F4H Olympic magnetic Bike ES-8401 Resistance Exercise Bike Portable Fitness

When I received the bike I could not get the bike console to register any activity on the bike, just a lot of zeros. In this condition I would have given the bike 2 stars. However, after a somewhat protracted conversation with Fit4home I fixed the problem, hence the 5 stars.I ordered the Black/Yellow bike on a Wednesday and a new Black/Red one was delivered on Friday. Quick delivery even if it was not quite the colour I was expecting.The assembly instructions for the bike were well laid out. Although the separate instructions for the console were a bit sketchy. The fiddliest part of the construction was attaching the tension cable from the neck of the bike to the cable in the bike’s base. The only slightly unusual thing that was not explained was that some of the nuts and screws required were already attached to parts of the bike rather than being in a separate bag.After assembling the bike I could not get the console to enter scan mode even after rechecking all the wires I’d just connected. Hence the console did not measure time, distance, calories, speed or RPM, they all remained at 0. So I contacted Fit4home via Amazon. Unfortunately by this time it was Friday evening and I had to wait until Monday morning to get a reply as their customer service only operate Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm. On Monday they said the problem could be the sensor in the base of the bike and I could open up the base to take a look without invalidating the warranty. Upon unscrewing the base covers there was just enough space to see that the sensor was not screwed down and was ‘floating’ a long way from the pulley it was supposed to detect the movement of. I could see the problem but there was not sufficient space between the unscrewed covers to reach in and screw down the sensor into position. After another 4 days of daily email communication Fit4home finally clearly explained how I could remove the bike covers without unscrewing the pedal cranks. Once the covers were removed it was fairly simple to screw the sensor into position and get the console to scan bike activity as it should have done.To apologise for the inconvenience Fit4home did send me some resistance bands which was a nice but unnecessary gesture. A quicker explanation of how to remove the bike’s base covers would have been more useful. Given the problem I had I was happy with the eventual outcome and appreciated that Fit4home did persist in trying to help me solve the problem I had. I guess I could have just returned the faulty bike but dismantling it, repacking it and returning it would have been more of a hassle.In hindsight it should have been possible to test the scan mode of the console before assembly by connecting it directly to the cable from the base and turning the pedal cranks for a couple of seconds. Now the scan mode works rotating the pedals for a couple of seconds is sufficient to shown ‘Scan’ in the top left of the display. Testing the console before assembly would have made repairing or even returning the bike easier.The approximate dimensions of the bike once assembled are:• Maximum base width: 44cm• Maximum base length: 79cm• Maximum saddle height: 94cm (adjustable)• Maximum saddle to peddle distance: 90cm (adjustable)• Floor to base of handlebars: 97cm• Maximum floor to top of handlebars: 132cm (adjustable)I’ve been using the bike about 5 times a week for about 4 weeks now and it suits my needs: cycling on the minimum tension for about 25 minutes. There are quite big steps up in tension although it is easy to move the tension dial. The bike is quieter than my old exercise bike and its easy to hear any music or watch TV when using it. When pedalling the console shows the Speed, Time, Distance, Calories and RPM/Pulse in small boxes in the bottom of the display. The large text display above these boxes scrolls through each one of these values showing each one for a few seconds at a time. Getting a pulse reading from the handlebar sensors is a bit hit and miss. Even when a pulse value is displayed I don’t believe its a true pulse rate number most of the time. Better to use an alternative if you need to measure your pulse rate accurately. It is possible to program a time, distance, or calorie target and a subtle alarm will sound when you’ve reached your target. However, the target is not stored between sessions.There are some other modes on the console:1. Body fat: after entering your gender, height, weight and age, then hitting the ‘Measure’ button and gripping the handlebars the console displays a measure of % body fat, body mass index, and basal metabolic rate. The last 2 are calculations and the % body fat is measured by impedance through the handlebars.2. Pulse recovery: measures the rate of pulse decrease over 1 minute. Given the problems I had with pulse measurement I’ve not found this function informative.When not in any other mode the console will display the time and ambient temperature.After I fixed the scan problem the bike has been a solid performer so far. Moreover, the customer service offered by Fit4home did eventually help fix the problem I had. They did always send a reply even if they were only available Monday to Friday.

The item arrived well within time quoted, by Yodel delivery. The carton weighed 45 kilos and the Yodel man did not have a set of wheels but helped me through the main door to the apartment block. I then had to drag the carton along a level floor to my apartment (at age 82 this was quite difficult) and left it in the smaller bedroom. My eldest son (aged 55) came two days later to help assemble the bike. It had good instructions and was complete with all nuts and bolts etc. It took him exactly one hour to complete only to find the computer display was blurred but this was replaced by the firm by return post - I fitted it and all works perfectly. Having just had the operation for a new knee I was advised that cycling was the perfect exercise, hence this purchase. I am up to 30 minutes a day usage at the moment but because of restricted backward movement of my new left knee I have the saddle adjusted to its maximum height.but this, I know, will be a short term problem.

I was so pleased when I had put the bike together - which was not too difficult (even though I am a woman). The bike is sturdy, and strong and I was looking forward to getting some extra exercise on it. But it is so hard to pedal!! I can only manage about two minutes before I have to have a break. Is there any way that the tension can be loosened? Apart from not really being able to use it - it's great to look at!!

No problem with the bike. The site recommends purchasing a gel seat cover for more comfort . Unfortunately the cover recommended is far too small. Why recommend a product that is of no use.

A little bit fiddly to put together but got there in the end bike works fine

I bought this product to retrain after my accident in March 2018 it was fantastic I still have it and use it every now and then

Easy to use good value for money

Good buy would definitely recommend this exercise bike is a bargain it does everything that you would expect a bike to do