Life Fitness LIFECYCLE 5500 User manual

interactive fitness solutions
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction.3
Safety Instructions.4
How to Levei the Lifecycle* 5500 Aerobic Tt'ainer.5
How to Adjust the Seat. 6
How to Adjust the Footstraps.7
The Dispiay Consoie.8
Heart Rate TV'aining. 1 2
Operating Instructions & Program Descriptions.13
To Begin Any Lifecycle 5500 Aerobic TTainer Workout .14
Hill Profile Progrant . 1 5
Random, Manual and Race Programs . 1 7
Random Program . 1 7
Manual Program . 1 7
Race Program . 1 7
Fit Test Program . 1 8
Preventive Maintenance Tips. 2 2
How to Remove the Housing
on the Lifecycle 5500 Aerobic IV-ainer. 2 3
How to Soive Basic Operating Probiems.25
How to Obtain Product Service. 2 6
Lifecycle 5500 Aerobic TVainer Specifications.27
©1995 Life Fitness. All rights reserved. The Life Fitness trademark is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office, Certificate No. 1,400,502, issued July 8, 1986. Heart Rate Zone Training is a trademark and Lifecycle is a regis¬
tered trademark of Life Fitness. Any use of these trademarks, without the express written consent of Life Fitness, is for¬
bidden. U.S. Patent Numbers 3,767,195 and 4,358,105. M051-00K17-A074 (8/95).

3
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations...ar\6 thank you for purchasing a Lifecycle!^ 5500 aerobic trainer.
Your new Life Fitness aerobic trainer is the most versatile in-home exercise bike ever
developed, the culmination of over 20 years of Life Fitness research, technological
innovation and engineering expertise. Lifecycle exercise bikes are recognized the
world over as one of the most popular and advanced computerized stationary
bicycles.
Like other Life Fitness products, the Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer offers you a host
of exclusive features designed to help you achieve your fitness goals faster and with
greater enjoyment. Industry-standard workout programs, an array of up-to-the-second
visual feedback, and a comfortable, ergonomic design are just a few of the benefits
you’ll enjoy on your Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer.
Why use a Life Fitness aerobic trainer? Aerobic training on a Lifecycle 5500
exercise bike is more than just a great workout. The Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer
has a comfortable padded seat and blomechanically superior position, including
variable-ergonomic handlebars that enable you to select the most comfortable
riding position throughout your workout.
With features like the Race program. Fit Test, level 0 resistance that is almost 25%
easier than the level 1 found on earlier editions of the classic Lifecycle aerobic
trainer and exciting variable-ergonomic handlebars, you’ll be much more likely to
stick with your exercise plan and accomplish your goals.
If you have any questions regarding the operation of your Lifecycle 5500 aerobic
trainer, please call Life Fitness After Market Services at [phone] or toll free
within the U.S. and Canada at [phone]. For product service in Europe, refer
to the first page of this manual and contact your nearest Life Fitness office.
CAUTION: Life Fitness STRONGLY recommends that if you are under¬
taking an exercise program you see your physician for a compiete medicai
exam, particularly if you have a famiiy history of high blood pressure or
heart disease, are over the age of 45, or if you smoke, have high
cholesterol, are obese, or have not exercised regularly in the past year. If,
at any time while exercising, you feei faint, dizzy, short of breath, or pain,
stop immediately.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
REMEMBER:
SAFETY FIRST!
• Always follow the console instructions for proper operation.
• Never operate a Life Fitness trainer if it has been dropped, damaged, or
even partially immersed in water. Contact Life Fitness After Market
Services.
• Never insert objects into any opening in your Lifecycle 5500 aerobic
trainer. If an object should drop inside, carefully retrieve it; if you cannot
reach the item, contact Life Fitness After Market Services.
• Never place liquids of any type directly on the unit, except on an
accessory tray. Containers with lids are recommended.
• Do not use the Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer outdoors, near swimming
pools or in areas of high humidity.
• Do not use the Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer in areas where aerosol
spray products are being used or where oxygen is being administered.
Such substances increase the danger of combustion and explosion.
• Keep all loose clothing, shoelaces, and towels away from the Lifecycle
5500 exercise bike pedals.
• Keep the area around your Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer clear of any
obstructions, including walls and furniture.
• Always be careful and exercise caution when mounting or dismounting
your Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer. Use the handlebar whenever
additional stability is required.
• Wear shoes with rubber or high-traction soles. Do not use shoes with
heels, leather soles, cleats or spikes. Do not use the trainer in your bare
feet.
• Do not tip the Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer on its side during operation.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

HOW TO LEVEL THE LIFECYCLE 5500
AEROBIC TRAINER _
Depending on the surface you place your Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer on it may
need to be leveled. After you place the bike where you will be primarily using it,
check the stability of the bike by attempting to rock it back and forth. If it rocks, it
isn’t level. To level it, turn either foot cap on the stabilizer bar in either direction until
the rocking motion is eliminated (only one foot cap needs to be turned).
Leveling the Lifecycle 5500

HOW TO ADJUST THE SEAT
A properly adjusted seat is extremely important in any bike-oriented exercise activity,
and the Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer is no exception. If the seat is too low, exces¬
sive strain will be placed on the knees and quadriceps muscles; if the seat is too
high, the resulting reaching action will irritate your feet, ankles, hips and knees.
To adjust the seat properly, sit on it and place the balls of your feet on the pedals.
An optimum position will allow you to move through the bottom of the stroke without
locking your knees or shifting in the seat
(your knees should have a slight bend at
the point of fullest leg extension). If the seat
needs to be adjusted, dismount the bike
and pull out the adjusting pin located on the
front of the seat post. Slide the seat post up
or down as necessary to the proper position
and reinsert the pin. Check the seat height
again and readjust it if
necessary.
Adjusting the seat
A CAUTION: Do not attempt to adjust the seat while you are pedaling
the bike. Doing so or failing to insert the seat pin completely may
result in an uncomfortable workout or cause injury.

HOW TO ADJUST THE FOOTSTRAPS
The pedals on your Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer have rubber footstraps with three
inside and seven outside slits on each. To adjust the width of the straps, grasp the
outside of the strap and pull down and away from the knob. Once the slotted end is
removed, choose a width that will feel the most comfortable while you are riding,
reinsert the knob through the slot and pull the strap up. The knob will click when it
locks in place.
Adjusting the footstraps
A CAUTION: Do not attempt to adjust the pedal footstraps while you
are pedaling the bike. Doing so may result in an uncomfortable
workout or cause injury.

THE DISPLAY CONSOLE
The Lifecycle 5500 aerobic trainer’s display console is easy to use, and it allows you
to follow your progress as you ride. The on-board computer lets you tailor your
workouts to your individual fitness capabilities and goals while providing a unique
means of measuring your fitness improvement from one workout to the next.
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The Display Console
A. Data Entry Zone:
• START: The START key activates the display console once you begin pedaling
and is then inactive for the remainder of the workout.
• WATTS (0) and WIETS (8): To continuously display WATTS (roughly equal to 1/4
of calories per hour) in the feedback window, press 0 after pressing START and
prior to selecting a program. If you wish to enter a WATTS workload to maintain,
enter that value using the keypad after pressing 0. To display METS (a measure¬
ment of oxygen consumption per unit of body weight), press 8 after pressing
START and prior to selecting a program. You will then be prompted to enter
your weight in pounds (Lb) (or kilograms (gr) for metric machines. Both the
WATTS and METS options will “lock” the feedback window, displaying only the
WATTS and METS values (see WATTS / METS Programmability Option).