If you were to buy a piece of cardio equipment ...

[Sassy69]

What would it be? (Not your "fanstay" cardio machine, but something that is reasonably priced )

I'm moving into my new townhouse in 2 weeks. I'm still looking for a gym near the new house, but there aren't any that are close enough to make AM cardio a feasible option. Therefore I'm looking to get possibly a refurbished piece of cardio equipment in the house. I will be getting a membership somewhere for lifting, but I *really need* to get the AM cardio going and this is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

I personally like stairmasters, but the guy at one of the fitness stores I was at said no one buys them anymore & they don't even sell them because they are hard on your knees. That was a new one on me, but I have to agree that most of the gyms I've been in over the last few years have more elliptical type stuff. So, I'm looking for your thoughts!

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Ideally? A StepMill. But considering they are like 7 feet tall, weigh a gazzilion lbs, and cost a bunch of $$...can't do it.

LifeFitness Tread or a Precor Elliptical is what I want.

Sassy...my fiance sells exercise equipment....commercial now, but used to do high end home stuff too. If you have Qs about things, let me know. He might be able to point you in a good direction. He knows a lot about cost, durability, maintenence, etc.

 

[superqt4u2nv]

I have no idea of the name or cost but I would get the eleptical that is a cross between skiing and running.

 

[Kroliczek]

A Precor Elliptical is the way to go. Perhaps one with the moving arm bars as well. They are the most popular at our gym...and imo the most effective. Virtually no/low impact, and a lot of versatility with the functions.

 

[Sassy69]

Ideally? A StepMill. But considering they are like 7 feet tall, weigh a gazzilion lbs, and cost a bunch of $$...can't do it.

LifeFitness Tread or a Precor Elliptical is what I want.

Sassy...my fiance sells exercise equipment....commercial now, but used to do high end home stuff too. If you have Qs about things, let me know. He might be able to point you in a good direction. He knows a lot about cost, durability, maintenence, etc.

OK here's a question that has been bugging me. A friend who has a stepper told me that you have to put the machine on a hard floor (no carpet) or else it will rock or bounce. Is this true? I have hard wood on my main floor, but i'd rather put the machine in my spare room in the basement, which has carpet. The guy at the fitness eqpt store told me that all you have to do is put one of those rubber gym mats down underneath it & its ok. Is that an issue??

 

[deltreefitness]

How much are you looking to spend? I got a elliptical machine from NordicTrack. It has the moving hand bars w/heart monitor, motorized incline, and a bunch of other gadgets. I'm also really impressed with the quailty. Especially for 1/2 the price of a precor.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

OK here's a question that has been bugging me. A friend who has a stepper told me that you have to put the machine on a hard floor (no carpet) or else it will rock or bounce. Is this true? I have hard wood on my main floor, but i'd rather put the machine in my spare room in the basement, which has carpet. The guy at the fitness eqpt store told me that all you have to do is put one of those rubber gym mats down underneath it & its ok. Is that an issue??

Rubber gym mat should be fine. But rocking back and forth could also be a quality issue. If you buy a cheap-o one, then it will most likely rock. A high quality one (like the ones at the gym) shouldn't rock on a rubber mat.

(from his mouth, not mine. )

 

[velvett]

I have recumbent bike (trek), elliptical (proform)and a treadmill (nordic track).

If I could only have one it would be the treadmill (plus it folds up if you are limited on space).

 

[lucidblue]

I'm not sure... normally I'd say Precor Eliptical, but I've been getting a much better workout on the bike lately.

 

[FitFossil]

One of my favs is "old fashioned" and you don't see them much anymore - the Schwinn Air-Dyne. It's a bike with pedals and arm poles, so you can work arms and legs. Nothing fancy - no computers to break, you don't even have to plug it in, because it doesn't even use electricity! Plus I like the built-in fan for keeping cool.

http://www.fitnessbob.com/scorai.html

I sold it many years ago, and now I wish I had it back
Other cardio equipment I've had include Nordic Track, which is good but I got tired of it. Thankfully it folds up and doesn't take up much space. Then someone gave me a treadmill, which I after I got it upstairs found I couldn't run as fast as I like, because it shakes the house too much, so I only use the treadmills at the gym, so that one is stuck upstairs because it is so big and heavy, it'll take an army to get it out. Somebody else gave me a Health Rider, but unless you're really out of shape, it's not much of a workout. Think I'll give it to someone else.

 

[hotmilf26]

Hey I just got a IMAGE treadmill from Wal mart, and I love it! Try Walmart.com. Its not a fancy machine but it works well for AM cardio, and it folds up. I got it for under 400$$ TO!!
Good Luck

 

[velvett]

One of my favs is "old fashioned" and you don't see them much anymore - the Schwinn Air-Dyne. It's a bike with pedals and arm poles, so you can work arms and legs. Nothing fancy - no computers to break, you don't even have to plug it in, because it doesn't even use electricity! Plus I like the built-in fan for keeping cool. .

You know what you just reminded me of - the old rowing machines from the late 80's - GOD I used to love those.

 

[Sassy69]

LOL! Nothing like a walk down memory lane! I remember those bikes w/ the fans. There were a number of them at our local YMCA before the fancy stuff came out. There was also a rowing machine built on a flywheel. Serious butt kicker! I've also done "distance rowing" in my grandpa's fishing boat! (Get's a little hairy when you get near the current out of the lake into the river ...)

Thanks for the heads up on the rock n roll action on carpet Daisy's fiance. (Eek, that didnt' sound right .... but please refer to Daisy's above response to my question about cardio eqpt on carpet for clarification...!)

Cost - I was considering a refurbished stairmaster around $1000-1500. How sturdy are the cheaper ones? This is somethign that's going to be my AM cardio (4-5 days / week) so it probably needs to be fairly robust (and maybe with a good repair / service contract??)

 

[Sassy69]

Well, Christmas came early to the Sassy household ... (cuz I was such a GOOD little girl =

- 1 Precor 5.17 Elliptical trainer + rubber mat
- 1 "Roman Chair" hyperextension stand -- why? Because I wanted it!

Being delivered Saturday!

 

[Shallow Hal]

Congratulations on your purchase. I am glad to see that you decided to buy a quality piece of equipment. I am curios, did you get the Precor 5.17 or 5.17i? Also, did you buy it new or used and what did you pay?

The Precor ellipticals are great and will easily last you 10 years.

 

[Sassy69]

As far as I know its the 5.17. It was a floor model so I got about 25% off the regular price. I sort of bought it "sight unseen" but I have 14 days to trial it & return if there's something I dont' like about it. But its new & comes w/ the full 10 yr warranty.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Congratulations on your purchase. I am glad to see that you decided to buy a quality piece of equipment. I am curios, did you get the Precor 5.17 or 5.17i? Also, did you buy it new or used and what did you pay?

The Precor ellipticals are great and will easily last you 10 years.

How much money isn't your business honey. (this really IS my honey)

Congrats Sassy! Precor is awesome....eventually we will have one when we get our house. I also want a tread, but wonder if there is room. For an elliptical, you can't beat the quality, durability and motion of the Precor!

 

[Sassy69]

Its great - if you whine enough about the price, especially to the new guy at the fitness store, they will find some way to shut you up!

 

[Shallow Hal]

How much money isn't your business honey. (this really IS my honey)

Congrats Sassy! Precor is awesome....eventually we will have one when we get our house. I also want a tread, but wonder if there is room. For an elliptical, you can't beat the quality, durability and motion of the Precor!

Oh, what do you know anyway.