Welcome to our exercise bike review of the B50 Exercise Bike by Fitnex.
We are always on the look-out for 'underground' manufacturers and Fitnex is our most recent and best discovery so far.
By underground, we mean they are huge on quality but very small on reputation. This is always when a fitness equipment manufacturer is most vulnerable, because even if they have awesome equipment, no reputation means they still have to keep prices low to attract customers ==> it's a perfect buyers market!
Yet, while newcomers never have any reputation, they usually don't deserve any reputation either.
But this time it's special, a very rare circumstance.
Fitnex are not newcomers.
They have 20 years of experience producing excellent fitness equipment (that's like a hundred years in this industry), but in the past, Fitnex operated on a business-to-business model, not business-to-consumer. In other words Fitnex supplied other 'Big-Name' fitness equipment companies with top quality equipment to sell as their own.
So now you have this situation where a very experienced fitness equipment manufacturer has begun selling on a business-to-consumer model but consumers have no idea who they are - have you ever heard of Fitnex? Its a safe bet you've heard of some of the Big Names they suppliedwith fitness equipment in the past.
We estimate their entire range is 12-18% undervalued. Without reputation in the consumer market, the only leverage they have to attract buyers is price. In contrast, most big-name manufacturers are around 15% overpriced because they can sell based on reputation.
Fitnex's strategy over the next few years will be simple:
Phase 1: Underprice the product range to attract customers (current phase)
==> Phase 2: Build reputation
==> Phase 3: Increase prices and attract customers through reputation
So now is the time to buy from them, it will never be better.
Now let's start the B50 Exercise Bike Review.
The Fitnex B50 Exercise Bike Review
The Fitnex B50 Exercise Bike has a lifetime warranty. We've mentioned that first here because warranty MUST be a primary consideration when buying fitness equipment. 'Lifetime Warranty' is as good as it gets, that's a large plus in favor of this machine.
Looking at the B50, the first thing you notice is its sexy appearance. Fitnex have developed a very cool style for their entire product range that is silver, sleek and sexy.
Now a closer look at the features...
Fitnex B50 Exercise Bike Features:
- Wide base seat with gell foam padding - To sit upright in a safe position, you must rotate your hips forward to place a slight curvature into your lumbic spine, which brings the bum-bones (ishcial tuberosities) directly under your body weight.
Its for this reason cycling pants have built in padding b/c without adequate padding, the gluteal muscles are impinged and become sore and bruised. Fitnex have taken an extra step to ensure comfort by using gell foam, which is a very dense high-tech foam with better impact-absorption properties than regular foam. The seat is wide at the base, further reducing discomfort by dispersing pressure over a wider area. This may seem a lot to write about a seat but a wide, well-padded seat, like padded cycling pants, will protect your behind and allow you to train longer and more frequently. It is the most important feature of an exercise bike.
- Adjustable seat stand - Anyone within the height ranges of 4'6" to 6'6" should be able to comfortably use the Fitnex B50 exercise bike.
- Heavy duty steel frame - it will support a user up to 300lbs!
- Rust proofed - Frame, seat stand, console stand and handle bars are rust proofed for longer life, important because your sweat will cause raw metals to rust.
- Powder coated - Benefit of powder coating is its scratch resistant.
- Electronically controlled magnetic braking system - today's best machines use this system. Previous to this technology, resistance came in the form of 'roller' or 'band' friction, resulting in inevitable parts-burn-out and unpleasant noise, this antiquated method is still used in many cheaper exercise bikes.
In the B50, an electronically controlled device moves to-and-away the flywheel, thereby increasing and decreasing resistance respectively. Since no parts actual make physical contact, there is no friction and therefore no parts wear, the results are greatly reduced noise, a much longer life for your exercise bike and very smooth resistance.
There are a total of 16 resistance settings.
- Durable crack-resistant body housing - all moving parts on this machine are enclosed within a tough outer shell for:
- protection against injury, important if there are children in your house
- protection against your clothes becoming jammed in the crank mechanism resulting in grease stains and material damage
- protection against dust accumulation in joints and bearings
- protection against your own rust producing sweat
- noise reduction; this machine is almost silent
- Padded 'endurance' handle bars - again Fitnex show their experience in knowing what exercisers need by adding the endurance bars over regular handle bars. You can lean forward on these bars and 'fix' your shoulder girdle. Let me tell you why that's a good thing: after a long jog you find yourself putting your hands on your hips or bending over with your hands on your knees. You do this because it braces your shoulder girdle and allows you to use your accessory breathing muscles (pec minor, intercostals etc) to increase air intake. This means you can burn more calories per workout..
You still have the option of sitting in the upright position and gripping like regular bars. The benefit to you is the ability to train longer, in comfort, for greater fat metabolism.
The handle bars and console also act as a good magazine holder.
- Counter-balanced pedals - the counter-balance pedals are another 'fine touch' indicating Fitnex have been at this for a while. At the base of the pedal is a counterbalance which always swings the pedal into the upright position, so every time you get on, both pedals are in the correct position ready for you to slip in your feet and get started.
- Heart rate monitor - The handles bars, when gripped in the upright position monitors your heart rate through 2 hand sensors and gives you feedback through the console.
- Heart rate control - This feature is usually found on elliptical trainers and treadmills, not so much on exercise bikes. You program your target heart rate into the console and train gripping the heart rate sensors, the onboard computer operates on a feedback loop, continously comparing your heart rate to your pre-programmed target zone and adjusts resistance to suit.
For example, if your heart rate falls below the target rate, (that is you are slacking off), the computer will automatically increase resistance to elevate your heart rate. This is a very safe way to train, especially if you are new to exercise or exercising under doctor's orders.
- Transport wheels - the front feet have built in transport wheels for ease of from one room to another or
from the corner into its training position
- Drink holder - all cardio equip should have a drink holder
Console
Typical of all Fitnex equipment, the console is large and easy to read. Our favorite feature is the racing program, the most exciting time we've had on an exercise bike.
- Display - matrix and LED
- Programs - 6 different exercise programs to keep it intersting and suit your needs on the day you train
- Resistance settings - there are 16 manually programmable resistance settings.
- Racing program - We found this to be great, a racing program. The computer will set you against an imaginary opponent and you race them. This feature is great b/c not only is it a hoot, the natural effect of competition will push you to higher levels of exertion and resultant faster achievement of exercise goals.
- Console Feedback - console gives the user a lot of feedback data for a very informed workout. You can use the data to be scientifically precise in you exercise goal management, for example, a short term goal could be to maintain 60 RPM for 5kms in 15 minutes or less. Feedback data includes:
- Heart rate
- RPM
- Calories burned
- Weight (you enter this and computer uses it to calculate calories burned), much more sophisticated than the usual 'one-size-fits' all method found on most models
- Program level
- Speed
- Average speed
- Distance travelled
- Watts
- Time
Breakdown-In-A-BOX™ |
Console: |
Yes |
Resistance Control: |
Electronic from console |
Resistance Type: |
Magnetic; 16 settings |
Heart Rate Monitor/Type: |
Yes, hand sensor |
Heart Rate Control: |
Yes |
Programs: |
6; includes racing program |
Weight Capacity: |
300 lbs. |
Transport Wheels : |
Yes |
Power Requirements: |
DC Adapter 6V/1Amp (Included) |
Rust-Proofed: |
Yes |
Warranty: |
Lifetime! |
Size |
Product: |
42" x 23" |
Pros
- Underpriced - the entire Fitnex range is underpriced, now is the time to buy from these guys before they build reputation and increases prices
- Lifetime warranty - always get lifetime if you can afford it, 5 years at the least. Its not only b/c they'll make repairs free, its also b/c the manufacturer hopes never to make a single repair and so produces a very reliable machine from the beginning.
- Magnetic resistance - its the best type
- Very good seat - you will never train if the seat is uncomfortable.
- Endurance bars - you can burn more calories in a session
- Heart rate control - this is a sophisticated regulatory system, perfect if you are exercising under doctors orders
- Racing program - at last, using an exercise bike can actually be interesting
Cons
- it would be good to see an ear-clip heart monitor option as an alternative to the hand sensors b/c at the moment it's not possible to monitor heart rate when using the endurance bars.
Overall
We were impressed with the Fitnex B50 exercise bike when we first saw it and even more so after giving it a thorough review. Fitnex have 3 upright exercise bikes in their range (one cheaper and one more expensive) and we found the B50 to be the best combo of features, function and price. It is obviously well suited to home use but its solid and reliable construction would also make it a good choice for a club environment.
The Fitnex B50 exercise bike is our top pick in this price range.
Sellers
Fitnex are still small enough in the consumer market that they deal directly with the consumer, instead of exclusively with retailers (which will happen eventually).
In all of our reviews we recommend you buy direct from the manufacturer when ever possible b/c it will ensure the best customer service and after sales service, no one will ever know the machine better than them.
