Throughout history, leading fitness equipment manufacturer and supplier Precor has been at the vanguard of fitness innovation.

Having created the original elliptical category in 1995, Precor once again spearheads advancements in the sector, with the launch of the Experience Series EFX® 800 with Converging CrossRamp®.

The patented Converging CrossRamp® is designed to mimic a person’s normal converging path of motion as they walk and run, making exercise feel more natural.

Its unveiling follows three independent research studies, along with rigorous testing to optimise the design.

Studies were also commissioned on diversity of motion paths and the impact on the body, such as how muscle activation patterns can change depending on the training angle. The ramp inclines from 10 to 35 degrees enabling even more workout variety.

Along with the Converging CrossRamp®, other premium attributes include a modernised design with a sleeker frame and the choice of either fixed or moveable handlebars. Plus a more personalised workout with the new P82 touch screen console, which features Android-based technology, faster processing speeds and embedded Wi-Fi.

Enhanced serviceability is a key component of the new design which is easier to clean and maintain.

A covered ramp and rear-drive housing help protect the machine from dirt, dust and sweat; an attribute gym owners at the Anytime Fitness 2016 conference enthused about.

The addition of the Active Status Light™ alerts staff when the machine needs attention.

Pivot joints and tool-less detachable panels enable easier access that only requires a Philips screwdriver or bare hands, drastically reducing the amount of time spent attending to maintenance.

Jim Birrell, Precor’s chief innovation officer, said: “When we created the category in 1995 with the original EFX, there was nothing like it on the market. Operators loved the EFX because it attracted new members and exercisers were drawn to it because it offered an unmatched fitness experience. The newest EFX takes all the science and business insights we’ve collected over the past two decades and incorporates them into this unrivalled, updated version.”

Greg Stephenson, fitness director at University of Minnesota comments: “We love our current EFX ellipticals and it’s hard to believe Precor has improved on something that was already a well-designed machine, but they did.”

The Converging CrossRamp® can be used to train in a number of ways, from a forward direction with the ramp angle between 13-20 for maximum glute impact or by training in the reverse direction at high and low CrossRamp® levels to target quadriceps.

Training backwards with the CrossRamp® at any resistance or angle will help increase heart rate as this is an unfamiliar movement.

Calves can be trained in a forward movement with the CrossRamp® level at 12 to 15, and at level 20, knee flexion is similar to running on a treadmill.

When training forwards the ramp is actively pushed down and when training backwards the ramp is actively pushed up.

Train at a steady cadence and, as the CrossRamp levels increase, so does heart rate and calorie consumption.

Lower CrossRamp® levels can be used for recovery periods.

The low impact, fluid movement of the Experience Series EFX 800 with Converging CrossRamp® contributes to exercisers’ perceiving a lower rate of exertion, making the workout more enjoyable despite the training challenge.

For further information contact www.precor.com