exercize machines

[cfz2882]

time to remove some pounds for vanity reasons-starting to get the machines all oiled up and ready-current machines are:
-1970s Schwinn"fanbike"-this is the old twin chain gold painted style.
-1993 DP fanbike-decent, but not commercial grade like the Schwinn-uses a small chain that I have had to replace a few times.
-2007 Kettler ergocoach LS rower-recently got this one in damaged condition,plastic housing broken-rest looks ok.Uses "eddy current"drag on copper-rimmed iron flywheel,if I can't get the electronics working will have to hook variable power supply to the drag coil to provide resistance.This machine is made in Germany
I have found these machines and others quite effective if you stay with the program

 

[tolivac]

My exercise machine is simply walking the neighborhoods-riding an exercise bike BORES me-like to see sights and such-the neighbors doing stuff-and meeting the Davids Trash "The Boss" trash truck-EZ Pack body and International Chassis.Ask the driver to do pack cycles for me!You CAN'T do that on the exercise bike!and watching and talking to the neighbors.And met one fellow that has a cool militaria collection and going to have a movie made based on his Mexico adventures.

 

[foraloysius]

I have a waterrower. Have used it a lot, but don't use it much anymore.

http://www.waterrower.com

 

[ovrphil]

Waterrower - add a flat screen with water sites/speed option

Foraloysius - had a friend who used this, and quit using it. Maybe it needs a flat screen with water site options and video-promoting workouts by tying your rowing speed to a video of your canoe/kayak/boat (another choice) slicing through the water at those varying speeds. The visual would help keep focused.

Maybe they have those already?

 

[foraloysius]

I used to watch TV while rowing. That was enough for me. lol

 

[petek]

I'm not big on home exercise equipment as it seems from most people I've known who buy these things they end up sitting in a corner, moved to the basement or to the barn (in my sisters case) after a month or two. The only type that tends to get longer or with consistent use are treadmills. If anything this would be the machine I'd buy but I go to the gym 4-5 times a week so that ain't gonna happen

http://www.treadclimber.ca/bowflex-...TreadClimber&gclid=CNzZ7Pax_rsCFdRufgodNA8ALg

 

[kb0nes]

That WaterRower is a beautiful machine! Simple and elegant for sure.

I'd probably want to modify it to blend a Margarita instead of just churning water for resistance though

I've always been fond of exercise machines (bikes) that use an electric generator for the resistance. A generator can be easily varied or regulated electronically to vary the load. There are some health clubs that even recover the electricity to use the power instead of just losing it in a big load resistor.

 

[firedome]

Walking...

is the only exercise I like, other than working on physical tasks like cutting wood, building, mowing lawns &c. It's cold here much of the year, so depend on a Landice L-7 for exercise, the only treadmill we could find with a Lifetime warranty on the motor (Baldor 5 hp). One of the best things we ever bought, and it is going on 12 years old now.

 

[tolivac]

I don't like treadmills,either-at work they have a Landice one-don't know what the Hp of its motor is-it does run from a 15A 220V outlet.Again don't need a device that USES energy to "exercise" me when I can use my own-going out and walking the neighborhood.Tried the bike and treadmill at work---BORING!!!Have to go out and walk-just walking outside the site building is more interesting-and I do the outside security checks at the same time!

 

[sudsmaster]

Beware of the exercise machine trap: the most exercise one gets from it is the loading into a vehicle, unloading it from the vehicle, unpacking, assembly, and move to its final location.

And maybe loading it back in the vehicle for transport to a charity or the dump.

 

[tolivac]

Several years ago there was an abandoned treadmill by the side of the road going to my worksite-was there for several months-then someone picked it up.Could the deer,bears,wild hogs,raccoons,and possums possibly have used it? will never know.The thing looked so weird sitting by the road.

 

[firedome]

Walking outside is great...

but not something one does much of the year living 2 hr from the Canadian border.
NC is far more viable, when we lived in Greensboro Dad golfed year round, and most days in January were in the 40s or better... here our treadmill has been in almost daily use from October to April for over 12 years now, so somewhat of an exception when it comes to treadmills perhaps. It's been a real lifesaver, I love it. Any exercise is better than none.

 

[tolivac]

Could understand a treadmill for a person living in a large city and the place has frequent very cold weather.Think if I was in that situation a treadmill would be worth another look.My Mom used to have one-she got rid of it same like me-she just goes outside and walks-That was when she lived in Dallas,Tx-They would have more favorable weather than NYC in the winter.The neighborhood she lived in was good for walking.She sold her treadmill-it was from Sears-the deck on it could be folded against the wall when not in use.It ran from 120V-15A outlet.Since treadmills usually have PM magnet DC motors-you can get a lot of horsepower from such a motor-usually about twice from the same power source as an induction motor-and for treadmills-the PM motor speed is easily varied.Motors salvaged from treadmills end up serving 2nd lives in workshop power tools-esp table saws.Have seen a maxed out Shop Smith 10E model with a treadmill motor-even adds to the versatility of the machine variable speed motor-and more HP than the orig half HP induction one.

 

[firedome]

salvaging treadmill motors...

now that is a good idea! I can see a real HD saw-mill being one application. Hmmmm.

 

[tolivac]

Treadmill motors won't work too well for sawmill applications-here we are talking about HUGE motors or engines.Lets see for a mill band headrig we are talking about starting at 100HP-to 200+Hp.Circular rigs need even MORE HP-circular saws cut a wider kerf than band rigs-more wood removed-more HP.A band sawmill I watched years ago in Hill City,S.Dak had a blade speed of OVER 200MPH!!!The foot wide blade could be shattered if it hit a spike,or rock, embeded in the wood.Nowadays bloom logs are scanned with a special metal detector to find such objects before the blade does.The headrig I watched was enclosed in a bulletproof glass room-the operator and spectators watched from outside.And the noise was quieted down,too.the operator works the rig thru levers and foot pedals-the pedals working the log carriage-levers turned and positioned the log for cutting.Belsaw used to make a portable circular sawmill that was sold without motor or engine.You could power it with an old VW motor,tractor PTO,or a 30 hp electric motor-the blade was 48" diameter.Many old Belsaw mills are still in use by small operators and hobbyists.Portable horizontal mills are favored now-these are powered by gas or diesel motors,some electric--20 Hp on up to 60Hp.These mills can even be pulled by a pickup to the cutting area where the logs are.It is said if you do custom sawmilling for customers-you can pay for your mill quickly-using the mill to convert storm felled trees to lumber is the best!Wood Mizer is the most common of these portable machines.The mill can be operated by one man if need be-many of these have hydraulic lifts to place logs on the mill's saw table for cutting.You can position the log for cutting-then have the sawmill head make the cut-adjust the log or depth of cut and cut again.Some of these can adjust the cut to the thickness you set it at.Pretty neat to watch one work.Even women can run one of these!