We are delighted to launch this product at a time when it can be of most help to consumers who are continuing to adjust to their new normal in fitness routines and developing new at-home workout habits.

– Jim Barr, CEO, Nautilus Inc. (parent company of Bowflex), June 2020

Timing is essential, even when the fitness innovation you’re launching can prove its worth anytime.

Destined for Home Exercise Success?

Launched in mid-2020, the Bowflex 2080 Barbell with Curl Bar System certainly benefitted from trends prompted by the Covid pandemic. An April 2020 survey for U.S firm Statista showed 21% of respondents hesitated to go back to their gyms within the next six months. About twice as many couldn’t say when they’d feel safe doing so.

Furthermore, many of them would miss training with free weights, which had debuted at No. 4 on the American College of Sports Medicine’s Top 10 Fitness Trends for 2020. That left the door open for a good home weight-training system to win admirers – especially one that was compact, affordable, and offered Bowflex’s ingeniously simple SelectTech® system for near-instant weight adjustments.

Built for Long-Term Service

Opportune as it seemed, the timing was entirely coincidental. The 2080 took a long time to develop, even if it had previous SelectTech successes to emulate. There wouldn’t have been time to foresee, let alone exploit, a pandemic’s impact on the fitness club industry. The 2080 had been designed to succeed before gym closures were an issue, and it remains popular as gyms open up again.

We continue our steadfast mission to bring high-quality, affordable new fitness options to help our customers achieve success at home. Our new barbell and curl bar system takes a popular and effective strength training product and makes it even better with adjustable weight settings and an innovative, compact and beautiful design.

– Nautilus CEO Jim Barr

Bowflex’s commitment to making the home user “stronger every day” requires a unique vision for every new exercise equipment innovation. The 2080 was initially designed to compliment users’ health club strength training. No one could predict then that gym shutdowns and home lockdowns would make exercising in apartments, spare rooms, and garages the only option. Happily, the 2080 system offered the exact qualities many housebound consumers required.

Adjustability

This ultimate strength solution’s seven incremental weights mean users of any fitness level can quickly access the right weight for a personal full-body workout. A rotating dial allows single or multiple users to select a 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80-pound lift, gradually increasing strength at their own pace. Like all SelectTech weights, the 2080 employs a locking tray system, so your weight plates stay neat and organized. An optional weight upgrade can give you four more levels, taking you up to 120 pounds.

Compact Design

A space-efficient design makes the 2080 ideal for smaller workout areas. Those slim, contained plates make for a manageable footprint. Either bar fully loaded boasts the modest dimensions of 59.3” long x 11.7” wide x 12.7” high. You can put both on the optional Bowflex SelectTech 2080 Barbell Stand, which measures 59.3” x 23.8” and stands 32.1” tall.

Full-Body Exercise

The 2080 is engineered for quick, dynamic movements. These help you develop those fast-twitch muscles that give you strength and agility for sports or just your daily functionality.

And the developments benefit more than your arms and upper body. The wide variety of strength exercises you can perform target your lower body as well. These include curls, triceps extensions, deadlifts, clean and press, glute bridges, and squats lunges.

Trainer-led Videos

What’s better than a wide variety of full-body exercises? Having the variety PLUS expert coaching to help you perfect your form. You can access a library of 14 trainer-led videos on the Bowflex YouTube channel. Encouraging, easy-to-follow instruction guides both advanced and entry-level users through techniques and workouts – bringing you closer to your goals.

The 2080 barbell stand features a built-in media rack, allowing you to keep your training and your instruction conveniently close together.

Get to Know the 2080 at Flaman Fitness.

Any time may be a great time to use the Bowflex SelectTech 2080 Barbell with Curl Bar, but the best time is now. The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll see those full-body results. There’s no better place to see and try this amazing system than your nearest Flaman Fitness location.

As the home of Canada’s largest Bowflex showroom, Flaman prides itself on its team of Bowflex experts. They're ready with answers to your questions, feature details, and timely tips to get you started on your home fitness adventure.

In the wake of the covid pandemic, the popularity of home gyms has skyrocketed. As gyms closed, their dedicated members took their fitness routines home. So did scores of training novices - motivated by a desire to fight the boredom and potential weight gain of self-isolation. For too many, that inspiration ended with lapsed workout regimes and expensive equipment gathering dust.

Here are a few tips from home gym experts for creating a home gym based on your fitness goals and exercise preferences. Many come as the result of their own errors. Hopefully, sharing them with you will bring you closer to a workout area you’ll look forward to using.

Identify Your Goals

Many experts point to hasty equipment purchases made before consumers asked two vital questions:

1) What am I trying to achieve?

2) What do I enjoy doing?

Are you trying to build muscle, burn fat, increase your endurance, or improve your sports performance? Looking to rehabilitate after an injury or improve the quality and length of your life? Pursuing a mixture of these goals? There are specialized and multi-purpose exercise machines designed to help you succeed.

A Good Mix of Cardio and Strength Training is a Must.

It’s recommended that you do about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week. Two or three strength-training sessions are essential

We know that cardio burns fat, lowers your blood pressure, increases your endurance, and lessens your chances of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Research shows it can also slow down the aging of certain cells, enhance your concentration, mood, sleep, and – ooh la la – sex life. but it can’t do everything alone. Even the vaunted high-intensity interval training (HIIT) needs some muscle to back it up.

Strength training can involve free weights, cable machines, resistance bands, your own bodyweight, or anything that resists the flexing of your muscles. As those muscles grow, they devour fats. They also give you the strength, flexibility and agility to do better at everything from daily tasks to sports performance. Strength training also lessens joint pain and the risk of bone damage.

Filter Your Options

Of course, you’ll want to measure your area and set a budget to find out what fits in each. Those subjects have so many aspects, that we’ve addressed them in two separate blogs. For now let’s talk about matching your goals with the equipment that can help you attain them.

Talk with your doctor about your health needs and limitations. Get a handle on how you can start and how you can sensibly progress, following a pragmatic timeline for your goals.

Do your research. Search online for equipment that can produce the results you seek and fits into your footprint and budget. Independent reviews of fitness equipment are invaluable – especially if the reviewers have tested it themselves. Besides comfort, quality and efficiency, you’re also looking for portability, ease-of-assembly and longevity. Last but certainly not least, check the warranty.

How accurately/easily can you gauge your performance? While some cardio machines offer apps that can fully track your workout progress and show you a movie to boot, they might not fit in your budget. If you understand cardio and fat-burning heart rate zones, a heart rate monitor can keep you within them. Most machines supply one – and can also guide you through a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout.

Be honest about what you can handle. A lot of top exercise machines are praised for the multiple benefits they deliver. Although some machines can cater to any level of athlete, others are exclusively for advanced users. Trying to do too much too early can overexert your body, undermine your ego, and dampen your enthusiasm.

There’s a way you can do much or all of this at the same time.

Try Before You Buy.

Does a friend own a machine you’d like to try? Can you get a day pass or guest pass to a gym? Trying equipment gives you firsthand knowledge of its comfort and efficiency. You can feel how it works on the areas you want to target and sense if you'll want to use it long-term.

Many stores will also let you sample a variety of machines from different manufacturers. Even better, informed, experienced sales staff can fill in important details and answer all your questions.

Try AFTER You Buy.

Seeing how well a piece of showroom equipment works is one thing. Seeing how well your machine works is another. Whether you assemble the equipment yourself or the store sends a technician, you’ll want to inspect and try the equipment afterward. Look for the following:

Scratches, cracks and dings: Some things look small but can eventually cause big dangerous problems

Wear problems: Try it quickly and look for wear issues (cables rubbing where they shouldn’t, etc.)

Functional problems: Is something interfering with your full range of motion?

Buying Used?

Of course, used equipment is cheaper, but you’ll have to give it good once-over, as it probably won’t have a warranty. If you search online, you should also check to see if the seller has been rated. You might happen on a barely-used find, as some sellers have made the same buying mistakes we’ve warned you about.

Bring Your Workout Room Planning Questions to Flaman Fitness.

Have a whole garage for your home gym or just the corner of a room? Our experts can help you fill it with fitness potential. Just drop by or call your nearest Flaman Fitness location and tell them about your fitness requirements, floor space, and budget. They can offer amazing solutions whether you’re building up around existing equipment or starting from zero.

Flaman Fitness is an excellent place to “try before you buy” – with a huge selection of top-brand machines, including Canada’s largest Bowflex showroom.

Will the space you’ve dedicated to your home workouts keep you dedicated to exercising? How your home gym feels, looks and sounds can make the difference between positive, inspired, and easy physical activity and endless drudgery. Dark, damp and cramped might lend some Rocky-Balboa romance to your exercise, but you’ll be less likely to go the distance.

Here are some emotional considerations that can help you find and perfect your optimum exercise atmosphere.

Conflicted Feelings

Some like the idea of a treadmill or exercise bike in the corner of their bedroom. These are usually your jump-out-of-bed-and-get-going (or get it over with) types. However, if you’re married, you might find you and your spouse have different opinions on early-morning bursts of energy – especially when equipment starts working.

If you’re the one who hates waking up, a physical obligation might be the last thing you want to see. Furthermore, decorators will tell you bedrooms and exercise rooms have opposite purposes and therefore opposite vibes. That disharmony can sour some people on the idea of exercising altogether.

Your Space Should Be Spacious

Not everyone has a spare room, but if you do, consider putting your home gym there. A door can give you privacy, but you don’t want to feel bottled up. So the emptier your space, the better. Extensive shelving can encroach and make you feel claustrophobic.

A mirror can expand that spaciousness while helping you monitor your form and progress. Just hang it straight, because an angled mirror can present a distorted view of yourself.

Sound Decision Making

Music has the power to energize you, lend a rhythm to the pace you’re setting and distract you from your labours. As huge stereo systems have shrunk down to cellphone size, so have speakers. Now something weighing under two pounds and as small as a beer bottle can provide clear, vibrant audio for all your tunes, streaming video and interactive training apps.

Keep It Light and Bright.

If there’s one paint colour to get excited about, it’s white – especially if you want to enlarge the space around you. Orange is also believed to create energy, but other warm hues generally relax you. White also eliminates that dingy feeling – especially if you choose a paint mix that’s not too glossy and is easy to clean.

Lighting is important, too. You’ll need bright artificial lighting, but nothing too harsh. A lighting expert can help you find easily adjustable light fixtures to create that perfect glow. Perhaps the best light is natural light from large windows. It can stimulate several positive changes in your brain, which create more energy. That’s not all windows can do.

Keep Inspiration in View.

Add some drive to your decorating. Put your old high-school/college jersey, track-and-field ribbons or rec sports medals or trophies where you can see them. They might just revive some long-lost youthful energy.

Don’t have a glorious sporting past but admire those who do? A framed autographed poster or other memorabilia can make you feel closer to being in your heroes' league.

If you have an inspiring view out your window, it can create the sensation you’re already outside. And you can further evoke that refreshing outdoor feeling.

Air Quality

You can open those windows or a side door to create cross-ventilation, weather permitting. On less pleasant days, you can still keep the fresh air flowing with ventilation ducts, air conditioning or an air filter.

Being air quality-aware will keep you healthy, energized and comfortable. Those three factors can get your home gym off to a good start before you make your first equipment purchases. Speaking of …

Ready to Put Your Workout Room to Work? Visit Flaman Fitness.

Once you’ve created a motivating exercise space, our experts can help you find home gym equipment to match. Flaman Fitness has searched the world for strength and cardio equipment that will make every workout productive, safe and pleasurable.

It doesn’t exactly look like a warm hug, does it?

The PFX FT Max might look imposing, but it’s built upon good intentions. This all-in-one functional trainer/power rack/Smith machine makes your day-to-day tasks easier and less painful with an array of functional exercises:

• Isolation exercises: Working a muscle group around a single joint
• Compound Exercises: Working several joints and a chain of muscle groups
• Strength Training: Building strength through “overloading” – continuously increasing resistance or increasing reps.
• Power Training: Quick, intense exercises that train your muscles for explosive power.
• Aerobic exercises: Increasing the blood flow and oxygenation, feeding your slow-twitch muscle fibres for greater endurance.
• Anaerobic exercises: Creating larger fast-twitch muscle mass to store glucose, which fuels quick energy.

Learn more about these exercises here. Here’s how each component of the FT Max delivers:

Power Rack

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/ISOLATION EXERCISES/COMPOUND EXERCISES/ANAEROBIC EXERCISES

The FT Max features a heavy-duty cage made of commercial-grade Q235 Stainless Steel. It comes with sturdy J-cups and safety spotter arms with an 850 lb. capacity. With six Olympic plate storage pegs on the back, a 7’ Olympic bar and one pair of spring clips.

Sample Exercises: barbell curls, squats, bench presses (with optional bench), contrast loading.

Cable Machine

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/ISOLATION EXERCISES/COMPOUND EXERCISES/ANAEROBIC EXERCISES/AEROBIC EXERCISES

The FT Max’s comprehensive cable exercise system offers:

• Commercial cable rated for 2000 lbs of static weight
• Heavy-duty nylon pulleys
• Two 220 lb. weight stacks
• Adjustable machine handles
• A frictionless 2 to 1 pulley ratio
• 19 numbered vertical adjustment positions.

You can move your body in ways you can’t with fixed weightlifting machines, building your balance, power and overall strength.

Sample Exercises: cable concentration curl for your biceps, chest flys, rhomboid cable squeeze, alternating cable pull, presses, squats, rows, pushdowns, lunges, overhead wood chops and side cable trunk twists.

Fixed Wide-Grip Pull-Up Bar

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/ISOLATION EXERCISES/COMPOUND EXERCISES

This pull-up bar offers a 500 lb. capacity. You can work a muscle chain that ranges from your neck's trapezius muscles down to your hips. Arm muscles between your shoulders and wrists benefit as well. A narrow-grip option allows you to focus on your biceps or lats and is excellent for beginners.

Exercises: Wide and narrow-grip pull-ups

Lat Pulldown Bar

STRENGTH TRAINING/COMPOUND EXERCISES

The lat pulldown bar likewise targets your latissimus dorsi, but its resistance comes from the weight stacks, not your own body weight. Lat pulldowns can be done standing or sitting (with the help of sit-up foot anchor/pulldown knee pad and an optional bench) – trimming that upper-body V-shape and making tasks like opening doors and starting lawnmowers much easier.

Exercises: Standing and sitting lat pulldowns

Olympic Commercial Smith Bar

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/ISOLATION EXERCISES/COMPOUND EXERCISES

Although some lifting purists prefer their free weights, the Smith bar has many charms. Sliding straight up and down on sealed linear bearing, it’s safe, stable and balanced – a plus for novice weightlifters perfecting their form and those recovering from injuries. You don’t need a spotter, as the bar is equipped with a safety catch and lower emergency shocks. Weight changes are quick and easy, and you can do some ballistic exercises to build your power.

Exercises: Several (and more with an optional bench), including squats, presses, shrugs, rows, raises, pull-ups, incline and decline pushups and exotic ballistic exercises the curl bar throw (make sure this is right for you).

Removable Vertical Leg Press Footplate

COMPOUND EXERCISES

Easily attached to and removed from the FT Max’s Smith bar, the footplate allows you to lay on your back on a mat or bench and push upward with your legs. It’s great for strengthening a muscle chain that runs from your glutes to your ankles. The plate is wide enough for short and tall users alike to target their quads with a narrow stance or wider to work the inner thighs. Just keep your back flat, your hips directly under the bar, and the bar set at a height that gives you a full range of motion.

Exercise: Verticle leg press

T-Bar Row Handle

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/ISOLATION EXERCISES/COMPOUND EXERCISES

The T-bar row handle slides over the sleeve of the Olympic bar. The other end slides into a hinge-like landmine, or you can nestle it in the hole of an Olympic plate laid flat on the floor. Either option forms a stable base while you use the handle to lift the other end of the bar, which is weight-loaded. Primarily focused on the back, the T-bar row also does wonders for your lats, traps, posterior deltoid, rhomboids, biceps, forearms, hamstrings, glutes, and core muscles. And your spinae erector muscles (which run the entire length of your back on either side of your spine) will thank you.

Exercise: T-bar row

Dual Grip Attachment

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/COMPOUND EXERCISES

Dips are a tremendous push-type bodyweight exercise that you can overload via extra reps or by adding weight on a dip belt. Users can also use resistance bands to decrease the load. Either way, you'll target muscles in your chest, shoulders and arms. For more specific targeting, choose between the FT Max’s two sets of handles. One exceeds shoulder width for working on your chest, while a closer grip develops your triceps.

Exercises: Wide and narrow-grip dips.

Sit-Up Foot Anchor/Pulldown Knee Pad

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/ISOLATION EXERCISES/COMPOUND EXERCISES/AEROBIC EXERCISES

This dual-purpose feature holds your knees in place during pulldowns (as discussed above) and also locks your legs during sit-ups. Unlike doing crunches, an isolation exercise, sit-ups are a compound exercise with a broader range of motion that targets multiple joints in your spine, abs, chest, torso and hips.

They bolster your slow-twitch fibres, increasing your strength and endurance so you can perform other exercises for longer periods. While sit-ups improve your posture, energy, lung capacity, circulation, digestion, balance, stability, power, and neck and shoulder health, they reduce jaw and back pain, tension headaches, and risk of injury and uneven joint wear.

Exercises: Lat Pulldowns and Situps

Low Row/Calf Stretch Footplate

STRENGTH TRAINING/POWER TRAINING/ANAEROBIC EXERCISES/AEROBIC EXERCISES

Bring one of the adjustable pulleys down low, hook on your included low row attachment, take a seat on a bench or mat, brace your feet against the low row/calf stretch footplate, and you’re ready to row! You’ll note rower’s physiques are about halfway between that of sprinters and marathon runners. It’s a balanced exercise with great cardio for your endurance-building slow-twitch fibres, but you can also build muscle with fast-twitch-fueling anaerobic exercise.

Exercise: Rowing

Take Another Look.

So does the FT Max still seem like a scary monster machine? Or is it starting to look like the big, thoughtful friend that brought everything to your fitness party? Maybe now you’re starting to see what it can make you look like – muscular and quick, sleek with stamina to spare or perhaps something in between.

Maybe you see a more enjoyable time with your kids, your hobbies or your rec hockey team. Whatever it is, don’t plunge in too fast. Instead, talk to your doctor about what your body can do and consult fitness experts about your goals and how you can realize them. To keep from seeing too much of the former, may we recommend a great place to speak with the latter?

Get to Know the FT Max at Flaman Fitness

It’s safe to say nobody’s better acquainted with the entire Progression Fitness line than the experts at Flaman Fitness. The exciting new FT Max is no exception. To find out how this machine can help you stay fit for the long haul, fast-twitch it over to your nearest Flaman Fitness location.

Aren’t strength training and power training the same thing? What about Isolated and compound exercise? Or aerobic and anaerobic? And what do they mean by fast-twitch and slow-twitch? Didn’t fitness use to be just running around and lifting stuff so you could be buff until you’re 90? It might have been thought of that way once, but science has once again crashed our “life is simple” party.

Their intrusion is well-meant, though. Every year, people abandon their fitness plans because of injuries or lack of progress or both. That’s a shame because fitness isn’t just about the shape of your body or the length of your life. It’s about enabling your body to fulfill your life – whether you want to pump up for athletic achievement or just do some functional training to make every day more pleasant. Understanding not only what you’re doing but why you’re doing it can mean the difference between success and failure. Understanding how it helps you will make your focus all the more clear. So we’re going to demystify those terms and help you make the exercise choices that work for you.

School is in. Sit up straight, pay attention, and no copying off the brawny guy’s paper.

Compound and Isolated Exercises

The word “compound” refers to something that’s formed from a combination of parts. So when you work a muscle group or “chain” of muscle groups at the same time, you’re doing compound exercise – in a way that closely resembles how you use these muscle chains in your daily activities. Besides providing functional benefits, compound exercises are also excellent for muscle growth, strength-building and weight loss. Naturally, it’s better to target multiple muscle groups than just one, right? Not so fast. Sometimes compound exercise plays favourites. Some muscles get more exercise than others. That’s where isolation exercise comes in. Isolation exercises generally target one muscle action around one joint. Examples include the bicep curl, the chest fly and the calf raise. Directly targeting a weaker muscle can get the whole muscle group and chain back up to speed so you can work through those plateaus that roadblock progress toward your fitness goals.

Benefits of compound and isolation exercises: We’re mentioning both together here because, if done properly, they really do work as a team. To ultimately be successful, you’ll need proper form and a full range of motion. It’s a good idea to have a trainer or other fitness expert watch how you work out. Once you have that tackled, you’ll be able to reap the above-mentioned benefits of strength, functionality, muscle growth and weight loss. You might also throw in better balance and fewer aches and pains if you’ve made sure every muscle group in the chain has gotten the attention it needs.

Power Training vs. Strength Training

To novice lifters, it’s easy to miss the difference between power training and strength training. The difference comes down to three things: purpose, method and physical results.

So how do you get stronger muscles? By weakening them. You need to exert a force on your muscles that actually creates tiny tears in their fibre. That prompts your body’s natural defences to swoop in and, assuming your muscle is under attack, build it back up better and stronger than it was before. So we do more “damage” to the tissue, continually tricking our body into making it stronger and stronger. As if this deceit upon our own well-meaning bodies isn’t underhanded enough, we look for ways to be more efficient at it. So we take advantage of the fact that stretching muscles with an eccentric muscle contraction (opening a joint like your elbow) tears more fibre than a muscle-tensing concentric contraction (closing a joint). That’s why you’ll see experienced, muscular athletes spending more time lowering their dumbbells than raising them.

That’s where strength training and power training diverge. But don’t worry. They converge in the end to make you a healthier person with a happier life.

Power Training

The purpose of power training is to enable you to deal with resistance – usually in the form of weight – in a quick manner. Thinks of scooping up a stairway-bound toddler or putting something heavy on a high shelf. You want the “oomph” to perform these tasks quickly and without muscle failure. You train to get it by simulating it – by applying the maximum amount of force as fast as possible. The prescribed formula is strength + speed = power. You can’t just will this to happen. Your body has to be physically able to do it.

Within your muscles are two different types of fibres. One of these – the fast-twitch fibre – is made specifically for power. These fibres are fueled by a chemical process called glycolysis, which converts the glucose stored in your muscles into other chemical compounds. One compound, ATP, is required to stimulate the muscle contractions needed for full-tilt, turn-on-the-dime action. You always have a small amount of “free-floating” ATP set by for the occasional quick power burst – but not enough to keep your fast-twitchers twitching if you’re into sports or have a physically demanding job. To build up those kinds of stores, you’ll need to increase your glycolytic efficiency, which requires a larger muscle mass to house more glucose. This is why Olympic sprinters or football running backs often sport conspicuously big muscles to fuel their frequent explosive speed. Some people are born with a proclivity toward fast-twitch muscle fibres, but others can develop it. Through explosive, repetitive lifting of heavy but manageable weights (or your own weight), you can create plenty of beneficial muscle fibre tears.

Other explosive movement exercises can build up those fast-twitch muscle fibres, too. Jumping, rope jumping, sprinting, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and biking can all enhance your glycolytic efficiency. They do this, in a sense, by taking your breath away. Multiple explosive movements done in short bursts demand a lot of energy - so much so that they surpass your blood oxygen’s ability to keep up. That's when your glucose fuel kicks in like a dragster’s nitro supply. For that reason, this type of exercise is dubbed “anaerobic,” meaning, “without oxygen.”

Benefits of Power Training: The primary benefits are obvious – swift take-off velocity, agility, and the not-quite-Incredible-Hulk-like ability to lift heavy things you couldn't lift before. But there are other benefits that last beyond your glorious sprint, hockey deke, or feat of strength. Power training and anaerobic exercise can increase your bone strength and density, promote weight maintenance, boost your metabolism, fight depression, pump up your energy, and reinforce your joints. They also reduce your risk of diabetes or heart disease. However, if you've already been diagnosed with have either of those two conditions, ask your doctor if you’re in shape for sudden, high-intensity exercises like these. It wouldn’t hurt to consult a doctor even if you haven’t been diagnosed.

Strength Training

So what if you need to hold something heavy aloft for more than a few seconds? That requires strength, and even your most muscle-bound trainers will tell you that you don’t necessarily need to be built like Mr. Universe to have it. It’s not measured by the diameter of your biceps but rather by your ability to overcome resistance imposed on you by weight (free weights, machine weight or your own weight) or another source like resistance bands.

Strength training can be contrasted with power training in several ways. First, strength training works by overloading – repeatedly testing your muscles with ever-increasing weight loads. Second, it requires a consistent increase in weight as you get stronger. This kind of lifting is more about taking your time than quick bursts of action. In that sense, strength training falls in line with aerobic ("with air") exercise. Both increase blood flow within the muscles, supplying more oxygen to your slow-twitch muscle fibres (if there were fast-twitch fibres, you knew there would have to be slow ones). The end result is increased endurance. Because your supply of oxygen is small but constant, you generally won't flame out as you will with explosive movements. You won't need big muscles for storage, which is why athletes like marathoners tend to have sleeker builds.

However, when marathoners need that finishing kick to reach the finish line before their rivals, they’ll need their fast-twitch muscles – just as athletes with explosive power will need slow-twitch muscles to maintain their pace. So it goes with our own daily functions – picking up a heavy object is one thing, carrying it to the house is another.

Benefits of Strength Training: There are many ways that improving your strength enhances your quality of daily life – today and in the future. It makes daily tasks easier, improves your balance and coordination, burns more calories, reduces your risk of diseases and chronic conditions like lower back pain, obesity, depression and anxiety, heart disease and diabetes. It thickens your bones, builds up your tendons and ligaments, and strengthens your body overall so you can enjoy life for years to come. You’ll greet the future with more working muscle mass, greater confidence, and a brighter outlook.

Have Your Plan? Flaman Fitness Has Your Equipment.

If you feel informed and inspired to start the right exercise program for you, check it out with your doctor then call or visit your nearest Flaman Fitness Location. Talk with our fitness experts about where you are now, where you’d like to be, and how you’d like to get there. They’ll help you find the high-quality machine that can make a high-quality machine out of you.

Feel free to visit flamanfitness.com and check out our top-brand lines of:

• Strength and power-building weight sets, Olympic bars, benches, cages and racks
• Cardio-boosting bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, steppers, rowers, and Max Trainers,
• Versatile home gyms, workout stations, and accessories for overall daily fitness!

“Go big or go home,” the old saying goes.

As the legendary line of Bowflex Max Trainer elliptical/step machines has evolved, earlier models have fallen by the wayside. The exception to that rule remains to keep existing models in stock when they still have plenty to offer.

For instance, now – as the bigger, better, and naturally pricier Bowflex Max Trainer M9 enters the market. But its predecessors, the M6 and M8, aren’t going anywhere. The shiny new model’s arrival hasn’t diminished their value to consumers. It just made them up their game, even if what they had was already exciting enough.

You Can't Argue with Results.

Some features are just natural assets. The following M6 and M8 characteristics were so popular and valuable that the Max Trainer design team wasted no time incorporating them into the M9:

•Short Workouts: From their inception, these stepper/ellipticals were designed to meet the needs of users with limited time to work out between work, home life and hobbies. Bowflex designed its machines to optimize high-intensity interval training (HIIT) benefits so users could get a good day’s workout done in as little as 14 minutes.

•Full-body workout: The handles on your Max Trainer are more than something to hang on to while your legs do all the work. They’re made to move – and to make your upper body do the same.

•Magnetic resistance: The purpose of resistance is to make your workout more challenging, not uncomfortable. Magnetic resistance offers a quiet, dust-free exercise session that friction resistance can’t match. You pick up easy-to-switch resistance levels and dump frequent maintenance and pad replacement.

•Bluetooth® connectivity: This opens the door to coaching, progress tracking, external apps, entertainment, and JRNY – the platform that brings it all together.

•Smart device compatibility: Whether tablets or smartphones are a necessary part of your workout or just help you keep up with the rest of your life, a USB charging port makes sure they won’t play out before you do.

•Bottle holder: the downside of dehydration is that it dramatically reduces your performance. If there’s an upside, it’s that it also dulls your perception of how poorly you’re doing. It's best to just stay hydrated throughout your workout.

•Transport wheels: Once the hard work is done, storage shouldn’t present a second workout.

These standard features may appear or function differently from model to model. But ultimately, they all perform – and make you perform – with remarkable efficiency.

Making You Sweat

Every Max Trainer comes with a number of standard workout programs. The M6 offers four. The M8 provides seven, and the M9 presents 13. You test yourself against 16 levels of resistance on the M6 or tackle a full 20 on either the M8 or M9. Whichever machine you choose, you’ll be motivated to work past the plateaus that stop other forms of exercise cold – and if you reach that last level, you’ll likely never find it to be a cakewalk.

Making You Comfortable

Bowflex didn’t stop at designing a machine that delivered great cardio, fat-burning and muscle-toning results. It also made sure your joints and other body parts didn’t pay the price for those benefits. Comfort features include Multi-grip, dynamic handles. The M6 offers two grip positions – a high grip primarily strengthening your chest and shoulders and a lower grip that helps you tighten those abs. The M8 and M9 offer more padding on grip handles that are longer and curvier to afford you four grip options.

That’s not to say the M6’s handles aren’t already quite comfortable. Its “Sport” pedals are also built for comfort – wide and with a highly slip-resistant tread pattern. Those same qualities are found on the “Performance” pedals of the M8 and M9. You just get them in a bigger size. These handles and pedals offer comfort in the way they work as well. All three Max Trainers boast a zero-impact design, which facilitates a natural motion that supports your joints and allows you to accomplish more without feeling beaten up. Max Trainers also keep those around you comfortable – having been designed to be quiet as well as ergonomic.

Keeping You Connected

The Bluetooth® connectivity available on all three Max Trainers serves several vital purposes. First, it monitors your heart rate, which is the key to measuring your progress and keeping you working within your proper cardio and fat-burning zones. Both the M6 and M8 are compatible with the optional Bluetooth-enabled Bowflex Heart Rate armband, while the M9 comes with an armband included. If you aren’t into armbands, all three Max Trainers feature grip heart rate monitors.

Connectivity to your smart devices is integral – especially if you choose the M6 or M8. Neither model is equipped with the M9’s 10” touch screen, so your tablet or phone serves as your window to entertainment services, tracking software and third-party apps. If you subscribe to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, you can binge-watch your favourite shows. Alternatively, you can star in your own adventure - transporting your workout to an exotic virtual destination. Both escapes can be made while your device tracks your progress. The possibilities open wide when you subscribe to one revolutionary app.

JRNY™

Bowflex Max Trainers and JRNY have played vital roles in each other’s evolution. Not long ago, the M6 and M8 functioned under a JRNY-like app called Max Intelligence, which tracked the user’s progress and offered the virtual via virtual coach “Max” to motivate you toward that next goal. JRNY came on as a bridge to exciting third-party apps like Explore the World – a high-definition virtual tour of exotic global trails that you move through at the pace of your workout.

Today, Max and Explore the World are still on the job, but they both work under the JRNY app, which took over for Max Intelligence. JRNY expanded the workout possibilities with advanced progress tracking and feedback, adaptive workouts, trainer-led exercise videos, energizing Bowflex Radio, milestone celebrations, coaching during your streaming entertainment, rewards and more.

Keeping You Informed

It all looks even better than it sounds. M6 and M8 users get all their vital info via the M6’s backlit single console. It features a funky, speedometer-like calorie burn meter that updates you by the minute above a bright interval tracker. The M8 offers the same display layout in an upgraded LCD two-window console that’s more colourful and easier to read. Both Max Trainers offer a magnetic media tray to keep your devices (plus items like keys) in plain sight. The M9 can do the same for you with its ingeniously compartmentalized touch screen. M9 users may also want to use smart devices to keep in touch with the outside world while exercising. Bowflex considered that and designed an optional media rack specifically for their machine.

Perhaps the most remarkable benefit of the JRNY app is its individualized approach to tailoring your workout regimen. However, that doesn’t make any of these Max Trainers a one-customer machine. The M6 can maintain profiles for up to two users – great for those rivalries with a competitive roommate, spouse or smart-Alec kid. If you like more competition, the M8 can support up to four user profiles. And if you feel like you could take on the world (or just have a large family), the M9 offers unlimited user profiles.

Fitting Into Your Life

One of the most attractive features of the Max Trainer is the compact footprint its sturdy vertical design creates. Still, the difference between fitting and not fitting in your available space can occasionally come down to inches. If you like to do that measuring before you shop, these machine dimensions should help with your pre-decision:

M6: 46” L x 26” W x 64.2” H (117 cm L x 66 cm W x 163 cm H)

M8: 47.9" L x 30.8" W x 65.2" H (122 cm L x 78 cm W x 166 cm H)

M9: 50"L x 31" W 67" H (127 cm L x 79 cm W x 170 cm H)

Don’t forget a minimum ceiling height of 15” plus the height of your tallest user. And if you like to see the warranty before you see the product, here you go:

M6: Frame & Parts: 2 years / Labor: 90 days

M8: Frame & Parts: 3 years / Labor: 90 days

M9: Frame & Parts: 3 years / Labor: 90 days

If you really want to be comfortable with your Max Trainer buying decision, start by paying a call on Canada’s leading Bowflex distributor.

Get to Know the M6, M8 and M9 at Flaman Fitness!

Flaman Fitness features Canada’s largest Bowflex showroom, so you can get a great view of all three machines - along with expert advice on what each one has to offer. Our sales professionals can assess your fitness requirements and experience to help you find the Max Trainer for you. Call or visit your nearest Flaman Fitness location – and start your stepper/elliptical training adventure on the right foot!

Bowflex makes some great choices for treadmill buys. But they don’t make those choices easy.

The fitness equipment leader recently launched not one but two great treadmills – the Bowflex Treadmill 7 and the Bowflex Treadmill 10. Both of these fused the outstanding features and functionality of previous Bowflex treadmills with the revolutionary new Bowflex JRNY platform – a personalized, intuitive, and diverse system designed to help any user break through the usual exercise plateaus to achieve desired results. Then a short while later, the company released a third treadmill, the Bowflex 22.

So which one is best for you? Let’s break the three choices down by two primary criteria - what's the same and what's different.

1. What These Three New Treadmills Have in Common

Some things are too good not to share. So Bowflex has made the features everyone wants available on all three of their new treadmills.

Functionality

All three treadmills are designed to make your walk, jog or run as comfortable as possible, with a wide 20” x 60” running path rolling under you at speeds up to a challenging 12 miles per hour. Underneath that running belt, Comfort Tech deck cushioning reduces the impact on your joints by 25%, thanks to a variable array of marshmallow-like rubber grommets. It looks different and feels different, providing your feet not only a softer landing coming down but a springboard-like boost when they come up again.

The treadmill deck is just one of several features offering comfort, ergonomics, safety and convenience, including:

• A solid handrail offers the extra benefit of easy-to-reach controls for speed and incline.
• You can incorporate your phone or tablet into your workout via a media rack and a nearby, built-in USB port to keep your smart devices charged.
• Accessory tray
• Water Bottle holders
• Storage features

• Transport wheels
• Soft Drop folding technology – this hydraulic technology makes folding and unfolding your Bowflex treadmill safe and easy. A red button just under the deck (to the rear and the right) provides one-touch convenience. When you’re ready to exercise, your deck lowers gently to protect your deck, your floor and yourself, and it rises to a fully folded position when the workout's done.

Connectivity

• Bluetooth® enabled for smart devices and heart rate monitors: All three Bowflex treadmills feature Bluetooth Connectivity for your smart devices.
• Bluetooth speakers - surrounding you with sound.
• Bluetooth-enabled heart rate armband - slim and comfortable, it continuously monitors your pulse.
• B Display console – offering touch screen convenience and easy navigations.

These features compose the bridge between the operating treadmill and the nerve centre that elevates it from a machine to an experience.

The JRNY™ Experience

If you’re not familiar with JRNY yet, it’s Bowflex’s exciting new interactive platform designed to create an intuitively adaptive exercise schedule tailored exclusively to YOU. It does require a membership subscription. You can still use your treadmill without one, but the features it brings to the table and the easy-to-follow path it establishes to your fitness goals make it hard to do without. JRNY includes:

• Fitness Assessment
• Personalized Daily Adaptive Workouts
• Real-time Coaching
• Explore the World™ Virtual App
• Rewards and Tracking
• Bowflex Radio
• Streaming Entertainment Integrations
• And much more!

Read more about all JRNY has to offer here.

Warranty

All three Bowflex treadmills come with a warranty worthy of a machine with years of new and always-challenging exercise options:

• Frame/Motor: 15 years
• Parts: 5 years
• Labour: 2 years

2. What's Different

With so many great qualities in common, it’s hard to imagine one treadmill being much different from another. But specific attributes set them apart. If one option were clearly the superior value of the three, there would be no point in making the other two. The question is never, “Which treadmill is the hands-down best?” but rather, “Which is the best for me?” Take a look at these comparative attributes and think about which treadmill fits best into your home, lifestyle, budget and fitness goals:

Screen Size. If you’re wondering where these three treadmills get their individual number designations, you’ll be looking at the answer the second you step aboard. Each touchscreen is designated by its diagonal measurement in inches, not including the frame. So 7”, 10” and 22” (approximately) from biggest touchscreen to smallest. Of course, there are more differences than that.

Incline. As those screen sizes go up, so does their range of incline. The Treadmill 7 starts at a flat 0% and rises to an incline of 15%. The 10 also offers a 15% incline but begins with a -5% decline – giving you that downhill-running feeling and allowing you to target a larger group of leg muscles. If you really want a challenge, the -5% decline to 20% of the Treadmill 22 should work up all the sweat you desire.

Handlebars. Here’s where one difference begets another. While the 7 and 10 treadmills offer standard-grip handlebars, the 22 offers extended handlebar grips, specifically designed for those higher-incline workouts.

Space Requirements

Will your purchase fit in your workout area? Don’t forget about leaving room all around your treadmill, including overhead room (with those springy steps and all). Here’s what you’ll be looking at for dimensions of both the machine and the clear area around it – plus the folded dimensions for storage:

• Bowflex Treadmill 7

• Machine dimensions: 84.6” L x 36.3” W 55.2” H / 214.8 x 92.2 x 140.2 cm
• Required floor area: 163.6” L x 84.3” W /415.5 cm x 214 cm
• Minimum Safe Ceiling Height: Tallest user height +21” (53.3 cm)
• Folded Dimensions: 52.5” L x 36.3” W x 67” H/ 133.4 x 92.2 x 170.2 cm

• Bowflex Treadmill 10

• Machine dimensions: 85" L x 39.6" W x 65.3" H/ 215.8 x 100.5 x 165.9 cm
• Required floor area: 164” L x 87.6” W /416.6 x 222.5 cm
• Minimum Safe Ceiling Height: Tallest user height +21” (53.3 cm)
• Folded Dimensions: 44.5” L x 39.6” W x 70” H/ 113 x 100.6 x 177.8 cm

• Bowflex Treadmill 22

• Machine dimensions: 85" L x 39.6" W x 70" H/ 215.8 x 100.5 x 177.7 cm
• Required floor area: 164” L x 87.6” W /416.6 cm x 222.5 cm
• Minimum Safe Ceiling Height: Tallest user height +21” (53.3 cm)
• Folded Dimensions: 44.5” L x 39.6” W x 70” H/ 113 x 100.6 x 177.8 cm

Weight

Another consideration is whether your floors can support your treadmill – and if your treadmill can support you. More weight can also mean greater stability, so the maximum user weight tends to go up with treadmill weight. Here are the stats on these three treadmills:

• Bowflex Treadmill 7
  • Assembled product weight: 280 lb/127 kg
  • Maximum user weight: 350 lb/158 kg

• Bowflex Treadmill 10

• Assembled product weight: 323 lb/146.5 kg
• Maximum user weight: 400 lb/181 kg

• Bowflex Treadmill 22

• Assembled product weight: 336 lb/152.4 kg
• Maximum user weight: 400 lb/181 kg

Why the Differences?

In a word, variety. In another word, inclusiveness. Just as the JRNY platform opens the door to fitness to a wider spectrum of potential users, so do the differences in these three Bowflex Treadmills. Those who want to pay extra for more and bigger features can do so, while those on a budget will still be able to enjoy a robust Bowflex user experience. In the end, it’s about giving all exercisers their best shot at better health.

Meet Your Bowflex Treadmill Match at Flaman Fitness

Flaman Fitness offers Canada’s most extensive Bowflex showroom, so our experts are steeped in everything these great treadmills can do. They’ll be glad to listen to your goals and needs then guide you to your ideal machine. Get your perfect treadmill search on track by calling or visiting your nearest Flaman Fitness location.

Over its storied 30-plus-year history, Xebex Fitness has made quite a name for itself, living up to its reputation as the leading "Cross-Training HIIT Brand." It's gotten hearts healthily pumping with its competition-level air rowers, air bikes, ski trainers, and non-motorized treadmills.

Its command of high-intensity interval training is unquestionable, but what about the strength-training aspects of cross-training? The leg-day squats that help your run a little faster, the pull-ups that keep your back strong and flexible. Never fear, Xebex has you covered – spotted might be a more accurate word – with some rugged strength-training equipment designed to rack whatever you want to lift.

Power Cages

Since strength training is about offering every user the best chance for improvement, Xebex provides something for both beginners and advanced lifters. The sturdy, reliable and straightforward Xebex Pro Power Cage gives novice users everything they need to start building muscle safely and effectively – j-cups, safety spots and bumper plate storage – at an affordable price.

For more experienced lifters, The Xebex Goliath Power Cage offers 3" X 3" steel tubing construction, suitable for a home gym or commercial facility. Equipped with a pull-up bar and back stabilizing bar, it's also compatible with several optional accessories. So you'll have a wide range of exercise options in one compact, rock-solid piece of equipment.

Product availability will vary by store. Call your local Flaman Fitness location for details.

Squat Racks

Whatever you're lifting, Xebex squat racks have your back. They're available in one-piece and two-piece configurations*. Both are solidly built, have broad, stable bases and feature quick and easy steel-pin height adjustments, which also make them collapsible and easy to store. Those wide, sturdy bases feature rubber padding to hold your squat rack solidly in place so your floor won't suffer any scratches, and you'll also be protected. Your spotter arms are also padded, protecting your bar as well as themselves. Although each can rack up an impressive weight load, they don't take much space to do it.

Product availability will vary by store. Call your local Flaman Fitness location for details.

Wall-Mounted Racks

Xebex Wall-Mounted Racks offer strength, durability, and any-time access without imposing on your room space. They just do it in different ways. The Xebex Wall-Mount Rack accomplishes this with uprights that stick out a not-at-all-whopping 6" from your wall. Its most intrusive feature – an angled pull-up bar – juts in only 35", but it's also 90" off the floor, so only very tall people or those with stovepipe hats need to look out for it. Meanwhile, the Xebex Wall-Mounted Folding Rack swings out from or folds neatly against your wall. Its quick pin/hinge system saves time as well as space. Those pins securely hold your rack in place when it's folded out to its full 25" depth – plenty of room for kipping pull-ups.

With solid 3" x 3" 11-gauge uprights, heavy-duty pull-up bars and sturdy attachments for resting your bar, both of these compact racks are built to withstand your wildest workout. Just make sure the same can be said for your wall and your mounting hardware (and don't forget to leave some headroom!)

Product availability will vary by store. Call your local Flaman Fitness location for details.

Benches

It's incredible how many exercise options you can add to your cage or rack routine by adding a bench – a point Xebex Fitness hasn't missed. Whether the company's engineers are designing a utility flat bench or offering a variety of angled positions, you can expect stability, durability, ergonomic functionality, and comfort - plus easy transport and storage.

The Xebex Power Flat Bench 2.0 features three inches of padding and a sturdy tripod-style frame. It's ideal for dumbbell or barbell bench presses and functional exercises like Bulgarian split squats and bench dips. If you're looking for different workout positions, the Xebex Heavy Duty Flat and Incline Bench (FIBHD2) offers three different seat angles from a flat surface to nearly 90 degrees. It also features an innovative slip-proof bench material to keep you from slipping during those big lifts. If you want even more adjustability, the Xebex Pro Decline Flat Incline Bench (PDFIB2) offers a total of eight positions. Like the FIBHD2, it's built of solid steel to provide a solid backstop when you're hefting those heavy weights. All three benches have wheels and a sturdy handle for roll-away convenience when you're done working out.

Product availability will vary by store. Call your local Flaman Fitness location for details.

Weight Storage Racks

Weights can do you a lot of good when you're lifting them, not so much when you're tripping over them or damaging your floor when you set them down. Xebex has a solution for that, too. The Xebex 3 Tier 54" Dumbbell Rack seats 21 to 27 dumbbells on three shelves lined with protective rubber.

Product availability will vary by store. Call your local Flaman Fitness location for details.

Experience the Strength of Xebex at Flaman Fitness.

Our strength-training experts are ready to answer your questions about the Xebex Strength line and other innovative Xebex products. Discover how three decades of equipment design and manufacturing experience can help you zero in on your fitness goals. Call or visit your nearest Flaman Fitness location today!

* Not available in all regions. Check with your local store.

When the Schwinn IC4 Indoor Bike was launched back in 2019, parent company Nautilus had some great things to say about it. This wasn’t just a proud product papa talking; Nautilus had great faith in its design team, which had a long history of coming through with fitness innovations that captured and retained consumer admiration.

However, some skeptical “what have they done for me lately” types might want more to go on than repetitive historical patterns. So we’ve decided to put the IC4’s claims to the test or, more accurately, relay the findings of others who put it to the test – which is fair, considering we’re kind of partial to the IC4 ourselves.

Taking the IC4 for a Test Spin

Here are those features, followed by reviewer observations:

• A slim and compact footprint, so it can fit easily in your home. The reviewers generally agreed this is an important feature – especially if some of your doorways are narrow. Smaller also means lighter when it’s time to move the bike (see below).

• The electromagnetic system (ECB) provides a smooth, quiet ride. The reviewers were unanimously impressed with how quietly the IC4 operates. It was also called “smooth” and “nice.” Some reviewers mentioned the incremental discrepancy between the IC4’s 100 resistance levels and Peloton’s, but they deemed that issue easy to resolve. Some bigger-bodied reviewers noted the IC4’s lesser resistance when they stood up to sprint, but other reviewers said they found it plenty challenging at level 70. The IC4 received good grades for the variety of users it served and how the magnetic resistance/belt drive system was less prone to breakage. The luxury of not smelling pads grinding down unevenly was also noted.

• An intuitive resistance knob, which allows for 100 micro-adjustable resistance levels to meet the needs of the individual user. Full marks were given for ease of use and for the small increments that allowed users to go through all the levels in four revolutions of the dial – as opposed to as many as 32 full turns required by other bikes.

• Flexible seat and handlebars that adjust horizontally and vertically for maximum versatility. The reviewers appreciated not only the four-way adjustment (up, down, fore and aft) of both the handlebars and seat but also the variety of users it comfortably accommodated (as proven by their tests). The height range is estimated at 4’6” to 6’6”. Some reviewers believed the bike shaved it close on the top user heights, but the bike’s arm length and inseam accommodation were deemed sufficient. The incremental changes didn’t quite match the precision of higher-end bikes but were considered superior for bikes in the IC4’s price range. One reviewer said he felt a slight wobble when the seat was fully extended, but another user of similar height noted proper tightening solved that problem. Adjustments were found to be quick, easy and secure, thanks to the lever-like, locking handles. One user noted fingers and hands could be jammed – but only as a reminder to use the care due when making adjustments in general.

• Race-style high-density foam seat, offering comfort for long rides. Schwinn opted to give the IC4 a serious racing seat, which the reviewers generally agreed was a good choice, considering the kind of performance-focused training done on this bike. They noted the harder seat might be temporarily tough on new riders but ultimately provides ideal comfort once riders get used to it. Affordable gel cushions were suggested as one way of adapting. Should a user never find comfort on the seat, the reviewers noted it is easy to replace.

• Dual-link pedals with toe cages (included) so users have the option of using standard toe cages or SPD clips. The reviewers liked the idea of pedals that could be flipped to accommodate either sneakers or cycling shoes. It accommodated more users while giving serious riders the feel they desired. To that end, one reviewer noted, both sides of the pedal employed high-quality design and construction for long life. The adjustable, sneaker-friendly toe cage was deemed easy to slip into, and the SVP clip on the cycling shoe side was found to provide a secure, one-click hold.

• A generous, full-colour backlit LCD display makes it easy to track workout progress. The reviewers were generally in favour of the display – finding it informative, intuitive, easy-to-read and in the right spot for quick referral. Some said they would prefer a simple numeric representation of cadence to the IC4’s speedometer-like range indicator. There was also a suggestion that power output be added to the readable data list. It’s all feedback Nautilus will no doubt take under advisement. Surprisingly, there was almost no complaint about the lack of a full-sized monitor. In fact, some reviewers pointed to how easily users could sync in their own monitor, and would likely appreciate being given a choice. One issue that came up in testing was a seeming discrepancy in speed indication with some apps, but it was quickly pointed out that calibration tools are available.

• An integrated device holder for phone or tablet is designed to keep users engaged during their workout. The reviewers liked the device holder's location, its slip-resistant texture, and how it left just enough space for a tight grip on your smartphone or tablet, so they didn’t wobble free and plunge to the hard floor below – which would be tragic considering how many amazing cycling apps your smart device can access. The trade-off, one reviewer noted, is that protective cases needed to be removed – a minor inconvenience, but one he suggested could be eliminated with the addition of a simple adjustment feature.

• Other Custom Features
  • Easy-reach cradles with 3 lb. dumbbells to provide users with instant access to a full-body workout. The reviewers admired these cradles' construction and convenience when a video trainer or the user’s own regimen called for incorporating a targeted upper-body workout into the ride.
  • Heart rate armband. Easy pairing with the IC4, other apps and fitness trackers won the reviewers over easily.
  • Dual water bottle holders. These received kudos for their easy accessibility - located just under the handlebars with bottle tops pointed toward the riders. However, some taller reviewers said their knees could hit the bottles during some exercises – then pointed out the problem could be solved by adjusting the cradles forward or even turning the bottles around.

But wait - there's more!

We’ve now come to the end of our original list of features. However, our reviewers still have a lot to say about the Schwinn IC4, and who are we to stifle their insights? Here are some more valuable points to ponder:

Build Quality. The consensus was that the IC4 was one sturdy and stable bike – from its 40 lb. flywheel to its quality welds to its heavy-duty frame with only one plastic component. The reviewers generally liked the bike’s design, vibrant colour scheme, seat texture, paint and coating. Special compliments were paid to the robust handlebars. Their semi-soft rubber material was said to provide an excellent grip surface that was also easy to clean. The multiple grip positions – including two upper tabs - were praised for facilitating comfortable posture and allowing riders to target upper body muscles.

Transport/Storage. It was noted the IC4’s narrow build made it easy to roll through any door on its high-quality, front stabilizer-mounted transport wheels. Users with easily scratched floors had the option of carrying the bike. IrixGuy showed how the 106 lb. bike could be quickly dissembled and lightened via those seat/handlebar adjustments and quick, convenient cable disconnections. The main frame bar was shown to make a great handle.

Stand-Alone Capability. With visions of app connectivity dancing through our heads, some reviewers thought it worthwhile to point out that subscriptions aren’t required, and the IC4 can give you a great workout on its own. The data you need to track is right on your LCD display. One reviewer noted the IC4 lacks preset workouts, but it not hard to find self-guided exercises online. Another reviewer suggested looking out a window while you pedal can be as good a mental escape as anything you’d see on your monitor. (A nice view/day will help.) “You can simply start pedalling and adjust the resistance however you like,” another reviewer observed. “You also have the option of setting a time, distance, or calorie workout goal through the bike's console.”

See More on the IC4

We’ve provided links, so you can see or read the complete reviews - including how they conducted their analyses. There are several more IC4 reviews for you to explore, as it is one of the most talked-about Indoor Bikes on the market today. If what you learn makes you want to learn more, we know the perfect place to go.

Conduct your own IC4 inspection at Flaman Fitness.

Seeing the Schwinn IC4 through someone else’s eyes can be handy, but it’s not as good as seeing it through your own. Our indoor spin bike experts can provide a guided tour of all the features along with answers to all your questions (well, the IC4-based ones, at least.) Call or visit your nearest Flaman Fitness location to finalize your 411 on the IC4.