You're not cycling here, you're thrusting!
Written: Mar 17 '03 (Updated Mar 17 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Price, range of workout, compact size, adjustable resistance
Cons: Limitations in size adjustments, could use some interchangeable handle bars
The Bottom Line: It's hard to find a better price for range of exercises available without spending hundreds of dollars for an all-in-one machine than the Reebok Rider.
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| adaler1's Full Review: Reebok Rider Stationary Bike CR9208 |
First off, the Reebok rider is more like the Reebok thrusting machine. As you exercise your feet push forward, your seat lifts and you pull the handle bars to you. One of the great things about this machine is that you can focus the work on different areas of your body. There is an electronic unit that you can switch between reps, time, and calories.
Lower body / cardiovascular
For a faster cardiovascular workout you use the lower pedals and your legs do most of the work. The directions that came with the machine explain that you can turn your feet inward, straight, or slightly outward to work different parts of your legs. Personally I didn't find it to feel much different.
Upper body
To work the upper body, place your feet in the top pedals. This decreases the amount of leverage your legs have and place more of the weight on your upper body. The part about this I like is that you can change hand positions and rotation to work different parts of your arms. For example, you can pull should width with palms up for a curl-type of pull. You can then do a set of wide pulls with palms down for an inverse bench press type of workout. Regardless of whether you're focusing on upper body or lower body, your mid-section is constantly being worked with each thrust.
Adjustability
Below the seat is a bar that holds weight plates. The machine comes with 2 5 pound and 2 2.5 pound plates. There is plenty of more room for additional weights. You'll just have to make sure the diameter is small enough, i.e. 45 pound barbell weights won't fit. The handle bar has 3 height adjustments and the seat slides forward and back.
Size
The machine really does not take up much room at all. About as much as a mountain bike. The handle bars stick out a little on each side, but we just pull them completely out and then push the machine against the wall when we're finished. It's fairly light weight, so moving it around isn't too bad either.
My thoughts on short-comings
1. Interchangeable handles and bars would have been a great addition to this machine.
2. Although it's simple enough, I fear finding weights that offer enough weight but are still small enough to fit on the bar.
3. A heart beat monitor would have been a nice addition to the electronics, maybe a plug-in finger clip?
4. A few more adjustable settings in the handle bar height would also be nice. If you have a drill press you could drill in your own custom holes though.
Overall
I think this is a great machine for the price. I bought it for my wife because we couldn't find a row machine anywhere! After seeing her use it and noticing all the different workouts you could do on it I've started using it. The compact size is very convenient for our apartment; we simply take the handle bar off and push against the wall when we're finished. Although I think it could stand to be more adjustable, I think it is adjustable 'enough' to fit my wife (5'-0) and me (5'-10). The fact that the resistance is actual removable weights means you won't have to worry about springs stretching out or cables breaking. Compared to the prices of other exercise equipment we just couldn't find a better deal on range of exercise to price ratio.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
adaler1
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Member: Dale Russell
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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