Cross training at its best

Is this how you do it?!

Are you injured and frustrated with not getting out in this beautiful weather? A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to the ElliptiGO bike, a cross trainer that takes you out and about! Apparently the Elliptigo was born in the United States and has been doing very well over there since 2009. One of it's creators was frustrated that he couldn't run anymore and so considered cycling but wasn't comfortable on a bike and found that workouts were time consuming. When you think about it, it takes a lot more time to get your heart rate up and work the energy systems on a bike than it does running. He started using the indoor elliptical trainer but although he liked the exercise, he hated being locked in a gym. To solve this problem, he decided to buy a low-impact running device he could ride on the street. Then he found that there was no such device. He got in touch with a running friend who was also a mechanical engineer and the two of them set about creating the ElliptiGO.

The ElliptiGO has now arrived in the UK and so I took the train down to Milton Keynes where I had organised a test ride. Idai was to be my instuctor and guide for the session. He told me that the ElliptiGO has not been designed to get you from A to B quickly but to give you a good workout. I was dressed with tracksuit pants over the top of running tights and a long sleeved tee shirt underneath a fleece. I heard what he said but I ride a bike fairly often and, this looked like a bike to me. I know I don't warm up to the same degree cycling compared to running so, unconvinced, I kept my outer layers on.

The first thing to do was learn how to get on and get going. We practised this on a quiet path by the side of a lake. I felt a bit wobbly at first but Idai advised me that the best thing to do is not to think about it and just go with the flow. He was right. When I was thinking about my position, posture, which part of me should go where I was suffering from paralysis by analysis so I went with how it felt and I was soon up and running....erm..riding? No, it felt like running, my feet were going up and down, not round and round!

It's easy when you know how!

Idai seemed happy with how I was performing on the ElliptiGO and was happy to take me out and about for an eight mile jaunt. The route was planned so that we would go out on the cycle paths (just in case I was still a bit shaky) and then, when I had built up my confidence we would come back on the roads.

We were only about five minutes into the session when I began to understand what he meant about it being designed to give you a good workout. There is no saddle, so there is no sitting down and it doesn't free-wheel to the extent that a cycle does. This was hard work. I had to surrender to the sweat that I was building and shed my tracky pants and fleece. Luckily I had a backpack on in which to carry them but did regret not listening from the start. I think I would have liked to have done the session without carrying the extra weight.

The cycle paths were hard work. They are not as smooth as the road and the traction means you have to work harder but the hills are the biggest killer! The ElliptiGO has eight gears and you need them. Whilst we were on the cycle paths I stayed between one and five. I needed to be in one up the hills and worked extremely hard to get up them.

The journey home was the best fun I've had in ages. On the roads I managed to get myself into the eighth gear and felt like I was flying. There were still a few hills on which to work hard but I got a great adrenalin rush when I did reach those top speeds. We were out for 48 minutes so only six minute miles. Idai told me that he normally covers each mile in 4 minutes but I think the cycle path section was probably around 7 minute miles and the road section 5 minute miles so not bad for a first attempt.

I got the train home with a feeling of satisfation. I had a good work out and used the muscles and movements I would for running plus a few more but with less impact. It is a great piece of equipment for anyone who can't do as much running as they would like because of injury or age. ElliptiGO will be at the London Marathon Expo. Make sure you visit them. You will love what you see! runbritain is on stand 520, on the back wall (if the stage area is on the front wall) and ElliptiGO are on stand 560 which is just around the corner from us. Hope to see you there!

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