I am always up for checking out new fitness gear and activities and jumped on the chance to take an ElliptiGo out for a test ride earlier this week. What is it exactly?
ElliptiGo
Think of a cross between a bike and an elliptical machine. The ElliptiGo was born out of the need for an injured runner to get a workout outdoors and took off from there. It’s a 2 wheeled machine designed to mimic the movement of running without the impact.
You stand tall and straight more like an elliptical or a running stance and not like a bike. There are 8 gears on the model I tried so it is easy to change your resistance and vary your workout. I was nervous at first that I would feel unstable but was pleasantly surprised at how balanced I did feel. The wheels are much smaller than a bike so that you are much closer to the ground. The hand brakes operate similarly to a bike.
My feet easily glided back and forth as they would on an elliptical and I quickly picked up movement after a few minutes. I felt very stable and comfortable. It’s very easy to mount and dismount and I never felt like I would fall.
Pros:
-Pretty much anyone can ride them
-They can provide a great full body workout
-You are engaging your core to balance
–ElliptiGo is great for an injured runner or someone who cannot run as much as they would like to
-You can be outside instead of stuck on an elliptical in the gym
-The Elliptigo is more comfortable than a bike because you are not sitting on a small seat and leaning over
-They are adjustable to fit riders from 4’10” to 6’10”
-Special shoes are not needed
-They are really fun to ride
Cons:
-They weigh about 40 pounds
-Elliptigo is pricey starting at $1299 -3500 (there are 4 different models)
-The weather has to cooperate to use it outside (They are compatible with a bike trainer to ride indoors)
You can find more info here on the benefits of Elliptical cycling and how it compares to running and traditional biking.
Overall, I had a great time testing it out and it’s lots of fun to use. Anyone can pick up the movements pretty easily. If you like being outdoors and are looking for an alternative to biking or running give it a go. They do free test rides at many bike shops across the country.
Think you would like to try an ElliptiGo out?
Linking up with Nicole
I’m so jealous you go to try one out! I would kill for one right now with all my ACL drama. They look really cool!
OH you should go try one out it’s perfect for recovery
I always thought they looked fun. How fast do they go? Well I guess as fast as your legs can take them, but more like what would be their max speed?
You know I am not sure the maximum speed. If you are going downhill it would be similar to a bike speed
On average, you’re working 33% harder than on a conventional bike at the same speeds. Most customers are averaging 10-12 mph on the flats. More athletic customers can maintain 13-15 mph, and many of our Pro athletes can maintain 18-20 mph. Top speed (on the flats) would be around 25 mph, but would be very hard to maintain for more than a minute or two.
This looks like sooooo much fun!
It really was! I’d love to do it again
I was supposed to get to try one here, but then there was an issue with the launch. Probably for the weather issues that you mentioned!
I hope you get a chance to check it out it would be great for you while you are easing back into running
I sometimes see people riding those along the beach in Santa Monica…I think they rent them from a store there….I’ll have to try it this summer. I was listening to a podcast on another mother runner, and they were interviewing someone (can’t remember who) who was training competitively for olympic trials or something (can’t remember what either), but what I do remember, is that she got pregnant and so at a certain point in her pregnancy had to do all her training on the elliptigo instead of actually running…..and she did pretty well.
Both Stephanie Rothstein Bruce (2:29 Marathon) and Sarah Bowman Brown (4:03 1500m) were interviewed by Another Mother Runner. They are two examples of many professional female athletes that trained on the ElliptiGO during and after their pregnancies to maximize their potential of making an Olympic Team.
That’s great that they were both able to train on them for the olympics.
OH how interesting! Yes you should try to check it out. Would be great to do along the beach
Sounds very cool and looks fun! Did you get the urge to sit down? Like on a bike?
No actually! You are more in a running position it feels natural
It looks totally wacky, so interesting to hear that it’s easy to use and fun. Happy Friday!
Yes very fun indeed!
That looks like an absolute blast! I saw some people using these on a trail a few weeks ago and wondered what the heck they were. I think the balancing part seems like it would be most intimidating to a new rider, but I am sure there is just an adjustment period. That price is a bit on the steep side though. I’d really have to love it and use it a ton to make that even close to worth it.
I thought it would be hard to balance but really it wasn’t at all!
I would LOVE to try an ElliptiGo – if only it were cheaper!
I think it would be super fun to try something different, especially during a high volume training cycle.
Exactly! Hope you have the chance to try one out
How much fun!!!! I’d love to try one. Glad you got the opportunity!
Me too! Lots of fun
I’ve seen people on these in the park by me! The look really cool. I’d love to try it!
I bet there are tons of places in NYC to test them out. It’s fun!
I have wanted to try riding one of these since they first came out. They look like so much fun!
This would be great for down the shore.
Oh yes it would! You should go take a test ride
This looks like a lot of fun and a pretty good workout! Nice that you got a chance to try it. Yes, quite pricey, but I think really good bikes are as well.
That’s true yes really good bikes are pricey as well.
What an interesting concept. But that price tag….yikes!
Yes great concept for sure! Yes a little pricey
Great review! We have a person who rides one in our neighborhood and I am so intrigued by them!
ah you should see if they will let you check it out it’s fun
I would have been nervous that I’d fall over too! I would definitely want to give one a try but not sure I would spend all that money on it- quite an investment!
Once I started I knew I was not going to fall. Much lower to the ground than a bike. Yes it is an investment for sure.
I can’t ride a bike so I don’t think that this would be for me. How do you stay balanced?
Here’s a good video that shows how easy it is to balance.
https://youtu.be/5ZH1277W7ls
It’s easier than a bike bc you are lower to the ground. I found it quite easy to balance
Haha! This is such a fun post! I would actually love to give this a try. I’m always bored on the elliptical machine in the gym, outside is so much more fun!
I am so bored on the elliptical too and only use it when I have too
This looks so much more fun than the elliptical trainer in the gym!
I’ve seen these out in the world, but never spoken to anyone who tried it out. How cool! My worry is that I’d fall over (I’m embarrassingly clumsy), but your description makes me feel much more confident about trying it out one day!
I was worried about that too but once I started I realized that it was totally easy
I have never heard of the Elliptigo, but I love the idea! I am a big fan of an elliptical workout, but I struggle to stay in one place for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. This is why I prefer to run outside. By running, I miss out on elliptical workouts. With something like this, I could take a different workout outside. I would probably need to plan to save for something like this, but thank you so much for sharing. I love when I learn new things..especially workout and health related!
exactly! I love trying out new things too. Check out their site and you may find they offer test rides near you. It’s lots of fun
I want one!
Me too!
I’ve seen these on the boardwalk near me! They look so fun!
They really are!
Sounds like a fun piece of fitness equipment! If seen a few in use on the bike paths around here.
Very fun you should test one out
Ok, that thing looks like so much fun! Although I’m not sure I would be coordinated enough to stay on it.
I was surprised by how easy it was to balance. You could do it!
How fun that that you got to try an Elliptigo. It’s not something I’ve ever considered but I would definitely be up for trying it.
They are lots of fun hope you get the chance to check one out.
I’m so intrigued by this! I have a lower back injury, so riding a bike hurts, but I might be able to use something like this. So cool!
Oh maybe you could! Check their website to see if they have test rides in your area. Let me know!
I have always wanted to try one !
So much fun!
Really cool, I enjoyed reading your feedback. I was worried about whether it would feel stable or whether I would feel like I was going to fall over the whole time.
No honestly I felt stable after about 2 minutes
Sounds like fun! I’m surprised that I don’t see more of them on the W&OD Trail, and that they’re still a novelty. I guess it’s the price…
Yes I would certainly buy one if they were a lot less expensive