The York C301 is another feature-packed, quality bike from York. The C301 has a great look and feel to it and it's one of those bikes you can't walk past without being tempted to get on. It's a very comfortable bike to use with both vertical and horizontal saddle adjustment to find that perfect riding position.

The console is easy to use, although some may find the smaller numbers hard to read, and displays all your workout data in a well-laid out manner. There are 22 pre-set programmes that range from the gentle to the downright difficult so it should keep you going for years.

The 4 heart rate programmes are based on your age and alter speed targets and resistance levels to keep your pulse in the optimum zone for fitness and fat-burning. You can also design your own custom programme and use the fitness test to monitor your progress. Pre-set programmes are good for keeping you motivated to use your bike everyday. They help to bring some variation to your training and prevent you from getting bored - a real killer when it comes to getting into shape.

You might want to look at the York C302. For about another £100 you get all the above programmes plus a better riding position, console and 4 user profiles if more than one member of your family are going to be using it. As with all York machines you can feel the quality even down to the design and construction of the bottle holder! The warranty is a great 3 year parts and labour cover so you can get an idea of their confidence in the bike.

Conclusion:
A quality built bike with features that would give a more expensive bike a run for their money



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Palmer

The York C201 cycle is a stylish bike that delivers what it promises in our view. The combination of the pre-set programmes, 16 resistance levels, build quality, a comfortable riding position and good price make this a great budget buy. Obviously it can't compete with the more expensive bikes but in this bracket it's hard to beat.

We all found a comfortable riding position (we range from 5'5" to 6'2") thanks to a fully adjustable saddle for both height and reach - it's a well padded saddle. The action on the pedals was smooth and quiet, although our big chap did make the saddle squeak at top speed! The saddle also have a towel holder which is one of a number of touches that set this bike apart from its closest rivals.

The console is a typical York one in that it's easy to use and understand. The LCD display is large and tells you everything from the distance you've travelled to the number of calories you've burnt. However, some may find the lower digits in the window difficult to read. The flywheel control knob makes it easy to change programmes and settings whilst in the middle of a session. The console has a reading rack for a book or magazine if you need anything to keep you occupied whilst cycling.

The C201 may qualify as a budget bike but it doesn't cut corners on the features. There is a great selection of pre-set programmes (21 in total) including hills, intervals and three heart rate controlled workouts. These control the resistance or set speed limits to keep your heart beating at the optimum level for fat-burning or improving fitness fast. Your pulse is measured by hand grips which aren't as accurate as a chest strap - but you would have to pay much more to get a bike with this feature.

The full three year warranty is great for a bike of this price.

Conclusion

An excellent bike at a keen price - stylish, comfortable and a great way to get fit.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Palmer

If you own a TV you must have seen the infomercial for the Ab Rocket exercise machine. Let's just say they know how to push the desire buttons. The infomercial shows a bunch of sexy guys and gals all of whom swear that they got their hot bodies by using the Ab Rocket.

Is this the truth or is the Ab Rocket a Scam?

I won't go as far as saying that the Ab Rocket is a scam. For one thing, I don't want to get sued. For another, I do believe that this exercise machine does have its merit, but only if you're a beginner without too much strength in your abdominal area, or if the mere presence of this machine in your home will get you to exercise when you otherwise wouldn't.

Other than that, I find it hard to believe that the Ab Rocket is truly responsible for the great abs you see in the infomercial.

I base this belief on a couple of facts:

1. Getting flat abs is more about losing stomach fat than anything else, and the Ab Rocket can't help a lot in that respect simply because you can't spot reduce fat from a specific body part. This means that doing abs exercises doesn't really burn all that much stomach fat.

2. A lot of people complain that the Ab Rocket doesn't provide a good degree of resistance. That's why I said it may be alright if you're a total beginner, but if you do abs exercises regularly, the resistance this machine provides may not be enough for you.

3. Since losing belly fat is more about nutrition than it is about exercise, the Ab Rocket doesn't really get to the core of the problem. Of course, working out is important, but without a sound nutritional plan and routine, you will get nowhere and still have belly flab.

In my mind, this device is probably not worth its price. You can find a more complete solution with various abs programs on the market today.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Davenport