Velocity Exercise Programmable Elliptical

... enthusiast who has to spread the budget around a couple different pieces of equipment. If you want to buy this exercise piece just for use by itself, I think you are also getting a pretty good value. I compared this unit to a an even cheaper unit that my mother bought a while ago and also to a professional gym elliptical. I think this unit sits quite well in between in terms of quality and function... if anything, I think the price/value proposition favors this one over all three.

The box is heavy, and the unit only comes partially assembled. Leave around 1-2 hrs for assembly. Beware that in the efficiency of packing, there are some little white boxes on the ends of the styrofoam. The instructions for putting it together were decent enough. I did have trouble putting the plastic feet on the front end on the steel frame (one would fit easily, the other not, eventually got both on), which was annoying. I put the elliptical on carpet so that it wouldn''t scratch my wood floor. *NOTE* The power adapter plugs into the back of the unit right underneath the resistance wheel manufacturer needs to update the instruction book.

After assembly, the unit stalls tall and is very sturdy, able to easily support my weight and walking stance WITHOUT wobble. Using the unit at all resistance levels was very smooth, and you can hear the wheel adjust as you change the electronic settings. My mother''s older/cheaper unit used a manual turn knob to adjust resistance and it also wobbled a lot when used. The feet were also set uncomfortably apart, whereas this one was better suited to me, about the same as the professional elliptical. The unit''s footprint takes up about 2/3 of the space of a professional gym unit. The electronic screen is VERY easy to read with good contrast and a cool blue color for the screen and illuminated buttons. I tend to use the unit at my own personal settings on what I feel like doing, never really using the programmed workouts on machines, but they are available on this one.

Overall, I liked this elliptical''s performance, especially as a fraction of the cost of a professional gym piece. I thought it was a well built sturdy piece of equipment that provides decent stride comfort. This was definitely much better than my mother''s cheaper elliptical for a little bit more money, but tending towards as good as a professional gym unit for a lot less money and footprint. I knocked off a star for the plastic foot QC issue since it was a little frustrating to finally get them both on, and I feel this small QC issue could be enough for some people to precipitate a return back to Amazon out of frustration. If the manufacturer could fix this, then I think this elliptical is a value winner.

Out of the 147 pound box, this took me and one other person about 60 mins to set up as the instructions weren''t fantastic but adequate. I''ve set up similar things below so I can''t accurately say how much my experience helped out. I would think that the instructions would be a little more clear but in the end we figured it out.

Other then that, this is exactly what I expected. I would classify this as a great low-end elliptical. My unit ran silently and smoothly and didn''t have too much lateral movement although if you are a really big person, (200 lbs+) you may want to get something a bit more sturdy. The LCD functions were similar to the ones I see at my gym and worked in a similar fashion. The quality seemed what you would expect from an exercise machine in this price range. Specifically, good enough for regular heavy home use but probably wouldn''t hold up in professional gym being used round the clock. The soft handles seemed like they will wear through eventually.

All in all, considering this machine is about 30% the cost of the "big brand" names, its a great way to go if you are on a budget.

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I read the reviews before I bought this item. I did not have any trouble putting it together, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. It does take a second pair of hands to assemble.

We were using the elliptical that morning.

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I''m glad I''m not the only one who had problems with this machine, I thought it might just be me until I read the other reviews. The machine seems very wobbly in the front when I use it, it also make a scraping sound from the back. The screen seems hard to navigate, but maybe it''s because I''m not used to exercise machines. It didn''t take my husband too long to put together when we first got it, but overall it won''t get much use since I don''t feel very sturdy on it and the scraping sound is annoying.

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I really wanted to like this unit, I so much wanted to like it. The couple of good things about it, the display is blue, the movement is o.k.

But there are too many things wrong with this unit to give it anything but a 1 star.

This is the second unit I purchased, having returned the first one for the exact same problem. Which is, the round cover over the rear elliptical mechanism is out of round with the hole that it is in, so it makes a loud rubbing sound with every revolution which is beyond just annoying, it is loud, distracting, and I fear, portends of possible future mechanical failure. This is my biggest complaint about the unit, especially after having gotten a replacement and it has the exact same defect. I don''t see how Velocity could possibly let these out of the factory like this, it is completely unacceptable.

I''m 5'' 9", 225 lbs. (hence the desire to get an exercise unit), but this unit feels borderline unstable, not to the point where I was afraid of falling over or anything, but if they had just but the same 30" stabilizer on the front that they did on the back, instead of just 12", it probably would feel a lot more stable.

The unit went together very easily, especially the second time, having had some practice, and having read some of the pitfalls other users complained about in other reviews.

I contacted the distributor, Cap Barbell, and their response was that it should not do the rubbing sound and I should return it through Amazon.com. So for the second time, that''s what I am doing.

I even purchased the Canopy 4 year protection plan for this, but I will be returning that was well, since I''m not going to have an elliptical to be covered.

I was originally attracted to this unit because of the pulse monitor built into the hand grips of the moving armatures, a feature you don''t see in very many ellipticals, most of them, if they have it, are in the stationary handles of the unit. It seemed to me like you would want to be able to get your pulse without having to re-position your hands to do it. Well, the units computer is completely useless, whacked out, it would tell me my pulse was anywhere between 150 and 250, ranging wildly by as much as 60 points. The distance counter sure as heck wasn''t measuring in miles, or kilometers, it said I did almost 4.0 something in 15 minutes. While I maintained a relatively steady stride, the speed and rpm reading fluctuated significantly. About the only thing I found that I could trust on the display was the timer.

I would add that the second unit I received had blemishes in the paint job that the first unit did not. I''m really disappointed in this unit, I had such high hopes.

The most exercise I''ve gotten from these units is from hauling all the pieces up and down the stairs and putting them together. I won''t be buying another one, two chances is more than enough.

Oh, and there is no book rest, or water holder, if those are important for you.

I guess I am spoiled by the professional units at my local club, but even at that, this units short comings just shouldn''t make it out the door.

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