Comparison Pro-Form 210 CSX vs Reebok ZR8

The maximum user weight for which the exercise bike is designed, in other words, the maximum weight of the athlete, at which the unit is guaranteed to work for the amount of time stated in the characteristics without the risk of breakage. This parameter should be adhered to as accurately as possible, do not be mistaken about the fact that 3-5 kg in excess of the calculated weight will not affect the device. Yes, most likely, the simulator will be able to work for some time, but it will experience loads exceeding the calculated ones, and at best it will fail earlier than expected, and at worst it may break at the most unfortunate moment, which is fraught with injuries. In addition, this case is usually not covered by the manufacturer's warranty, and you will have to eliminate the consequences at your own expense.

The weight of the flywheel installed in the exercise bike — a massive wheel, the rotation of which provides the movement of the pedals and creates a load on them. It is believed that the more weight, the better: a massive flywheel provides smooth movement with a minimum of jerks and creates uniform loads that mimic natural ones as much as possible. This will be especially useful for athletes with a large body weight — from 100 kg and above — especially when working on vertical machines (see "Planting"). At the same time, note that the cost of the entire device directly depends on the weight of the flywheel, and for home non-professional use it is not always justified to look for a simulator with a very heavy wheel.

The number of fixed load levels (pedal resistance during movement) provided in the design of the exercise bike. The more such levels provided in the design, the wider the possibilities for adjusting the load and the more accurately it can be adjusted to the requirements of a particular user. At the same time, the abundance of adjustments accordingly affects the price.

Adjusting the steering wheel usually implies the possibility of changing the angle of its inclination and, accordingly, the distance between the steering wheel and the seat. Thus, each athlete can set the distance that is most convenient for him in order to avoid unnecessary stress on his arms and back.

The number of training programs provided in the design of the exercise bike. Different programs have different purposes — strengthening the cardiovascular system, maintaining physical fitness, burning fat, etc. At the same time, the operation of the programme relieves you of the need to manually set and change the parameters — this is what the simulator does. Accordingly, the more training programs a particular model has, the wider its capabilities and the more convenient the training. And in some cases, it may even provide the possibility of self-creation of programs.

iFit is a technology that provides access to a vast library of training programs designed for each specific machine and for specific fitness goals, as well as picturesque videos that allow you to diversify your workouts. Usually, iFit-enabled bikes are equipped with an LCD display and when you start a workout, an HD video appears on the machine screen with views of the terrain along which the route will be laid. The video sequence is complemented by thematic audio compositions. However, the possibilities of the technology go further than conducting workouts to video clips. Advanced models, which are equipped with a large screen and a module for connecting to the Internet, allow you to use the potential of Google Maps. That is, the user can independently lay a route through the streets of some famous city.

— Management on the handles. The exercise bike control buttons are placed on the handles of the exercise bike. With their help, you can change the load without stopping the lesson. However, the control options in each model may be different.

— Fan. The exercise bike has its own fan. This feature is useful for cooling during intense workouts with copious “warm-up” and sweating, especially in warm weather.

— Bottle holder. The presence of a special stand in the design of the exercise bike, on which you can put a bottle or a glass. Thus, you will always have a supply of water at hand, and to replenish its amount in the body you will not have to be distracted from working with the simulator.

— Colour display. The presence of a colour monitor in the design of the simulator. This feature does not affect the main features of the device, however, such displays are considered more convenient and pleasant to view than black and white. And some models may include various additional features designed to make knowledge more interesting — for example, the ability to play DVD movies or virtual workouts (see above).

— Bluetooth. The presence of a Bluetooth wireless module in the exercise bike allows the exerciser to be synchronized with the user's smartphone, tablet or laptop /...PC. Thanks to data synchronization, the user will be able to control the results of training in a convenient form. Additionally, Bluetooth wireless communication can be used to download new training programs to the on-board computer of the simulator and synchronize with the heart rate monitor via the ANT protocol.

— Wi-Fi. The presence of a Wi-Fi wireless communication module in the design of the simulator. The Wi-Fi interface was originally intended for connecting to computer networks (including Internet access), but more recently it has also been used for direct connection between different devices, without using a network. The specific features implemented using this module may be different. So, some simulators are able to interact with training programs installed on tablets and smartphones and transmit information to such programs about the details of the training (distance traveled, calories burned, etc.), others allow you to update the firmware or change the settings remotely, etc. .P.

— USB connector. USB itself is a universal interface designed to connect external peripherals to a computer or other control device. Actually, for the same purpose it is used in modern simulators; but the specific application in different models may be different. So, USB can be used to connect heart rate sensors and other specialized accessories, to play music and/or video from external media (for example, “flash drives”), to update the firmware using the same media, etc.

— TV tuner. The presence in the design of the simulator of a TV tuner — a device designed to receive television broadcasts. This feature is useful for those who would like to be able to watch their favorite TV programs, series, etc. right in the process of training: usually, models with TV tuners also have colour displays and speakers (see below), which allows you to watch the broadcast directly on the simulator. However you need to remember that tuners can be designed for different broadcast standards; therefore, before purchasing a model with this function, it is advisable to make sure that it is compatible with local TV broadcasts.

— mini-Jack 3.5 mm (Aux). The 3.5 mm mini-Jack (Aux) connector is designed to connect an MP3 player or a smartphone/tablet. Thanks to this, you can output the sound signal from multimedia devices to the speakers built into the exercise bike. Some models may additionally have a mini-Jack connector for connecting headphones. The sound output to the headphones will allow you to train to your favorite music without disturbing other users in the same room as you.

— Speakers. The presence in the design of the exercise bike of its own speakers. They can play music, the sound of a movie playing on the display (see "Colour display"), as well as various service messages — for example, a warning about exceeding the maximum heart rate.

— Tablet stand. Allows you to securely and safely mount a tablet with almost any screen size on the exercise bike. Thanks to this, the user can enjoy watching TV shows or movies directly during training. Usually, the stand is located under the main screen of the simulator. Advanced models are often equipped with a stand with the ability to adjust the angle of the tablet.

The type of power used in the exercise bike.

— Network. Powered by a standard 230 V power supply (in other words, a regular home outlet). Such power allows you not to worry about replacing or recharging "dead" batteries — the simulator will work as long as there is light in the house. In addition, it is suitable for models with any load system, even electromagnetic (for more details, see "Load System"), while such devices are much cheaper than similar generator ones (see below). The main disadvantages in this case are the dependence on the outlet and the need to use a network cable, which can limit mobility and get in the way. However, in most cases, these shortcomings do not cause significant inconvenience.

— Battery. The exercise bike is powered by replaceable batteries or batteries. The main advantage is the complete battery life of the device — it can be installed anywhere without worrying about the availability of sockets and laying the power cord. On the other hand, the power of the batteries is very limited, and they are only suitable for models with non-volatile load systems (mechanical or magnetic, see "Load System" for more details), where power is required only for the computer. In addition, the battery life is not infinite, and they need to be changed or recharged periodically (and in the case of batteries, only changed).

— Built-in generator. The exercise bike...is powered by its own built-in generator, which is driven by the rotation of the flywheel. In other words, when using such a model, the user himself generates the energy required for work. To turn on the generator simulator, it is enough to turn the flywheel several times. This type of food combines the advantages of the two above. On the one hand, it is autonomous, on the other hand, it has sufficient power even to provide energy to electromagnetic load systems (for more details, see "Load System"). Yes, and you won’t have to change anything, unlike batteries, because. the service life of the generator is comparable to the service life of the simulator itself. At the same time, this feature significantly increases the weight, and most importantly, the cost of the device, and therefore is found only in premium models.

The country from which the product brand originates. The brand in this case can be described as a general designation by which the goods of a particular manufacturer are known in the market. The country of its origin does not always coincide with the actual place of production of the product: to reduce the cost of production, many modern companies transfer it to other countries. It is quite normal for products, for example, of an American or German brand, to be made in Taiwan or Turkey. Contrary to popular belief, this in itself does not lead to a decrease in the quality of the goods — it all depends on how carefully the brand owner controls the production. And many companies, especially large and "famous", monitor the quality very zealously — after all, their reputation depends on it.