Thursday, March 20, 2008

SPORTSMITH, The Nations Largest Supplier of Fitness Equipment Parts Expands Their Life Fitness Parts Selection.



SPORTSMITH™ President Brad Schupp is proud to announce the release of the 2008 SPORTSMITH Spring Edition Catalog, featuring the industry's largest selection of Life Fitness equipment parts, strength and functional training products, with express same-day shipping.

The 212 - page catalog features an expanded selection of Life Fitness parts and accessories. The newest additions to the LifeCycle parts section are the upright models LifeCycle 90C, LifeCycle 93CI, Life Cycle 95CI, Life Cycle 95CE, also featuring the Life Cycle Recumbent models such as LifeCycle 90R, LifeCycle 93R, LifeCycle 95R, and LifeCycle 95RE.

Life Fitness Cross Trainer models include parts for the popular Cross Trainer 8500 and 9100 rear drive units. The Life Fitness Treadmill T-Series models include the Lifestride 93T, Lifestride 95TI, Lifestride 97TI, and Lifestride 87TE.

All distributed by SPORTSMITH are genuine factory replacement parts and carry a full 120-day warranty.

To help build awareness to the Life Fitness equipment parts selection SPORTSMITH is now offering a 15% discount off all Life Fitness equipment parts from now until March 31, 2008 via the SPORTSMITH website at www.sportsmith.net, promo code: LF3EM must be used at the time of check out and is only available for online purchases of Life Fitness equipment parts.

The SPORTSMITH catalog further offers a new expanded selection of Locker Room Essentials, Personal Care, Body Washes, Shampoos and Conditioners. Functional training items include Fitness Boxing, Balance & Stability, Aerobic Mats, Speed & Agility, Sports Specific Training, Fitness Measurement, Audio Accessories, Resistance Tubing & Bands, Weighted Resistance and many more items.

SPORTSMITH Indoor Cycling Products include parts for Schwinn, Star Trac Johnny G Spinner, V2 and V-Bike and RevMaster. Equipment mats, tools, lubricants, cleaners and accessories are also offered.

Innovative strength training products feature Cybex Classic and VR2 Upholstered Pads, Cable Attachment Bars, Hardware and Accessories, Kettlebells, Dumbbells, Racks and International Bars. A variety of the most popular functional training and core/balance products include Polar® Heart Rate Monitors, SportStep, the Original Health Club Step™, SPORTSMITH Resistance Bands, Medicine and Stability Balls, Yoga and Exercise Mats.


Monday, March 17, 2008

Precor AMT® Honored in Red Dot Design Competition


Precors breakthrough Adaptive Motion Trainer® has been selected as one of the worlds best-designed products in the prestigious Red Dot product design competition.

Hosted by Germanys Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen since 1955, the competition annually convenes an international jury of design experts to examine and test products, assessing entries for innovation, functionality, ergonomics, durability, ecological compatibility and clarity of function. More than 3,000 entries from 51 countries were submitted for Red Dot consideration this year.

The Red Dot is among the worlds top design awards, and is well-deserved recognition of our design and engineering groups, said Paul Byrne, president of Precor. Both in terms of performance and design, the AMT® is one of the most significant products in Precors 27-year history. Weve seen great affirmation for the AMT in the marketplace, and its great to earn recognition from a global leader such as Red Dot.

The AMT is the first form of cardio fitness equipment that allows users to instantly choose and change their stride motion and speed, without pushing control buttons on the display, or waiting for the machine to respond.

Precors industrial design group created the design in collaboration with Precors engineering team, resulting in a modern, streamlined appearance along with a smooth, natural motion. AMT Biomechanics were validated by Western Washington Universitys Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation.

Red Dot honors mark Precors second international design competition win in two years. Last year, a design integrating entertainment into Precors Experience® series cardio equipment displays earned honors in the IDEA competition, sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America and Business Week magazine. Nearly 1,700 entries from 29 countries were judged in the IDEA competition.

The AMT also earned Product of the Year recognition in the international fitness industrys 2007 NOVA7 awards, and, most recently, was noted as best product innovation at Fit2PRO, Belgiums national fitness-industry trade show.

The AMT is the most recent in a series of product and service successes for Precor, which, with sales of $411 million globally in 2007, recorded its sixth consecutive year of record-setting revenues.

About Precor

Founded in the Seattle, WA area in 1980, Precor (www.precor.com) operates production, distribution and headquarters facilities near Seattle, with offices in the UK, Germany, Benelux, Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Japan and China. Engineered to move the way you move, Precor equipment sets the global standard for a fluid, natural, low-impact workout experience.

Precor is a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corp. (www.amersports.com), the worlds largest sports equipment company, with internationally recognized brands Wilson, Atomic, Suunto, Precor, Salomon and Mavic.


Thursday, March 6, 2008

Redesigned Bikes Join Life Fitness Elevation Series

Life Fitness® is taking its iconic Lifecycle® Exercise Bike, which was presented to the fitness industry more than 40 years ago, to another level at IHRSA 2008. Introduced as part of the new ElevationTM Series, the 95C Upright Lifecycle Exercise Bike and 95R Recumbent Lifecycle Exercise Bike both feature the company’s latest entertainment and motivational features along with a number of revolutionary design upgrades.

The new 95C and 95R are offered with three new unique options – the EngageTM, InspireTM and AchieveTM Consoles. The Engage Console features a 15-inch integrated LCD touch screen with built-in TV, while the Inspire Console offers a 7-inch integrated LCD touch screen. Both include seamless iPod® compatibility; USB connectivity to create, store and track workout information; a Virtual Trainer; vibrant Workout Landscape™ Perspectives; and a Zoom Feature. Users also can view iPod-delivered video content from the Engage Console’s integrated screen, or from the Inspire Console with an optional 17-inch Attachable TV. The Achieve Console features an easy-to-use amber LED display and the six most commonly used Life Fitness workouts.

“We conducted a tremendous amount of research in the field with customers and end users to create a better exercise experience for the huge variety of people who use the Lifecycle Bikes,” said Bob Quast, vice president of product management for Life Fitness. “We believe we’ve been able to breathe new life into these bikes with a design that’s more engaging than anything we’ve offered before.”

Featuring sophisticated, sculptural forms and a clean silver and gray palette, the newest 95 Lifecycle Bikes offer new and inviting design attributes. The new deluxe armrests and handlebars offer at-your-fingertips workout resistance controls and feature LifepulseTM digital contact heart rate monitoring sensors. A new seat provides enhanced comfort and better thigh clearance, and newly designed pedals come equipped with a unique ski boot-style adjustment mechanism and quick release.

No detail ignored, the new 95R Recumbent Lifecycle Bike features a step-through design making it easy for all users to get on and off the bike. Facilities also have the option of selecting deluxe armrests or side handlebars. The new optional performance kit for the 95C Upright Lifecycle Bike includes an optional racing seat and racing pedals to give cyclists the comfort of a road bike with the features and benefits of the new consoles. While both bikes accommodate a wide range of user heights, an XXL version of the upright Lifecycle Bike accommodates users up to 7-feet tall.

For more information on the new 95C Upright Lifecycle Exercise Bike, 95R Recumbent Lifecycle Exercise Bike and the Elevation Series, call 1-800-634-8637.

www.lifefitness.com