Elliptigo Success Stories?

I know someone who used it while they were injured and felt it kept them in somewhat decent shape. They let one of our mutual friends borrow it and he absolutely loved it, to the point he just bought the most expensive one. He is in his 50s and his body is banged up from years of running and this is a good way for him to stay fit, kinda run and injury free...Ive been on it but wouldnt get one unless I continue to get injured.

Been running 40 years and had surgery for a labral tear 2 years ago. Kept trying to run through compensations post surgery and was tired of limping around after my runs with muscle and other pains. Even worse was the pain when not running. I got an ElliptiGO at the end of June after a slow 5k left me limping for two days. I immediately fell in love with it. I could work out with the intensity of when I was in running in college without any issues. Within 5 weeks I did a 100 mile hilly century and another century at the end of the summer. I couldn't wait to get out and ride each day. I would never be sore after a ride. Regular cycling would beat me up, but on an ElliptiGO you are working on good posture. I did well and had a blast at the first ElliptiGO race on the east coast and all together have done about 2500 miles. It has been better than any PT or other treatments I have had and I am working my way, slowly, back into pain-free running. On the negative side, I barely lost any of the weight that I gained over 3 years of inactivity. Expensive, yes! I am still selling stuff on eBay to pay for it. Goofy, yes, you feel that way at first, but I have become an attraction for tons of positive comments when I am riding. Everyone loves seeing you on the ElliptiGO. It has been one of the best purchases I have made and I am much more at peace now that I can train again. Even if I can't run competitively anymore, I have found a way to exercise that is fun and challenging without the wear and tear on my body that running and cycling did. I hooked it up to a bike trainer this week, so I can train indoors in the winter. Get the 8 speed model if you really want to get some quality training and go up and down hills or mountains.

i have been the subject of one of their testimonials (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013ElliptiGO/04Carlsbad5000/prweb10636064.htm), so take my claims for what their worth:

yes, it helps. yes, i think it's worth it, but i did get mine as a loaner. i am not a chronically injured runner, but if i were, and after my experience with it, i'd definitely buy one. i never thought i'd say it, but i actually think it's fun to ride, but running is still my choice of activity.

i can't be 100% sure it helped my running, though it helped me come back from injury quicker, especially during the summer of 2012 after i'd thrashed my achilles in carlsbad that april. hard to know if i was necessarily better since there are so many variables. that said, i got a year older (45-46) and i didn't get slower.

from a time standpoint, i get the most use during the summer and winter breaks (i'm a teacher). i've used it in a variety of ways: replacing long runs with a 90 minute ride (i could keep my heartrate at around 140-ish the whole time); supplementing long runs (running 45-60 min, riding 45-60 min); doubling back on recovery days (45 min runs in the morning, 45 min rides in the evening). i generally rode a relatively hilly circuit for the shorter rides, but kept longer rides flat.

hope this helps,

cush

Thank you all for your feedback. Your opinions on the Elliptigo is exactly whys think it is the right fit for me. The past 5 years seem to have been a continual string of bone or soft tissue injuries, and I figured it was time to do something about it. The elliptical helps, but its god awful boring, and I never had much success biking or swimming, especially when running at the same time.

(1) Yes, the ElliptiGO is expensive but no more so than a nice carbon fiber bike. I paid $3,500 for a Specialized Ruby Expert bike in May 2011. In Dec. 2011, I paid the same amount for my 11R, an 11-speed ElliptiGO, when I moved up from the 8C, 8-speed ElliptiGO, that I bought in Sept 2011. Honestly, the ElliptiGO IS worth every penney. I love it and would be miserable if I didn't have it for workouts. It is very well made. I've changed the chain twice, the tires and brake pads. I've got between 8,000 and 9,000 miles on my 11R ElliptiGO.

I finally sold the Specialized Ruby Expert because I never wanted to ride it again. My ElliptiGO goal each week is three 35 mile rides. Lately, I've only been getting in two a week.

(2) I used to run for fun and health but after a disc injury and continually living on 12 Advil a day, I finally quit. For years my doctors told me to quit running but I didn't listen to them because I loved to run and the ibuprofen kept me functioning. Once I had a ruptured disc (major pain!) in April 2005, I started going to the gym (ugh!) and used the elliptical machines, instead. Once I bought my first ElliptiGO in Sept. 2011, I quit the gym and always use the ElliptiGO. I love to be outside to exercise. It's a great workout, harder than a bike and it feels like running (and flying, somewhat) without the usual pounding. It's just plain fun! Try one and see if you like it.

(3) The ElliptiGO has not helped my running because I had to quit in April 2005 due to my bad back. I was 47 years-old at the time and loved running. I figured I'd quit running while I could still walk. Using the ElliptiGO feels like running, again, only it's even more fun to me. Degenerative discs don't repair.

Well I bought one. The 8c. It should be shipping any day now. For the last couple of years I feel like I've been running on egg shells. At least now ill

be able to get the intensity into my workout if I can't do so through running. Also, I've had success in the past with hard elliptical training when transitioning back to running and building up my mileage. I guess this purchase will be worth it if I use it enough, but I think I will.

I was given an eliptigo after I injured myself training for the ING Marathon. It worked wonders. I split positive my a huge margin and they took a really nice finish line picture of me with my buddy from SI.

Elllipti-Bro, congrats on you purchase. I find that if people "get it" with something like the ElliptiGO then they are the people who would really use and enjoy it. Let's us know how things go with your new ride. Check out the ElliptiGO group on FB if you want to connect with other ElliptiGO athletes.

I'm glad you bought one! Like the previous poster said, please go on Facebook and put ElliptiGO in the search box. You should come up with the Elliptigo Group that is a closed group. Just ask to join and you'll be added soon. It's a great place to ask questions about it. It's a friendly group of 232 people who own one are have thought about it.

I had one for a while before my friend could sell it (he bought it after a botched Haglund's surgery but turned out he still needed his calf to use it well so switched to a bike). It is easier to get your HR up than on a bike if you have always been a runner and you can get up to tempo efforts on it easier than a bike when you first start. But the problem is it costs as much as a nice carbon bike, it is a huge pain to change a rear flat, and there are few races, and the damn thing weighs 45 pounds so it isn't easy to travel with. I used it a lot after my double cheilectomy, mostly on a Kurt Kinetic Trainer, but then bought a full carbon bike that cost $1000 less that I like better for cross training. The elliptigo is nice though, but the drawbacks outweigh the coolness compared to a bike for me. It does fit on a fluid trainer so you can use it indoors. It has a better stride pattern than any indoor elliptical I have used.

SO in short, if you have no desire to ever compete on it or on anything but running it is good cross training and I think a runner would be able to duplicate running workouts on it better than a bike (since many runners are too weak to put out power on a bike to match their cardio fitness).

Riding outdoors, my easy 30 mile bike rides (equivalent to 7:00 pace run for 11 miles in HR) are at like 22+ mph on a warm calm day on a flat course. On the elliptigo that would be like 19+ mph because your aerodynamics really suck. On an indoor trainer, though I can generate more power on the elliptigo than a bike. I did an hour once at 330 watts on the elliptigo while my FTP on a bike is around 295 watts.

I'm not a runner but I've always been athletically active. I am 62 years old and bought my 8C about a month ago after reading all the good reviews. It's an investment that is paying huge dividends already.

A quick background: 2 years ago I was scheduled to have a disc implant as my L5 has degenerative arthritis and also juts out at an angle which caused a great deal of pain. I've seen this surgery go badly for others, I cancelled the surgery and committed to developing the hell out of my core. Swimming, power-walking were great...but a month on the ElliptiGo has made me ALMOST pain-free. I feel fantastic, plus the burn on the upper thighs is incredible not to mention the aerobic work out. I live in the hills near Laguna Beach and after about 20 minutes of going up and down the hills, I couldn't possibly get that kind of a workout with anything else I've ever tried without destroying my back, knees or hips. Hell, even my arms get a serious work out on the GO.

Best health insurance I've ever bought. Oh....and I've lost 20 lbs...half of that on the GO.

Are we supposed to believe the following elites rock the 'go regularly in their training as they indicate on the website

Meb

Neely Spence

Montano

Sarah Brown

Fleshman

Rowbury

Seems pretty cool, but like triathlons and big city marathons...another upscale experience. I will check it out when the cost comes down.

Brian - how do you measure power on the elliptigo?

I wonder how many of the above responses were from paid shills? Sure seems like a lot.

Brian, did you put a Powertap on your elliptigo?

If Cush and Paul Thomas both give it a thumbs up, I'm sold. Might need a mask to put on when I ride, though.

adsfasdf wrote:

I wonder how many of the above responses were from paid shills? Sure seems like a lot.

Ok , lets remove the so called paid shills , hundred of other around the country swear by the thing. Its a great fitness tool. I would guess your still running in basketball shoes as to many paid shills are wearing running shoes.

If you are a school coach you might be able to work a deal with Bruce from Elliptigo. My XC team raised money for and bought one. We got the usual $2400 model for $2000.

It has been great for the team: injured runners, young runners splitting a distane run, and me, the aging coach.

Carly Stache wrote:

Are we supposed to believe the following elites rock the 'go regularly in their training as they indicate on the website

Meb

Neely Spence

Montano

Sarah Brown

Fleshman

Rowbury

These are all standup individuals; If they say they use it, why would you doubt it?

I don't own one because the one I would purchase to too expensive evening for someone who earns a decent income. However, I am pretty sure it works because I have had success with an elliptical machine.