Over winter break the Athletic Department replaced the cardio equipment in the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center (ASFC) with new bikes, treadmills and ellipticals from the manufacturers Precor and Expresso.
Over winter break the Athletic Department replaced the cardio equipment in the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center (ASFC) with new bikes, treadmills and ellipticals from the manufacturers Precor and Expresso.
In addition, the department installed a new rubber floor.
The new bikes contain many interactive features. The bike provides the option of several different race courses with varied terrain. The course is displayed on the screen like a video-game. Instead of only pedaling, users can steer the bike and switch gears.
Users can also create an account for the bikes on expresso.net. Bikers who have smartphones can scan a barcode on the screen of the bike and be immediately connected to the Expresso website. They can use these accounts to race other people who are currently in the ASFC. In addition, a user can save his or her results of a race and another user can race his or her “ghost.” Students can also race their own “ghost” from a previous race.
The accounts also allow bikers to record their progress and earn virtual trophies. For example, if someone bikes the distance to the moon they get a “moon trophy.” All of the race results and achievements can be posted to Facebook through the Expresso account.
“This creates competition in your gym,” said Chad Beene, Pennsylvania sales manager for Advantage Sport Fitness. Facility managers can print out a leader board and run contests.
The new ellipticals also contain versatile features. The elliptical machines can function as both steppers and striders. Users can change the function automatically by changing their motion without having to push any buttons.
“It’s new and interesting without any stress on knees or joints,” said Josh Arnone, Central Pennsylvania commercial sales representative for Advantage Sports Fitness.
According to Kent Trachte, dean of the College, a group of students this past summer advocated replacing the gym equipment, which they believed had reached its life expectancy. Dan Porterfield, president of the College, allocated end-of-the-year money for the Athletic Department to replace the old equipment. The Department received quotes from different companies and visited other institutions. It found other colleges had success with this line of equipment.
“We’re just excited to have it all,” said Robin Wert, coordinator of equipment operations. “The reaction from students has been favorable and they have enjoyed the equipment.”
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