New Balance® 5k 6100 Recumbent Bike

by Fitness Quest

Product Description

New Balance 5K 6100 Recumbent Bike, designed to enhance your performance with 8 levels of resistance! The New Balance 5K 6100 is the ultimate in-home Recumbent Bike. Comform technologies are combined with an impressive array of workout programs for a Bike that brings your workouts to the next level: Unique oversized ComForm dual sided foot pedals have easy-adjust straps and provide 2 workout options... one side is textured and contoured to grip the bottom of your shoe, the other side is smooth and contoured for barefoot pedaling (designed to comfortably fit up to a men's shoe size 13); Extra-wide seat has thick, extra soft foam padding and adjusts easily both up and down, forward and backward to accommodate all body sizes; Ergonomically designed ComForm handlebars have a soft surface that contours to your fingers, plus built-in pulse sensors for continuous heart rate information; 8 levels of magnetic resistance; Front wheels allow for easy transport; 275-lb. capacity; Water bottle with easy access holder; 9 smart interval programs and 1 manual program; 2 heart rate programs; 5 windows on the console for continuous feedback of your time, speed, distance, approx. calories burned and approximate heart rate; Large "brickyard" grid window with a bright dot matrix display for continuous workout profile feedback; Quick start button to get your workout going in just one second! Get yours now! Please Note: This is a Heavy / Bulky item. $30.00 for heavy / bulky shipping and handling will be charged in addition to regular shipping and handling. New Balance 5k 6100 Recumbent Bike

Product Details

• ASIN: B0011DUP6O
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #637,412 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Realm of Existentialism, July 2, 2007

By 

Katharena M. Eiermann "Existential Diva -- Pr... (1,000 miles from Nowhere...) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

How can one resist mounting a sleek recumbent bike that offers an array of pre-set computer programs, for serious toning and fat-burning, with names like "Fat Blaster Incline", "Peaks and Valleys", "Rolling Hills", "Super Slow Incline", "Over the Hill", "Shape up Valley", "Random Energy" and "Cardio Plateau 1 and 2" -- plus several heart rate programs and a manual program that puts you in control of the resistance (sweat) levels? Wide Pedals specifically designed to be used "barefoot" -- or, if you are a Texan, with your boots on -- if so inclined! The seat and backrest are very wide...and very firm -- built to last. Two sets of handle bars for hanging-on, or checking the heart-rate.

Easy to put together. The New Balance 6100 Recumbent Bike comes with 2 tools, and all the screws are pre screwed into the individual parts (a definite plus) so one does not need to play the guessing game of what-goes-where -- be careful with the screws and washers, though, as they are factory-lubed and tend to be a bit slippery -- Don't want one of those little washers falling into the motor housing...Ooops -- it happened to Me! Assembly is a two person project, in some instances. The wiring may seem a bit daunting, to some, but New Balance has provided a detailed "photograph" in the Owner's Manual which shows what plugs into where.

The contrast of the extra-large LCD console can be set to one of 16 different levels. among the numerous features one can read about in the manufacturer's product description: the bike has wheels on the front for easy moving, a water bottle holder (with water bottle) and a book/magazine rack.

Very Quiet...an Extraordinary piece of equipment! The New Balance 6100 Recumbent Bike has just become my new best-friend. --Katharena Eiermann, 2007, the Realm of Existentialism -- Presidential Hopeful

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even an exerciser hater will find it easier to do what they can't stand (even though they know it's good for them!), October 24, 2007

By 

Metal_will_never_die (PA- United States) - See all my reviews

Ok first off let me say this. I HATE exercise! I HATE it, I HATE it, I HATE it! We all know it's necessary for our health, so most of us suffer through it despite the notion that we would rather be doing almost anything else! A nice walk or outside bike ride is great for nice days, but for those of us who live in areas with inclement weather (WINTER) we need something more. I don't dislike physical activity I think it's more the idea that I HAVE to set aside time to do something I don't enjoy (with the exception of that place called WORK that I so love being at for most of my days). There are people out there who love to exercise and that's wonderful, I am slightly envious, but for people like me who do it because we "should" or "have to" this is the bike for you. (see how I set my little sales pitch up before delving right into why you should buy this bike?! Pretty tricky eh? :o)
First off this is a recumbent bike and I have to say it's fairly comfortable actually. It also adjusts well for all heights. I am pretty short (5'5) with short legs(30 inch inseam) and I was able to adjust this perfectly for me. (NOT as close as it goes surprisingly so my short friends you will be able to use this easily also.) I have had no backpain with this unlike some upright bikes I've owned previously.
Secondly-the programs are great. I love that I can choose programs to automatically adjust resistance so I don't have to do the "sprint and slow" method. The fat-burning program seems to be quite effective and I love seeing the approximate calories that I've worked off so far. That's a great motivator. You are also able to set the amount of time you would like to work out with any program you choose, so there really is no excuse to not use it even if you "Only have 15 minutes!" You are also able to manually lower or raise resistance while using the bike while using a program also. This bike really can be tailored to suit anyone's fitness level because it is so customizable (is that a word?) in every way. Yes it's a bit noisy (fairly common with magnetic resistence bikes), and once in a while makes an even louder weird noise, but I've had no issues with it at all and I have no trouble watching tv or listening to music while using it so it can't be THAT loud! Once you learn the basic buttons (there really aren't that many I promise) it's so simple to use you'll want to experiment with different programs and lengths. Like any workout though, you get out of it what you put into it. YOU need to do the work, but if you do, this bike will definitely become an asset.
There are a few downsides and that is mostly that it is large and bulky. You pretty much have to dedicate a space for it and leave it there, (although I'm sure it would make a dandy purse/coat rack for those holiday parties!) Also I can't comment on the setup because luckily I have some boys around to handle that for me, but they said it wasn't complicated as long as you followed the instructions. It took 2 of them less then 2 hours (considering they took multiple breaks this isn't too bad.)
So all in all I would definitely recommend this bike to someone who wants a good workout, but doesn't want to head to the gym. I find that the time passes quickly while I'm using it and I try (successfully most of the time) to get at least 15 minutes on it daily. It hasn't let me down yet, and hopefully it won't for a long time!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I made the noise stop!, February 9, 2008

By 

Pachyderm - See all my reviews

I won this bike, so my rating my be skewed by the fact that it was free, but I was able to stop the grinding noise that others have complained about. I removed all of the black plastic casing (there are small screws along the bottom and big silver screws in 4 deep recesses along the front outline, and you will need to remove the pedals, but everything came out using the silver screwdriver/wrench hybrid that came with the bike). The rear flywheel is metal on one side, and plastic on the other - make sure you are facing the plastic side. I found a small (2") silver cable that was rubbing the inside of the flywheel (I looked under the edge of the plastic casing at about the 5 o'clock position of the wheel). I tried to cut the end of the cable, but the whole thing popped out. It had metal caps at both ends, a cylindrical shape at one end, and a ball at the other (the ball was half worn from the friction).

I suspect the cable serves some function, but I did not continue my disassembly any further to investigate. Since putting the bike back together, it has been silent. If there is a change in performance it seems that the tension is higher than it was before. I still don't think the tension changes much (if at all) at the different levels, but at least now instead of being far too easy it is challenging. Not a perfect solution, especially if you paid retail, but it now goes in my "good enough" folder and I hope for many happy - and quiet - miles.