Choosing the right piece of cardio equipment

Which piece of equipment will be best for me?

The best answer to this is the piece of equipment that you would enjoy using and feel the most comfortable on. This is purely because if you feel comfortable and enjoy what you are doing you will be more likely to use that particular piece of equipment, thus increasing your chances of achieving the goals you have set for yourself. A good way of working this out is to ask yourself, "If I walked into a gym, which machine would i use first?"

If you are still not sure as to which what is best for you, contact one of our stores or even drop in and try then out for yourself. Our staff should be able to help point you in the right direction.

What do I need to look for to ensure I'm getting a good brand?

Good quality brand names are always backed with a manufacturer’s warranty, not a store warranty. This ensures that the best quality of service is provided. A manufacturer’s warranty is valid WORLDWIDE. You don’t have to rely on the shop that you purchased the item from, to be still in business in 5 years time.

One of the best indicators of a good brand is one that can be searched on the internet as www.brand(fitness).com. For example: yorkfitness.com, horizonfitness.com, proteusfitness.com, tunturi.com, bodysolid.com, bodycraft.com, bhfitness.com – this means that the brand has a worldwide presents and the products are more likely to be of a higher quality.

Brands that can only be searched under " .com.au " are generally generic products that are imported by local companies and are branded, marketed and made out to be quality brands. These types of products generally come from smaller Taiwanese / Chinese factories with limited experience in fitness equipment manufacturing. The warranties that are supplied with these products are backed by either the importer or the shop that sells you the product. There is a far greater risk involved with this type of purchase…

It is a known fact in the fitness industry that the World’s Best Brands have the first choice of the quality manufacturers in Taiwan and China, the remaining brands fight it out with the smaller manufacturers.

Do your research! Look for brands that can be found on the web with (.com). Look for brands with an international presence, for peace of mind and security.

Most of the brands sold by FITBIZ offer you this: Bodyworx, Horizon, Johnson, BodySolid, Bodycraft and Inspire.

We all recognise brands like Sony, Panasonic, Toyota, Ford, Fujitsu, Nokia & Motorola – why not make a smart choice when purchasing fitness equipment and choose from one of the “World’s Best Brands”.

How much do I need to spend?

There is a wide range of prices available for different forms of fitness equipment. As with anything, you tend to get what you pay for, and this is the case with exercise equipment. If there are two different products with similar features yet there is a significant price difference, you might ask yourself, why? Chances are the quality is quite different.

Keeping this in mind, everyone has a budget they have to work within. You need to find something that has the features that make you feel comfortable and ensure you want to keep using your equipment. Fitness equipment can last you a long time, well over 10 years in some cases, so spending that little bit extra at the start to get a good quality machine that has everything you want often means you'll get more value you out of it over the lifetime of the machine.

How do I look after my treadmill?

Location of Your Treadmill

• A rubberized equipment mat will help to reduce dust, dirt, vibrations and to protect your flooring
• Keep out of direct sunlight
• Store in an enclosed room away from water, rain and damp air
• Keep in a clean room

Careful maintenance of your treadmill is vital to increasing its lifespan and performance. It MUST be cleaned, lubricated and adjusted regularly. However, there is no need to be afraid; the maintenance of a treadmill is quick and easy.

Cleaning – will require a damp cleaning cloth and a vacuum

• Wipe down the entire treadmill with your damp cloth
• Wipe away perspiration as the salt content can corrode the machine or ruin the electronics
• Vacuum the area around your treadmill to rid excess dirt and debris
• 3-4 times per year you should clean the motor by carefully removing the motor cover and vacuuming around the motor.

Lubrication

you will require the lubricant recommended by the manufacturer of your machine. It is usually either silicone or Teflon, refer to the manual of your treadmill or speak to a FITBIZ service technician. In applying the lubricant:

• Carefully lift the edge of the treadmill mate
• Apply lubricant evenly across the treadmill deck.

Belt Alignment – If your belt doesn’t run directly down the centre of the deck:

• turn the adjustment bolts (on each side at the rear of your machine) ¼ turn at a time.
• check your owners’ manual for specific instructions

Belt Tension – the treadmill belt needs to be set just tight enough that it doesn’t slip whilst you are walking or running.

• with the belt running slowly, stomp your foot forcefully down and slightly forward on the belt
• If you feel the belt slip tighten both bolts ¼ turns at a time

How do I look after my elliptical trainer?

There are some things you should know about cleaning an elliptical trainers.

Make sure to use a mild detergent to clean your machine. Aggressive chemicals like bleach and ammonia can harm many of the plastics you can find on an elliptical trainer.

Warm water, mild detergent and a lint free towel are your best options. Also make sure the towel you’re using isn’t too wet. Just damp will do fine. Using too much water can cause corrosion and electrical problems.

• After every workout: After every workout, use a damp, lint free towel to quickly wipe down the machine. Especially the console and handles should be cleaned. Also get any sweat drops that might have gotten somewhere else. This prevents your sweat from attracting extra dust and dirt.
• Monthly: About once a month, do a more thorough clean of the whole machine. Wipe down the whole outside of the machine. Pay special attention to the guide rails and rollers if your machine has those.
• Every 6 months: Turn off the machine and unplug it from the wall. Take off the plastic covers and vacuum up any dust you can see. Try to avoid bumping into any internal parts. This could damage something. The goal here is to prevent too much dust from building up that can interfere with the functioning of the machine.

That’s it for cleaning. It isn’t difficult at all, just something you have to remember to do. The small time investment will be worth the better machine in the end.

Lubrication of a crosstrianer

Every 3-6 months – depending on the frequency of your use, and the number of people in the home who use your elliptical – you need to perform a maintenance check.

The first most important part of maintenance is lubrication. Elliptical trainers have several moving parts. When two parts move together and they’re properly lubricated, they last for a very long time. Let’s say you have two metal parts moving against each other. A lubricant forms a thin film between the two surfaces so they don’t touch. That way there is no or very limited wear. Follow the instructions in the user’s manual, which specifies which type of lubricant to use and where to apply it.

Next, tighten all the nuts and screws that may have been loosened through frequent use. In particular, check the nuts and bolts you screwed in during your initial assembly. The user’s manual can help you to pinpoint what to check. Again, don’t wait for parts to be visibly loose, or for strange noises or abnormal movements to alert you. Be proactive.

That being said, if you do hear any abnormal noise or feel vibration, try to locate the problem and correct it. If you can’t, contact your elliptical after sales service representative.

Service

What do I do if a need a service for my exercise equipment?

It is really very simple! All you have to do is contact Fitbiz on 1800 817 418 and we will take care of the rest for you! One of the major advantages of purchasing from Fitbiz is that we can get spare parts for any goods purchased from Fitbiz. The reason we can say this is because we have suppliers that help make up our customer support network! It is this network that ensures Fitbiz can guarantee you a superior after sales service!

What are the Trading Hours for FitBiz Showrooms?

Stores:

City- (02) 9360 8666

• Monday – Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 9am - 5pm
• Thursday: 9am - 6pm
• Sunday: – 10am - 5pm

RYDALMERE – (02) 9638 3088

• Monday – Friday: 9am - 5pm
• Saturday 9am-4pm
• Sunday: 10am – 5pm

Can I order items that are not listed on the Fitbiz website?

YES! If the item you wish to purchase is supplied by a national supplier, such as the companies listed on the Fitbiz website, then there is a very high possibility that Fitbiz can get it for you! So why not pick up the phone and find out if we can help you? 1800 817 418

Does Fitbiz give Discounts to Personal Trainers?

Yes!

Fitbiz sells all Punch Branded Boxing Equipment to Personal Trainers at wholesale prices (plus GST)! If you are interested in purchasing other pieces of exercise equipment then call Fitbiz on (02) 9638 3088 to find out more!

How do I best achieve my health and exercise goals?

What is the best way for me to lose weight?

Choosing the piece of exercise equipment that you are most comfortable and confident on will be the machine that will allow you to gain the most out of your workout! You can look the fitness tips section of the Fitbiz website to find information that gives more details on how to achieve your goals.

What is the best way to tone my muscles?

The best way to tone your muscles is by lifting weights, or other types of resistance based exercises. For example, you could try using a gymstick or resistance bands. If you combine resistance work with a cardio workout (walking, running, cycling or a cross trainer workout) as well as a healthy and balanced diet, you will tone your muscles, whilst making them more visible! The key to remember when doing resistance work, when you want to tone your muscles is "repetition equals definition", that is, you want to be lifting light weights but at least 15 times per set. This will ensure you tone your muscles as opposed to making them bigger! For more specific information on how to maximise your muscle tone (also referred to as muscular endurance).

What is the best way for me to bulk up or build bigger muscles?

The ONLY way to build muscle mass is by lifting weights. There is no secret to building muscle mass other than a great deal of hard work, persistence and patience! The fitness tips section of the website offers some great evidence based advice on how to best achieve an increase in muscle mass!