Advantages: Low impact cardiovascular workout
Disadvantages: Expensive

...In a bid to lose a few pounds after uni (too much alcohol & too many takeaways) I was looking for a good all round exercise machine, and elliptical trainers were recommended by some friends. "Why?" I enquired. "The answer is simple" came the reply, "they are a great cardiovascular work out and the pedals mimic the body's natural movements when running, so essentially you are running, but there is no impact - saving your joints and bones!" "Genius!" I replied. And so my quest to buy a machine began. After looking at a variety of makes and models, I decided upon the York 3100 Elliptical Trainer & Cycle. It looked the sturdiest, could handle the most maximum weight (16 stone - not that I was this large, but obviously the larger the maximum weight, the stronger the machine), was from a brand that I had heard of and trusted... Read review

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Advantages: Great fat burning exerciser. Automatic magnetic resistence.
Disadvantages: Poor quality.

...PRODUCT ************ Eclipse Cyclone 2 programmable eliptical cross trainer. Eliptical cross trainers are a low impact exerciser that burn 5 times more calories than walking. There are two ways of exercising, holding onto the static handles for a lower body work out. Or using the long moving handles for a full body work out. You place your feet on large foot plates and can either go forward or backward to exercise differant parts of the legs. No instructions are giving on what parts of the body you are working out or placing feet on differant parts of the foot plates to increase difficulty. PRICE ******** £139.99 and £29.99 p&p this included insurance. The MRP was £455 but looking at the quality i don't know where they get this from. ASSEMBLEY ************** Basic tools are supplied if you have none. It is a two man job to assemble... Read review

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Advantages: Burns fat fast, heart rate monitor
Disadvantages: Takes up alot of space

...WHY ****** Due to a serious injury to my Knee playing rugby my physio recommended a cross trainer to me as it is a low impact exerciser and is a good alternative to running machines. I found this one on Ebay and thought it was reasonably priced at £130 with some good features. Quality ********* Build quality is very good, the trainer is heavy due to the large solid tubular frame and if like me you have it upstairs you will need some help in carrying it up the stairs. Once upstairs you can wheel the trainer to your preferred place as it has built in wheels. The fly wheel is encased in a plastic cover, which should prevent little fingers being trapped where they shouldn't be. The foot stands are large and have tread marks on to prevent slipping. You can choose between the static handles for an easier work out, these also have... Read review

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Advantages: A British Legend
Disadvantages: Not long enough

...for the first time at 4:35pm on 5th of March 1936 with a flight lasting 8 minutes! It was enough, the Spitfire was go! The Classic mix of beautifully tapered airframe, a Rolls Royce Merlin engine and a dual mix of Cannons and Machine Guns struck terror into the enemy in Nearly every theatre of Conflict. At the end of WWII They estimate there had been an estimated 22 579 Spitfires Airframes made of 20+ varients of the Supermarine Spitfire across the Seafire and Photographic Reconnasiance Models From the Classic Mk1 with Elliptical wings and Machine-guns to the T.Mk 9 a Twin-seat Trainer (Which can still be seen at Airshows today in the form of Carolyn Graces' ML407 which started it's Operational life as a Single Seater!) and the Clipped wing Mk.IXe the sight and sound of a Spitfire in Flight (Or a load of them if you can get to Duxford on Show... Read review

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Advantages: Burns loads of calories, easy to use
Disadvantages: long programs, not portable so needs space

...We purchased (Me and Hubby) this exercise machine about a month ago. We are both into keeping fit and run and cycle 3 or 4 times a week. You may think why buy a exercise machine then? Simple, rain and lots of it. It can make you very lazy. I dont go to the gym but on my weekend breaks I use the gyms at the hotels. At easter, I first tried an elliptical trainer in a hotel gym. I thought it was great. It was a better model than this one, but I should imagine cost twice as much. Really the difference was better computor programs. Right, I should really tell you what the heck a Healthrider Ellipitical trainer is. It's a kind of ski machine. It has to big pads to put your feet on and you stand up on it. You have 2 handle bars which you push backward and forwards. Ok, you have to push your feet around on the pads in a clockwise... Read review

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Advantages: Mixed clientele, Technogym Key system
Disadvantages: Lovely view of the unaffordable golf course

...to Yoga. In all classes the instructors let you work at your own pace to get out of the workout what you want - and will always listen to your feedback for future classes. In the gym itself, you are matched up from day one with a "personal trainer" (you share them with many other members) who will talk with you at length about your goals for exercising and try to tailor an exercise program to those specific needs. Your exercise program is all specified and monitored via the 'Technogym' key system within the gym, which links to the Technogym supplied kit. You take your key to the equipment you plan to use that day, and it will download the required workout parameters to the equipment (resistance, speed, target heart rate etc. etc.). All aspects of the workout are something you can discuss and change via your trainer or any of the other gym... Read review

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Advantages: Good equipment and security
Disadvantages: Bad service, hygiene and ventilation. It is costly and almost impossible to cancle membership

...relatively good equipment. They had, well, still have, cycle machines, elliptical trainers, rowing machines and weight lifting machines. All of the machines were of good quality and allowed to user the plan their own training session, for instance, 30 minutes of cardio. A slight downside to the main exercise area is that it is at the very front of the gym in front of a huge window allowing any passer-by to see the people working out. Another downside to this exercise area was that the ventilation was not particularly good, on days when many people were working out (mainly Monday evenings) the windows would steam up and the room would essentially turn into a steam room. Not pleasant at all. One way of avoiding this problem was to use the smaller areas within the gym for each gender, being female I used the women’s area. This area would often... Read review

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Advantages: Plenty of equipment, classes, and a great view
Disadvantages: Cost, location depending on where you are

...The Esporta at Salford Quays is probably one of the best in the Manchester area in terms of cleanliness, service, appearance, and equipment. It is lacking mainly in size of the pool, and perhaps location, but the location depends on where you live, so it may be very convenient! The fitness area includes two levels of machines for Cardio: stationary cycles, sitting cycles, rowing machines, treadmills, step machines, and a variety of other equipment like elliptical trainers. Weight machines: bench press, leg press, shoulder machines, arm machines, and a variety of specialized equipment for hamstrings and tummy exercises. Free weights: all the necessary weights and bars you could need. Stretching/fitness ball area: a floorspace with area for stretching, using small freeweights, or fitness balls. Spin room: enough room for maybe 30... Read review

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Advantages: good stuff for nothing
Disadvantages: you have to be very quick

...to get rid of yourself. I am amazed by the things that people want. I had a pile of very heavy (in more ways than one) university text books from my son's degree course that went in no time. People were nearly biting my hand off for them. I had an elliptical cross trainer that I had updated and I was bombarded with e-mails. It went to a really good home where the recipient had had heart surgery and needed to excercise every day. He was self employed and off sick for months without pay so it was particularly satisfying to know that I really had helped someone. The real satisfaction is the knowledge that less rubbish is going to landfill and if everyone used Freecycle, we would all be better off, financially and environmentally. Right, I'm off to collect a near perfect three piece suite.... Read review

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Advantages: Loads
Disadvantages: None

...each with balcony General Room Amenities Air conditioning Alarm clock Daily Newspaper Full private bath Keycard entry Local calls free Individual climate control Iron and ironing board White linens Hair dryer Room Entertainment Cable channels: CNN Color TV Pay-per-view LodgeNet Entertainment Executive Floors Bathrobe Bottled Water Turn Down Service Upgraded Amenities King, Queen or 2 Double Beds On request Roll-Away Beds Hide-A-Bed Rooms Playpens Jacuzzi Rooms Wheelchair Accessible Rooms Smoking Rooms Microwaves Refrigerators The hotel has a fitness facility too: List of Equipment: •Treadmills •Elliptical Trainer •Weights •Steppers •Universal Gym Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool Eating and Drinking (My favourite!) Cheers Restaurant just off main lobby of Hotel featuring an impressive a la carte menu, breakfast... Read review

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