NPAC boasts 19 new cardio machines

The estimated cost of the equipment and installation, funded by student fees and community wellness fees, is $65,000.

NPAC Director Chris Green said, “This new top-of-the-line equipment puts us on a competitive level with other colleges. It is a great enhancement for both current and incoming students. I invite people to come check it out.”

The new equipment includes two Cybex Arc Trainers with variable settings from low-impact similar to cross country skiing to a higher impact like climbing. Green feels that this machine will provide excellent low-impact work for athletes who are rehabilitating after injuries. The Arc Trainers will also charge phones and display music playlists.

Two Expresso bikes, made by Interactive Fitness, feature a video screen which displays interactive scenery coordinated with over 40 different routes of varying elevation changes and duration, which can be previewed. At least one option resembles a video game. The two bikes can be synchronized so friends can race on the same route.

Green said Expresso Bike users can create personal online accounts and use them to track their workouts and compare them to students from other schools and across the country. It will be possible for CSC to enter contests against other schools in the future. Offered through Interactive Fitness, students could compete for either top times or prizes, depending on future contests promoted by Interactive Fitness.

The following Matrix equipment has been installed:  five treadmills with adjustable speed and incline, four recumbent bikes, three ellipticals, two upright bikes and one Climb Mill

All Matrix pieces are equipped with a USB charging station as well as an iPod/iPhone dock to charge devices.

Students had requested a Climb Mill, so Green arranged for it to be brought to the NPAC Cardio Room from Omaha in April for a demo. Graduate student Cressy Yuetter assisted Green this spring with drawing up specifications for the equipment and issuing the call for bids.

“The Climb Mill is one of the best work-outs in the Cardio Room. It’s tough,” Green said.

Summer hours of the Cardio Room are: Monday - Friday 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Hours during the school year are: Monday - Thursday 6 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday 6 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m. -7 p.m.

A Cardio Theater system in the Cardio Room allows users of each machine to connect their personal headphones directly to the audio of televisions in the room. Then users can select which of the four screens they want to watch and adjust volume for their individual headset. Each piece of equipment has a standard display panel showing time elapsed, calories burned and other basic information.

Green plans to train his staff on the Arc Trainers, Expresso bikes and Climb Mill so they will be able to answer questions about the equipment.

The Cardio Room is remodeled space that was formerly two racquetball courts. Three racquetball courts remain. The area near the front desk which is currently a student lounge was the first, small cardio room in the NPAC.

Next door, north of the Cardio Room, the Weight Room also features some new equipment. The Roman Chair, Glute Ham machine, Smith machine and two bench presses were delivered in May.

“We find things that work well for the space we have,” he said. Everything is new within the past two years except the leg press, dumb bells and quad machine, according to Green.