| High-Tech Home Gym |
| A fitness-minded couple turns a basement storage room into a smart and high-tech home gym. |
From "Tech Out My House"
episode DTMH-101 |
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(Continued from page )
Finally Regina Lewis demonstrates for Matt and Heather some advanced fitness technologies-- the new CompuTrainer stationary bike trainer and a specially designed set of free weights from Bowflex.
CompuTrainer Bike System
The CompuTrainer is actually a standard stationary bicycle trainer with a computer-controlled monitoring system and resistance unit attached. Once it's all hooked up and wired to the PC, the software is loaded onto the computer. The software allows you to either pick an existing race or build your own course with as many hills and straight-aways as you like. The user can determine the number and difficulty of virtual "hills", and the resistance unit mimics the difficulty of bicycling the hill. The program also allows each user to enter his or her own personal stats--age, weight, etc--to build the most suitable ride. The "ride" is displayed on the monitor.
Matt tries out the new CompuTrainer system.
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With the CompuTrainer, your simulated "ride" can be displayed on a monitor screen.
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- First, lock the bike into the trainer (figure A).
- Once the bike is locked in, you can connect the computer (figure B).
The cables are held onto the bike frame using Velcro strips (figure C). The main connection runs from the computer to the resistance unit. Then the resistance unit is connected to a controller which is mounted on the bike handle bars (figure D).
A cadence meter, which measures RPM, is mounted to the frame near the chain wheel (figure E), and a sensor is fastened to the pedal shaft. Important: Make sure that the sensor and the monitor are aligned directly across from each other to ensure an accurate reading for speed and distance (figure F).
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The "virtual Matt" sets out on his ride.
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Once all the cables are connected, start the computer, load the software, and launch the program. Once you've entered you vital statistics and choose a course, you're ready to roll.
Bowflex Weight SystemRegina Lewis also demonstrates a new high-tech free weight system from BowFlex for use in their new high-tech home gym.
Weight equipment, BEFORE
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Weight equipment, AFTER
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The BowFlex weight system allows you to dial in the weight you wish.
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The Bowflex system is and advanced design that allows the user to "dial in" the amount of weight they desire on each dumbbell before lifting it from its stand. With its compact configuration, the Bowflex system is major space saver compared to a traditional set of free weights the test.
RESOURCES :
Miracle Tiles
www.miracletiles.com
CompuTrainer
www.computrainer.com
www.racermateinc.com
BowFlex SelectTech Weight System
www.bowflexselecttech.com
www.bowflexshop.com
| ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: | | High-Tech Home Gym |
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