These are okay, but get boring very swiftly. It's better to get the machines that have more options or interchangeable pieces rather than just resistance or you'll find it collecting dust in a couple of months.

doctorclark wrote:I've read that stride length is important for quality of elliptical workout. Is 17" on the low end? Would a 6'1" guy find this one too small of stride?

I'm going from memory here, but when I was looking at ellipticals to buy for home, based on my height, 5'7" the recommendation for me was a 21-inch stride, so in all your 6'1" glory would probably be a tad bit hamstrung by a 17-inch stride. Check out this link: http://www.allellipticals.com/stride-length-of-elliptical-trainers.html

okay, so... more along the lines of:

I'd spend less than this on a year's worth of gym membership, get to use their machines every day, and not have to worry about them breaking down and thus wasting my investment?

Cheapo elliptical: $280
Gym membership: $20/mo * 12mo = $240
Not having to worry about replacing broken equipment: Priceless

phacopida wrote:Bummer. Just bought into a gym membership. With five bucks shipping, I would rather have had this.

>assuming there aren't better things to do at a gym than cardio

Wow no one over 170 lbs that sux. My fat lazy butt was actually thinking about walking across the room to get my wallet and then, just dang. My fat arse would render this useless.

Only the skinny ALREADY apply!!!!!!!!!!

phacopida wrote:Bummer. Just bought into a gym membership. With five bucks shipping, I would rather have had this.

Seriously... This thing is no substitute for a gym membership.

gwbaker wrote:Wow no one over 170 lbs that sux. My fat lazy butt was actually thinking about walking across the room to get my wallet and then, just dang. My fat arse would render this useless.

Only the skinny ALREADY apply!!!!!!!!!!

The "maximum" user weight is clearly indicated as 275 lbs. Why are you refering to a 170 lb limit?

Here is the A40 Owner's manual as well as the assembly instructions from the Official Product Website.


EDIT: LOL mods! I've seen users post each bit individually and get Guide Entry's for each. Besides, what else am I going to do at midnight while I watch computers on my bench run virus scans, update windows, etc! Thanks for the Guide Entry you enablers! ;)

gwbaker wrote:Wow no one over 170 lbs that sux. My fat lazy butt was actually thinking about walking across the room to get my wallet and then, just dang. My fat arse would render this useless.

Only the skinny ALREADY apply!!!!!!!!!!

The official webpage says 275 lbs.

Sandy106 wrote:Lots of overwieght people in Iowa and Utah :D

Yes, but under 275 lbs...

225" Wide? It's seriously almost 19 feet wide?

You've got to love exercise equipment manufacturers that don't make machines that will accommodate obese people.

I purchased one of the fancy unicycles a couple of years ago and it didn't work. After 15 minutes a "hard riding" it didn't move an inch. All it did was make me break a sweat!

I had one like this a few years back. the rollers in the back crack and break apart so, be prepared to file warranty issues.

That's the most expensive laundry drying rack I've ever seen!!

doctorclark wrote:I've read that stride length is important for quality of elliptical workout. Is 17" on the low end? Would a 6'1" guy find this one too small of stride?

Yes - 17 inches is on the low end. And what you read is accurate. My elliptical has 3 settings, 16", 18" and 20". I am about 6 foot tall. I could go higher than the 20" setting.

This makes an awesome rack to hang dry cleaning and other clothing on hangars!

FreePlayPSP wrote:okay, so... more along the lines of:

I'd spend less than this on a year's worth of gym membership, get to use their machines every day, and not have to worry about them breaking down and thus wasting my investment?

Cheapo elliptical: $280
Gym membership: $20/mo * 12mo = $240
Not having to worry about replacing broken equipment: Priceless

True, but 1) you lose the convenience of having your equipment at home, 2) you save money in gas by not driving to the gym, and most importantly 3) you will pay another $240 next year for the gym membership, while you won't have to pay again for the elliptical.

So buying AN elliptical is a good idea. However, I am told that most ellipticals end up sitting idle in people's houses. Obviously, it only makes sense to buy one if you will use it. And try to test out the elliptical at the gym or elsewhere before buying to make sure it will work for you - my wife won't use the one I bought because it hurts her feet when she uses it.

The dimensions don't make sense! 59” L x 225” W x 64” H? This thing is over 18 feet wide? How do you get it in the door?

wootmeharder wrote:OK here's my problem with these things. It's way too easy to just stop when you get tired. I have one in my garage/home gym. Actually I have a professional quality elliptical I bought from a gym that was closing. I absolutely hate it. What works for me is to either run or bike one way from my house, then I am forced to run or ride back. No getting off because I am tired or bored, I have to suck it up and keep going to get back home. Plus it's just nicer being outside. I don't work in a cubicle and I don't exercise like a hamster. However, I live in California so I can exercise outside pretty much all year long. I guess if you live in one of the crappy states this might be good for you. Or if you have lower extremity problems like hip or knee arthritis, these are better than nothing. I really recommend swimming, trail running and mountain biking for cardio, and heavy weights for the guys. Ladies, my wife teaches "turbo kick" kick boxing, google it and see if there is one in your area...it's kicks ass.

Review the product, not your lifestyle. People want to know about the product. Not you. Don't take it personally.

mkentosh wrote:$5.00 Shipping! you can get a Subway footlong for the same price!

no u can't...u forgot da tax...

doctorclark wrote:I've read that stride length is important for quality of elliptical workout. Is 17" on the low end? Would a 6'1" guy find this one too small of stride?

I bought one for my wife last fall... she's 5'2", 120 lbs. The stride length is too short, and it rocks from side to side regardless of what type of floor we put it on. Get a big-boy elliptical, or save your money.

Doesn't look like an especially durable machine, although looks can be deceiving. If you're really going to spend $300 on a machine, though - you might want to consider hitting up your local Craigslist. People part with much more expensive machines that's seen very little use every day.

wootmeharder wrote:I guess if you live in one of the crappy states

by 'crappy', do you mean 'solvent'?

best warranty i've ever used is squaretradewarranty.com. Oh, and if you buy one of these spend the money for an ac adapter. Makes all the difference in the world.

rockmasterflex69 wrote:This thing takes D batteries, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AC ADAPTER.


Massive dealbreaker right there. Unless this comes with an AC Adapter or a time machine I can use to go back to 1990 when D batteries were still used for SOMETHING, then I could see myself buying it for my mum.

All the batteries power is the movement of a magnet. the closer the magnet, the more resistance. My recumbant bike does the same thing....

I can't fit this thing in my basement.. it's 18.75 ft long.

phacopida wrote:What I REALLY want is my old Schwinn Stingray with the high-rise handlebars and sparkly banana seat.

Definitely! Mine was blue single-speed with a white seat and a high sissy bar. You could ride a wheely on it for days.

Honestly, I'd be more likely to get exercise on the Stingray than this eliptical.

I just started using an elliptical machine about three months ago. I guess I should be glad I'm not jogging, because even with the machine, my knees started to hurt after the first month and I had to buy a knee brace/bandage.

It also hurts my toes because the feet holders are angled, so its constantly pushing my feet forward and thus my toes get smushed into the front of my shoes. I have to put the front of my feet up on the "lip" of the foot pedal to stop that.

The main thing that makes it better for me than jogging or gym is that I can do it with the TV on (albiet with the volume up fairly high, the machine is noisy). Helps make the time go by faster.

Also, I'd take that 275 pound weight limit with a grain of salt, given how fragile it looks. My machine has a claimed 250 pound weight limit and after a year of use by my husband, who started at 230 (and now down to 170), the machine is showing signs that it won't last much longer.

Someday this will be on American Pickers, and some hoarder will have 2 brand new in the box and 1 brand new fully assembled just covered with clothes. The LUCKY picker will tell of nostalgic days when instead of going for a walk outside or riding a bike you could hover above the ground all under your own power, indoors, thanks to the new Schwinn... but it wasn't compatible with a Mac so...

Wait what's that noise... is that a screaming monkey?? Wait Frankie, I hear it over there!! Holy cow check this out man!!! A screaming monkey from Woot! Now if it had it's original cape... OH Wait

russela wrote:Screw the elliptical. I want a pic of Kari Steinmetz.

by your leave

Well, an elliptical is weight bearing, and bike riding isn't so if you are worried about your bones it is. Otherwise there probably isn't a big difference.

ahuff330 wrote:Is this a better workout than riding a bike? If so I might consider.

wootmeharder wrote:However, I live in California so I can exercise outside pretty much all year long. I guess if you live in one of the crappy states this might be good for you.

I'm sorry, I guess we can't all be as awesome as you living in your "perfect" state...

I have spent a lot of time researching ellipticals, they are great, but honestly you got to spend the money to get one that performs well, I have a life fitness, you pay for what you get, bottom line.

hnice wrote:by 'crappy', do you mean 'solvent'?

Touche'

doctorclark wrote:I've read that stride length is important for quality of elliptical workout. Is 17" on the low end? Would a 6'1" guy find this one too small of stride?

17" is definitely short for most taller than 5'8". However, as most of these kinds of machines go, it just takes some getting used to the shorter stride.

Zithrob wrote:The dimensions don't make sense! 59” L x 225” W x 64” H? This thing is over 18 feet wide? How do you get it in the door?

If only there were one of those dimensions that was obviously out of whack, and could be easily fixed by adding a single decimal point.

I'll give you a hint - the machine isn't 225" wide, and it's not 2.25" wide, either.

phacopida wrote:What I REALLY want is my old Schwinn Stingray with the high-rise handlebars and sparkly banana seat.

Wheelie bar?

Live Strong recommends this buying guide:http://www.smoothfitness.com/buying-guides/elliptical-buying-guide.htm

That being said. Hubby and I own an elliptical and during our research found out that rear drive is better. It is more intuitive and tends to be smoother while using the machine.

Despite my best intentions, this would end up as a $279 laundry rack in 2 months and be sold for $40 on Craigslist.