York Active 120 2-in-1 Cycle Cross Trainer
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00DDLVR5A” locale=”UK” tag=”musclefitnessnutrition-21″]York Active 120 2-in-1 Cycle Cross Trainer[/easyazon_link] combines all the features of a cross trainer with the fully adjustable seat of a stationary exercise bike to give your workouts the benefits of both exercises, training your upper and lower body muscles.
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York Active 120 2-in-1 Cycle Cross Trainer Review
Design features
Whenever you are looking to buy a new piece of fitness equipment it’s always important to make sure it can be adjusted to suit your natural running, cycling or rowing motion, depending on the fitness equipment involved.
In the case of the York Active 120 2 in 1 cycle cross trainer this has to adjust to both your cycling motion and running stride.
While it’s possible to adjust the height and horizontal position of the seat to take into account different user heights, because this cross trainer doesn’t have an adjustable stride length this may impact who the machine is best suited to.
The 12 inch stride length will be best for anyone around 5ft tall, with taller users better suited to cross trainers with a 16 inch (approx. 5ft 8ins) or even 23 inch stride (6 ft +) depending on your height.
Two small design features which you may also find useful are the wheels at the front and the height adjusters attached to the rear stabilizer.
The wheels at the front help make it easier to move the bike if you need to store it away between workouts, while the height adjusters can be rotated to keep the machine stable on slightly uneven ground.
If the 12 inch stride length isn’t an issue then the York Active 120 2 in 1 cycle cross trainer has all the high quality design and features you need for effective and challenging workouts.
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Ease of assembly
While the setting up of any workout machine will probably only need to happen once, it can still be nice to know the complexity of the steps involved before you buy.
Fortunately, because this 2 in 1 Cycle Cross Trainer is part of the York Active range, this has been designed in a way to make assembly as quick and simple as possible.
As you might expect, the main flywheel housing has already been assembled for you. With cross trainers you would usually need to assemble the main arms and attach them to the base unit yourself, but again this has already been done for you.
So once you have all the parts lying on the ground out of the packaging it’s just a case of adding the seat support, attaching the base stabilizers, assembling the handlebar support and attaching the display console.
Although this may seem like a lot of steps, the user manual walks you through each one with detailed exploded drawings and part references, managing to cover the full assembly in just 3 pages.
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York Active 120 2-in-1 Cycle Cross Trainer – Features Summary
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- Cross trainer and exercise cycle
- 17 programmes including 12 pre-set, 3 HRC, 1 user and 1 manual workout
- 16 levels of computer controlled magnetic resistance
- LCD console displays time, pulse, distance, calories and more
- Fixed and moving handlebars for lower and upper body workout
- Pulse grip sensors for heart rate measurement
- 12″ stride length
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Display console design
Something that can vary wildly between cross trainers is the quality of the display console. In many cases there are far too many buttons with poorly laid out information on the screens that results in you searching longer for what you need.
Fortunately this isn’t the case with the York Active 120 2 in 1 cycle cross trainer, where the console is split into 3 clear sections.
The first is the display screen itself. Measuring 5.75″ corner to corner this LCD screen reports back all the information you need including time spent training, speed, distance, calories burned, heart rate and the current workout program.
The second section is used to show the workout programs. A series of graphs are displayed just below the screen, each relating to one of the 12 preset workout programs available.
This helps to make it easier to see which workout program you are currently using, as well as giving you a rough idea of when to expect changes in the resistance level and training intensity.
The final section and the one which you will use to setup your workouts is the buttons. While there are the standard ‘start/stop’, ‘reset’ and ‘mode’ buttons, you also have ‘recovery’ and ‘body fat’ options.
The ‘recovery’ option essentially measures how quickly your heart rate returns to normal after a workout and provides you with a fitness score, while the ‘body fat’ button will perform a basic test of your body fat % and BMI.
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Workout programs
The York Active 120 2 in 1 Cycle Cross Trainer provides you with 12 preset workout programs, as well as 3 heart rate controlled programs, 1 user defined and 1 manual workout (17 total).
The 12 preset programs are essentially based around changing the intensity of your workouts by automatically adjusting the resistance level. This includes some of the more popular styles of workout such as hill climb and interval training, with programs suitable for all fitness levels.
With the heart rate controlled programs you get to choose whether you want to workout at 55%, 75% or 90% of your maximum heart rate depending on the goal of your workout (fat loss, endurance training, improving cardiovascular health etc.).
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Cross Trainer Buying Guide
Cross trainers have smooth and flowing movement just like combining slow running and cross-country skiing. Otherwise known as elliptical trainers these machines enable users to utilize both upper and lower parts of the body. Unlike the popular treadmill and exercise bikes, a cross trainer can take to running without jarring.
Why are people now focusing their eyes to owning a cross trainer instead of an exercise bike or a treadmill? Are there any disadvantages to this type of fitness equipment?
Of course, aside from the benefits it owns, there are also drawbacks in owning this particular tool but you have to learn more about it before you start thinking that it is not good for you.
The cross trainer is a large equipment that’s why you will need a wide space to accommodate it. Another thing is, it falls on the expensive side. It is recommended that take time to research to get a model that works appropriately and in accordance with your needs.
Shopping for a cross trainer
- Try out a few models to see which will work best for your body type and exercise program, and then go down to assessment of their size.
- Some sports shops and retailers carry just a few brands and models and may not have enough for you to try. It is therefore suggested that you visit several stores to get a variety.
- Make sure that your purchase will also suit other users at home to get real value out of your money. There are models that only suit particular body types so you must remind yourself of this when once you have decided to hunt for a cross trainer.
- You can also try vendor websites as they sometimes provide good deals. If you are somewhat on a budget, then, a second hand model may be an option. However, this may compromise quality of the frame so think about it twice.
- Include the cost on your list so you will know which shoots your budget and which models don’t. Also think about how you want to take it home. A home delivered bulky equipment would be a better alternative against bringing it home yourself.
Features to look for
- Resistance levels: Make sure that the resistance levels carry a wide range; the levels should be difficult to make you exert effort in pursuing your goal. It is imperative that your cross trainer grows with you as you increase your level.
- Programs: See to it that there is a variety of programs so as not to get bored with just a few. Variety keeps training more interesting and helps to motivate users.
- Controls: There should be ease of use and simple or easily understandable instructions that go with the product you choose.
- Comfort: Convenience is a good point of argument when it comes to choosing exercise equipment. You should not be worrying if something bumps some parts of your body while performing a regimen.
- Maximum weight: There is always a recommended weight for users when talking about fitness tools. Look for a unit that can accommodate your weight and so as your family members.
- Construction and design: A good cross trainer must be strong enough to stand the rigidity of your program. Choose one that is heavy to be guaranteed of a long lasting exercise companion. Opt for a model that operates smoothly between resistance level shifting. Don’t forget the stride length it provides to get the most effective workout.
- Pulse sensor: A pulse sensor monitors your heart rate. Get one that has it on the moving handles. A unit that comes with this monitor on both moving and fixed handles is more effective.
- Warranty and service: Check the warranty and service agreement that comes with the product and be sure that the seller have technicians who can repair your equipment once something comes off or not working properly. A model with a year’s warranty may be good but there are others that offer more.
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