The Health Rider was the first of the 'rider' machines and the best. It came out in the early 90's. I used mine while watching TV and would sustain a one-hour workout by watching a one hour show. The knock-off versions have a piston and do not provide the same experience. Nice video.
I well remember the Health Rider infomercials. I never knew they were so versatile or that they offered a strength building component. I thought it was purely an aerobic machine. Thanks for this fresh look at the Health Rider!
The brand Sunny Health has a similar machine. I grabbed it from Amazon for around $100. I'm unable to do squats, so I really like it. No brainer for $100. It's called "Row and Ride". Great video Skyler.
Does anyone remember when there were stores at the MALL dedicated to selling these things? Hugely popular for a year or so! My in-laws bought one and it became a clothes rack within 3 months. I would like to give it a go.
Pleasantly surprised by this review, I've been wanting to purchase something similar. If you used less upper body would you feel a good burn in your legs and booty? Do you think this machine would exacerbate lower back or knee issues?
If you were to focus primarily on lower body, you could do so in either the "squatting" fashion, focusing on extending the legs, or you could keep the legs rigid and instead do calf raises. Because of the natural movement pattern and the control you have over the range of motion, I don't think you would need to worry about exacerbating low back or knee issues, but I guess it depends on what type of issues you are having and how you are using the machine. I suspect that by adjusting your posture, range of motion, etc, you would be able to avoid any problems.
To work your legs more, rather than gripping the horizontal bar, grab the vertical bar (the one perpendicular to it). The lower down on the bar you hold it, the more it works your legs.
I remember being a kid and my friend’s mom (who all of his friend’s had a crush on!) had one of these in their living room. I guess now we know her secret - the thing gives a good workout!
There is a great commercial from the early 90's that featured a 50 year old woman who looked like your typical 80's aerobics girl. I love that type of stuff, lol.
I have never used one, but they look very limited in a few ways. It looks like it is supposed to be very similar to the Health Rider in function, but the design is less rugged, less sturdy, less adjustable, less versatile, etc.
If there was somewhere to place your feet when flipped around, you could theoretically just flip around 180 degrees and grab some rope handles that are attached to the bar. I'll play around with that idea and see how it works out.
The Health Rider Pt 2: In which @SkylerKingTW works out how to do a push workouts using the Health Rider. The Health Rider Pt 3: In which @SkylerKingTW becomes @HealthRiderTrainer and @SlidingBenchTrainer looks on enviously as his subscriptions, Health Rider sponsorship deals and sales of workout programs soar! 😉 Smart-arsery aside, my wife and I had one of the crappier versions, with nowhere near the functionality of this one, back in the 90's that we used alongside our first power rack, weights and bench. We'd intended it to be for cardio, but truth is it was really too hard for cardio and it's fun to see that years later it could've possibly been used as an improvised lever resistance machine. I'm not sure how many Health Riders made it over here in Australia but I'm definitely going to look out for one for curiosity sake alone.
Awesome brother. Great find and great mind
Grab some leggings and a crop top, it's gonna get old school
@@SkylerKingTW haha. Can’t wait. Been wanting to watch Over The Top again so it is the season.
Make a total body workout video with this machine. I'll follow it. I cant find the dvds or proper videos online anywhere.
The Health Rider was the first of the 'rider' machines and the best. It came out in the early 90's. I used mine while watching TV and would sustain a one-hour workout by watching a one hour show. The knock-off versions have a piston and do not provide the same experience. Nice video.
I well remember the Health Rider infomercials. I never knew they were so versatile or that they offered a strength building component. I thought it was purely an aerobic machine. Thanks for this fresh look at the Health Rider!
The brand Sunny Health has a similar machine. I grabbed it from Amazon for around $100. I'm unable to do squats, so I really like it. No brainer for $100. It's called "Row and Ride". Great video Skyler.
Dug ours out of loft, yep QVC in the 90s, giving it one last go before it gets dumped. Mine is a Delta Rider, cant find details of that anywhere! 😆
Does anyone remember when there were stores at the MALL dedicated to selling these things? Hugely popular for a year or so! My in-laws bought one and it became a clothes rack within 3 months. I would like to give it a go.
The unfortunate fate of so many pieces of home fitness equipment, lol.
Omg! Just found one myself for $25. Freaking love this machine!
It works
That looks like a great way for me to get started in my goal to get healthy through exercise. I guess it's time to shop the garage sales, now! (lol)
Wouldn't be a bad idea. Small foot print, easy to use, no real learning curve to get started, good for flexibility, cardio, resistance stimulus, etc.
Pleasantly surprised by this review, I've been wanting to purchase something similar. If you used less upper body would you feel a good burn in your legs and booty? Do you think this machine would exacerbate lower back or knee issues?
If you were to focus primarily on lower body, you could do so in either the "squatting" fashion, focusing on extending the legs, or you could keep the legs rigid and instead do calf raises. Because of the natural movement pattern and the control you have over the range of motion, I don't think you would need to worry about exacerbating low back or knee issues, but I guess it depends on what type of issues you are having and how you are using the machine. I suspect that by adjusting your posture, range of motion, etc, you would be able to avoid any problems.
To work your legs more, rather than gripping the horizontal bar, grab the vertical bar (the one perpendicular to it). The lower down on the bar you hold it, the more it works your legs.
I just watched the infomercial on TH-cam. Move the handle to the slot in front of the seat and it turns into leg press.
I remember being a kid and my friend’s mom (who all of his friend’s had a crush on!) had one of these in their living room. I guess now we know her secret - the thing gives a good workout!
There is a great commercial from the early 90's that featured a 50 year old woman who looked like your typical 80's aerobics girl. I love that type of stuff, lol.
Awesome, keep us posted how you like it.
Quick question, what is your thought on the sunny health & fitness row and ride squat assist machine?
I have never used one, but they look very limited in a few ways. It looks like it is supposed to be very similar to the Health Rider in function, but the design is less rugged, less sturdy, less adjustable, less versatile, etc.
@@SkylerKingTW thank you for your input, I found a health rider near me for $25. I am going to give that one a try
Let me know what you think. I highly recommend adding some resistance bands as a fast and easy way to dial in the resistance level you want.
could they have made it so you could do a pushing exercise on this machine? do you know the weight limit of it?
If there was somewhere to place your feet when flipped around, you could theoretically just flip around 180 degrees and grab some rope handles that are attached to the bar. I'll play around with that idea and see how it works out.
i also saw a video where the person was sitting on the floor behind the seat and pushing the seat up like a landmine press movement.@@SkylerKingTW
The Health Rider Pt 2: In which @SkylerKingTW works out how to do a push workouts using the Health Rider.
The Health Rider Pt 3: In which @SkylerKingTW becomes @HealthRiderTrainer and @SlidingBenchTrainer looks on enviously as his subscriptions, Health Rider sponsorship deals and sales of workout programs soar! 😉
Smart-arsery aside, my wife and I had one of the crappier versions, with nowhere near the functionality of this one, back in the 90's that we used alongside our first power rack, weights and bench. We'd intended it to be for cardio, but truth is it was really too hard for cardio and it's fun to see that years later it could've possibly been used as an improvised lever resistance machine. I'm not sure how many Health Riders made it over here in Australia but I'm definitely going to look out for one for curiosity sake alone.
I'm a big fan of the smart-arsery