No comments about LifeSpan Fitness C3 Upright Bike.

3 comments about Lamar Fitness Air Force Dual Action Bike.

1. There was a defective bolt connecting a critical component in the package of nuts, washers and bolts shipped with the bike. Gone are the days when companies sent extra hardware! After nine days, four telephone calls and two e-mails, I finally received the proper bolt. During those nine days while Lamar Fitness made one misstep after another, I obtained a facsimile bolt from a local hardware store, allowing me to use the bike. The bolt had to be tightened after every use of the machine, but it was at least a serviceable solution. During all this, Lamar Fitness never seemed to grasp my frustration. This is not an inexpensive machine, albeit a very solidly built one. I'm happy with the bike, but I would never buy another piece of Lamar Fitness equipment.



2. I've had the bike for about a month and use it for 60-90 minutes a day. I couldn't be more pleased with it. The previous reviewer is spot-on about getting a good workout without getting aching joints. I was completely surprised at how easily I can get a good heart-pumping workout without beating up my knees or back like jogging would do.
   
   I have a Polar F6 heart rate monitor and rely on it for measurement of heart rate zone and calories burned. The computer that comes with the bike is good for telling you how long you've been exercising but the calories burned is not the same as my Polar monitor says.
   
   The bike arrives in a 4x5 foot box about 8 inches deep. Everything you need to put it together is in the box except for a crescent wrench. The bolts and nuts are packaged in separate compartments for each stage of construction so there is no guesswork as to which nut or bolt is for which part of the assembly. It took me about 90 minutes to complete the assembly.
   
   I use the bike on carpet and roll it around with the wheels. It is completely stable and I've never felt like I was swaying or concerned about tipping over.
   
   The fan moves enough air to keep me cool but not so much to part my hair which will be nice in the summer. There's no clicking sound, just a low pitched rumble of the air moving so perhaps my 2007 model is quieter than the previous reviewer's model. With open ear headphones I don't really notice the sound.
   
   I can watch TV or movies and go through 60 minutes / 800 calories and not feel any joint or back pain but I can definitely tell that i'm getting a good workout.
   
   The placement of the arms and their range of motion is bliss - i've tried some different machines at the fancy gym clubs around Boston and find the action of my bike to be more comfortable. But don't let the notion of comfort mean less of a workout - the seat can be positioned by height and front-to-back and the back rest is useful for sitting further back on the seat and using your legs more. I have problems with my back but the adjustments let me get it just right for the most comfortable sitting position without leaning over or sitting in a strange way - my back never hurts even if I push it to 120 minutes in one sitting.
   
   The seat is large, wide and comfortable.
   
   The foot rests are nice because I can use my arms to keep going and give my legs a rest.
   
   The fan cage is made of strong steel with narrow openings which keep little children's fingers out.
   
   The construction quality is excellent - the welding joints are impressive, nothing is "tacked" down. Some friends of mine are welders for pharmaceutical tank companies and gave the welding quality two thumbs up. It's built like a tank and i'm sure i'll have this bike for a very long time. Lamar Fitness will keep you updated on maintenance tips (lube the chain, etc.) if you fill out the warranty card.
   
   
   Most importantly - if you want good exercise without feeling like you've been beaten up from running 10 miles, get one of these. You can easily get your heart thumping without putting stress on your joints. The only places I felt sore were my out-of-shape muscles. I can climb stairs without feeling like i'm going to croak just after 3 weeks of using the bike. You don't need to jog or run to get in great shape - keep your knees in good shape when you're 90 and ride a bike.



3. This bike is great. It is so much better than the Schwinn, or many of the other fan bikes out there. You definitely can feel yourself getting an all over body workout from the first few minutes, but not where you are in pain. It is great for those wanting just a light therapy workout, or an intense toning.
   
   My only dislikes about it are:
   
   It is not made for short people like myself. Even at the lowest height on the seat it is still a little too tall and I am 5'2" tall.
   
   The back part of the seat is adjustable, but you don't really get the effects of leaning against it unless you are doing a leg workout alone.
   
   There is one disadvantage to a leg only workout as well. The arms do not stop moving, so you will have to lean back so the arms do not hit you in the chest. There also is nothing to hold onto while you are peddling.
   
   It is a little louder than I expected it to be, but not too bad. It sounds a little like when kids used to put the baseball cards in the spokes of their tires. The flipping sound is due to metal shields that are in the fan to propel the air toward the rider.
   
   This bike is made very well and unlike a few of the less expensive products made by other companies, it is well worth the expense. It should last quite a long time. In fact, you may never have to buy another exercise bike again. It is that good.
   
   One last thing. If you are concerned at all that having a fan bike will be too cold in the winter or before you really start getting your heart pumping, this is easily resolved. Take a towel and drape it over the cup holder while you get warmed up. It won't get caught in the fan and will keep the air from blowing on you too much.
   
   So, is it worth buying?
   
   Absolutely. An eliptical workout without causing any undue stress to your legs or back. I love it.

No comments about Schwinn Wide Ride Pedal (9/16-inch).

5 comments about LifeSpan Fitness R3 Recumbent Bike.

1. I ordered this bike to help my wife rehabilitate from 4 months in the hospital. Being a recumbent makes it easier and more comfortable to sit in than a regular exercise bike.
   
   Putting it together was somewhat difficult as I was doing it by myself. If you have some help it should be no problem.That aside all the parts were in separate labeled packs that matched a different area of the bike. No parts were missing. All tools needed were included (screwdriver, hex wrenches, etc.). The bike has built in leveling devices for use on a hard surface. The bike is well constructed and is absolutely silent when in use (after about a month of daily use by my wife and myself).
   
   The bike features an electronic program for various difficulty levels and terrain. No matter what shape you are in you will be able to push yourself or take it easy if need be. The screen shows calories burned, speed, time and levels.
   
   The heart rate meter is in the handle bars next to the seat. It's OK but you need to get sweaty before it works well.



2. Been using for 4 weeks now. Only recumbant that has support for laptop computer. I watch DVD's and read email while cycling away. Excellent choice of programs, resistance, duration. Very quiet. Can actually ride quietly in bedroom without awakening partner. Strong construction. Aesthetic appearance. Would definitely recommend ! Quality of gym models.



3. I researched the internet for two months before deciding on this recumbent bike. I was going to buy a treadmill, then an elliptical - because I am overweight and have had two knee surgeries I needed something that would be easy on the knees and back. Look no further - this product is everything and more for the person with bad knees, bad back and excess weight that needs to be lost in a comfortable and healthy manner. Unfortunately, I ordered it and Amazon then had to cancel as it went out of stock. Then I went to another place and it was cancelled for being out of stock. I called up the company directly to ask about the R2 and was told that they had one R3 left. I got it for 699 including shipping. I received it within 6 days. I put it together in less than an hour and the ride is smooth, quiet and I work up a good sweat - look no further - this is the product you want.
   
   UPDATE:
   
   I'm updating this on August 1, 2008
   I started using the bike 2 times a week, then 3 times a week, now I use it every other day and working up to 6 times a week. I started using it for 10 minutes and have now worked my way up to 35 minutes a day. I'm losing weight and inches. (I'm also watching what I eat and drinking lots of water) This bike is worth the money so invest in yourself and buy this one.



4. I got the bike on the Super Saver shipping which meant I had to wait longer for it, and thats ok except when I got it, it was missing parts, had some chewed up parts and was missing an important ingredient, the instructions.
   So, Amazon was quick to get me another one ordered except I was going to have to wait another 7+ days to get it. I did get it though and everything was in this one, my opinion is the other one was a returned item that got sent out again. It was pretty easy to assemble, I did it myself. The bike works fabulous. I ride it everyday, my kids will ride it on days they need to cross train, my husband rides it while he watches tv on the weekends. Its very durable, there is no shaking back and forth when I get to riding it hard. My complaint about the bike would be that the heart rate monitor grips are really a joke. They are very inaccurate and I will probably buy the chest strap through the manufacturer that monitors it. Also, the manual has very little about the display, I had a code pop up on it and I couldn't use it, I had to unplug it and let it sit overnight and it was fine the next day. Nothing in the manual, about codes or troubleshooting. The bike is great but the manufacturer needs to get their act together. I would recommend this bike though to anyone looking for a good recumbent. Nothing at Dick's or Walmart or any crappy retail like that can even compare. Buy it!



5. This bike is smooth and solid for the price. My only significant complaint is that the seat back gets a little squeaky, particularly when riding at the higher levels, due to increased force and body movement. The heart rate monitor is not very useful, as it counts up slowly to the final rate over a period of a minute or so, as opposed to giving an immediate readout. Otherwise, I think this is a really awesome, well-built bike for the price.

5 comments about HealthTrainer 660r Recumbent Exercise Bike.

1. We bought this for our daughter who is not able to go to a gym yet because she needs to lose some weight before she can walk farther without running out of o2. We bought it on March 09, 2008. She is making wonderful strides and really is focusing more on eating right, losing the weight, and regaining strength as she has now been doagnosed with Diabetes II. This unit was relatively easy to put together (occassionally you need another pair of hands) and it is totally holding together although she is beyond the "recommended" max weight. The price is fantastic and is less than anywhere else I looked for it. She has not said anything about any extracurricular noises and the way the seat and handles are set up it is so much more comfortable than the ones where the handlebars are above the level of the seat itself. This is a blessing since her derriere and hips are in need of a little extra room. Unless she tells us otherwise anytime soon I highly recommend this recumbent bike to anyone. Oh and it looks and feels sturdier than the more expensive "name" brands. Good luck and happy cycling!



2. I'm sorry to hear others have had problems with the a few of the bike's plastic pieces being cracked upon arrival. (I am happy to see that the company's customer service has responded by replacing the problem pieces.)
   
   I must have been living on lucky street that week because my bike arrived in 5 days in PERFECT CONDITION! (Maybe folks who are satisfied haven't bothered to write the majority of this bike's reviews?)
   
   I would quickly like to echo a few points from previous reviews:
   
   The bike has an EXCELLENT variety of workout plans from easy to advanced. The bike works FLAWLESSLY in conjunction with these controls and they are extremely easy to master. (I was "test riding" within about a minute of assembling the bike-- without reading any instructions at all.
   
   The assembly instructions do leave a lot to be desired. As noted in another review, about 2/3rd's through the assembly, you are told to place a protective sheath on the front of the machine as a prelude to several other final instructions. What they DON'T tell you is the protective sheath is ALREADY SCREWED IN and NEEDS TO BE UNSCREWED and REMOVED to finish the final installation instructions. (How weird!) Overall, I recommend a friend help (if at all possible.) One person can do it-- but (2) people are ideal-- as the bike is heavy too.
   
   Otherwise, the bike stands up to any bike at any gym I have ever belonged to! As long as you take your time assembling the machine (and it does take patience at certain points)-- I suspect you'll get years of use from this bike.
   
   Finally, the seat is very comfortable (remember to tighten the positioning knob when you find your desired position before beginnning your workout) and the bike is WHISPER QUIET-- which makes it perfect for apartment use.
   
   I bought it as a Gold Box special (which was a STEAL at $299) but I already have a friend who bought one for $399 and thinks it is worth EVERY penny. (I do too!)
   
   No tax, FREE shipping and DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR? Please! I'd like to see another retail outlet beat that!



3. We purchased this bike on a "Today's Deal" for only $299 so I thought the bike would be pretty low quality. However, I am really surprised at the quality of the bike--it is almost as good as the bikes at the gym. Ours also arrived with some of the plastic covers broken and cracked in a few small places, but for $299 I was not going to send it back for some very minor cosmetic defects. I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants a quiet, comfortable bike at an excellent price.



4. I ordered the bike on 1-18-2008; it arrived on 1-23-2008; 5 days... not bad. The bike was left at the door before I arrived home. No problem since my wife dragged it in the house. I was concerned that it may have been damaged since there was a couple of significant holes in the box.
   
   I carefully unpacked everything the next day and it appeared undamaged. A bolt, nut and washer was loose in the bottom of the box. I discovered later they turned out to go to the front of the bike under the plastic housing. They must have worked loose during the shipment.
   
   The bike went together fairly easy. The directions for the most part are well written with the exception of a few typo's. The added illustrations are also helpful. The last step in the directions could have been written a little better since the plastic housing needs to be removed to correctly install the piece that fits over the sleeve. This is not mentioned in the directions.
   
   The owners manual comes with some useful illustrations of stretching exercises that can be very beneficial before using the bike. The bike itself is a solid construction and quiet during operation. The blue screen is easy to read and seems to work quite well when programming different fitness levels.
   
   I did some research on recumbent bikes before this ordering the Health Trainer 660R. The Schwinn 231 gets rave reviews but is about $200 more in price. The Health Trainer 660R has just as many features and a better warranty.
   
   My family and I are quiet satisfied with the bike; it's a great piece of equipment that was sold at a reasonable price. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality recumbent bike.



5. I saw the other review that mentioned broken pieces and still ordered because I figured it was an unlucky shipping problem. However, it seems to be a serious inadequate packing or construction issue. Mine arrived with no damage to the outer shipping box, but when I opened it, two parts of the plastic case were broken, and a metal piece was bent, making the piece unusable.

3 comments about Schwinn Exercise Bike Seat.

1. Although the widest seat I could find, I found it hard, unyielding, and overall very uncomfortable. I will be returning it.



2. I accidently ordered it, due to not understanding "1-click". I returned it.



3. My upright execise bike as a post with a 3-cornered plate that screws into the seat. This seat has the same hardware as a street bike; I bought it becasue it said it fits all and it does not. So if you have an exercise bike that uses a normal street bike seat, you will love this seat, it is large and cushy and otherwise an ideal seat for sitting for a long time.

No comments about Schwinn Airdyne Upright Bike.

No comments about Spirit XR425 Recumbent Exercise Bike Trainer.

No comments about Ironman 350R Recumbent Exercise Bike.

No comments about IRONMAN Fitness Walk-Through Recumbent Exercise Bike Viper.