Review and Features of Nautilus NR3000

Our view – the next bike up from the Nautilus NR2000 and a hefty £300 or so more. However, for that you do get quite a few extra features. The first you notice is Nautilus’s innovative Remote Operation Control which allows you to alter resistance levels and start new programmes without taking your hands off the handles. Initially we thought this meant you could control the bike from your sofa so you could get fit without moving a muscle – but sadly this is not the case.

The NR3000 is also self-powered so you can put it anywhere you like without having to worry about a power supply. If you’re going to use it a lot you’ll also save money off your electricity bill although it might take 10 years to chalk up the £300 difference. As with all Nautilus bikes the action is very smooth and makes practically no noise at all with 20 resistance levels to offer a good variation to your workout. The riding position is great and with all the adjustable parts everyone should be able to find the ultimate riding posture for all shapes and sizes.

The console has 8 pre-set programmes including 2 heart rate programmes to burn the fat by keeping your pulse at an optimum level. There are grips to measure your pulse in the handles although we recommend you use the chest strap that comes with the bike as it more accurate. You also get a fitness test so you can measure your progress against a set programme – a good motivator – plus the ability to design 2 of your own programmes to store on the console.

The console is high definition and much easier to read than the NR2000 if you wear glasses, plus we think the lay out is better and easy to use than the NR2000. On a practical level there are large transport wheels at the front so you can tip it up to move around, although it’s quite heavy at 159kg (350 lbs). A built-in water bottle holder and reading rack offer added convenience. The seat has lumbar support and is very comfortable even for long sessions.

Conclusion:The NR3000 has some great features and well worth a look but you’ll have to decide whether the extras are worth the price tag when compared to the NR2000.

Kettler X1 Ergometer Exercise Bike Review

The Kettler X1 Ergometer is a superb bike that’s really cutting edge at a very reasonable price. It looks great and delivers what it promises. The thick gel saddle is very comfortable and warms up as you sit on it and molds to the shape of your butt – which will be getting smaller over the coming weeks :0) The saddle and handle bars can all be adjusted to find the best position.

Not only does the X1 come with 8 pre-set exercise programmes, including a heart rate controlled one for fat burning, you can also hook up the console to Kettler’s website to download more – a great innovation. As with all Kettler bikes this one is extremely quiet (in fact it barely makes a sound at all!) with a very smooth action thanks to its 10kg flywheel.

The X1 can measure your pulse via, hand grips, ear clip or chest strap (not included). This is essential for using the heart rate controlled programme that keeps your pulse rate in between a pre-determined range based on your age and weight. The bike controls the resistance level based on your pulse rate, if it drops it hikes up the resistance, if it gets too high it lowers it. This sort of training keeps you in the fat burning zone for fast weight loss and enhanced fitness. Of the three methods to measure your pulse rate the chest strap offers the most accurate. Both the ear clip and hand grips may record a slightly higher rate and therefore reduce the effectiveness of the heart rate controlled programmes.

The console and display is very well laid out and easy to use. It displays everything you need to know about your workout and allows you to measure your progress to keep you motivated.

A real winner from Kettler with plenty of features to keep you coming back for more.

Machine Training vs Free Weight Training

Most gyms today are packed with machines showing off their highly equipped facilities, on the other hand, free weights such as dumbbells and barbells are not given the same privileges. This occurs because fitness centers are looking to make profit, and to make profit they must find ways to attract clients into signing up at their gym. The best way to do so is by spending thousands of dollars on machinery that are no match to free weights when it comes to safety and efficiency.

Working out using free weights allows your body to function like it is intended to; that is, when using free weights you use many muscles of your body unlike machinery which restricts some muscles from working and tries to focus on others. In other words, free weights prepare you muscles and give them the opportunity to stabilize the pressure contrary to machines which support a part of your body hence taking away the benefits of muscle stabilization.

Belts are another type of tool that people are easily fooled by; the belts function is to support your lower back while training and protect it from injury, however, if you make a habit out of wearing it your lower back muscle won’t be able to function correctly because it has not been placed under enough pressure. In other words, when squatting or deal lifting you might have trained a muscle but your lower back was left behind; one way to avoid this is dilemma and be able to work out safely at the same time is by wearing belts only when you are lifting your max weight.