Ellipticals

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Front driven, rear driven and center driven are the three general drive systems available for elliptical machines.

Rear Driven
This type of elliptical machine places the flywheel behind you. It is the most popular type of elliptical machine that provides the silky smooth feel that elliptical machines are so well known for.

Front Driven
Front Driven elliptical machines places the wheel in front of you. It has a little flatter feel to it than the rear driven models. Most front drive machines have aluminum, plastic or steel tracks in the base with rubber wheels traveling back and forth across the track. It is also more difficult to clean and maintain.

Center Driven
This is the least common of elliptical machines. It places the wheel in the middle of the user.

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The stride length is the longest distance between your feet in the elliptical motion. It is important to choose the correct stride length when purchasing an elliptical. This is determined by your height. Below is a quick guide to which stride size best fits you.

Less than 16 inches
If you have a limited amount of space, than an elliptical with a stride length of less than 16 inches is ideal for you. If you are taller than 5'4", this stride length will not provide as full of a workout as ellipticals with longer stride lengths.

CHOOSE YOUR STRIDE
Your Height	Stride Length
5’4" or less	16 inches – 18 inches
5’5” thru 5’7”	18 inches – 20 inches
5’7” and more	20 inches or more

Help

Interactive and preset programs are great features that help to efficiently burn the optimal amount of calories during a workout. It is like having your own personal trainer!

Interactive Programs
With interactive programs, you can customize your workouts according to your needs, goals and fitness level. You can set programs that help the dual action handles and pedals work together to help you target all the major muscle groups in your body.

Preset Programs
Preset programs are also an excellent way to help reach your goals. One advantage to preset programs is they typically insert workouts that have proven effectiveness. If you are going this route, the more preset programs the better!