Great Bike, But Not Sure Upgrade from R1 to R3 Necessary, March 22, 2010

After owning a Life Fitness 5500R for 15 years (bought in 1995), I decided to upgrade to the the current “R1″ (with the optional advanced console). While I was in the showroom, the salesperson convinced me to pay the extra 0 for the R3, primarily to get a seat with an adjustable back rest. While the seat looked better in the showroom (and felt better to sit in), when you get home and start a vigorous ride on the bike, your back presses into the mesh seat back, where there is a horizontal steel bar (inside the backrest that goes across the seat) which begins to dig into your back. If I could do it over, I would have bought the R1.

The R3 also has an internal generator that means you don’t have to plug the bike into an electrical outlet, but that wasn’t a significant factor in my decision.

I like all of the other aspects of the bike, especially:

1. Routines that work with a heart monitor (it changes resistance to take you between 65%-80% of your target max heart rate)

2. Allows for 2 user profiles, which keeps track of your calories burned cummulatively

3. Very solidly built — feels like the bikes in the gym

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If you can afford it BUY IT!, March 14, 2010

By 

Mark Metzger “MTM” (TRAVELING) – See all my reviews

  

I’ve had the R3 for over a week now and I love it.

I looked at the Schwinns and the other recumbents but they didn’t suit me

I’m 6′3″ and weigh 365 lbs these other bikes where not rated for my weight

the bike arrived in about 5 days which was a surprise I was told it could take up to 2 weeks

When it arrives and you look at the instructions to assemble it, it seems confusing

but once started it went together rather fast and no problem

the bike is quite and stable, no shakes no problems

BUY IT !!!

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best on the market; gym quality, April 28, 2010

I did all my research and homework and confirmed that the LifeFitness R3 was the best of the best and the extra money was worth it. What’s more, I trust Amazon, so to purchase it from Amazon was a no brainer and the only way I would go…not to mention, I got free (and fast) shipping from Amazon. Another reviewer said the seat on this model was not to his liking for various reasons and they he wished he got the next model down. I don’t know what he is talking about. This bike, seat, the back of the seat, and all of it, is comfortable and worth the extra money. I was also amazed at how quiet the bike is. Nice feature. Lastly, there was some assembly, but don’t let this discourage you. The instructions were simple to follow and refreshingly each bag of parts was numbered with the steps in the instructions. I have never seen that before. That should be mandated because it was awesome! It took my husband and I about 45min. to assemble. We love it!!! I wholeheartedly recommend this brand, this model, and Amazon. (The Amazon extras was I had the comforting and satisfying experience of an Amazon concierge. I never had this bonus before. “James” was great and responsive…and all he really did was keep me informed on shipping, but it was a nice feature to have a real body and email to correspond with about my purchase) The actual shipper was also responsive and A+ service.

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A Great Ride at a Great Price, May 4, 2010

I had been looking to upgrade my RANS Rocket to something with 26″ wheels and a little more performance oriented. After looking at variety of Recumbents I came across the Cruzbike SofRider. The front wheel drive intrigued me as did some of the discussion on the forums concerning performance and handling. So I determined to take the plunge and give it a try.

The great experience related to Cruzbike began with the order process. Prior to order I sent off an email with a question – response was received within 24 hours. I then place my order on a Monday, to my surprise on Friday the bike was dropped at the door. The bike included detailed instructions. To help with the assembly I also found a video on youtube of the bike designer putting one together – a little bit of wind noise on the video but the video made it easy to follow along as you assemble the bike. Took me about 2-3 hours; though much of the time was spent with adjustments that I’m not too good at.

So now it was ride time. I started off riding about 15 minutes in the cul-de-sac doing figure 8’s. I must admit it was a bit of a trick at first even coming from a recumbent; but after a bit I found my legs and start to move fairly smoothly. The following days I start riding for more extended periods staying in low traffic areas with some hills. I did notice that it climbed a bit better than my rocket and handled the sweeping curves in the area very nicely. I remembered that when I first started riding the rocket it took me over 100 miles to really get comfortable (also the first time I ever rode a bike with clipless pedals), so I wasn’t expecting to be proficient it the first week, but I was getting there.

It would be wonderful to say this is the end of my story, but I did encounter a bit of a problem as I approached about 200 miles on the bike. I started to have some problems that felt like some play in the bottom bracket. This is the type of thing I really hate about buying on the internet, am I going to be able to get some help, how long is it going to take, etc? Well, I’ve got to say that this was probably the best part of my buying experience. I shot off an email to cruzbike, and receive a response the next morning suggesting some things to check. It took us about 4 days to validate the problem exchanging emails – I would check something requested, send an email in the evening, and next morning have a response. Once we determined the problem, I was just told to take it to the bike shop and send them the invoice. The next day I took the bike to a local shop, they checked the BB and found it needed some tightening. I got the invoice and sent it off. Within hours I receive a reimbursement from the co-owner.

I’ve shown the bike to a few persons familiar with recumbents and they’ve all commented on the quality components used on the bike. Compared to other short wheel recumbents this is a great buy.

In case your hadn’t guessed, I’m very happy with the purchase. Not quit as comfortable as my rocket (that’s like sitting in an easy chair) but the sofrider seat is comfortable and sure beats riding with a pole stuck up your *** – the shocks are a definite plus and do not take away from the riding performance – I’m averaging about 1 mile per hour faster on the sofrider and it is still early in the season; I had to double check that I had the computer set right I was so surprised.

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Poor design, July 7, 2009

By 

D. Hendrick “Dillon” (A2, Michigan) – See all my reviews

  

I bought this to move my legs while I’m on the computer or watching TV. Although setting it up is easy (one screw) the final product is not worth the money, in my opinion.

- The grips do not stay in place on the cycle nor do they grip to the floor (hard or carpeted).

- The foot loops are plastic and feel cheap and poorly constructed – they did not secure my feet.

- There is a resistance knob, but it is difficult to turn and only has two settings – free and easy or slightly more difficult. When pedaling, it is hard to achieve and even flow, instead it feels choppy (probably from the poor resistance).

- The little black timer counts seconds but nothing else and is difficult to reset (though easy to pause).

This product would probably be better suited for hand pedaling as a way to get your heart rate up when other exercise is too difficult or dangerous, but for someone who just wants a little more movement during a sedentary job – the 40.00 would be better spent else where.

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you get what you pay for, October 8, 2009

By 

Mr. Rajesh Dhanwada “Raj” (Austin, TX) – See all my reviews

  

It’s good for what it is supposed to do, in the sense, it will provide you a way to exercise your legs, not the best possible way you want to, but it will provide you a way.

My only beef with this bike is that, it’s kind of a jerky motion when you are pedalling it. The reason for the jerky motion is the lack of a FLYWHEEL, tadaa.. But we cant expect a whole lot for the price … and hence the title for this review.

Goods: Small, Folds, Light, variable resistance

Bads: Jerky motion, tends to move away unless you sit on a very high chair.

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definitely, get what ya pay for…, October 6, 2010

Good: Very Afforable. Small footprint. Ideal for adding some activity to gaming or tv watching…

Bad: Design is friction-based…this is very bad if you’re like me in thinking that a ~60minute set would be the ideal time to exercise with it. The friction creates LOTS of heat, and yes there is a warning label on the unit about this – but it creates so much heat by 20minutes that the pedal bars are hot enough to burn your legs if they come in contact with it. It is likely that I use it at a higher intensity level than other might, and this is good for smoothness of motion but really bad for friction and heat! I do find myself having to pause quite often, as others here have mentioned, to adjust the positioning of the unit due to gradual deviation of the unit on the floor…

I think it’s a decent device that could really be made better. I just wish it didn’t get so pipin’ hot after only ~20min’s continuous use.

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A Great All-Purpose Mat, March 30, 2009

By 

J. L. Evans (Las Vegas, NV) – See all my reviews

  

I bought these mats to line my dog pen with and they are fabulous! Here’s why:

1. They’re durable and springy/squishy without being so heavy that two people or a trolley are needed to move them.

2. They’re corrugated, so they provide a surface with good traction. This means they’d make pretty good bathroom or pool mats, too.

3. They have a great surface area that should accommodate most needs.

4. They’re reasonably priced.

Although I don’t use mine this way, their springiness and shape would make them good equipment mats. They’re too short for yoga, but if you’re looking to line a larger area for floor exercise or a child’s play area, these mats are a good choice.

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This mat is sturdy!, December 23, 2008

I needed an exercise equipment mat after bringing my Air Strider upstairs from the basement, as I didn’t want this exercise machine to mar or scratch my laminated wood floor. This old machine is wide and I needed a mat wide enough to cover from frame to frame.

Most of the exercise mats I came across were not wide enough to fit this machine.

When I read the dimensions of this mat, I knew it was wide enough for my exercise machine. Also, I wanted a mat that was thick enough and the description fit what I wanted in a mat–durable!

After having this mat underneath my Air Strider for one week with 20 minute sessions, this mat has not torn apart and no cuts marks have worn through from the machine (This machine is heavy).

Hopefully, this mat will last a long time with much more usage. Presently, I am satisfied with this mat.

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Bike Mat, July 15, 2010

The Super Mat is really good quality but it was too short for my Schwinn Stationary Bike. I was disappointed that I purchased the mat because Amazon put the two together (it was a suggestion). I was given the impression that it would be a good fit but it wasn’t. My suggestion is you double check the length of the exercise equipment before purchasing. I wish I double checked instead of counting on Amazon to suggest the proper mat to go with my bike.

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Misleading product description, March 2, 2011

I was just at a store that carries the Lifecore Fitness bikes. Please note that the “Optional Wireless HRC with chest strap included” is NOT included with this model. It is an option for the 950 and 1050, but not the 850.

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Economy Motivated, June 17, 2010

By 

John Melanie Gallant – See all my reviews

  

I got this product lightning fast with free shipping and it was cheaper than all the other brands and had what looked like a nice comfy seat for my currently ample behind. I also wanted the recumbent position because I currently have a stress fracture in my foot and plantar fascitis in both heels. The recumbent position allows me to get a good aerobic workout without having to put all the strain on my feet (yay!). I didn’t have a lot of money to spend but needed that comfort aspect so this one fit the bill and matched a similar product on here that got good ratings. Experience with the seller was perfect, fast. Assembled product met exactly what I expected and wanted. My ONLY complaint is the assembly. I began doing it myself and followed the instructions, but what they don’t mention is you need to either have someone exceptionally strong to get the bolts to go all the way into the nut, or have a decent socket set to work that leverage so they will screw all the way on. In addition to the phillips head screw driver and pliers/wrenches and hex keys… I had to use a pair of kitchen tongs to retrieve the wires that had fallen into the tubing. My husband helped me adjust the seat to pedal length. I’m only 5′3″ and have short arms so holding onto the handles on the sides is a bit hard, but I think that will be easier once some of the weight comes off and I get more flexible. I’ve put it through a few test runs and so far it’s just what I wanted and thought it would be. So if you are strapped a little on the money, but need something workable and easy on the rear end… this machine will probably serve its purpose well. Just be ready for those difficult bolts and maybe some extra tools to make it easier on yourself. And who knows, I may have just gotten the one machine that has that issue.

Current fitness level… starting over again… beginner. I can imagine more seasoned athletes would find more faults with it than I. But for now, I am very happy with it.

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Safety and price for a senior, July 20, 2011

This was purchased for my tiny (barely 5foot) Greek mother (YaYa). She is 85 and I didn’t want her to have to step over a railing that she might trip and fall. Those joints aren’t very flexible. So, this product fit the bill. She also didn’t want to spend alot on exercise equipment so the price was right. She is using it in her extra large living room so she could watch TV (so no bright orange!).

The only downsize is she needs a pillow at her back to reach the pedals, even if the adjustment is at the shortest for her body to fit between the seat and the front post. Also, when her grandson came to visit and adjusted it to his 5′6″ frame, he of course did not re-adjust it. Problem for YaYa to adjust back. So all is good, except for ease of adjustment and fitting a short set of legs.

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Buyer Beware, April 18, 2011

This bike was purchased before I had a knee replacement for post op rehab. It was setup in my workout area and left. I was just cleared to begin using it post op and on the first use found that the program counter was not working. Using the manual I took the covers off and had to adjust a reed switch running against magnets on the flywheel (taking this apart was a pain but had to be done). The reed switch contacted the flywheel inside a covered area that could not be accessed or damaged without taking the machine apart – this was set at the factory. After pulling the cowl and following the instructions in the manual the counter was still not working – zero. I called the company and after trouble shooting on the phone with a rep we I used a kitchen magnet to check the part – zero. They suggested the reed switch was defective and I buy a new one. Because I had the bike for over 90 days it was not covered under warranty. They wanted over for the part and no assurance it would correct the problem. And if the part was returned there was a shipping and restocking fee. After all this work and added cost there was still no assurance the counter would work.

This reed switch was a defective from the factory. It was set in a cowled cover that could not have been damaged by an end user. My bike was defective from the factory and the company would not make good on it. BUYER BEWARE. The company does not stand by its product.

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Professional Quality Recumbent Bike, September 12, 2009

I have used Lifecycle Bikes in the gym, and this is the home version. I especially like the various cardio settings–the bike keeps adjusting the resistance to have your pulse-rate remain steady. As you get increasingly tired over the workout, the resistance lessens, yet your pulse-rate remains steady. The quality of construction is sturdy. All the pieces are secure and the assembly instructions are clear. It does take about 60-90 minutes to set up, but I am slow and check things a few times before going on to the next step. All needed tools are included. I opted for this bike over the Nautilus, but both are excellent choices.

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Just Right, January 8, 2011

My LifeCycle R1 arrived quickly, quicker than expected. I didn’t notice that the bottom of the box separated from the rest, so ended up spending time tearing it all apart. Heh.

It took me several hours to assemble, mostly due to the fact that the required information was spread across four different documents! Once I had it assembled, it took me a while to find the power jack, as it is inset, and looked just like another bolt hole. That you have to reach all the way down to the ground to turn it on and off aggravates my bad back.

Aside from those little things, this is what I’ve been dreaming of since 1985, when I first used one while in the Navy. It makes exercising FUN! I’ve been having trouble with weight gain over the last few years, but couldn’t afford a LifeCycle until this year. Happy, happy. One of the best features, is that it’s very, very quiet. No need to turn the TV up, just so you can hear it. Another excellent feature is that it will accept a heavier rider than most other exercise bikes. 400 lb! I’ve gotten to just about 300 lb, recently, and overloading the machine was of great concern. All of the other brands/models I looked at said Max Load 300 lb, including the Schwinn AirDyne, surprisingly.

The book rack leaves a lot to be desired – you’ll still have to hold the book open, at the least. The water bottle holder isn’t quite right either, the supplied bottle kind of hangs up on the holder, when you go to pull it out.

At any rate, yes, it costs more than most, but it’s worth every penny, and even the frustration assembling it from lousy instructions. I probably would have bought it locally, and gotten them to assemble it at my house, but then, my local retailer is as crooked as they come.

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Pretty good but assembly instructions could be much better, October 31, 2011

By 

K. Martin – See all my reviews

  

As a bike, it’s pretty solid so far.

As a some-assembly-required experience, it leaves a lot to be desired. Shortly before building this bike, I had built quite a bit of IKEA furniture, which always has detailed instructions. Instructions without words, but the drawings are clear, the steps are simple, the tools are few, and everything was correct.

Not so with the Lifecycle. They’ve consolidated the instructions to one very large page, but the drawings are few and complicated (including not showing certain angles that you sometimes need), and there are at least four significant mistakes in the instructions. A couple of parts are mislabeled, at least two things are drawn or described backwards from how they are actually to be installed, and there is an almost random correspondence between the color-coded sets of screws and washers, and the step numbers which are used to label the bags of said parts.

1) The seat back is mislabeled (JJ instead of Q), using the same letter code as a footpedal in another drawing.

2) The bolts that go through the main column go in from the opposite side from what is shown in the drawing – this is a potentially dangerous error, as it would work the other way, but basically wouldn’t hold the column securely.

3) There is no indication of where the power cord goes, and no mention of the small black power switch attached to it – most bikes simply start when you pedal, but this bike has to be turned on (and off – it doesn’t time out).

4) Installing the seat adjustment lever is woefully underexplained, and its drawing is tiny.

5) There is no explanation of why you would choose one slot or another for adjusting the foot straps.

There were several other details wrong or misleading, but I didn’t take enough notes, sorry.

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Execllent Exercise Bike, November 18, 2010

The Schwinn A10 is a relatively new product, and is the new iteration of the much more reviewed Schwinn Active 10. It has improvements over the former, but also commands a higher price as of now. Whether or not Schwinn will eventually phase out the Active 10 for the A10 is unknown to me.

====================

PACKAGING:

The bike was in a large box which had a shipping weight of 65 pounds. All of the components are placed into two foam molds, which were very secure. The condition it will arrive in will most likely vary depending on the carrier and how they treat it.

====================

ASSEMBLY:

Each component is wrapped in a plastic bag, and the console comes in its own box inside the package. Assembly instructions are provided, along with two User’s Manuals, in both English and Spanish. All necessary tools and fasteners are supplied***. If one did not have trouble taking the components out of the package, it should be easy to assemble alone, otherwise additional help may be required. The heaviest individual part would be the mechanical component housing which needs to be angled slightly upwards in order for the stabilizing bars to be attached on the bottom. Remember to connect the console to the base before attaching the support.

***During assembly, it became clear that the supplied hex key did not fit several of the bolts. A standard 5/16 hex key works fine.

***One of the four capped nuts for the stabilizers was unthreaded. A trip to the hardware store was required to obtain a metric M8×1.25 nut.

====================

USAGE REVIEW:

The bike is powered by 4 D-cell batteries (unsupplied) which had cost around locally. An optional AC adapter can be purchased from Schwinn for + Tax, S&H. As of current usage, it is unclear how long a set of batteries will last. The electronics shut off after 5 minutes of non usage, with no manual way to turn off.

The final assembled dimensions of the bike at the base are:

–27.5″ from front to back

–16.5″ at the front stabilizer

–14″ at the rear stabilizer

–47.5″ high at the handlebars

***Note that the bike is trapezoidal in shape, with a narrow base and wide top.

The bike seat post has a wide range of adjustable heights, done so by a twist knob that is inserted along a series of holes on the post. At 6′ (184cm), I can comfortable ride the bike, and there are 2 higher positions and 5 or 6 more lower ones.

The bike seat itself is adequate. Having not rode a bike in over 7 years, I was fine at the end of a 20 minute ride with just minor soreness as expected.

***IMPORTANT NOTE: This bike seat attachment is nonstandard. If you plan to change it, you will need to buy an adapter, which will cost around + Tax, S&H. Look for a 3-bolt bike seat adapter on the internet.

A bottle holder comes standard, it is plastic and works fine with my 28oz Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottle. The top of the console also doubles as a book holder, but depending on your handlebar setup, it may limit the width of the book or magazine you wish to read.

The pedals come with straps and feel very solid. Shoes are recommended when using the machine.

The fan that is in the center console is an asthmatic 60mm PC case fan. It does spin but provides no measurable airflow.

There are a total of 8 resistance levels which vary gradually. The console has 6 setups and 1 free/manual mode for user controlled resistance, which is the Quick Start button. The predefined modes work by displaying a set of 10 columns with the variances in resistance, and with each column representing 1 minute. After the user selects the amount of time and the starting resistance level, the program will adjust according to the setup. The manual mode lets the user change how long the machine stays at a particular resistance level.

The console also has a contact heart rate monitor. Just place your hands on the contact areas and it will display the measured heart rate. I cannot vouch for the accuracy, but it does at least work.

During operation, there is a noticeable but unobtrusive hum from the mechanical movement. However, changing resistance levels on my machine has a a very minor ticking noise. This seems to be coming from the small motor in the front of the housing. Whether or not this is a problem or is part of the normal use is unknown to me.

====================

PERSONAL OPINION:

I am an adult male in my early 20’s. I am 6′ tall and weigh roughly 175 lbs. I purchased this machine to…

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Don’t buy!, February 26, 2011

When I ordered this I didn’t see the one star reviews. Bought this about two weeks ago. Just got home and put it together. Just like everyone else said the cable is reversed. Can’t use bike. Called Nautilus Inc and they are closed. I see this is going to be a pain in the butt. Don’t buy unless you want frustration! Purchase your bike from a local store! Lesson learned!

Update – Did get hold of customer service after an hour and half wait on phone! Said they would send two cables but would take about a month. Waiting on cables. After reading other reviews I see a new console in the future which will probably take another two months! Still recommend you to stay away from product!

Update 4/1/11 – Ended up having to get a new console as well. I have not received the cables or the console. I have not been able to use the bike since it arrived. I also have two other friends that have bought this bike. Each one has had the same problem. It doesn’t even deserve a star!

Update – May 11th, Received new cable. Does not help as the Console still reads E2 – error. Called Nautilus again. Stated new console was being shipped out at the end of May! Buyers be aware. I wonder how many times we are going to have to take this bike apart! They should pay us for buying it!

Update – May 31st. Received new console. Still reads E2 – error. Bought new batteries, tried everything we could think of. Looks like another call to Schwinn!

Update – June 14th -Sending another part. I guess they hope I will give up. Why don’t they just let me return it? It hasn’t worked yet!

Update October 2011 – Never was able to use the bike as none of the replacement parts worked.

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Bike is great, but the seat is NOT easily replacable!, October 26, 2010

This upright stationary bike is great. I was transitioning from an old “friction” based old fashioned bike and the resistance is so much smoother with the A10. There are enough programs / resistance levels to make training interesting and is a great alternative to the gym cycles.

The only minor negatives to the bike and is really specific to Amazon is that the recommended “Schwinn Pillow Top Cruiser Bicycle Seat” is not compatible with this bike as far as I can tell. I emailed Schwinn/Nautilus support and they confirmed this being the case and they have no alternative seats to recommend. I’m a novice cyclist and after 30 minutes on this bike, my crotch area gets pretty sore (more so than my outdoor bike). I was hoping the “Schwinn Pillow Top Cruiser Bicycle Seat” would fix this but can’t be used. The only other gripe is that the Fan is pretty pathetic and if you (or your 3 year old) accidentally leave the fan on, it will drain the “D” batteries in a few hours.

So in short, I’d definitely recommend this product but be warned about the seat.

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Fantastic Piece of Equipment, September 20, 2007

This is a great piece of equipment. If you are wondering if quality is compromised as a result of the 2-for-1 deal, you’ll be very happy to know that it isn’t. This is a smooth and quiet piece of equipment. I am very impressed with it. It is of very nice quality.

It took me about an hour to put together because I was being very attentive to the directions and taking my time. At first sight, the instructions are slightly confusing but it only takes a few minutes of looking over everything to understand them.

The monitor is of nice quality and has several different modes: time, speed, calorie, pulse, RPM and distance. It’s actually built into the bike/rower with this model as opposed to being on top like a very similar model that currently goes for 0 less. To me, it looks better built in as it is with this model.

Now that I’ve said that, what I specifically like about this bike/rower is that is really more like a 3-in-1 machine. You not only get the bike/rower combination but they built it for strength training as well.

I was pleasantly surprised by this as I didn’t know that was included. (I had searched through countless exercise bikes and forgot the exact details of this one except for the essentials.) But when you receive it, the manual includes diagrams of strength training exercises you can do with the machine and how you can do them using it.

You can do the following strength training exercises with the machine: back and abdominal, bicep curls (works the arms), upright row (works the arms), buttocks, leg stretch, and leg extension.

And as I said, they include diagrams/pictures of these in the instruction manual.

This extra bonus, for someone like me goes a long way, seeing as I was trying to find some easy/clutter free ways to strength train besides using resistance bands.

So now I can use it for building muscle/strength to increase my metabolism as well. In the end, I’m very glad I parted with the cash in order to get it.

This bike/rower/strength trainer is everything I need. I’m a mildly lazy exerciser. I currently have Xavix and like using it with the JMat as well as the boxing and tennis games to walk/run indoors (in place) among other exercises, but sometimes I want to sit down and work out.

Doing that everyday just got boring. I wanted to mix it up a bit so I figured a bike/rower would help a lot. Especially since I could even alternate between biking and rowing to keep those two interesting (5 min. biking, 5 min. rowing and so on). And adding my walking/running, boxing and tennis to it gives me a lot more to do and have fun in the process again.

I used to hate getting up in the morning to exercise but this bike/rower/strength trainer made it exciting again. Now I look forward to biking, rowing and strength training and more. I got a mini home gym going.

I highly recommend this product for anyone who’s lazy like me and wants something easy/fun to do to keep in shape.

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Excellent Recumbent/Rower!, January 20, 2008

By 

B. Oaks (Pequot Lakes, MN USA) – See all my reviews

  

I bought this because it was both a recumbent bike and a rower. I am very happy with this product because the quality is the best I have had with any fitness equipment I own. It is so quiet and sturdy and easy to use. I can go from bike to rower in seconds, making it easy to rotate every couple of miles if desired.

The extra bonus is that you can use it for strength training by just pulling the resistant bar while standing. And a few other options are shown in the book that comes with it.

I would recommend this product for the quality and ease of use. Easy to fold up if needed.

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Coincidence or poorly manufactured equipment?, January 16, 2008

I ordered the Stamina Deluxe Conversion II, knowing that it would be an excellent addition to my home gym. After assembling it, I saw that the tension knob and the spring pin knob were cracked, making it impossible to use w/o taping it together (which I did, just to see how the unit worked). I liked the unit, but it was ridiculous to pay that much for something in order to “tape it together” so I contacted Stamina and they would not return my calls or e-mails. Amazon (from whom I had purchased it) graciously replaced it with a new one.

When the new one arrived, I examined it thoroughly before the delivery person left. After assembling it, I started to work out and there was such a loud squeaking noise, it was impossible to use. I persevered, thinking that there was something that “needed to be worked out” but it got worse. Once again, Stamina would not return e-mails or voicemails, so Amazon (thank goodness I had bought it from them) allowed me to return it (their policy is to not provide a third replacement).

So, this leads me to believe that Stamina would not accept calls (only voicemail) and would not reply to my e-mails because they know that they are manufacturing an inferior product.

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