’s 2 years parts and labour warranty.
So, in the unlikely event of any problems, a Bremshey service engineer will arrange a visit to carry out any necessary repairs on site. This is a significant improvement on the more usual return to base warranty and reflects Bremshey’s faith in their product.

If you're looking for a Bremshey crosstrainer then please visit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk

Elliptical Trainer Purchase Tips

Buying any piece of fitness equipment is an investment in your health, which is great. However there are a number of factors to consider when purchasing fitness equipment. I’ve outlined a few points which I think are important when purchasing an elliptical trainer.

Elliptical trainers also known as crosstrainers first entered the market in 1995 and have been in constant development since. Reebok introduced the first elliptical trainer with moving arms giving the user a lower and upper body workout. Elliptical trainers have become so popular because:

• Low impact exercise, which is gentle on backs, knees, hips and joints.
• Weight bearing exercise that helps build bone density and burns calories efficiently.
• Suitable for a large range of training needs.
• Low maintenance, keeping costs down.
• Smaller in size than a treadmill.

How much are you willing to spend, budget?

As with most things generally but not always the more you spend on an elliptical trainer the more you get. With fitness equipment there are three categories, home equipment, light commercial equipment and commercial equipment. Home equipment is designed for home users and it generally suitable for an hours use per day, light commercial equipment is designed for the demanding home user and small gyms situated within offices and hotels. Light commercial equipment is generally suitable for up to 5 hours use a day. Commercial equipment is designed for gyms and is designed to be suitable for 18 hours use a day.

In my opinion £250 upwards will buy you a reasonable quality home elliptical trainer, try and avoid unbranded equipment and look for brands such as Tunturi and Reebok who provide service backup and warranties with their products. A light commercial elliptical trainer is going to set you back between £1000 & £3000 whereas a commercial elliptical trainer may be anything from £3000 to £5000.

How much room do you have to store the elliptical trainer?

Always measure how much room you have available before purchasing an elliptical trainer, remember they are larger pieces of equipment. An elliptical trainer has to be able to withstand the weight of a human, which as we know can vary enormously, so they can be rather bulky. All good websites or retailers will be able to provide you with the dimensions of the elliptical trainer your interested in.

Which brand?

With so many options it’s difficult to know which brand to opt for. Personally I would suggest selecting a brand which provides a good warranty. If a product has a good warranty then generally you can be fairly confident that the manufacturer is confident in the quality of their product. Brands which I’ve tested and prefer include Tunturi, Reebok, Bremshey, Nautilus, Trimmaster Life Fitness, and Schwinn.

What are programmes and how do they benefit me?

It is often difficult to motivate yourself when you’re often using the same routine! Purchasing an elliptical trainer with programmes maybe the answer. Having pre-set or even customisable workout programmes is a great way to provide some extra variety and motivation. Some of the more expensive crosstrainers now offer heart rate controlled programmes which using your heart rate, increase or decrease the resistance of the crosstrainer keeping your heart rate as close as possible to the pre-set rate. This is a safe way to exercise and can help with weight loss.

I hope these elliptical trainer purchase tips have been helpful, if you’re looking to purchase an elliptical trainer please visit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk

Our Opinion of the Reebok 3 Series Rowing Machine

The Reebok 3 series rower has 8 levels of manually adjusted resistance and an LCD display showing your progress. It’s easy to assemble and can be folded when not in use. As it has manual adjustment you do not need to connect it to the mains which gives you the freedom to use the rower almost anywhere, perhaps on your balcony on sunny days?

Rowing provides a cardio vascular workout and also helps with overall toning. Rowing when done correctly can workout over 80% of your muscles.

All Reebok rowers come with a manufacturer’s 2 years parts and labour warranty.
So, in the unlikely event of any problems, a Reebok service engineer will arrange a visit to carry out any necessary repairs on site. This is a significant improvement on the more usual return to base warranty and reflects Reebok’s faith in their product.

If your looking for a Reebok rowing machine or another rowing machine please vistit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk for an full range of rowing machines with free UK delivery.

Home Treadmill Purchase Tips

Purchasing a treadmill for most people is a big financial commitment so knowing what to look for when deciding on a treadmill can only be a good thing!

A treadmill enables the user to walk, jog or run without having to go outside where it may be raining or dark. Using a treadmill at home has many advantages, firstly you do not have to leave the comfort of your own home. You can watch or listen to what you like when working out and if you’ve have children you can keep an eye on them too.

Treadmills generally consist of a frame, motor, deck, running belt and a console. The quality of these components usually dictates the price of a treadmill. Home treadmills start from as little as £400, but like with most things the more you spend the higher the quality. Ideally you need to asses your requirements; there is no point in someone purchasing a £2000 home treadmill when there only intention is to use it for walking, a £500 - £750 treadmill would offer a good quality deck and suitable motor for walking speeds.

When purchasing a treadmill look at the motor ratings, most manufacturers provide power ratings of the motors fitted to their treadmills, if they don’t I would probably walk away. Ideally you’re looking for a motor with a power rating of between 1.5 – 4.0 continuous duties HP (horse power). Peak power is the maximum power the treadmill motor can generate and is not a good means of assessing whether it is suitable. The heavier the person and the more intense the use of the treadmill the higher the hp rating needs to be.

The running belt is tensioned over the running deck with two rollers which are situated at each end of the running deck. The running decks are absorbent to reduce the impact on your joints and higher priced treadmills have higher quality elastomers which reduce the stress even further. Remember to look at the size of the running deck when purchasing a treadmill, taller people will require a longer deck. People intending on using their treadmill for running may also benefit from a larger running area. The running belts thickness and quality again is generally dependant on the price, Nautilus have a reputation for fitting thicker more absorbent running belts and they also claim that it reduces stress on your joints and increases the time between replacing the belt, which makes sense.

The frames of treadmills are generally constructed from steel and nowadays folding treadmills are very popular as they take up far less room. Generally the heavier the treadmill the more solid the frame and the stiffer it is. A number of years ago non folding treadmills where stiffer and more absorbent, but the demand for folding treadmills has meant that manufacturers have spent thousands of pounds on improving their folding treadmill range. A lot of manufactures now only sell folding treadmills.

The console on the treadmill will show you details such as, speed, distance, time, incline, calories consumed, heart rate, and program type. You should look for a console which is clear and easy to read, there are plenty of modern features that manufacturers fit nowadays such as cooling fans, MP3 players and TV screens but none of them are required for an affective treadmill workout.

Most treadmills have programs, the larger the array of programs the better as it provides more variety and encourages you to use it more frequently. Heart rate controlled programs are a safe and effective way to workout and are a feature I would recommend. Ideally you require a heart rate strap to take full advantage of heart rate controlled programs.

I hope these home treadmill purchase tips have been helpful, if you’re looking to purchase a treadmill with free delivery or find out more information please visit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk

Our Opinion of the Tunturi E30 Exercise Bike

Tunturi practically invented the first exercise bike so there extensive knowledge should help them to produce an excellent product.

The Tunturi E30 exercise bike is a new model for 2007 and we have yet to test it. Although the basic look and feel is the similar to the F30 the features are different.

The E30 is an ergometer which means you can see how much energy you’re producing whilst exercising, allowing you to see your fitness progress. The console is a colour LED display and so it should be easy to read. The E30 has a wide range of programs so you can scale a workout to suit your personal needs. We expect this to be a very popular piece of equipment considering its features and price.

All Tunturi exercise bikes come with a 15 year manufacturer’s frame warranty and all other components are covered with a 2 years parts and labour warranty.

You can extend the parts warranty on all components to 3 years by registering your product free of charge with Tunturi on their website.

This means that in the unlikely event of any problems a Tunturi service engineer will visit you and carry out any necessary repairs. This type of warranty is far more desirable than a return to base warranty and reflects the faith Tunturi have in the quality of their product.

If you're looking for an exercise bike then please visit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk for a full range with free delivery.

Treadmill resource websites

Looking for specific treadmill information? Not sure which treadmill to purchase? You could start by reading the Exercise Equipment purchase guide which is at http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk

Otherwise there are numerous websites out there with hosts of impartial information on which treadmills are best and what to look for when purchasing a treadmill. Have a look at http://www.treadmillsale.co.uk which appears to have up to date information on what to look for when making the purchase a treadmill as well as some opinions of specific top selling treadmills.

Otherwise look for the manufacturers websites which normally have detailed specifications and RRP listed.

Treadmill or Elliptical Trainer? Which is better?

This is a question that I am asked almost on a daily basis, should I buy a treadmill or an elliptical trainer?

Treadmills

Treadmills have been around for a long time and are very popular as they allow users to exercise in a controlled environment such as the home, office or gym. People like treadmills because they offer two forms of the most popular exercise, walking and running.

Using a treadmill will burn calories as well as increase your bone density and help with your coordination. The advantage of using a treadmill rather than running on the road is that there is less impact on your joints as the decks on treadmills are designed to absorb the impact and reduce the strain on your body. The functions and sturdiness of a treadmill usually depends on its size and cost. There are three main categories, as there is for most exercise equipment, commercial equipment which is designed to withstand continuous use in a gym with minimal maintenance. Light commercial equipment, which is designed for gyms or individuals who require the equipment to withstand 5-6 hours use a day and home equipment which is designed for the home market. Treadmills have improved drastically over the last few years with the prices and functionality of the home models becoming better all the time. Nowadays you can buy a treadmill for under a £1000 which has some features you would not have even seen on a commercial model a few years ago. Good quality home treadmills will have similar functions to commercial models for a fraction of the price, these include numerous programmes including heart rate control manual adjustment of speed and incline and the ability to fold the treadmill once you’ve finished your workout.

Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical trainers have been on the market for over a decade now in one form or another, some fitness professionals were doubtful that the elliptical trainer also known as a crosstrainers would survive. However its done more than survive its thrived and now you cannot go to any gym without there being a great number of elliptical trainers. The reason for this is probably due to a number of factors, firstly the elliptical trainer provides an excellent cardio vascular workout whilst being extremely low impact. Unlike whilst using a treadmill your feet do now leave the equipment when using an elliptical trainer and so the impact on your joints is minimal. This is great for people like me who have weak knees or other joint problems. The other advantage of the elliptical trainer is that it burns a high number of calories as you’re carrying out a full body workout i.e you’re not just utilising your lower body muscles but also utilising the upper part of your body too. Using an elliptical trainer for half an hour may not burn as many calories as using a treadmill at a similar intensity but it defiantly feels a lot easier and that is another reason why people enjoy using an elliptical trainer. Getting fit and staying fit is never easy but using an elliptical trainer is a good start.

Like treadmills elliptical trainers come in various forms and often have various programmes including heart rate control.

So is there a definitive answer as to which is best? No, not really it all depends upon what you’re looking for and other factors such as how much space you have and what your budget is. Elliptical trainers are generally cheaper than treadmills and are lower maintenance which also helps. Ideally space and budget aside both would be the ideal solution as variety helps you stick to your fitness regime.

I hope this brief article has been helpful, and if you’re now looking to purchase an elliptical trainer or treadmill why not visit http://www.exerciseequipment.co.uk where you’ll find a large selection of both all with free delivery and excellent descriptions and opinions on all products?