Our commitment to our equipment
It's really important to us to mention that we service all the fitness equipment we sell and we make house calls. And just to clarify, that's our in-house trained technicians, not some third party. We also do free delivery and setup of all the equipment we sell!
STATIONARY BIKES
Modern stationary bikes include those in recumbent positions, upright bikes and indoor cycling “spin” bikes. Some models feature handlebars that are connected to the pedals so that the upper body can be exercised along with the lower body. Most exercise bikes provide a mechanism for applying resistance to the pedals which increases the intensity of the exercise. Resistance mechanisms include magnets, fans, and friction mechanisms. Some models allow the user to pedal backwards to exercise antagonist muscles which are not exercised in forward pedaling. Many bikes include electronic consoles which provide programs to control resistance according to a course profile.
TREADMILLS
For runners and walkers, the treadmill offers an indoor option for the same exercise. With adjustable speed and incline, most treadmills offer programs to vary the speed and/or incline based on a pre-designed or custom made course profile. In addition to the shock-absorbing cushioning built into the deck of the treadmill, some models offer a cushioned orthopedic belt for additional impact absorption.
HOME GYMS
Home or Universal gyms offer multiple strength building exercises and a high degree of safety with a relatively small footprint. These units vary greatly in size and features, and, of course, the cost varies accordingly. When shopping for a home gym, consider whether you want a machine equipped with a leg press station, and whether multiple people will want to use the machine simultaneously. These factors can help to whittle down your choices quickly.
FREE WEIGHTS
Purists will vouch for the multitude of advantages of free weight lifting, which include incorporation of core stability muscles and potentially more direct translation to the sport or activity which you are practicing. The cost of free weights is generally lower than a universal gym and they occupy less space. In addition, there are many exercises which can be done with nothing more than a dumbbell set.
A disadvantage of free weights is that safety is a concern, especially when lifting weights overhead. Proper lifting technique is critical to reduce the chance of injury and to focus on the desired muscle group.
ELLIPTICAL TRAINERS
One of the most popular types of fitness equipment on the market today is the elliptical trainer. As you may have heard, ellipticals offer an excellent cardio workout while also improving bone density since it is a weight bearing exercise. Both arms and legs can be utilized in a full body motion, or the legs can be isolated. The movement of an elliptical trainer is much lower impact than running on a treadmill or walking on a stepper, but similar heart rates can be achieved.
On some models, the incline of sloping roller ramps beneath the pedal-links can be adjusted to produce varying pedal motion paths. The result of such adjustment changes the burdens on various muscle groups in the legs. Some models can vary stride length over the course of a workout to integrate different muscle groups. Most trainers can be driven in a reverse as well as in a forward direction. Elliptical trainers are primarily driven via the legs, and most are combination designs having handle-levers attached to each pedal-link for the purpose of enabling a burden on the arms to provide a secondary source of driving power. The user grips the handles below shoulder height and pushes/pulls them while shuffling the feet back and forth within their elliptically shaped paths. Ellipticals produce an intermediate range of leg motion between that of stationary bikes and treadmills.
Some manufacturers produce commercial models, which focus on durability and are made to withstand the more frequent use of the fitness club environment. These units typically sell for $3,000 or more, offering greater durability than the typical home user would ever need. There are also models available for home use. These can be purchased for less, with quality machines starting around $1000.
Elliptical trainers are growing in popularity. One reason may be that because the person who is exercising is not taking his or her feet off of the pedals, and exercise can be done in a gentler fashion while still getting the same degree of results as with a treadmill. Also, at home, especially in an apartment setting, elliptical trainers do not make as much noise as a treadmill.
