Treadmill Questions

magenta321 · #1 11-08-2007, 09:40 PM

I'd like to get a treadmill. I think I would use it. I plan to get dieting and excercising soon.

I need to ask for something for Christmas, and a treadmill might be a good gift to ask for.

I don't know what I am looking for. I really can't run because my boobs hurt too much*. Plus, I'm not healthy enough to run anyway. So I think that one of those 10 mile ones is fine for me. But the guy at the store said that means the motor is weaker and it will wear out faster even if I'm only walking on it. Is this true?

What features are "worth the price?"

Who fixes it when it breaks?

Would you buy a used one if the belt wasn't working? I've had three people willing to sell me their treadmills with lose or broken belts.

*Don't waste your breath telling me to wear a sports bra -- I'm not made for them and they hurt worse than the running does, and yes, I've tried on a zillion, and yes, I've been measured, and yes, I tried them on in sizes bigger than my measurements to see if that helped.

**drmomentum**[$] · #2 11-08-2007, 10:02 PM

We've got a NordicTrack and we've had to have it fixed twice in, I think, 5 years. The first time was just because we didn't know how to tighten the belt right and the second time was because eventually the belt stretches out and even when you adjust it, you can't get it to not slip. So the belt had to be replaced and the stuff we broke by trying to fix it ourselves had to be fixed.

But aside from those problems, I love the NordicTrack. I think we got it on sale from Sears, and Sears can tell you who to call to repair it. I run on it about 2 miles and walk an extra mile every other day, so it gets decent use. We've never had a problem with the motor.

I have a plodding gait, so it gets pounded on. I figure it's sturdy.

phoenixx · #3 11-08-2007, 11:08 PM

I have a WalMart Cardio-whatever treadmill I bought for $180 (honey is already asleep for the night, so I'll have to look at the name and model # tomorrow). I hate walking on a treadmill, period, so most days I walk outside. When it is a) raining or b) too f-ing icy/cold, I use the treadmill. I've had it for 3 years with no incidents. I only walk on it (knees = no running). It has a calorie counter, a timer, and a mileage tracker - that's enough for me. It is basic. There isn't much to break. It does the job using it about 2/3 of the year. Daily? You probably want something nicer. But if you have a mixed indoor/outdoor walk plan like me, it's enough.

magenta321 · #4 11-08-2007, 11:13 PM

I like walking out doors, but I'm nervous about walking alone in the dark. It's always dark when I can walk.

My doctor is willing to sell me her $4000 treadmill, but wouldn't name her price. Her belt is broken.

There's a few freecycle treadmills that sound like "budget" treadmills that I could have. All of them have broken belts too.

Play It Again Sports has a used treadmill for $500, which, I think is a LOT of money for an entry level model. The salesman was trying to upsell me from there, saying it really wasn't a good treadmill...

It's very confusing and these things are very expensive...

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #5 11-08-2007, 11:23 PM

Freecycle.

phoenixx · #6 11-08-2007, 11:24 PM

stay away from broken belts and obnoxious salesmen.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #7 11-09-2007, 01:50 PM

Yep. Also, put a want to buy ad on cheapcycle. I love cheapcycle, you're most likely to get soemthing really good on there or on craigslist. I love craigslist, too!

magenta321 · #8 11-11-2007, 10:45 AM

I found one on Ebay that I like. It's a couple towns over.

I just sent my mom a link to it to see if she'd help me. She has a CRV. I'm assuming it would fit (the seller thinks so too). The handles come off so it will make it easier.

So for the treadmill owners... do you think two women can carry this thing? We'd have to get it from the owner's house to the car, and from the car, up 5-6 steps, and across my condo (unless we drove on the grass... wonder if we'd get fined on that... then I could go up fewer steps and have it right in the room I want it in...)

I'm one of the women and I'm weak on my right side still, but I really want this thing.

My mom and I carried my patio set. I wonder how much heavier this is than a 3 piece wicker bistro set

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #9 11-11-2007, 01:43 PM

The treadmills I helped people take out of my condo had wheels hidden under the front - I found out many of them do, so the lateral moves shouldn't be bad. The smaller treadmill was easy enough for three women to lift into a minivan, the larger one took two men to lift up into a flatbed truck.

naomie · #10 11-14-2007, 06:57 PM

I just have a gym membership. There is something motivational about having other people around who are working out also. The gym fixes the machines and I have access to most everything.

I own a Bun and Thigh Master, Mini-Stepper and Red for working out at home and the gym really doesn't have a comparison. They are on warrenty. It is nice.

My parents own their treadmill. It is in front of the tv. I worked out on it a few times to find out if it was something I like. It isn't. Too difficult getting motivated.

They had a 7 years warrenty. When anything broke, the warrenty takes care of it. Sometimes they could send the part, sometimes someone would have to come over. Even after the warrenty was over, they just bought the parts on-line or went to a speciality shop. They have had the treadmill a long time. It was worth it.

magenta321 · #11 11-14-2007, 07:14 PM

Thanks Naomi, and welcome

naomie · #12 11-14-2007, 07:26 PM

You're welcome. I wouldn't buy a used one, no warrenty.

magenta321 · #13 11-20-2007, 09:24 PM

I think I found my treadmill.

Sears has one on sale for Black friday for $499. It has a lifetime warrenty on the motor. Only 1 yr on parts and labor. This is the lowest price I've seen on a lifetime warrenteed machine, however.

It's got a dock for my ipod, supposedly very quiet, has "shock absorber" type thingies in it, and idk, I like it. First one that's under $600 I've seen and liked.

Delivery price, and whether or not they'll bring it into the room I want them to could be a deal breaker.

I am not sure what to do tomorrow. I wanted to get out of work as early as possible and get home before the traffic gets completely insane. Instead it sounds like I'm running to a friend's house to pick up a book, and then to Sears to see if this is "the one" and figure out delivery.

Maybe on Thanksgiving I can find a way to ask for this for Christmas, or at least, something towards it for Christmas.

magenta321 · #14 11-22-2007, 07:26 PM

Mommy is getting me the treadmill!

It's getting delivered, not this Saturday, but the next one

Woot!!!!

Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to Margaret, Merry Christmas to me!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #15 11-22-2007, 08:05 PM

congrats!

**Helen_B**[$] · #16 11-24-2007, 01:23 AM

That's great, Margaret!

magenta321 · #17 12-01-2007, 06:50 PM

It's heeere!!!

It took the guys two hours to put it together, but it was worth it.

It's freaking huge. I don't care if you've measured your area to try to picture it. I don't care if you've looked at it in the store. You don't realize until it's in your space, with your stuff how HUGE it is.

It's fun. I hooked up my ipod and put on Metallica's ...And Justice for All. I selected one of the pre-set workout routines and got to it. It felt like the treadmill was intune with my music. That was helpful when the program would decide to up the ante on me, and increase the incline or the speed or both.

I really should read the booklet that came with it. I'm going to get on that. I didn't really know if my pulse was what it should be, I didn't try adjusting the cushioning-feature-thingy, and I'm sure there's more to it than I even realized. But wow, what a cool toy!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #18 12-01-2007, 07:02 PM

Kewl!