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Now that the sun is out and spring is in full swing, you might finally be taking to the roads on your long-lost bike that was so neglected over the cold winter months.

Biking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while getting in some heart-pumping cardio, and also offers a fun opportunity to bond with friends and family. But, let's face it: those narrow bike seats can get uncomfortable pretty quickly, and sitting for an extended period of time might be an issue if you suffer from back problems. You could always enjoy the outdoors by going for a run, but running can be more jarring on the joints than biking. Wouldn't it be great if there was a happy medium between biking and running that allowed you to get some heart-pumping outdoor cardio while salvaging your joints, back, and backside?

Well, guess what? There is! It's called the ElliptiGO.


Here is a description of this awesome invention, from the ElliptiGO website:

''At its core, the ElliptiGO is a fitness device that emulates running outdoors without the associated impact. It was designed by runners to be the ideal low-impact substitute for running. We believe it is the ideal cross-training device for healthy runners and the best replacement for running for injured runners. It delivers an exercise experience that is closer to running than anything else available today.

The ElliptiGO has some unique characteristics that make it a great solution for a wide variety of people. Obviously, running is near and dear to our hearts, and the ElliptiGO was designed in particular for cross-training and injured runners. However, most of our customers are not runners. They are people who want a comfortable, fun, efficient, low-impact, and weight-bearing exercise that they can enjoy outdoors. The ElliptiGO delivers on each of these conditions in a way that no other device can.

As a result, our customers range from hard-core cyclists and elite athletes to recreational riders just looking to get fit. It's a customizable experience, enabling you to challenge yourself as much or as little as you’d like.

What's wrong with the conventional bicycle? There's nothing wrong with the bicycle. It's a great vehicle. In fact, every member of our company has spent a lot of time on a bicycle. The two founders are former Ironman triathletes (a race that includes a 112-mile bicycling portion) and our employees include former professional road and track bike racers and competitive triathletes. We are not trying to recreate or change the bicycle - far from it. In fact, what we've created isn't actually a bicycle - it's a pedal-driven scooter. If it were at all easy to say "elliptical pedal-driven scooter" we'd call it that. We've simply chosen the term bicycle out of convenience, but we're the first to admit that the ElliptiGO is not a bicycle. The ElliptiGO is an exercise device made for runners, by runners. Our goal is to re-create running outdoors without the impact.''


The company graciously loaned us an ElliptiGO to try out here at the SparkPeople offices. We had a blast! Here's what some of our staff had to say about the experience:

Sarah from Marketing says: ''I loved it! It was a little difficult to get started, I think just because it was so different from a typical bike, but once you got going, it was smooth sailing and so much fun!''

Tim from Marketing says: ''I enjoyed it, thought it was a fun change of pace from my normal cardio workouts. I probably wouldn’t be doing any long rides on it, but could see using it on a bike trail, park, etc.''

Tanya from Community Support says: ''There is a small learning curve but once you get the hang of it, it handles and maneuvers easily. It provides an outdoor workout alternative for those that love outdoor activity such as biking or running. It is especially good for those that enjoy the elliptical machine but want to be outdoors.''

Melinda from Editorial says: ''I had to have someone by my side holding onto the handlebars when I first got on (I felt like I was learning how to ride a bike without training wheels for the first time!), but once I got moving, it was really fun and easy to use. It's definitely a great low-impact cardio option, and would be good for cross-training, too.'' 

Does the ElliptiGO sound like a good fit for your exercise needs? If so, you're in luck: we're giving away one ElliptiGO 3C (a $1,799 value!) in your color choice of green, orange, or black!

To enter, click here! Be sure to read the rules. This contest will end exactly two weeks from today! Winner will be notified via email.

How would the ElliptiGO help your workouts?