Schwinn Bowflex Review
By Thor Melicher
This year I decided that I wanted to get in better shape. Of course, I have been saying that for years. One area that I thought was more important than any other was in strength training. Seeing my grandfather and father with physical ailments from poor strength conditioning was enough to motivate me to get started.
During the Christmas holiday of 2003, I went into Dick’s Sporting Goods and came across the Weider Crossbow and the Schwinn Comp. The sales associate was very informative, as he had used both pieces of equipment. He pointed out the most obvious differences of the equipment: 1. The Weider Crossbow’s rods were made of plastic and 2. The Schwinn Bowflex’s resistance felt solid. Simply put, the Schwinn Bowflex looked solid compared to the Crossbow. My apprehension in buying it was the cost. At $799, why would I want to buy it when I could spend a little more for a genuine Bowflex?
When I started looking for a local dealer in Columbus, OH, I found out that it was on backorder due to demand. I was able to order it in March and the company I went with, Berry’s Barbell, offered a small fee ($75) for both delivery and setup. If you can, find a local dealer that offers a similar deal.
During the time I was waiting (which proved to be worthwhile as the price dropped to $599) I read the Bowflex Body Plan by Ellington Darden. If you haven’t started working out yet, you will find out that it is a very motivating book. He explains the concept of doing less is better. Most people over-train because they try to do too much. I found the most beneficial part of the book was having workout programs designed with working larger muscles first. According to Ellington, most people work the small muscles first and use too many exercises. Darden’s examples will assist you when you design your own programs. Is the book worth buying? I think it is, especially if your local library doesn’t carry it (or they have a short check-out time.) Either way, read the book before you start working out to make your workouts more effective.
I have found the Schwinn Comp to be a very good piece of equipment. I started the beginner’s program from the
Bowflex Body Plan
book. I decided not to follow the eating plan because my goal was strength training. The first two weeks of the program are easy because there are only six exercises. This is a good thing if you have not used equipment like the Schwinn Comp. It will help you get accustomed quickly to the machine.
2. Schwinn Bowflex: Getting Started
3. Schwinn Bowflex: Results
4. Schwinn Bowflex: Final Thoughts