WLEX22080, sometimes abbreviated to WLEX2208, is the model number for the Weslo Pursuit 605s exercise bike. Originally manufactured in 1998, the Pursuit 605s is an unusual dual-action bike; it has moving handlebars much like those you'd find on an elliptical trainer. Although the original 90-day warranty wasn't an encouraging statement of faith in product quality, the relatively simple mechanism makes this bike a decent bet in terms of durability.
Design
The all-black Weslo 605s is an upright model, configured roughly the same as a conventional bike. The seat is broader than, but still closely resembles, a traditional bike seat. The console is set down low, on top of what would be the front wheel if this were a normal bike, and angled for an easy line of sight from your pedaling position. The moving handlebars are slaved to the pedal crank arms, with vertical arms and padded handles that curve out at a right angle.
Resistance
The Weslo Pursuit 605s has a fan-based resistance mechanism. The harder you pedal, the faster the fan blades move, and the more resistance the bike offers. This type of resistance has a marked downside: The fan tends to be loud, and the harder you pedal the louder it gets. But it has some upsides, too. The mechanism is relatively simple, there's no upper limit for how much resistance the bike can offer, and there's no need to push buttons or adjust tension belts to modify the bike's resistance; just adjust how you pedal.
Muscles Worked
Like all other exercise bikes, the Pursuit 605s offers an effective lower-body workout. Your glutes, quads and hamstrings carry most of the strain; there is minimal calf involvement. The upper-body workout arms are slaved to the bike pedals, so they automatically move back and forth as you pedal. If you push and pull the handles against the bike's resistance, you get a chest, back, shoulders and arms workout. But don't mistake this upper-body endurance workout as a substitute for regular strength training; the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you strength-train twice weekly, in addition to your regular cardio training.
Features
Unlike many cardio machines from the various ICON Health & Fitness brands--ICON is the Weslo parent company--the 605s doesn't come with an impressive array of features and workout programs. Instead, it's designed to suit those with a desire for simplicity. The only significant feature, aside from the moving handlebars, is the battery-powered console. It displays your current speed, time elapsed, distance traveled and a rough estimate of calories burned.
Considerations
It may be hard to look past the electronic convenience of modern exercise bikes. But models like the WLEX2208 offer some advantages. You don't have to plug this bike in; the monitor is battery powered, but even if you choose not to replace the batteries, you can still use the bike. Because the mechanism is relatively simple, there's less potential for breakdowns, and fixes are simpler than on a more complicated bike. The one potential problem to watch out for is that the 605s has a relatively low maximum user weight of 250 lbs.
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