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Star Trac exercise bike -- Words: 635

Star Trac Exercise Bike

Star Trac Exercise Bikes: Bikes That Look as Good as You Feel

Star Trac exercise bikes look as good as the workouts they provide—and that's saying a lot. But it's the number of models that can be confusing. That's why this article describes the full line of Pro, Sport, and Spinner Star Trac exercise bikes on the market today. Read this, and you will be on your way to selecting the right Star Trac bike for you.

Types of Exercise Bikes

The main types of stationary bikes available are upright, recumbent, and dual action bikes. On upright stationary cycles, you sit upright while you exercise. On a recumbent exercise bike, you recline while you pedal. Dual action exercise bikes are upright bikes that work both the upper and lower bodies simultaneously.

Star Trac Exercise Bikes

There are eight Star Trac exercise bikes as of the time of this writing (July 2005). Each is described below.

Pro Upright & Pro Recumbent

These attractive gray and white bikes boast personal fans, heart rate monitoring, interval training heart rate control that adjusts intensity level based on your pulse rate, inline skate-style pedal straps, an all-aluminum frame, and the ability to send workout data to your Palm OS PDA.

The unit has a one-piece crank shaft (thought to be more reliable), a self-contained electrical supply, 20 levels of resistance, and 11 workout programs.  The space-saving upright version has an adjustable seat. Digital readouts include time, RPM, heart rate, calories, watts, distance, speed, a graphic workout profile, and a ¼ mile track display for motivation. The longer recumbent model offers arm rests and more comfortable seat and back support.

Sport Upright & Sport Recumbent

These Star Trac exercise bike models differ from the Pro models as follows: color is gray and charcoal, there is an easy-to-operate four-button keypad on the control panel, a quick start feature, 15 levels of resistance, and eight workout programs.

Spinner NXT, Spinner Elite, Spinner Pro, and V-bike Spinner

The Spinner lines of exercise bikes are about smooth resistance to be used in a group workout environment; electronic monitoring is not the focus with these bikes. As is often the case with so-called "Spinning bikes" of other manufacturers, the spinning bikes lack the workout programs offered in Star Trac's other bikes.

• Spinner NXT: This silver and black bike is so impressive, it's hard to believe it's stationary. The heavy duty aluminum frame is corrosion and rust resistant. The saddle is ergonomic and has a flexible seat base; a "micro-adjustable" seat slider is included. Pedals are dual sided for increased comfort and flexibility. The crank assembly has heavy-duty bearings, cranks, and axle. The flywheel is a heavy 43 pounds for consistent, smooth resistance. An emergency stop is included. The handlebars cradle dual water bottle holders immediately before the rider. Resistance is manually controlled with a knob. Total weight is 113 pounds.
• Spinner Elite: This Star Trac exercise bike is the same as above, with narrower frame and a red flywheel. Total weight is 123 pounds.
• Spinner Pro: This Star Trac exercise bike is the same as above, with narrower frame and water bottle holder on the frame instead of the handlebars, and single-sided pedals. Total weight is 121 pounds.
• V-bike Spinner: This Star Trac exercise bike is the same as above, except that the V-frame gives a closer approsimation of the traditional bike-riding experience. The resistance knob clicks into each setting for easier setting by instructors. Total weight is 105 pounds.

Next Steps

Now that you are familiar with the Pro, Sport, and Spinner Star Trac exercise bikes, explore the links on this site to find the perfect bike for you. If you are looking for a great workout, Star Trac exercise bikes will make it happen. And if you need help planning your workout room, you can even use the Gym Designer on the Star Trac website to lay it out.

Related Links

• Article: Stationary Cycling
• External site, Star Trac: http://www.startrac.com/

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All content Copyright 2003-2005 Phillip E. Honstein, except where copyright by Namo Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Work samples are provided for educational use by prospective employers and clients and may not be duplicated or distributed in any format, electronic or otherwise.