Some of the best upright exercise bike reviews I can give are for the following bikes, ranging through several different price points:
* LifeCore Fitness 1050UBs Upright Bike – The 1050UBs Upright bike sports a Compact Walk-Thru Design, 12 Preset Programs, 3 Heart Rate Control Programs, Comfortable Saddle with Micro-Adjustable Fore-Aft Seat Adjustment, Adjustable Handle Bars and much more.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $999.00 save $200
* Life Fitness C1 Basic Exercise Bike – The Life Fitness C1 upright Lifecycle exercise bike harnesses the research and innovation that have made Lifecycle bikes No. 1 in health clubs worldwide. Incredibly convenient, quiet, and smooth, the Life Fitness C1 Bike is the perfect entree into the renowned family of upright Lifecycle bikes.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $1,079.00 save $120
* Life Fitness Club Series Upright Bike – The Life Fitness Club Series Upright Lifecycle exercise bike takes on an instant familiarity. It’s the home version of their popular health club model exercise bike that has stood the test of time. The result of endless hours of biomechanical research, this innovative bike delivers superb product performance and the most natural, efficient upright riding position.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $2,249.00 save $250
* LeMond RevMaster – The next generation LeMond RevMaster designed by cycling legend Greg LeMond offers you some great upgrades to the classic model. For maximum riding comfort, the new narrower crank design replicates the geometry of a great road bike. New Cam handles and increased adjustment ranges to seat and handlebars create the best custom fit available and gives you greater muscle involvement.
At Home Fitness Price: Check for current listing
As far as recumbent bikes go, some great choices are:
* LifeCore Fitness 850RBs Recumbent Bike – If you are looking for the best value in recumbent bikes, you have found it here. The LifeCore Fitness 850RBs is one of the smallest yet best feeling bikes you will find in this price range!
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $999.00
* LifeCore Fitness LC 1050RBs Recumbent Bike – The LifeCore Fitness LC 1050RBs Recumbent Bike is our pride and joy and has an all around outstanding design. At just 44″ long, the all new LifeCore Fitness LC1050 RBs bike has one of the most comfortable mesh back seat rests you will find on a home exercise bike, at any price point. The LifeCore Fitness LC 1050RBs Recumbent Bike is the second of LifeCore’s redesigns and the newest version of the best selling LifeCore Fitness LC 1000RBs.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $1,799.00

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

At Home Fitness, Arizona’s No. 1 specialty fitness retailer, has announced the opening of its fifth store in the Phoenix metro area.
The At Home Fitness Desert Ridge Marketplace location (21001 N. Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, 85050) will open for business on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Take the 101 loop to Tatum to get to the store, which is located next to Target and Connelly Billiards on the first entrance into Desert Ridge Marketplace.
At Home Fitness co-owners Bryan Dorksen and Greg Feeder, who have more than 20 years experience combined in the fitness industry, said they had been trying to find a location to expand into Desert Ridge for several years.
“We’ve had our eye on this particular area because it’s a very desirable place to locate a business,” Dorksen said. “The Desert Ridge Marketplace draws people from a wide area.
“There’s not a very high turnover in the businesses located there and we are excited to be expanding there. We’re located next to several other specialty stores, such as Connelly Billiards. We‘re very excited for the grand opening Tuesday, and to be able to provide customers in the Desert Ridge area the same service we’re known for at our other locations.”
Dorksen said a commitment to quality, value and customer service have helped At Home Fitness continue to grow as a leader for sales of equipment such as treadmills, elliptical machines, home gyms, exercise bikes, free weights and much more.
“Being the specialty fitness leader in Arizona has enabled us to buy in bulk and receive exclusive pricing rights that allow us to offer the best deals,” Dorksen said. “We have exclusive rights to carry some of the top lines available.
“We also pride ourselves on having the most knowledgeable fitness consultants in the industry. Because of that, we’re able to offer the best customer service.”
At Home Fitness also has locations in Scottsdale, 6969 E. Shea Blvd.; Ahwatukee, 14647 So. 50th St.; Chandler, 4320 W. Chandler Blvd.; and Gilbert, 2810 S. Market St.
In addition, the specialty fitness giant is a leader in Internet sales, with shipping available to all over the country. To find some of the lowest fitness prices anywhere on the Internet, visit www.athomefitness.com
Anyone with questions about At Home Fitness’ Desert Ridge location or any of the equipment they carry should call the store at 480-513-1123 and speak with one of the trained fitness associates.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

Upright stationary exercise bikes have been around a long time and look like the bikes we grew up riding on. They have no back support and are a great way to work out the legs, especially the quads.
For avid outdoor cyclists, during the cold months they’re the next best thing to riding outdoors.
Upright bikes are also a great way to warm up before a workout, cool down and-or get a cardio workout on.
To more and more people, though, recumbent bikes are the popular choice.
You get a lot more support from a recumbent bike, which offers a back rest with curved lower-lumbar support and puts more emphasis on the hamstrings.
If you have had any back trouble, a recumbent bike might be the best choice because of its added support. When choosing a stationary bike, comfort is a big key.
For many people who are way overweight a recumbent is a great way to start the process of trimming down. You can get a cardio workout on it without putting much stress on the back and joints.
Each type of fitness bike has its pros and cons depending on your riding preferences and fitness goals. Whatever type of exercise bike you decide on, make sure you test ride a variety to make sure you’ll want to use it.
Some people feel the recumbent fitness bike is more ergonomically and bio-mechanically correct because of its frame and handlebar design:

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

When it comes to setting up a home gym, or just buying your first piece of exercise equipment, there are many factors to consider.
Two of the most important, probably in this order, are:
1. Will you use it? and 2. Cost.
It doesn’t make much sense to spend hard-earned money on something you aren’t going to use.
Once you determine what piece of equipment you want, then start shopping around for prices and options.
For many people, one of the most popular purchases is a home exercise bike. There are upright bikes and recumbent bikes.
Exercise bikes put less wear and tear on your legs than running on a treadmill. You won’t burn quite as many calories as running in the same amount of time, but exercise bikes still offer the chance to get consistently good workouts.
Many exercise bikes come equipped with numerous workout options that will keep you from getting bored even though you’re in a stationary position.
They come programmed with numerous biking workouts, ranging from different courses that require sprints, interval training, pedaling downhill and uphill.
You can do all this without manually having to keep pressing buttons and changing options.
If you want to be surprised, select a random options course that will keep you ready for anything.
Another nice feature of a home exercise bike is that you can control the environment in your home.
You can set up a TV in front of the bike, or listen to the stereo. On many bikes it’s possible to have a rack set up to read the newspaper, or a book, or magazine.
Studies show on average that people burn 750 calories per hour on a treadmill, compared to 550 on an exercise bike.
That can be a little misleading, though, because for many people it’s much easier to keep up a good pace longer on an exercise bike than a treadmill.
So in the long run, you may be capable of burning more calories on a bike.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

If you’re looking to get back into shape, or break out of an exercise rut, it may be time to get back on the exercise bike.
There have certainly been a lot of high-tech pieces of exercise equipment to come along since the exercise bike became a popular household item.
However, despite all the advancement few pieces of equipment can offer better results for a large section of the population that the exercise bike.
Maybe you still have one stashed in the garage, attic or back of a bedroom that could be re-conditioned and put back into use.
Or maybe it’s time to go to a quality fitness store and get a new exercise bike. You can choose bikes from the simple to the high-tech, complete with video screens to map out courses.
When you’re beginning an exercise routine, it’s important to find something you enjoy and is easy to do. That’s what makes the stationary bike or recumbent bike an ideal choice, especially for the novice exerciser or someone with back, knee, or joint problems that make running or walking more difficult.
A stationary exercise bike is very easy on the joints, and also easy to use compared to say a treadmill or elliptical machine. There are two main variations of exercise bikes:
Upright exercise bikes look more like bikes we grew up riding, while recumbent bikes put riders in a more reclined, ergonomically correct position and are gaining in popularity. See more on the differences between these styles later this week:
Having a bike indoors can also offer great freedom to ride when you want and also stay out of the elements. You can ride watching TV or listening to music, day or night.
Even for highly fit individuals, an exercise bike can still be a great way to get loose, change up the cardio routine or cool down.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

The Body Solid home gyms have been around since the early 1980s and continue to last because they offer quality and value. The Body Solid home gyms consistently gets great fitness reviews because they are built to last and come with a lifetime warranty.
Body Solid offers a wide range of home gyms for different price points, but one thing remains consistent from model to model: first-rate components and materials.
They feature heavy gauge steel frames, tear-resistant vinyl padding, fiberglass reinforced nylon pulleys, aircraft grade cables and brass bushings.
The home gyms manufactured by Body Solid are health club quality and offer great convenience for a home gym. You won’t have to have stacks of dumbbells, collars and weight plates with the Body solid home gym, which takes up a fraction of the space and offers just as good a workout.
Easy to use fixed-stack weights and even a patented Bi-Angular® Press Arm System that replicates the balancing and feel of free weights make Body Solid home gyms a winner.
The multi-exercise stations on Body Solid home gyms include workouts for chest press, triceps press, shoulder press, high and low pulley stations, a chest row and pec deck, and more.
There are also many accessories that come with a Body Solid unit, such as revolving straight bar, ankle strap, stirrup handles, lat bar and ab/triceps strap, workout DVD, and exercise chart.
These features help make Body Solid the largest supplier of light commercial home gyms and strength training equipment in the USA.
Here’s a look at some of the Body Solid home gyms available through At Home Fitness. Be sure to check out their website for even more great deals.
* Body Solid G6B Bi-Angular Home Gym – The Body Solid G6B Home Gym was rated a Consumer Guide® Best Buy over all the competition. Body Solid has advanced gym technology beyond simple pressing motions. Our patented Bi-Angular® Press Arm guides you through the optimal range of motion while applying resistance from two directions. The smooth, multi-directional resistance increases muscle interaction by 25 percent.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $2,645.00
* Body Solid POWERLINE BSG10X HOME GYM – Engineered to be compact and easily assembled the BSG10X does not compromise your workouts. A stable platform and multiple seat adjustments let the BSG10X accommodate many users of all sizes. A 160lb. adjustable weight stack, high, mid and low pulleys, 8 position adjustable press arm and leg developer station the BSG10X enables the user to perform over 40 exercises, safely and biomechanically correct.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $1,199.00
* Body Solid G9S Selectorized Home Gym – This Body Solid G9S multi-station workhorse provides health club quality strength training for up to three people simultaneously (with optional GKR9). The G9S features a multi-function Press Arm Station for bench press, incline press, shoulder press and chest supported mid row exercises. The Perfect Pec™ Station with fully adjustable range of motion allows users to achieve deeper muscle penetration for faster, more defined results.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $4,325.00

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

Octane Fitness is a well-respected maker of fitness equipment.
Although most well-known in fitness reviews for quality elliptical machines, Octane Fitness also makes high quality recumbent bikes and elliptical cross trainers.
Octane was started by a former LifeFitness product manager/engineer and a former LifeFitness sales associate.
The Octane line delivers a reliable machine with good fit and finish that stacks up well when compared to other top fitness companies.
Here’s a look at some of the top products available when it comes to high end elliptical machine reviews.
* Octane Fitness Q35c Elliptical – The original Octane elliptical just keeps getting better, delivering the form, function and results that exercisers want. The new Octane Fitness Q35c features contact heart rate monitoring and enhanced X-Mode workout booster to let you get even more out of your workout. From the natural fluid motion of Body-Mapping Ergonomics and QuadLink drive to the informative electronics and variety of pre-programmed workouts, this elliptical gets you moving.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $2,199.00
* Octane Q37c Elliptical – Octane Fitness has made an outstanding machine even better: the all new Octane Fitness Q37c has been designed with all the great features and quality of the previous model but now taken a step further. With the addition of a side platform (optional) and the ability to truly incorporate upper body workouts, this Octane Elliptical is now a total body complete workout machine.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $2,599.00
* Octane Fitness xR3ci – The newest breakthrough from Octane Fitness has changed everything! The all new xR3ci recumbent bike from Octane Fitness has all the great features one would expect from a great bike plus one additional; it has the motion of an elliptical trainer! Why settle for a small and limited motion of a bike when you can have it all with the Octane Fitness xR3ci?
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $2,499.00
* Octane xR6 xRide – Get ready for a great ride with Octane’s new xR6 Series seated elliptical cross trainers. Offering innovative, motivating programs and features, the xR6 gives you an ‘alternative fuel’ to help you achieve your exercise goals. You’ll love its smooth elliptical motion and the invigorating push/pull action of the moving handlebars as you pedal and push your way to an exhilarating total-body workout.
At Home Fitness Sale Price: $3,299.00.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

If you’re looking for a quality treadmill, but don’t have a lot of money to spend the Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill is a model that’s definitely worth checking out.
The T101 combines a powerful, quiet motor and stable, comfortable platform with comprehensive console and Sonic Surround speakers with MP3 input so you play music through the console speakers.
At Home Fitness in Arizona offers the best deal you can find on the Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill, with a current $599.99 sale price that saves $200 off the usual price.
Horizon Fitness T101 is a standout when it comes to mid-range treadmills. Known as a top player in the mid-range treadmill game, Horizon typically offers a good mix of reliable, long-lasting fitness equipment. Among budget treadmills, Horizon is one of the best. I recommend it most for people who want to walk or do light jogging.
Although you can build up running mileage, I’d recommend going to a higher-end treadmill if you want to run excessive distances over a long time-period. Also, bigger people (230 pounds and above) may want to upgrade for better durability over the long haul, but for most users the T101 is an excellent choice. It actually lists a 275-pound maximum for users.
There are nine program options. Choose one of three targets—Time, Distance, Calories—and one of three workouts—Manual, Intervals, Weight Loss—for a completely unique and tailored workout experience.
Sonic surround speakers are also optimal for the console, which includes an MP3 input for playing your favorite workout music, and a headphone output for privacy.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

Landice Treadmills continue to rank among the best in the business in a variety of price ranges. For those who want the best of the best in a high-end treadmill, Landice offers several outstanding choices.
People might be surprised to learn they can mix and match treadmill features even at the elite level.
Landice offers two different sized frames (L7 and L8) and four different electronic boards (pro trainer, pro sports trainer, cardio trainer and the top of the line executive trainer) to select from.
So even if you want the top-end frame, you could save about $700-800 depending on what electronic board you decide to go with.
Here’s a look at some of the high-end Landice models that rank atop nearly all fitness rankings in the industry:
* The Landice L8 LTD Executive Trainer contains the most features to be found in the L8 LTD series. In addition to its computer-animated display, it offers additional fitness tests to help you push your body to a whole new level.
* The Landice L8 LTD Treadmill Cardio Trainer helps you move your workout to a whole new level by including a special Landice treadmills motivational display. You can also set your own goals, create your own programs, and take your choice of three different fitness tests. The wireless chest strap and the AccuTrack heart-rate monitoring systems are both included.
* The Landice L7 Club Treadmill Pro Trainer offers a simplified control panel for users who wish to set their own pace.
Runners World Magazine published the results of their customer satisfaction survey of over 2000 readers who owned or used a treadmill at health clubs or corporate fitness gyms.
The readers were asked to rate the treadmills on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest rating. The following is a list of the top results:
COMPANY AVERAGE RATING
Landice 8.8
Precor 8.7
PaceMaster 8.6
Quinton 8.6
Trotter 8.6
Star Trac By Unisen 8.5
True Fitness 8.5
Life Fitness 8.4

Men’s Journal also rated Landice high, giving them the “Gear of the Year Award.” The magazine reported: “Looking to the automotive world for inspiration, Landice created a treadmill with the brushed aluminum finish of an Audi TT, the round, red-and-white analog gauges of a ’55 T-bird, and the audio console of a Lexus SC 430. Under the hood it’s powered by a 3 hp engine that exceeds health club standards and pushes its top speed to 12 mph – a very respectable pace.”
At home fitness is one of the best places to purchase Landice Treadmills, both in their variety of Phoenix-area locations and on their website at www.athomefitness.com

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

Woody Allen once said that “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
You know what, that’s especially true when it comes to physical fitness and will lead off my list of 10 tips to get inspired to be fit.
When it comes to fitness, I think of that saying to signify the fact that it’s much better to consistently work out than get a few occasional “great” workouts in.
1. Find inspirational fitness quotes – Perhaps you like the Woody Allen motivational quote, have your own or need to be on the lookout for more. Any way you find them, motivational quotes are a great way to get yourself motivated.
(note: Actually, I’ll post some more motivational quotes tomorrow).
2. Time for you – Think of exercise as time for you and just you if that helps. Many people constantly make time for others – from kids, spouse, other family, co-workers, students, etc. – but don’t often make time for themselves. If you think of fitness as “you time“ that might make a difference.
3. Have fun – I still talk to a surprising number of people who think fitness isn’t fun. I’m not sure if they were scarred (or is it scared J ?) by a hard-driving former coach, but exercise should be fun. If it isn’t, pick out different exercises to do. But as long as you’re moving and burning calories, just about anything you choose will be beneficial.
4. Look in the mirror – Picture how much better you’ll look if you exercise regularly.
5. Set a goal to wear some old favorite clothes – Maybe set a goal to fit into an old favorite shirt or pair of jeans you’ve had to retire lately because it doesn’t fit.
6. Read about fitness – You can get a lot of great ideas and motivation from reading about fitness in magazines, books, newspapers and the Internet.
7. Success stories. Look for articles on other people’s success stories or talk to friends who are physically fit and pick their brains if you can.
8. Rewards – Give yourself a reward for meeting certain exercise goals, such as buying new clothes or taking a trip.
9. Find a workout partner – For some people this is the best way to stay motivated.
10. Buy some new fitness equipment – Find something you’ll use and add it to your home gym, or start a workout room. Having equipment at your home such as a treadmill, elliptical machine and-or free weights is a great way to never miss going to the gym. It’s always a walk down the hall at your home.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com