Rowbike 720 Sport Review

Where to start...I'm 6'5" was 275 lbs and purchased a 726 King from Rowbike.Assembling the bike was no problem but I can follow instructions and mechanically minded.A cable adjuster was missing so I robbed one from an old motorcycle in the garage.Took about 20 minutes to feel comfortable riding it.The best advice is to be aware of how you move the handle bars...since you pull and steer with the handle bar, you must use equal pressure pulling back.Pull harder on one side and that's the direction your going. The website video's do a good job with learning to ride this machine.

This is a "workout" machine it will get you in shape and although I did not loose much weight, my waist got smaller.I would regularly ride 10 miles on a daily basis and averaged 10 mph. What's interesting about a Rowbike as oppose to a rowing machine, is feeling your muscles engage as you maintain balance.The outdoor aspect is a great plus for your workout. Overall quality of the structure is very good and explains the lifetime warranty for the Frame, Power Lever, and Fork.Where this machine falls short is the components i.e. rear gears, wheels, drive train, shifter, steering cabling.

The BAD.My machine came with a friction shifter the current machine comes with a Micro Shifter.For the uninitiated this sounds impressive but in reality its not. The gear set is lowest cost units available and can be found on the cheapest Chinese made bikes. Also my bike mechanic questioned the use of a derailleur (the device used to shift gears) because every power stroke pulls the derailleur forward, accelerating the wear on the spring.In addition the bearings used to support and slide the seat are made of plastic (required to reduce friction) and crack.Be prepared to purchase spares. As for the wheels, they are also bottom self units.The forward propulsion of this machine puts a LOT of torque on the rear wheel, the evidence for this is abnormal wear on one side of the rear tire. After breaking 3 spokes I upgraded the rear wheel from a 32 spoke aluminum to 36 spoke steel Rino Lite rim.No more broken spokes or warped wheel.Experienced 6 flats before I figured out the rubber ban used between the rim & the tube was over sized.Switched to rim tape & no more flats.

As relayed earlier I had a friction shifter and when I replaced the rear wheel I explored new gearing and shifter.Again I upgraded to a Shimano Delore 9 speed cassette with a Delore shifter.Although the overall gearing did not change, having the two additional gears smoothed the overall ride ability of the Rowbike.If you fall over while on this bike the seat will shear off its mounting brackets.If you ride over bumps you could (I did) bounce off the seat.Also be advised, in the low gear, the chain will rub the tire.And finally this bike requires constant minor maintenance.In comparing this to a regular bike, you must continually tighten the steering hub and make sure the cable adjustments are correct...pull on the power lever and have the handlebars swing hard into you, will flip you off the machine.

The GOOD.Customer support is the best.When you get a call from the owner of the company to check up on issues, its impressive.The seat was replaced with a more robust model, additional bearings were included. The D cam was replaced and they were ready to replace the power lever if I could not work out the D cam upgrade (stripped bolt threads)

SO IS A ROWBIKE worth the money.That depends...as its currently built the answer would be no.I spent an additional 300 dollars to get it to an acceptable mechanical level.1500 dollars for a specialized exercise machine is tough to justify. Local bike shops are reluctant to work on it so good mechanical skills are needed to maintain it.The power train needs improvement and I've suggested a NuVinci CVT transmission as the answer to keeping the chain in a straight line (no wheel rubbing),with the additional benefit of a better gear ratio to help get the machine over hills.A wider and shaped handlebar would expand the upper body muscles employed. Better wheels to handle the torque.For the money spent you can purchase a mid level regular bike that is more useful and can achieve your exercise goals.

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Product Description:
The world's first total-body, outdoor fitness machine was designed by entrepreneur Scott Olson, who also founded the first inline skating company that went on to become Rollerblade. ; Rowbike - "The Total Body Workout!" The patented Xertube offers progressive resistance levels for multiple uses and fitness levels. Allows for isolation of targeted muscle groups and full range of motion exercise. Video

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Rollerblade Spiritblade XT Women's Skate Review

These skates are great for the recreational skater.They are comfy and smooth.My daughter is 10 and she wanted the same skates and she loves them also.Great for beginners and more advanced skaters.

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Product Description:
Roll into action with Rollerblade's Spritblade XT Inline Skates for women. The Spritiblade skate successfully combines up-to-date technology and rugged durability to meet the rigorous demands of recreational skating. The Monocoque composite frame provides excellent control and power transmission for a smooth, fast ride. Other features include a four-position adjustable brake, a 5-star fit breathable liner, 70mm/80a Performa wheels with smooth-rolling SG5 bearings, and a closure system that includes laces, a cuff buckle and a powerstrap for an excellent, secure fit.

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Rollerblade Wing 10 Women's Skate Review

I'm 43 and haven't been on skates much since I was 12.I've enjoyed using these skates with my kids both on a paved trail and at the rink.The boot provides good support to my ankles, and the closures (laces, velcro strap and clasps) allow for a snug fit if desired.The inside of the boot is well-cushioned, and I've not had any issues with blisters.I have high arches and typically wear a 9W.The size 9 fit me fine, though I don't have much extra room in terms of length at the toe so I tend to wear these with thinner socks.I considered purchasing the K2 brand, but found that they run small, are pricer, and did not feel as stable to me in the boot.I did want an aluminum (rather than composite) frame, which these have.I have gotten compliments on the styling.The wheels are fine--they aren't too fast and they do have good control.I'm regaining the ability to turn and skate backward after only a few hours of practice.I was able to pick up a metallic grey helmet and some deeper grey and black Rollerblade brand pads for a (somewhat) coordinated look.Most of the cute ladies' Rollerblade helmets and pads come in blue, and it is hard to match the green in this skate when selecting accessories.Hyper does make a grey and green bag so I was at least able to match my skates to a bag.I'm really enjoying my purchase and recommend this model to any beginner/intermediate skater.The Rollerblade website has some nice animated tutorials if you want to refresh your memory on skills like turning and stopping.

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Product Description:
The Wing 10 offers offers a perfect balance of technical performance features at a moderate price-point.

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K2 Radical 100 Unisex Training Skate Review

I would consider myself an above average skater, but less than average fitness wise.

I love these skates, I purchased them last year, the first two skates took some getting used to due to the shorter boot, but after that I was flying.

I did take the time to heat mold the boots, which I probably shouldn't have done. Ever since the heat molding the right boot causes problems with my ankle bone, the strap presses against it in an odd way.

I will probably buy the 2008 model and sell my 2007 models as I think the 2k8s have a diffent upper boot/strap setup.

Great skates for someone who has skated for quite a while and looking to take the next step. Probably not good for a beginner who doesn't have much ankle strength.

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Product Description:
K2 compares the Radical 100 skate to a German sports car, and it's easy to see why. Combining state-of-the-art technology, sleek styling, and an unmatched fit, the Radical 100 takes inline skating to a whole new level of performance. The skate includes all the features of its Radical 90 cousin, including a marathon cuff, a standard lace, and two ratcheting buckles, but adds K2's Four Hundred Longmount Frame--designed for racers and skaters who like to go fast--and extra-large 100 mm Star Grip poured wheels and ILQ-9 bearings. The end result is a skate that burns up the pavement while still responding beautifully to turns and other maneuvers. Whether you're going on a long training skate, competing in a marathon, or sprinting to the finish, the Radical 100 makes an ideal choice. The Radical 100, which comes in a variety of sizes (6.0 to 13.0), is backed by a one-year warranty.
About K2
In February of 1961 the first pair of fiberglass skis was produced by brothers Bill and Don Kirschner in their Vashon Island, Washington shop. The Kirschners, avid skiers, built fiberglass animal cages for medical use and were convinced that their process could build a ski that was lighter, stronger, and more lively than the wood and metal skis of the day. They really just wanted to build some cool skis for themselves and their friends. And the rest, as they say, is history. Much has changed since those early days on sleepy Vashon Island, but one thing has not: K2 is still a bunch of adrenaline junkies who just want to make some cool stuff for themselves and their friends.


Today, K2 Inc. is a premier, branded consumer products company with a portfolio of leading brands including Shakespeare and Stearns for marine and outdoor products, Rawlings and Worth for team sports, K2 and Brass Eagle for action sports, and Marmot and Ex Officio for apparel and footwear. K2's diverse products includes fishing, watersports activities, baseball, softball, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and inline skating.



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Rollerblade Women's Spark 80W Skate Review

First pair of skates purchased after 15 years and they are pretty comfortable.Skated for 2 hours and no foot pain!I wanted a faster skate but decide to get these b/c the boot was comfortable -I could always change the bearings later on.why 4 stars?the foot bed is thin and offers very little arch support, I will most likely change them.& the brake offers no stopping support.I'm a pretty good skater and tried to skate home from the park in these and the brake just wouldn't slow me down enough to not go crashing into parked cars.Maybe I don't know how to use the brake, I still miss the old school roller skate rubber stop.However these skates are pretty fast and are comfortable.I would recommend them to anyone looking for new inline skates.
p.s. I bought mine at a brick and mortar store and paid 30$ more than listed on amazon. There was no customer service and limited selection.

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Product Description:
Rollerblade ladies recreational/fitness skates are stable, very comfortable and provide a smooth ride at every price point. Designed to provide an exhilarating workout or a fun cruise on the local path.

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K2 Radical 90 Men's In-Line Skates Review

For the price they seem like a good deal. I have some concern about the life of this product & feel I can see where separation might occure. I am dissapointed that you can not buy the higher end K2's in a local store though. I have found you have to buy them online which means they may NOT fit you since you do not get a chance to try them on first, this is the case with me. I bought the size I use for most shoes & K2's and these are like a whole size too large & fit very loose. I am very dissatisfied with this because now I can not return them since they have been used & they do not fit properly like sport equipment needs too. Higher end K2's should be made available in stores to avoid this hassle. Now I have to buy another pair & once again hope that I can guess the right size. Very dissapointed with K2's marketing plan...

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Product Description:
Lasted for Both Men and Women, the Radical 90 comes outfitted with K2's stable 4x90 frame, 90mm wheels and ILQ-9 bearings. These features, along with our low cut Radical cuff and heat moldable upper, create the best custom fit avaiable in any training skate on the market.

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K2 Exo Mens Inline Skates Review

The build quality is excellent (I compared in store to roller blade brand counterparts-- price for price these have far better quality).

The fit is excellent.

The styling is excellent.

The boot is comfortable, even after 100s of uses.(In the store I found it to be far more comfortable than roller blade brand and this really sold me).

They're midrange skates with a beginner feel to them.They can be easily upgraded to pure midrange skates.

The thing that makes them beginner friendly is that the wheels are soft.Wheels have a hardness rating, so in general softer wheels give you more grip and the skates feel less slippery, and your speed is actually restrained by this.For beginners, this is quite helpful.One downside is that soft wheels will appear to wear out quickly, but that stops after a few rotations and they begin to harden up a little bit.They actually lasted about 5 months for me under intense conditions.

In January, I started learning skating by doing small circles on the patio of my backyard.I taught myself, and some 9 months and a few upgrades later I'm hopping off curbs, skating backwards, and taking my dog (or he's taking me) on wild runs down steep hills.I've lost 60 lbs in 7 months doing this (I have been at an correct body weight for my size for more than 2 months now).

That doesn't mean these skates will do the work for you, of course.But I've found that I love skating, and so the weight just sort of fell off.While I'm not on a strict diet, I do watch what I eat and avoid foods that are obviously high calorie (sorry, there's no way around that -- it's a fact of life). I am still quite satisfied with what I eat and don't feel like I'm missing anything.I'm 32 years old, and I've got essentially, a 6 pack of abs for my efforts.I'm getting off topic, but I guess my point is that exercise *can* be fun.

I skate about 30 minutes to an hour a day, about 5 days a week. And these skates handle it.I've since replaced the factory wheels (due to simply wearing them down to nothing) and bearings with faster bearings (ABEC-7) and slightly larger and harder wheels for asphalt (80mm, 82a hardness).The result made them into performance skates on a budget. I am VERY hard on these skates, but the actual skates have held up well for 9 months.I may end up replacing them just because I have scuffed them up with my usage.But they are very durable, nonetheless and have no functional problems.

Feel free to shop around.Note that you can get substantial savings for getting last year's model.You can find the 2008 model for $70 at some places online.The differences, as far as I can tell, between 2007-2009 models of this skate are the colors and graphics.Everything else looks to be the same (down to the stitching).As time goes on it will be harder to find the older models in stock, for obvious reasons.But you might save about 35% by doing that.It's an incredible value.The ones I used (and still use) were the 2008 model of the K2 Exo, which had a silver on black look.

I look forward to trying more advanced models of K2 skates.

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Product Description:
Men's Inline Skates - Recreation

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K2 Moto Men's In-Line Skates Review

I got into in-line skating because I wanted someway to practice and stay in shape for alpine skiing. I know that the two sports are not exactly the same, but the leg-work and some of the techniques are compatible (e.g., "snow plow" or wedge stopping). I purchased the K2 Exo Alums, K2 Motos, and K2 Moto Extremes. I knew that I would send two back. First, the K2 Moto had the best fit. They fit correctly relevant to shoe size. Second, they have the quick lace system that allows for convenient tightening and removal of the skate. Neither of the other two skates had this feature. Third, compared to the K2 Exo Alum the Moto had a smoother ride. Maybe because the K2 Moto has IQ7 bearings while the Alums just have ABEC 5. The bearings on the Moto extreme were better, rated at IQ9. However, trying to turn in the K2 Moto Extreme was very difficult. If you like to make tight turns or skate on crowded sidewalks or pathways, then I would not recommend the K2 Moto Extremes. But, if you primarily skate straight and for very long distances I would recommend the Moto Extremes. But, the turning radius is much longer than for the Motos. Further, the Motos are plenty fast as it is. One push will send you gliding many yards. Fifth, this is the first pair of skates that I've owned with a Hi-Lo system. I like it. I believe the Hi-Lo system (84mm-80mm) puts you in nice forward leaning position that is both comfortable and powerful. Overall, this is a great skate. You simply can't go wrong with it.

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Product Description:
If you use skating as your primary workout activity then the Moto is the ideal skate for you. It features K2's convenient quick lace system, Hi-Lo Alu frame, 84/80mm wheels and ILQ-7 bearings.

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K2 SPORTS Men's Moto 80 Inline Skates Review

Bought these skates to replace my older K2's. Not really liking the color, but these are good. Good quality and have already put a lot of miles on them. I recommend purchasing these.

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Product Description:
With an 80mm wheel size and standard cuff height, it makes for a supportive fit for any level of inline skater. Beginner or entry-level inline skaters will enjoy the stabilty and controlled speed.

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