Once an upstart compared to the treadmill's perennial popularity, elliptical trainers have proven themselves consistently popular -- and useful -- over time. Since ellipticals are a common sight as of 2010, some exercise equipment manufacturers are trying to invent the next new thing. Only a few types of "alternative" exercise equipment beyond the typical ellipticals, treadmills, steppers and bikes have stuck around long enough to make any impact. One of them is the HealthRider, a compact, pump-action take on the exercise bike.
Design
Elliptical trainers are built around a disc-shaped flywheel, located in the front, rear or middle of the machine. You stand on two pedals that move beneath you as you walk or run. Moving handlebars swing back and forth in front of you with the pedals' motion, and an upright console displays workout information and push-button controls.
The HealthRider looks a lot like a bike. But instead of pedaling in a circular motion, you push on both pedals at the same time, simultaneously pulling the handlebar toward you. The end result is a back-and-forth pumping motion, a bit like doing repeated squats.
Muscles Worked
Both machines work all major lower body muscles, with minimal calf involvement. You can get extra calf involvement by rising up on your toes as you pedal the elliptical or pump the HealthRider. The elliptical trainer also works your chest, back, arms and shoulders as you push and pull the moving handlebars. The HealthRider primarily works your back, since it focuses on the pulling motion only; your chest has almost no involvement.
Resistance
Most entry-level or better elliptical trainers have push-button adjustable magnetic resistance. Higher-end ellipticals come with electromagnet-based resistance systems. The original HealthRider had weight bars mounted beneath the seat for adding extra resistance; the HealthRider HR2 has a manually adjustable hydraulic resistance system instead. As long as they provide enough resistance to challenge your abilities, these manual-adjust systems are equally effective, if less convenient, than an elliptical trainer's push-button controls.
Features
Most elliptical trainers feature a fairly standard range of features including handgrip heart rate sensors, preprogrammed workouts, built-in speakers and a plugin for an MP3 player. The console displays information like rpm, calories burned and time elapsed, and includes push-button controls to adjust resistance and sometimes incline too. The HealthRiders offer only the most basic of features: The seat and handlebar adjust to accommodate users of different heights, and the console displays strokes per minute, total strokes, time elapsed and a rough estimate of calories burned.
Price
Expect to pay at least $800 for a quality elliptical trainer, according to the Exercise Equipment Expert elliptical buying guide. The HealthRiders, by comparison, both retail for about $600 as of October 2010. If price is your primary concern, the HealthRiders may be your best bet. But if you can afford to invest more, you'll get a greater return per dollar invested by purchasing an elliptical trainer.
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