FitDesk Compact Pedal Desk Review

FitDesk X Compact Pedal Desk Review

 

One of the latest releases of workout machines today is called the FitDesk Pedal Desk. Basically, it’s a stationary bicycle that’s incorporated with a shelf to allow you to work on your laptop even while pedaling on the device.

With this type of workout equipment, you can use the long hours you spend on the computer to stay fit and in shape. Aside from toning the muscle groups on the lower part of your body, it is also a good cardiovascular exercise machine that can benefit your heart and lungs as well.

This device can accommodate users up to 250 pounds, and it has adjustable features to adapt to a person’s height.

 

Key Features

  • Comfortable Design – It has a padded workstation that makes it comfortable for the arms while typing on the computer. Even the seat is layered with cushion to provide comfort for long hours of work.
  • Solidly Built – This exercise equipment has a stable construction to guarantee a safe working environment.
  • Engineered Concept – The unit is built with upper body support to make sure that the user will not experience any back pain and sore shoulder muscles.
  • Quiet System – This model of workout machine has very minimal.sounds during operation. People will barely notice that you’re working out on a stationary bike.

 

Warranty

The Fit Desk Compact Bicycle Pedal Desk comes with money-back guarantee. If not fully satisfied with the product, you can return it within 45 days to get your purchase money plus shipping costs refunded. For mechanical issues, the manufacturing company will replace the unit within 1 year from purchase date. Just make sure that you still have the original box and packaging of the device; if not, you can contact the Company to ask for assistance.

 

How to Assemble the FitDesk X Compact Pedal Desk Equipment?

The unit comes with a detailed instructional manual to serve as your guide in setting up this exercise machine. As there are only a few parts to assemble, the entire set-up can be done in just about 15 minutes.

The bicycle part needs to be assembled first. You can then screw on the desk part of the device on the handlebar portion of the exercise bike.

Once completed, you can transfer the stationary bike and fit desk to any location in your house as it has a compact and lightweight design. In fact, because of its small footprint, you can even place the assembled unit in a small room.

 

How to Use the Fit Desk Exercise Machine?

You can use this bicycle exercise equipment as soon as assembly is complete. You can work on your computer or play a game using controllers as the unit’s desk is built with a spacious surface. The workstation can accommodate small computer paraphernalia and comfortably support your hands and arms as well.

You can surf the web and check on your emails as you pedal on this very effective exercise machine. There’s also adequate support for the back to make long hours on the computer less tiring and more productive.

Although you might find it a little awkward to get used to multi-tasking at first, practicing on the device will eventually make the task easier. There’s also a resistance setting that you can adjust accordingly so as to suit your needs and preferences.

 

Common User Issues and Concerns

This model of exercise equipment has been receiving good feedback on the internet. On the Amazon site alone, over 70 customers have given this product an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. However, there were also some consumers who were not fully satisfied with the unit’s performance.

According to some users, the computer system incorporated on the equipment is not that accurate, and therefore not reliable in monitoring the amount of calories burned while doing the routine. Moreover, users who are over 5’10” tall generally found the device too hard to use as they can’t extend their legs to the right angles.

All in all, consumers are still generally happy with the FitDesk pedal desk equipment and found it to be enjoyable and functional too. But the amount of resistance provided for by the machine can only be deemed effective for casual workout and not for solid workout routines.

 

User Reviews

“This is a great concept for fitting an exercise routine into a hectic schedule. I am in my last year of school, in a curriculum that is held online. Before this product, I spent study time in sedentary positions and gained weight. But with using fitdesk, I lost 10 lbs within the first month, and managed to keep my weight from then on.”

-      Written by Jessica Reeves, Amazon.com

“I got my FitDesk a few months back, and I love it! In fact, I am riding it now while typing this review. If you stay a lot on the computer and want to lose weight, the fitdesk is an exciting way to accomplish it. It’s easy to put up and lightweight to move around from place to place if you need to. And it’s so quiet that you will barely hear the pedaling.”

-      `Written by L. Howard, Amazon.com

 

Here’s a video of the FitDesk Compact Pedal Desk in action:

 

Schwinn 120 Upright Exercise Bike Review

Schwinn 120 Upright Exercise Bike Review

 

 

Deemed as one of the top upright exercise bikes today, the Schwinn 120 Upright Exercise Bike is definitely worth your money and attention.

This type of exercise machine from the world-renowned Schwinn Company is a must-have for all fitness enthusiasts as it performs and feels just like a real bike.

Having the Schwinn logo to back the unit up is also an additional bonus as the company has the reputation of making high quality bikes and exercise machines. You can therefore rely on this model of upright exercise bike to be set up in your home, which is both economical and practical.

 

 

Key Features:

  • Pre-set programs – Currently available in 2 models (the 2010 and the 2012 model), the Schwinn 120 come with pre-set programs of 7 to 12 selectable settings so that you can adjust the machine to your preferred setting during the course of your exercise routine.
  • Varying levels of resistance – has 16 levels of resistance that you can set according to your particular needs.
  • Multiple accessories –equipped with ports that can accommodate MP3 players and speakers. You will also find the holder for magazines and e-book readers particularly helpful. There’s even a special area for your water bottle to ensure that you stay hydrated even through vigorous exercise routines.
  • Heart rate pads – This upright exercise bike has heart rate pads strategically located on the handle bars. You can therefore monitor your heart rate during the course of your training.
  • Transport wheels – This Schwinn exercise bike is equipped with wheels, so you can easily transfer the unit from one place to another easily.
  • Anatomically-correct features –with a comfortable seat and pedals big enough to accommodate even big feet! There are also toe straps that you can use to enable you to utilize the exercise machine more efficiently.

How to assemble the Schwinn 120 Upright Exercise Bike?

The Schwinn 120 model comes with a detailed instruction manual that guides you through the step by step assembly procedures of the exercise machine. A set of tools is even included in the package to make it easy for you to put on the bolts and screws on the device.

The instructions on the manual are straight forward and easy to understand. However, it is recommended that 2 people handle the assembly of this equipment, and that the unit is set up on hard and even surfaces (avoid carpets!).

It usually takes about an hour to assemble the Schwinn upright exercise bike. But if you find the assembly instructions too hard to follow, you can bring your bike to a bicycle shop or hire a professional to assemble it for you.

 

How to Use the Schwinn 120 Upright Exercise Bike?

As soon as installation is complete, you can start using your Schwinn 120 upright exercise bike right away. The unit is incorporated with pre-set programs that you can immediately use, and there’s even a Quick Start option that lets you go through the basic biking exercises with just a push of a button. Note that the Schwinn Upright exercise bike employs an innovative design, and this allows you to set the levels of resistance in your exercise routines to suit your specific requirements.

 

Common User Issues/ Concerns

If you search for Schwinn 120 reviews on the internet, you will find that there are only a handful of customers who are not pleased with this product. One of the most common negative remarks that you will find online revolves around the issue of having an LCD display that can be quite difficult to read in low-light conditions. You should therefore anticipate this problem and make sure that you have ample lighting on the area where you intend to position this exercise machine.

Another thing that came up in some customer reviews is the assembly method involved in setting up the Schwinn 120 Upright exercise bike. Although a majority of consumers found the assembly instructions easy to follow, there are also those who found the instructions on the manual too complicated to understand. So if you are one of those people who will experience difficulty in assembling this upright exercise bike, you can bring your unit to a bike shop or other similar service stores for proper assembly.

And lastly, there’s one consumer who brought up the issue of having levels of resistance that are electronically-controlled. According to this consumer, the Schwinn 120 Upright Exercise Bike will be rendered useless if the control panel malfunctions with constant use. Note that this is just an anticipated problem, and that the Schwinn brand is known for making high quality and durable products.

 

User Reviews

“I can’t say enough about this bike. I’ve been riding it for over a month now. It is dead silent, the action is as smooth as you could want, the display is easy to read (take note: I do have lights directly overhead) and the availability of support structures make it easy for me to store my remote control and drape my towel while I ride.”

-Written by Mark Rosengarten, Amazon.com

“The Schwinn 120 Upright Exercise Bike (model year 2012), according to other consumer reports I’ve read, is supposedly easy to assemble; but I have trouble putting anything together. For this reason, I paid a bicycle shop to assemble it. I was afraid I’d mess it up.

It is really nice looking like professional equipment in the gym, even fancier. It has a great pedal design, and the pedals are comfortable. The seat is comfortable and adjustable. The handlebars are also adjustable. It has an abundance of nice features to make exercising time pass fast. These include “in-console speakers and MP3 music input port, with holders for magazines, ebooks.”

-Written by Marylou Cheatham, Amazon.com

Lemond RevMaster Sport Review

Lemond RevMaster Review

A revolution in indoor training bikes, Lemond RevMaster Sport is your ticket to an easy, secure and fun filled way to burn your calories. It gives you an outstanding workout experience providing you with comfortable and effective training at the same time. The bike uses a Kevlar belt instead of a chain which means it doesn’t need to be changed or oiled. The new brake pad with a resistance pad on top is designed for durability.

An easy to access knob gives the user control over the resistance and is used to apply the brakes at the same time. The stable frame, adjustable handlebars and seat, and the floor levelers ensure the personal touch that a user needs and a very satisfying riding experience overall.

Features:

  • Wide Range of seat adjustments
  • Strong X-frame
  • Multi-position handlebars
  • Center Balance Flywheel
  • Floor Levelers
  • Quick change seat post
  • Custom Bracket and Cranks
  • Super Quiet Belt Drive

How to assemble the Lemond RevMaster Sport?

The assembly of the Lemond RevMaster Sport is a very easy and a user-friendly process. Anyone with the right tools and knowledge of how to use them can assemble the bike in a short time. The tools are easy to access too. To start with, attach the front stabilizer to the main frame below the flywheel by aligning it with the two holes and screwing it in place using a hex key. Similarly, attach the rear stabilizer to the main frame below the seat post by aligning it with the two holes and screwing it in place using a hex key. Position the seat assembly on the seat track on the seat post. Thread the adjustment lever into the seat assembly. Slide the seat to desired position and tighten the adjustment lever. Similarly, position the handlebar on the top of the handle bar track. Thread the adjustment lever into the handle bar assembly. Slide the handle bar to the desired position and tighten the adjustment lever.

Now comes the installment of the pedals. Carefully screw the left pedal onto the crank arm. Use a multi tool or a pedal wrench to tighten the pedal onto the crank arm. Do the same for the left pedal but keep in mind that the left pedal is reverse-threaded. Now the finishing touch, align the bottle holder mounting bracket on the handlebar and attach using a hex key and two screws. Your Lemond RevMaster Sport is ready to deliver what was promised.

 

How to use Lemond RevMaster Sport?

Okay now you’re all set to mount you bike and go ride. Take a moment out to adjust the seat position and height and similarly the position and height of the handlebars to ensure the optimum position so you can work out for hours and don’t get tired due to an awkward position. Careful adjustment of seat and handlebars helps a lot as it ensures a comfortable ride every time you step onto the Lemond RevMaster Sport for a ride.

Now that you’re sure your position is comfortable, start pedaling at a slow pace with your arms and legs pointed straight ahead. You can control the pedaling resistance using a knob there for this purpose right under the handle bar. It shouldn’t be hard to find. Turning it clockwise boosts the resistance while turning it counter-clockwise decreases the resistance. Pressing down on the tension knob applies the brake. Before you dismount, make sure the flywheel has come to a rest. Do this by applying the brake or by enhancing the resistance. Now loosen the toe straps, remove your feet from the pedals and step off the bike.

 

Adjust your position before you go biking

Some users have complained about not getting an entirely comfortable experience riding the bike. To get the most out of your bike you need to adjust your seat and handlebar position and height thoroughly until you get the perfect feel. The detailed explanation for doing so has been provided in the user’s manual. The seat has also been reported to be somewhat uncomfortable. What you can do is, get a seat cover of your choice and you’re good to go.

 

Users Reviews:

“It’s a cheaper and more compact option than a treadmill with less maintenance requirement. Been using mine for a couple of years and just changed the friction pad and it didn’t even need to be changed. I own a lot of fitness equipment and this is the best purchase I’ve made.”

Pros:

  • Does not require a lot of maintenance.
  • Combination SPD/toe clip & strap pedals.
  • Exceptionally well built and durable.
  • Smooth, quiet and powerful.

Cons:

  • A little heavy.
  • Somewhat uncomfortable seat which can be fixed by using a seat cover.
  • The handlebar does not come high enough.

Keiser M3 Indoor Cycle Stationary Trainer Exercise Bike Review

Keiser M3 Indoor Cycle Stationary Trainer Exercise Bike Review

 

 

Your passage into a completely new world of indoor cycling experience, Keiser M3 Indoor Cycle Stationary Trainer Exercise Bike is a durable, virtually maintenance-free and soundless performance exercise cycle, with an exceptionally smooth ride – it will turn your daily cycling routine into a fun filled experience! The cruising sensation you get when you are on the M3 is the result of superb engineering.

The M3 is a great way to go down the road to fitness giving you a feeling of quiet exhilaration without having to worry about outdoor hazards or traffic of any kind.

The Keiser M3 comes with a computer that measures how much kilocalories you’ve burnt, your output power in Watts, RPM, heart rate (using wireless Polar monitor), total trip time, the total trip distance and gear resistance.

Features:

  • Adjustable Shimano™ Combo Pedals
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • Four-Way Adjustable Seat Position
  • Custom Handlebar Height
  • Automatically adjusting Belt
  • Easy Installation
  • Infinite Resistance Adjustment
  • Smooth Resistance Shifter
  • Comfortable Saddle
  • Optional Computer System
  • Virtually Maintenance Free
  • Unprecedented Warranty
  • Whisper Quiet

 

How to assemble the Keiser M3 Indoor Cycle Stationary Trainer Exercise Bike?

Assembling Keiser M3 is a quick and a very simple process. All the tools you need are given in the user’s manual and are easily accessible. The first step is to lower the bike over the screws and fix the bike in place over the base using a crowfoot and a torque wrench. The Flywheel goes between the two magnets and the hub at the same time. Install the hub cap, align the screw holes and using an alien wrench, tighten the screws in a star pattern until snug.

Next you have to assemble the pedal onto the crank arm. Mounting the computer comes next. Coil the computer cable into the computer mount cavity. Slide the computer up into the two locking ears. Insert and tighten the screw that was removed to mount the computer in the first place. Now you mount the handlebars using the Alien wrench and your M3 is ready to roll. Just take care that you mount the computer before you mount the handlebar assembly.

 

How to use the Keiser M3 Stationary Trainer Exercise Bike?

Your Keiser M3 is now ready use. You may want to adjust the seat and the handlebar to your comfort. After adjusting your position, secure your feet into the pedals. Move the shifter towards yourself, down, and start pedaling. This is when the computer will automatically turn on and display the total distance covered which would be replaced approximately 10 seconds later to gear and trip time.

To increase the resistance you can move the shifter up and this will change the gear. Now you can adjust the resistance and ride the bike at any speed you see fit. To engage the emergency brake you just have to move the shifter to the full forward position. That is all there is to a perfect workout. Enjoy the ride.

 

Adjusting the handlebars and the seat to make the most out of your M3

The Keiser M3 comes with a Four-Way Adjustable Seat (Up, Down, Forwards and Backwards). The user has a lot of room when it comes to adjusting the seat to give an optimum ride. The position and height of the handlebar can also be altered meaning that the bike can give you the perfect riding experience regardless of your height or physique.

There have been some complaints by some users saying that the bike did not provide enough room for adjustment to provide for short heighted users. Taking time out, to just feel the perfect position before you go biking, does the trick. M3 gives you a lot of cushion to adjust your position. Make the most out of it.

 

User reviews:

“None of the indoor bikes I had ridden ever had the smooth feel of riding outdoors – until I tried the Keiser M3 at a health club. I loved it so much, I bought one for myself for home use, and while I’ve only owned it now for a short time, it is wonderful.”

    • Resistance control using magnetic setup
    • Very smooth and quiet
    • 24 resistance gears allow you a wide variety of resistance levels that you can use. You can bring the resistance up to any level making the workout as tough as you like.
    • An indoor bike, which gives you the feeling of riding outdoors
    • Extremely easy to assemble. Took about 30 minutes using easily accessible tools
- review excerpt from Amazon.com

Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise Bike review

My Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise Bike review: a great stationary bike!

 

Equipped with two state of the art and very effective work out devices, the Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise bike comes with a revolutionary air resistance braking system that allows you to easily adjust the intensity of your work out making it exactly the way you want it.

It also has two specially designed exercise arms that will allow you to exercise your arms and upper body. With this, it’s no wonder why the Schwinn Airdyne AD4 is a complete work out solution for people who prefer home exercise!

The first thing that sets this bike apart from its competition, is the fact that it has been made by Schwinn! These guys some of the pioneers in bike technology in general, so seeing their name on a product, speaks volumes about its quality!

 

 

 

 

Key features:

Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise bike also features a state of the art work out computer that allows it to keep track of some important data during your work out session, such as the time you’ve been using the bike and the distance you have “traveled” and calculate how effective the session has been! It will also display data like the amount of calories that you burned during your work out!

 

Warranty

Here’s the breakdown of the warranty:

Frame: 30 years, Parts and Electronics: 3 years, Labor: 1 year, Wear Items: 1 year

 

Specifications:

Maximum User weight: 300 lbs (approx 136 kg)

Equipment dimensions: 50 L x 22.5 W x 48 H inches

Equipment weight: 96 lbs. (43.6 kg)


How to assemble the Airdyne AD4

The Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise bike comes completely diassembled so you’re gonna have to put it together yourself, the process is pretty straight forward, all you’ll have to do is follow the instructions and diagrams found in the manual, but if you think you’re not up to the task, Schwinn can send someone to assemble it for you.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the process:

(Please note that you will need to keep a 15mm wrench, a screwdriver and some scissors handy during the assembly process!)

  1. Attach the levelers to the stabilizers with the screwdriver.
  2. Attach the levelers to the frame.
  3. Attach each arm to the frame.
  4. Connect each arm to the corresponding lever.
  5. Attach the pedals. Make sure that you put the right pedal in the right slot! The pedals are marked R and L for right and left respectively. To avoid confusion, just keep in mind that while riding the bike your right foot should be on the pedal marked R and your left on the marked L.
  6. Attach the foot rest covers to the foot rests on the frame and the hand grips on the handles.
  7. Attach the right and left supports for the work out computer console to the frame.
  8. Install the work out computer console on the supports and then connect the sensor wire to the special jack found on the center of the fan.
  9. Attach the wheel locking knob and the spring guide.
  10. Attach the seat to its post and then attach the post to the frame.
  11. Apply the skid resistance pads on the levelers.
  12. You’re good to go!

 

How to use the Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise bike

The AD4 Exercise Bike is actually pretty simple to use, it is after all an exercise bike. You just ride it like an ordinary bike and pedal away to work out! At the same time, you can use the special system connected to the handles, in order to work out your arms and upper body as well. Resistance is taken care of automatically for you: the more and harder you pedal and work out, the harder it gets. Using the computer is also pretty simple, since it monitors pretty much everything automatically, just look at the screen!

 

Common Problems Encountered

The Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise bike has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, some people however do a have a couple of minor compaints.

The first complaint is that the assembly instructions are not that clear and that there are many screws and bolts in the package and sometimes the diagrams don’t make clear which should go where. Well to be honest, the assembly instructions and diagrams closely resemble those of IKEA products, so if you can follow those, you shouldn’t have any problem with these! In case you do however, you can contact Schwinn or the place you bought it from and they will send someone to assemble it for you.

Also some people complain about the seat not being very comfortable. Well, this is purely a matter or personal preference so I can’t argue with that, however, the seat is fully adjustable and it’s placed on the same pole used by most normal bicycles, so if you don’t think it’s comfortable, you can easily replace it!

 

What Users are saying

Like I said, the Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise bike has received very positive reviews by its users! Here are a couple taken from users of amazon.com:

“I only bought this product for a very simple reason: I wore my first one out after riding it for the equivalent of 30,800 miles, in 20 years! It provides me with the perfect workout, so I bought this second one. I hope they are still on the market when I wear this one out, I will probably be about 90 then, though.”

- review by Robert, Amazon.com

“I bought the Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise Bike about two months ago to add some upper body exercise to my work out sessions! It really is a great workout device that you can control. My wife likes to watch movies on her laptop while using the Airdyne. It is also pretty easy to assemble! We both really love this bike, after all these bikes have been around for years, they must be doing something right!”

- review by  B. Payne, Amazon.com

 

Where to buy from and for how much:

The best place to get the Schwinn Airdyne AD4 Upright Exercise Bike from is definitely amazon.com! You’ll find the best price (read: cheapest ;) anywhere for it there, just $618.99 and they will also ship it to you very quickly and completely free of charge!