katie79 Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 I recently purchased a manual treadmill. I first was excited, but now I notice it seems extremely difficult to use. Moving the belt with my feet alone seems like more of a hard work out than just walking on it. Would Silicon Oil Spray change this entirely, or is a manual treadmill known to be a bad choice. I want to use this everyday without it being a hassel. Any advice or stories on manual treadmills?
Papillon Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Hang on - has it always been difficult to use or has it worsened to the way it is now? If so, I'd return it to have it sorted out. P.S - I know this is stupid, but have you checked to see whether the tension setting is correctly set?
Author katie79 Posted August 25, 2004 Author Posted August 25, 2004 Yeah. I've tried the incline settings. It's hard all ways. I guess I'll try the Silicon Oil Spray and if that doesn't make it easier, it's going back. This kind of sucks---I was looking forward to using it!
Papillon Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Forget the spray - just now you void the warranty. Didn't you "try before you buy"? If I were you I'd take it back, and go for a different model (the rationale being that it'snot living up to the advertised claims). Or there might simply be something wrong with it.
DerangedAngel Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Oh no, f*ck manual treadmills. There's nothing wrong with it. They're all that way. You have to almost push yourself off (skateboard like) to get it started, and if you don't keep that pace, it stops, as I'm sure you've noticed. It's quite difficult as you always have to be pressing down and out. Not just normal walking/jogging. Hell no. Can't do that. There's nothing wrong with you, either. Every time I use one I feel like some idiot falling all over the place with drool flinging out of my mouth. If you know what I mean. Take it back and get something else. Please? Okay. -Deranged
SARose61 Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 I have one that sits in my house collecting dust for just that reason. It really isn't walking it's struggling to move the belt regardless of the setting. I thought buying an electric one was too expensive. Now I wish I had just waited and saved the money. Can you still return it? If ya can, do it ASAP. I kept telling myself eventually I would get use to it and use it, and it never happened. Rose
Author katie79 Posted August 25, 2004 Author Posted August 25, 2004 yeah, my father told me the same thing you guys did...it sucks and to return it, save up and buy something I want. Not to settle. Think I'll just do that. This one really blows. Thanks for the advice!
Author katie79 Posted September 8, 2004 Author Posted September 8, 2004 on the instructions, I can "Loosen the Walking Belt". Does this ring a bell to anyone?? If so, does it help or is it still "struggling to move the belt"? This sucks! I use it almost everyday...but it's very strenous. Every 3-4 min, I have to stop a minute and take a break for a few seconds. Is that bad? Or will I build resistance to that eventually?
goodnbad Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 I would say that the belt is too tight---but whether this is typical of manuals, who knows? Personally, if it were that hard to keep it going, IMO, it would be stressful to your joints and inevitably counterproductive to good health. My sister had one and hated it because of the same thing you are experiencing. Better to get an electric one. They cost more, but I love them! You can concentrate on your workout, rather than making a belt move. Sometimes, it's good to be able to have a 'mindless' workout, especially on bad, lazy days when you just wanna watch tv while exercising! And if you feel like bumping it up a notch, you can turn the speed up and it will really push you to your limits. Whoever would dare say that an electric treadmill does the work for you, never ran on one at top speed! I would do some research online first before purchasing one, though, since you should get one (belt size, speeds, special features, etc) suitable for what you are looking for. Trust me, you don't want to have to return an electric one, they weigh a gazillion pounds. goodnbad
dreaming4ever Posted September 13, 2004 Posted September 13, 2004 My father once bought one of those manual treadmill thingies and it's SO HARD to get it going, it was AWFUL! Feels like it's stuck or something. Not fun at all But the good news is, a few years later he bought an electric one and I love it. It's SO much better. I think you get a better workout from an electric one and it's WAY more fun. Believe me!!
Author katie79 Posted September 13, 2004 Author Posted September 13, 2004 Maybe I'll just return the one I have (manaul one) and use that money towards buying an electronic one. Are there any cheap electronic ones? Like somewhere b/t 200-300??
dreaming4ever Posted September 13, 2004 Posted September 13, 2004 Sorry I have no idea of prices....my dad bought our treadmills...and we've had our electronic one for a while. No idea
goodnbad Posted September 13, 2004 Posted September 13, 2004 I got mine a few years ago at Sears, it was on sale for $800, which for a ProForm, I considered a good price. You could probably get one a little cheaper now, but $300? Not likely, not for a new one anyhow. Perhaps if you got a second-hand one, but make sure everything works it you do that. Like I said, you don't want to be hauling it around! goodnbad
Craig Posted September 14, 2004 Posted September 14, 2004 Katie you could try walmart they have one on for $300.00 but I don't know anything else. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?cat=5151&path=0%3A4125%3A4134%3A5151
Author katie79 Posted September 14, 2004 Author Posted September 14, 2004 Thanks Craig! This helps me a lot!
goodnbad Posted September 15, 2004 Posted September 15, 2004 Holy cow! A $300 treadmill? Just where the heck were they a few years ago when I wanted one!? (Then again, I suppose that is in American dollars.......) goodnbad
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