Buying Exercise Equipment

Buying a Treadmill:

• What will be the treadmill's purpose?
• Walking or Jogging?
• Belt:
• Length mainly depends on your stride length (longer legs usually need a longer belt).
• Always try the treadmill before you buy it.
• Walking - minimum of 48 inches long and 12 inches wide
• Jogging - minimum width of 17 inches, length between 48 to 60 inches
• Speed:
• Walking speeds are usually 1.0 - 4.0 miles per hour
• Jogging speeds up to 4.5 - 6.0 miles per hour
• Incline/Hill:
• Incline that starts level 0% grade and can be adjusted from there
• Adjustable incline controlled on the instrument panel - push button, slide or turn dial (you do not want the kind you have to step off of to manually pull up the incline)
• Handle on side is optional
• Minimum 1.0 horsepower
• Emergency stop button/clip
• Seriously consider a Service Contract

Buying a Stationary Bike

• Adjustable seat height: For the height of the seat to be appropriate there needs to be a slight bend in the knee when the ball of the foot is on the pedal at the position that is closest to the floor.
• Adjustable handle bars is optional
• Is the seat comfortable? Too small? Too broad?
• Can another seat be substituted?
• Would a foam or jell pad help?
• Would a cushioned cover help?
• There needs to be a knob/dial to adjust the tension on the wheel
• Meter to measure MPH (miles per hour) or RPM's (revolutions per minute)?
• Recommendation: 50-60 RPM's or 10-13 MPH
• Meter to measure distance is optional
• Timer

Buying an Air Dyne Style of Bike (able to exercise arms and legs)

• Adjustable seat height: For the height of the seat to be appropriate there needs to be a slight bend in the knee when the ball of the foot is on the pedal at the position that is closest to the floor.

• Is the seat comfortable? Too small? Too broad?
• Can another seat be substituted?
• Would a foam or jell pad help?
• Would a cushioned cover help?
• When exercising the arms, are your arms long enough so that you can move through a complete range of motion without:
• Bending excessively from the waist causing you to overreach?
• Causing you to remove your hands from the handles because you cannot reach that far?
• Is there a place to rest your feet so you can exercise your arms alone? Or do you have to pedal and do the arm exercise at the same time?
• There needs to be a knob/dial to adjust the tension on the wheel
• Meter to measure MPH (miles per hour) or RPM's (revolutions per minute)?
• Meter to measure distance is optional
• Timer

Always try several different types / brands before you buy

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