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Our favorite bike brands

Here’s a brief list of our favorites, but be sure to test-ride any model you’re
considering to make sure it’s comfortable for you:

Non-computerized uprights ($200–$500): Monark, Bodyguard, Schwinn,

and Tunturi

Spinning-type uprights: Schwinn ($700–$1,200), Keiser ($500–$900), and

Reebok ($600–$1,000)

Computerized uprights ($500–$3,000):Lifecycle, Tectrix, Precor, Combi,

and Cateye

Computerized recumbents ($500–$2,000):Precor, Life Fitness, Body

Guard, and Lifecycle

Rowing machines

Forget the rowers with two arms that you pull toward you as you slide the
seat backwards. You can never get the tension in the arms quite even, and
the entire rowing movement feels sticky and unnatural. If you already have
one of these, we’re betting it’s the most expensive coat hanger you own.

A newer breed of rowers has a chain or cable that wraps around a flywheel.
The chain is attached to a handle you pull in a smooth movement toward
your chest as you straighten your legs and slide the seat backward. These
new rowers do a much better job of capturing the feel of rowing on the water.

Concept II (www.concept2.com) makes an excellent rower that is available
through dealers around the country. This machine is so good that the U.S.
Olympic Rowing Team trains on it during the off-season. And under $1,000, it
gets a Best Buy rating from us. Water Rower makes a good machine that costs
a few hundred dollars more. The flywheel churns through a tub of water and
makes a sound that’s relaxing.

Two cardiovascular bargains

Yes, you can improve your stamina with equipment that costs less than $100.
Here are two dirt-cheap yet very effective aerobic conditioning gadgets.

A step

Though essentially nothing more than a glorified milk crate, a step can whip
you into shape. Most steps are rectangular, hard plastic platforms; some are
springy wood. Good ones have some sort of rubber covering on the top to

Chapter 20: Designing a Home Gym 313