Comments on: My Review of the Cybex Arc Trainer (”The BMW of Elliptical Trainers”) http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html On Innovation, New Media & The Bigger Better Deal Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:16:26 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: David Eckoff http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-955 David Eckoff Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:16:26 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-955 Mickey, thanks for stopping by. Correct, no power cord. Your pedaling is what provides the power for the display. I never paid much attention to this, but I think it doesn't just turn off the moment you stop pedaling, if I recall correctly, it continues to display for a bit. But again, I never paid much attention to this, so I might be wrong. If it is important to you, then you might want to check it out at a gym, or call Cybex, to confirm! Mickey, thanks for stopping by. Correct, no power cord. Your pedaling is what provides the power for the display. I never paid much attention to this, but I think it doesn’t just turn off the moment you stop pedaling, if I recall correctly, it continues to display for a bit. But again, I never paid much attention to this, so I might be wrong. If it is important to you, then you might want to check it out at a gym, or call Cybex, to confirm!

]]> By: Mickey http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-954 Mickey Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:09:35 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-954 David, great review. Like the others, was considering the home version, but now want the commercial version, but ah, where to dig up the extra 3 grand. anyway, my quick question is - with no power cord, how does the digital display work? Where does that power come from? And if even that display is powered by people energy, does that mean if you stop moving, the display goes away? Thanks. Mickey David, great review. Like the others, was considering the home version, but now want the commercial version, but ah, where to dig up the extra 3 grand. anyway, my quick question is – with no power cord, how does the digital display work? Where does that power come from? And if even that display is powered by people energy, does that mean if you stop moving, the display goes away?

Thanks. Mickey

]]> By: John http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-953 John Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:30:06 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-953 While I haven't tried the 750AT, my gym has older models, one style with fixed straight handles (600?) and the other with curved handles that move (610?). I use the latter on virtually every visit, and it's my favorite machine. It's the only elliptical machine at the gym that I can use without any risk of bumping my knees, and the only one with adjustable incline. I always do a 40-minute hill program, watch strides per minute, and keep track of total calories burned, aiming for more than 800. I check calories burned every 5 minutes to see how I'm progressing. An improvement I would like to see in the software would allow users to vary the incline and intensity in the hill program. My second and third favorite cardio machines are the First Degree Fitness fluid rower and the upright Expresso bike. I hope you will try them out and write reviews. The First Degree rower has a more natural feel than the Concept 2 rower the gym used to have. The Expresso bike is the most natural stationary bike I have used, but unfortunately, the software needs work. The video display of the trail program is inconsistent with the resistances programmed. You may be pedaling uphill while the video is showing a downhill grade. They must have released it without any beta testing. I see from their website that the latest model, the S3, has different, more complex displays, so perhaps they have fixed the clunky video on the prior generation. While I haven’t tried the 750AT, my gym has older models, one style with fixed straight handles (600?) and the other with curved handles that move (610?). I use the latter on virtually every visit, and it’s my favorite machine. It’s the only elliptical machine at the gym that I can use without any risk of bumping my knees, and the only one with adjustable incline.

I always do a 40-minute hill program, watch strides per minute, and keep track of total calories burned, aiming for more than 800. I check calories burned every 5 minutes to see how I’m progressing. An improvement I would like to see in the software would allow users to vary the incline and intensity in the hill program.

My second and third favorite cardio machines are the First Degree Fitness fluid rower and the upright Expresso bike. I hope you will try them out and write reviews. The First Degree rower has a more natural feel than the Concept 2 rower the gym used to have. The Expresso bike is the most natural stationary bike I have used, but unfortunately, the software needs work. The video display of the trail program is inconsistent with the resistances programmed. You may be pedaling uphill while the video is showing a downhill grade. They must have released it without any beta testing. I see from their website that the latest model, the S3, has different, more complex displays, so perhaps they have fixed the clunky video on the prior generation.

]]> By: Amy http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-952 Amy Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:29:04 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-952 Ok thanks! Im deff going to go w the the 630a! What's the differnce between the 600 mods? Like the 610a total bod the 620a & the 630a?! Sorry I want to be sure to get a good one! I'm into the figure comps and that's all I do is workout so I want to do it with the machine I use at the gym! It works me out perfect and if the home one isn't exactly like that one I don't really think I will like it either;) thanks Ok thanks! Im deff going to go w the the 630a! What’s the differnce between the 600 mods? Like the 610a total bod the 620a & the 630a?! Sorry I want to be sure to get a good one! I’m into the figure comps and that’s all I do is workout so I want to do it with the machine I use at the gym! It works me out perfect and if the home one isn’t exactly like that one I don’t really think I will like it either;) thanks

]]> By: David Eckoff http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-951 David Eckoff Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:44:04 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-951 Hey Amy, thanks for stopping by and reading my review. I really don't have anything to add to my review, other than to answer your question by saying that if you love the arc trainer at the gym for being so smooth and the awesome incline, you might not like the 360a home version as much. It isn't really cheesy, but it is clearly not in the same galaxy as the professional level arc trainer. I have used them both, and I wasn't happy with the 360a home version. That doesn't mean it is a bad product. And it doesn't mean that everyone would be unhappy with it. "Your mileage may vary", as they say. But it wasn't or me. I LOVE the professional version of the Arc Trainer, and am delighted to own one! :) Hey Amy, thanks for stopping by and reading my review. I really don’t have anything to add to my review, other than to answer your question by saying that if you love the arc trainer at the gym for being so smooth and the awesome incline, you might not like the 360a home version as much. It isn’t really cheesy, but it is clearly not in the same galaxy as the professional level arc trainer. I have used them both, and I wasn’t happy with the 360a home version. That doesn’t mean it is a bad product. And it doesn’t mean that everyone would be unhappy with it. “Your mileage may vary”, as they say. But it wasn’t or me. I LOVE the professional version of the Arc Trainer, and am delighted to own one! :)

]]> By: Amy http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-950 Amy Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:31:06 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-950 Ok so don't go w the 360A? I have a commercial treadmill the Nordictrack 9600 incline but I like the arc trainer to, I have no way to try out a home version we don't have any stores anywhere remotely close to me! I love LOVE the arc trainer at the gym so smooth and the incline is awsome! I'm going to use this machine all the time lime my treadmill and don't want it to feel flaky! I would like to know if I like real quailty no crap what do u think?! Is the 360a just really cheesy?! Thank ya Ok so don’t go w the 360A? I have a commercial treadmill the Nordictrack 9600 incline but I like the arc trainer to, I have no way to try out a home version we don’t have any stores anywhere remotely close to me! I love LOVE the arc trainer at the gym so smooth and the incline is awsome! I’m going to use this machine all the time lime my treadmill and don’t want it to feel flaky! I would
like to know if I like real quailty no crap what do u think?! Is the 360a just really cheesy?! Thank ya

]]> By: TW http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-800 TW Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:52:14 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-800 I purchased a 350A about 12 months ago but the retail store replaced it for free with a 360A 3 months into the purchase when a piece within the main mechanical unit broke. I've had the 360A for about 9 months now and I like it a lot. I have a treadmill and switch between the two. I'm a big guy and the 360A still works well with my extra weight. Its mostly steel (very little plastic) which is good and a bit unusual in a home unit. But the two foot pads have both recently cracked. They still work but I will now seek to replace them. Not sure why these foot pedals are plastic if the majority of the devise which takes the weight & stress is metal. But all-in-all, I recommend the 360A. I purchased a 350A about 12 months ago but the retail store replaced it for free with a 360A 3 months into the purchase when a piece within the main mechanical unit broke. I’ve had the 360A for about 9 months now and I like it a lot. I have a treadmill and switch between the two. I’m a big guy and the 360A still works well with my extra weight. Its mostly steel (very little plastic) which is good and a bit unusual in a home unit. But the two foot pads have both recently cracked. They still work but I will now seek to replace them. Not sure why these foot pedals are plastic if the majority of the devise which takes the weight & stress is metal. But all-in-all, I recommend the 360A.

]]> By: What DOESN’T Work In The Gym « No Butts About It http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-539 What DOESN’T Work In The Gym « No Butts About It Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:54:21 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-539 [...] What DOESN’T Work In The Gym So there I was, plugging away on my cross-trainer thingamabob at the gym.  (Actually it was this one.) [...] [...] What DOESN’T Work In The Gym So there I was, plugging away on my cross-trainer thingamabob at the gym.  (Actually it was this one.) [...]

]]> By: davideckoff http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-536 davideckoff Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:11:13 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-536 Comparing the incline for the 350A Home with the incline for the 630a commercial, here is what I found: Incline level of 1-10 on the 350A Home does not equate to incline level of 1-10 on the 630A (approximately 70% less stride height - this is a BIG difference, and IMO makes the 350A a non-starter.) As far as comparisons between 610a and 630a. I think your best bet is to call Cybex and ask them, they should be a better source of info on that. Comparing the incline for the 350A Home with the incline for the 630a commercial, here is what I found: Incline level of 1-10 on the 350A Home does not equate to incline level of 1-10 on the 630A (approximately 70% less stride height – this is a BIG difference, and IMO makes the 350A a non-starter.)

As far as comparisons between 610a and 630a. I think your best bet is to call Cybex and ask them, they should be a better source of info on that.

]]> By: Bryan http://davideckoff.com/2009/01/review-of-my-cybex-arc-trainer-the-bmw-of-elliptical-trainers.html/comment-page-1#comment-535 Bryan Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:26:50 +0000 http://davideckoff.com/?p=425#comment-535 Very helpful review. I would have got the 360a before I read your review. But on the 610a at my gym, I only get a good workout at 7+ incline. If you had to compare the 360a to the commercial models, what percentage of incline do you think you can achieve? Also, do you know the difference between the 610a and the 630a? I think right now I'm leaning toward getting a used 610a - that is, assuming the 610a is as high quailty as the 630a. Maybe the 630 is the same as 610 but newer? Or the legs-only version? help? Bryan Very helpful review. I would have got the 360a before I read your review. But on the 610a at my gym, I only get a good workout at 7+ incline. If you had to compare the 360a to the commercial models, what percentage of incline do you think you can achieve?

Also, do you know the difference between the 610a and the 630a? I think right now I’m leaning toward getting a used 610a – that is, assuming the 610a is as high quailty as the 630a. Maybe the 630 is the same as 610 but newer? Or the legs-only version? help?

Bryan

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