Everyone's Bike: The NordicTrack S22i
https://ift.tt/2Mjvi4B When I got an opportunity to review the NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle, of course, I said yes. I had been shopping recently for an at-home option for cycling during the rainy winter months in Oregon, so trying out this cycle was an exciting prospect. Indoor exercise equipment has come a long way from when I was in my early 20’s and there are many affordable options for those who want to skip the gym occasionally or try a training program on their own.
NordicTrack as a brand has been in the business for a very long time. In fact, my 12-year-old treadmill is a NordicTrack (and it still works perfectly). NordicTrack has a history of creating long-lasting and quality products for gyms and for home use. From those I’ve talked to, NordicTrack is a household name and is commonly recognized from the average Joes to fitness enthusiasts. Most agree, there is a place for stationary equipment in the home.
About the NordicTrack S22i Studio CycleThe S22i is a fully adjustable stationary bicycle. It has a 22” adjustable touchscreen that includes two digitally amplified speakers and an auxiliary port. There is also an HDMI option to use with a TV, but you may not need to because the monitor can tilt and also rotate 360 degrees. The bike uses wifi to connect to NordicTrack’s iFit programming, where all the workouts are housed. You can track your stats, adjust the volume, and much more via the touchscreen. The monitor also includes an AutoBreeze adjustable fan, so when you are riding the hot mountains of Chile, you can feel the wind on your face.
The flywheel is inertia enhanced and offers SMR (Silent Magnetic Resistance) technology, so the spinning is very quiet. There are leveling feet installed on the base, so the bike remains stable during the workout. The frame is commercial-grade steel construction and is rated for riders up to 350lbs.
Every part of the bike is adjustable, from the saddle position to the handlebars, and it is easy to customize the ergonomics to fit a range of body types. The bike comes with regular bike pedals and straps, but can be changed to pedals of your choice.
The multi-position handlebars of the S22i start near the seat of the bike for closer hand positioning and go up to near the screen where adjustable OneTouch controls sit on the handlebars for manual resistance (24 levels) and incline adjustments from -10% to 20%. The handlebars have a non-slip grip, as well.
The saddle is adjustable vertically and horizontally to fit a range of inseams and comfort levels.
The studio cycle comes with a 1-year iFit membership, which gives you access to hundreds of rides of all types—studio, beginner, mountain bike, road bike—and includes off-the-bike training options. In addition, the S22i comes with two 3lb dumbbells that are used in some of the workouts that are guaranteed to make you thirsty, so it’s a good thing there are two places for water bottles.
The workouts include boot camp style workouts, high-energy studio sessions, trainer-led global workouts, incline cycling, yoga, and full-body options, among many others. There is just about every type of ride and difficulty level available along with varying options for length of rides, some as short as 20 minutes, others longer.
The frame of the S22i is 56.9” high, 55” long, and 21.9” wide, so it is small enough for apartment living or storage when necessary. The bike only requires a regular wall plug-in for power and can be easily moved when needed via small wheels attached to the frame. There is a 3-year parts warranty and a 1-year labor warranty included should anything come up.
NordicTrack iFit ProgrammingOnce connected with wifi, and you are logged into your account, the user has a vast amount of programs to choose from. New workouts are uploaded daily and there are a wide variety of trainers to choose from depending on your mood, or your goals.
The programs all offer interactive training, so as the program moves along, the trainer adjusts the incline and resistance for the workouts. You can override this feature at any time during the workout, but you will most likely hit the calorie and watt goals if you are able to keep up with the cadence and allow the bike to adjust for you.
iFit programming uses Google Maps, so you are able to see parts of the world you might not normally during your training rides otherwise. With your login, your stats are tracked and will show weekly totals along with ride totals. The program is multi-user friendly, so four profiles per membership can be created so the whole family can track their statistics.
Pricing and DeliveryThe S22i is $2999 (currently there a discount of $1000 applied to the cart) and includes a 1-year membership to iFit. There are financing options available, as well. There is an option for White Glove Delivery and Installation for $249—this includes delivery, assembly, and installation. If you opt not to go with the delivery service, shipping is free and there is a 30-day return policy across the board.
So, What Did I Think?This is one great looking bike. The quality of the frame and components are all very good. The engineering behind the design is well-researched and planned. Everything you need is within easy reach when you are spinning, so if you need to grab your weights, get a drink of water or adjust the resistance, it's all quickly available.
I think the workouts available on iFit are truly fabulous—there really is something for everyone at every level. There is a wide variety of coaches, and some are former Olympic athletes. When you are riding, the experience is that you feel like you are there with them. All of the coaches are encouraging for the duration of each workout and all are excellent at communicating cadence and positioning during the ride so that you can get the most out of the workout.
The seat took a few sessions to get used to, as I expected. It can be easily switched with another seat type if it is not to your preference. By the third ride, I didn’t even notice the seat. My first few rides were with the pedals and straps included with the bike. They are quality components, but for my preference, I switched those out for clip-in pedals and even though I got a lot out of the workouts, to begin with, the clip-ins made a big difference in my ability to keep up with the cadence needed on some of the workouts. If you decide to purchase an S22i, I highly recommend installing clip-in pedals—the swap was fast, just a few minutes.
The bike is stable while you are riding and does not feel flimsy or light if you stand up and sit down quickly. The handlebars provide a comfortable hold and grip whether you are standing or sitting. At first, I couldn’t get the handlebars to move up and down but realized that because the monitor is part of the handlebar assembly, it took more force to adjust. It is easy, but some pressure does have to be applied. The seat adjustment is much easier because there is no weight on the piece that slides into the frame.
The fan works well and the screen is very responsive to touch during the rides. The background music can be adjusted separately from the voice of the trainer, so you can get as little or as much of each of those as you would like during your workout.
The top of the screen tracks your stats during your ride, so you know where are you are at during the ride, and at the end of the ride your totals are calculated and displayed. There is a separate warm-up and cool-down before and after each workout at a few minutes each. Some of the workouts provide warm-up and cool-down instruction within them as well.
One thing that I did notice is that the first time the incline adjusted, the sound of it surprised me. It isn’t silent like the spinning is. It works very well and is part of the workout so after the first couple of times hearing it, I got used to the sound. Besides, I should be pedaling hard enough I can only hear the trainer’s instruction, right?
The bike can also be used manually, so if you opt not to do a workout, you can still use it as a regular stationary bike. One cool thing is that with the HDMI cable, you can play the ride on your TV. I have a separate good ol’ spin bike and my daughter sometimes hops on that and rides along beside me, and that makes it even more fun.
The Bottom LineMy opinion is that this bike is well worth the money. Along with the 30-day return policy, if you don’t like it, you really can’t go wrong. It is great fun and something that I look forward to using each time. This is an excellent purchase and I don’t see a downside to this bike. Everything works as it should and as advertised.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs-up from me.
We do not get paid to provide reviews. We may receive affiliate payments for links to Amazon for purchases. They're not worth the price of selling your soul so, our integrity remains unsullied. Fitness via Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/1hdUh1E July 27, 2019 at 06:08PM
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The Skinny Advantage in Muscle Building
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Brad Borland has an impressive resume: a University Lecturer with a Master’s degree in Kinesiology and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). But the thing that impresses the most is the stuff that doesn't always get an award. Like starting out as a scrawny 125lb kid at six feet, two inches, taking up weight training at the tender age of fourteen and ending up a 220lb competitive, drug-free, natural bodybuilder several years later.
In this podcast, we discuss a wide range of subjects including, why people use genetics as an excuse, realistic rates of gain for a natural lifter, how to filter the information overload the modern lifter is bombarded with, and Brad’s favorite way to train if you want to build muscle as quickly as possible.
If you enjoyed this podcast and took value from it, please rate and review to help us spread the word to motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. Again, for more podcasts like this, visit the Six Pack of Knowledge page.
If you are interested in being on the podcast or want to suggest future guests, feel free to DM me on Instagram @tommaccormick or send an email to info at breakingmuscle.com. If you want to work with me directly on applying the knowledge you gain here in your personal training, visit the Tom MacCormick website. Fitness via Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/1GxgPEe July 27, 2019 at 05:37AM
Shawn Ray Talks Comebacks, and Why He Wouldn't Make One
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Plus, he looks back at some of the most famous comebacks in bodybuilding history.
Shawn Ray shares a recent experience when he told his audience he was coming back, and reviews some of the more notorious comebacks in bodybuilding history, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia win.
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Fitness via Muscle & Fitness https://ift.tt/2zjtGBz July 26, 2019 at 04:28PM
Shawn Ray Shares Professional Photoshoot Tips and Tricks
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The IFBB Hall of Famer gives tips on how to look good on camera.
Shawn Ray is no stranger to a professional photoshoot, and he’s not shy when it comes to sharing insider tips for looking great on camera. From body oil to mascara—yes, mascara—he runs through some of the tricks he’s used to look picture-perfect over the years. Plus, he discusses the ways a great photoshoot can be just as important as a contest win when you’re trying to monetize your career in the bodybuilding world.
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Fitness via Muscle & Fitness https://ift.tt/2zjtGBz July 26, 2019 at 04:28PM
Eating Earlier in the Day May be the Key to Losing More Weight
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In recent years, bodybuilders and fitness influencers have sung the praises of intermittent fasting as a tool for weight loss. If you don’t already know, intermittent fasting is accomplished by only eating during a set time period, anywhere from eight to 10 hours. It’s generally thought that there’s no set way to accomplish intermittent fasting, and that it can be modified to one’s schedule. A recent study, though, found you should eat all your meals as early and quickly as possible if you’re looking to shed a lot of pounds. The study, published in the journal Obesity, found that eating earlier in the day increased weight loss and suppressed appetites in obese individuals, even though they didn’t burn more calories than those on a normal eating schedule. The researchers said this is because an early-eating schedule better coordinates meals with people’s circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock. “We suspect that a majority of people may find meal timing strategies helpful for losing weight or to maintain their weight since these strategies naturally appear to curb appetite, which may help people eat less,” Courtney Peterson, Ph.D., lead author of the study, said in a news release. [RELATED1] The study had a small sample size—only 11 adults. All followed two different eating schedules for four days: one where they ate all their meals in 12 hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and another where they ate for only six hours, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. They all ate the same amount of food on both meal schedules. Not too surprisingly, the participants lost more weight when they fasted for 18 hours compared to 12. But the strategy also decreased their appetite and made them more full, according to the study. This is all despite the fact that there was no increase in calories burned. The researchers pointed out that past studies have found shifting food intake to earlier in the day increases weight loss, and their findings seem to support that. [RELATED2]
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Fitness via Muscle & Fitness https://ift.tt/2zjtGBz July 26, 2019 at 12:55PM
7 Reasons You're Not Getting Stronger
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Martin Kove Talks Working With Quentin Tarantino
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The 'Once Upon a Time in ... Hollywood' actor shares his experience.
Our executive editor, Zack Zeigler, sits down with Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood actor Martin Kove to find out what it’s like to work on a film with Quentin Tarantino. Catch Kove along with Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more in the film, which is in theaters now.
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Fitness via Muscle & Fitness https://ift.tt/2zjtGBz July 26, 2019 at 11:22AM
Improve Your Front Rack Position
https://ift.tt/2Y2J3Me Does being in the front rack position cause you to make an ugly pain face?
Does it feel like one person is breaking your wrists, while another is aggressively pinching your shoulders when you're in the front rack? Does your back suddenly tighten up? You are not alone.
While there’s always the option to simply avoid the front rack position with a barbell (dumbbells can easily be substituted for pretty much any barbell movement) but you’re determined to keep on with those front squats, cleans, thrusters, and front rack lunges, you can help yourself out a lot by adding a few things to your warm-up.
Not only will taking the time to warm-up your front rack help open you up and mitigate the discomfort you feel, it will also go a long way in getting you into a better position during the movements themselves, which might even help you lift a few more pounds.
Below are five warm-up drills to help open your front rack position.
Fix Your Front Rack Drill #1: Prone Bench StretchOn your knees facing the ground, place your elbows on a bench. Straighten out your arms with your palms to the sky. Then, keeping a neutral spine, push your face through your arms and toward the ground. From there, bend your elbows until your fingers touch your shoulders and then straighten your arms back out again, all the while keeping a neutral spine.
Spend one to two minutes on this stretch in your warm-up.
Fix Your Front Rack Drill #2: Wrist Extension StretchThere are various ways to stretch your wrists, but a simple one is to kneel down and put your palms flat on the ground in front of you with your fingers facing your body and the outside of your wrists facing forward. Then, oscillate back and forth, stretching your wrists a little further each time. Spend one minute on this stretch in warm-up.
Fix Your Front Rack Drill #3: Barbell Wrist Extension StretchPlace the barbell on your back, and then drive one elbow at a time as high as you can. As you’re doing this, make sure you keep your ribcage down (avoid spinal extension) and your butt cheeks squeezed as hard as you can while focusing on tilting your pelvis up.
You’ll feel a deeper stretch if you keep the barbell in the palm of your hands, as opposed to rolling it into your fingertips like you do during a front squat.
Do 2 sets of 10 reps on each arm in your warm-up.
Fix Your Front Rack Drill #4: Lat StretchThough you might think it’s your wrists that are the problem, sometimes your lats are also playing a role in limiting your front rack position.
To stretch your lats, drop into a lunge next to a post and reach across your body with your outside arm and grab the post above your head. Place the other hand on the post just below. Then lean off the post and into your lat until you feel a deep, but not painful, stretch.
Spend one minute per lat in your warm-up.
Fix Your Front Rack Drill #5: Scapula Push-UpsScapular control is needed to develop a more stable rack position, and scapula push-ups are a good starting place for developing this control.
Assume the top of a push-up position and simply squeeze your shoulder blades together and then pull them apart, trying to get as much range of motion in your scapula as you can. If it’s too challenging on your toes, then drop to your knees instead.
Add 2 sets of 10 to your warm-up.
Put These Drills to PracticeAdding all of the above to your warm-up before a training session only adds 6 to 8 minutes to your day, and might just make all the difference in eliminating physical discomfort and improving your performance. Take the time.
Fitness via Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/1GxgPEe July 26, 2019 at 09:03AM
Shawn Ray Talks 2019 Olympia: What to Expect at the Show, Where to Stay, and More
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Here’s what you need to know about this year’s Olympia.
Shawn Ray talks details about the upcoming Olympia Weekend, which hits Las Vegas Sept. 12-15, 2019. He discusses top competitors, what to expect at the show, and a rundown of the best places to stay in Vegas. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s Olympia.
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Fitness via Muscle & Fitness https://ift.tt/2zjtGBz July 25, 2019 at 04:17PM
Flex Lewis's Instagram Shows Why He's a Legend
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