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Q. What problem sources may
affect the reliability of pulse measurement with an ear sensor?
A.
Peripheral
circulation varies from person to person. For some people, circulation in
the ear may weaken under strain, and pulse measurement is no longer
possible. The same kind of problem may occur in hand pulse measurement.
Q. Is it safe to use a heart
rate monitor if you have a pacemaker?
A.
Always consult the
manufacturer and / or doctor before using a heart rate monitor. The heart
rate monitoring may have an effect on the pacemaker and its functions.
Q. Is it possible to upgrade
a Tunturi product into another model by changing components?
A.
In some cases this is technically possible, but Tunturi never recommends
this, because 1. the modifier is totally responsible for the functions,
accuracy, user safety etc. of the modified product 2. Tunturi warranty can
never be applied to such a product 3. the combined price of labor and parts
can be substantially higher than that of the corresponding Tunturi product.
For these reasons Tunturi Ltd never gives any instructions for such
upgrading. Notice that a fitness equipment is an entity in which the used
solutions often affect several components. Therefore you can not upgrade a
product simply by changing the meter console.
Q. What does calibration mean
and how is it performed to Tunturi equipment?
A.
Calibrating a fitness
equipment means correcting the accuracy with which it measures various
factors, such as effort, rpm, and time. Tunturi ergometers are manufactured
according to the standards regulating fitness equipment. These standards
define the required measuring accuracy. All Tunturi ergometers with magnet
resistance brakes are designed so that the values adjusted and set in the
production will remain within the tolerances of the standards.
Due to these reasons, the equipment need not be recalibrated to values
differing from the original adjustment. If the effort accuracy need be
checked, the product must be attached to a dynamometer. On the other hand,
for example the cadence can easily be checked with just a watch.
Should there be a malfunction in the components affecting the measuring
accuracy, the displayed values will differ so remarkably from the actual
values (for example, the displayed effort and the resistance in pedaling
feeling) that the error can easily be detected.
Q. Can careless handling of a packaged product cause malfunctions?
A.
Fitness equipment contains moving and
precision-located components. Therefore, it is very important that the
product packages are always handled with care. All packages are marked with
arrows showing the proper package positioning. Always pay attention to the
“This Side Up” signs.
After the product assembly, it remains important to keep the product in the
position, in which it is used for training, unless the product has a
specific storage position.
Q. What is the recommended
environment for use and storage of fitness equipment?
A.
All fitness equipment are designed for use and storage indoors, in an
environment of normal home conditions. The fitness equipment tolerate
temperatures between +10 and +35 degrees Celsius, the air humidity must
never exceed 90 %: otherwise the humidity may cause malfunctions in the
console electronics and the metal surfaces are exposed to corrosion. Notice
that some Tunturi products for commercial use feature a galvanized steel
frame. It is not recommended to keep the products exposed to continuous
sunshine, and in storage the products should be protected against dust.
Q. With which PC
programs are the Tunturi equipment compatible?
A.
Most Tunturi
high-end products are PC compatible. Tunturi has developed a special
T-Ware test and training program, which is directly compatible with all
PC compatible Tunturi products.
Furthermore, there are several other PC programs for testing and training
purposes. Are Tunturi products compatible with these? The key is the
protocol (the data transfer language between the PC program and the exercise
equipment). Both the program and the equipment must understand the same
protocol in order to co-operate. Tunturi equipment use the
T-protocol, developed by Tunturi. This is an open protocol, and, with
certain restrictions, anyone can order the protocol description from Tunturi
over the Internet. Usually, companies making the PC programs are not active
in the fitness equipment business. Therefore, they make the programs open in
a way that allows introducing new protocols, but this is a procedure that
requires a professional person.
Q. What is
T-Ware?
A.
T-Ware
is a new type of analyzing and follow-up system for performance and
training. It's advantages include e.g. the notably improved accuracy of
measurements, repeatability and the quality and quantity of feedback
information when analyzing maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) or exercise.
In addition to being an excellent everyday tool from athletes to normal
people and, one of its main uses will be using it as a preventive health
care centre at home.
Q. What is
VO2 max?
A.
Maximal oxygen consumption. A test measuring VO2 max is a test where you
measure the functionality and effectiveness of the cardiovascular system,
the lungs, strained muscles and the systems supporting them. VO2 max is
essentially the same as physical fitness.
Q. What is an
Ergometer test?
A.
An ergometer test means measuring VO2 max with an arm or a bicycle
ergometer. Normally the test is performed with a bicycle ergometer. A
treadmill is also commonly used to measure exercise capacity.
Q. What is
Maximal Heart Rate?
A.
The highest heart rate with which an individual's heart can beat in maximal
strain. The normal range of variation within the same gender and age group
is about 30-40 beats/min.
Q. What
happens during Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise?
A.
During aerobic exercise the muscles work mostly with fats and oxygen. The
amount of lactic acid remains on a fair level. During anaerobic exercise the
muscles use more carbohydrates and work without oxygen. The amount of lactic
acid rises steeply and the exercise is so intense that the individual can
only keep it up for a few minutes before having to quit because of fatigue.
Q. What is
MET?
A.
Metabolic equivalent. Is a multiple of oxygen consumption in rest. 1 MET
equals 3.5ml/kg/min. This is the amount of oxygen that a person needs while
in rest. For example, a result of an exercise test, be it 13 METs, means the
person can exceed his resting oxygen consumption 13 times. A person's
maximal MET value equals his/her maximal oxygen consumption in ml
(ml/kg/min); it's just expressed in different units.
Q. Does good
aerobic fitness affect the amount of active years?
A.
According
to research good aerobic capacity can extend one's lifespan for up to 7
years; on the other hand the amount of active years can be considered even
more important.
Q. What fitness
level is sufficient when considering health?
According to research 10 METs are enough. Many American experts say that 13
METs gives excellent protection against heart and cardiovascular diseases,
even if other risk factors were present.
Q. What is the right way to lubricate a Tunturi treadmill?
A.
The need for lubrication is primarily affected by usage and its environment.
If the treadmill is mainly used for walking, it needs to be lubricated more
often than if used mainly for running. Furthermore, the warmer its
environment, the faster the oil evaporates from the surfaces of the track
and base.
You should most importantly follow the lubricating instructions given in the
manual, keeping the points above in mind. Current Tunturi equipment needs
its first lubrication after about 300 hours of normal weekly home use.
Excessive lubrication and "just in case" lubrication are absolutely
prohibited; they will cause problems in electrical operation. The treadmill
is equipped with an overload protector. This safeguards the motor against
any overload (resulting e.g. from a lack of lubrication).
The only certain way to check if lubrication is necessary is to wipe your
fingers along the surface of both the track and the base. If you find your
fingers are dry, lubrication is obviously needed. But if there is even a
thin layer of oil on your fingers, then no lubrication is required. When the
treadmill is lubricated, the lubricant should only be applied on an
approximately 20 cm wide area along the middle of the track for its whole
length.
Please note that the treadmill only shows it needs lubricating in two ways:
- the overload protector stops the motor - the track does not move smoothly
when walking at a slow pace (2-3 km/h) Any other symptoms or malfunctions do
not require extra lubrication.
Tunturi treadmills must be lubricated only with Tunturi T-lube lubricant.
Q. Is it possible to fix
bicycle pedals to an Tunturi exercise cycle?
A. If your bike has
pedals with 9/16 inch threads, you can swap the pedals over. You need a 15
mm wrench to detach them.
Q. Is it possible to
fix a bicycle seat on to an Tunturi exercise cycle?
A. The seat can be
replaced in almost all Tunturi upright cycle models, only exceptions are
F200 and E604 due to their seat attachment. Some Tunturi models allow
replacing the seat without any accessories, models of the 300- and
400-series require an adapter (spare part number 153.1012).
Q. What problem
sources may affect the use of a heart rate belt?
A. If you have
problems with heart rate measurement: - moisten the sensors on the inside of
the heart rate belt lightly with water - make sure that the sensors on the
inside of the heart rate belt touch the skin, and tighten the belt - if the
measurement function has gradually faded, the batteries may be dead - Make
sure that there are no sources of interference nearby, such as mobile
phones, security systems etc.
Q. How to get spare
parts to old Tunturi fitness devices?
A. We try to keep
all spare parts in stock for at least seven years. We do not make major
spare part purchases after that, but usually have spare parts in stock for
fitness equipment that is well over ten years old. If the required part is
no longer available, you can ask Tunturi whether it can be replaced with one
from another fitness device, or if there is some other solution.
Unfortunately we will not always be able to help.
Q. What is the
difference between an ergometer cycle and an exercise cycle?
A. Unlike the
exercise cycle, the ergometer cycle is a device for measuring your training
effort: the brake system of an ergometer continually measures the pedaling
effort and shows this on the display in watts (W). Benefits of an ergometer
in training include a highly accurate calculation of energy consumption,
possibility of repeating exercises exactly on the same intensity and
performing condition tests. Furthermore, an ergometer can offer preset
training profiles. Notice that the ergometer is a name for various different
training equipment measuring the training effort: the Tunturi range includes
cycle, recumbent, crosstrainer and rower ergometers. Exercise cycles are
good equipment when you just want to get a routine training motion.
Ergometers are excellent training equipment for goal-oriented and even
demanding exercise.
Q. How should a
Tunturi exercise bike be maintained?
A. Tunturi
equipment are designed to need little maintenance. However, it is advisable
to periodically check the tightness of all fixing screws to ensure training
safety. Also an important part of the product maintenance is to use it
according to the Owner’s Manual instructions: read them carefully and keep
the Manual so you can refer to it if need be.
After exercising, the equipment should always be cleaned with a soft,
absorbent cloth. Never use solvents. Cleaning the equipment removes sweat,
which may cause corrosion: it is a good idea to protect all metal surfaces
outside the covers with teflon or car wax. Removing sweat also minimizes the
possibility of electric malfunctions.
Q. Heart rate
or pulse?
A.
The measurement of your heart rate is based on electrical impulses
registered from the heart, whereas pulse meters measure peripheral
circulation e.g. via an ear clip or a handgrip to calculate your pulse rate.
If you use a heart rate controlled exercise program, we recommend to use a
Polar®
transmitter belt for continuous heart rate measurement.
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