The Stamina 15-0120 InStride Cycle XL is marketed as a portable exercise bike which is the size of a backpack. It doesn’t have a seat like you would normally expect on an exercise bike. You sit in a chair put your feet on its pedals and pedal away to get your cardio workout. This cycle is designed for those with limited or wanting to exercise while at work. It is possible to adjust the resistance by twisting the tension knob. To keep a track of your time there is an electronic motor.

The manufacturer states that this is a great bike for anyone on a limited budget or without the space needed fto use an exercise bike. But, is this just a novel idea or is it up to scratch exercise machine that provides you with a decent cardio workout.

Specifications

• RRP: $60
• Year Of Release: 2012
• Dimensions: 20.8 by 15.8 by 12.5 inches
• Maximum User Weight: tba
• LCD Computer Display? none
• Machine Weight 9 lbs
• Manufacturers Warranty tba

The Pros

Size: Although it has XL in the name it definitely isn’t that. This is a very small machine with dimensions of 19 by 15 by 12 inches and weighs in at only 9 lbs. It leaves a lot of the exercise equipment that say they are lightweight and portable in the shade. This has certainly moved this claim up to a new level.

The weight of this machine won’t put much strain on your back at all as you transport it. It can easily fit inside a backpack which makes it easy to move around too. You can easily take it to work in the morning and bring it back at night. This means you can use it exercise anywhere you want and not just in the home.

Convenient: Many people find that trying to fit time into their already busy schedule extremely difficult. This is where this machine can help. It can be used at the office while using your computer, or watching TV at home, or even when you are on your lunch break eating your sandwiches.

Making time for going on runs or walks to keep active is something many people would like to do but their work and home commitments crowd out any opportunity for this important activity, particularly on a regular basis. This problem is solved with the Stamina InStride machine. You can exercise while you work which means you are in effect being paid to work on your fitness. This is really a fantastic idea for many people. You can earn a crust while working it off at the same time!

Price: This convenient and small machine is very affordable. Compared to most other equipment it is very inexpensive and suitable for those on a very tight budget. You can get fit without breaking the bank for the privilege of doing so. It all seems hard to beat but before making your mind up lets look at the negative aspects of the machine.

The Cons

Heat: As discussed when talking about the noise, this bike produces a lot of heat when being used. Aside from the noise this generates the heat is also an issue. The pedals and arms become very hot, so that you can’t touch without burning yourself. This means you need to wait for it to cool down before you are able to move it or pick it up to avoid this from happening. Also, if pets or children are around they may touch it without knowing and this will result in them giving themselves a bad burn. It means you can’t leave it unattended. This is another major fault with this machine.

Noise: As you start to use the machine it is a very quiet machine and it suitable for use at the office as you won’t disturb anyone else. But after about 20 minutes of use it all changes. It starts to make an annoying squeak which is probably ok at home but not suitable for a work environment where it will annoy your work colleagues.

This change in noise is due to the pedaling causing a lot of heat to be generated. This heat then causes the annoying squeaking to start. This is really a major problem for this machine because it is marketed as being a way for those working in an office to get and stay fit while they are working. This squeak means it can only ever be used for around 20 minutes before the squeaking becomes disruptive in an office environment.

The design idea behind the InStride cycle was that it provides an easy to use anywhere cycle but these two issues make it difficult to use as intended.

Should You Buy the Stamina 15-0120 InStride Cycle XL?

This cycle might be suitable for you if you are on a limited budget or lacking in space. It can be a useful machine for short cardio work outs of around 15 -20 minutes. It helps to you on them move.

Unfortunately, the Stamina 15-0120 InStride Cycle XL doesn’t really stand up to any longer usage because of the heat it radiates and the noise it makes. This is a great idea but it is more a gadget than an excrcise machine. It should really be able to be used for more than20 minutes at a time if you want to increase your fitness and not just your blood flow.

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