3G Cardio Elite UB Upright Bike

Unit	Size	Supported weight	Resistance	Console	Warranty
3G Cardio Elite UB Check Discounted Price	L:41" W:22.5" H:55"	350 lbs	ECB, 16 levels	16 programs, 4 user profiles, Recovery function, Countdown settings	In-home Frame:Lifetime Parts: 7 years Labor: 1 year Commercial Parts: 3 years Labor: 1 year

The 3G Cardio Elite UB upright bike offers a range of features similar to the SOLE LCB. However, its console doesn’t have a sound system and a cooling fan. It’s basically the same console included with the 3G Cardio Elite RB recumbent bike.

Considering that it is a light-commercial bike, it has quite an impressive weight capacity. It also comes with a commercial warranty along with the excellent in-home warranty. It’s not a self-powered bike but does feature a motorized magnetic resistance system.

Technical Details and Specifications

• Assembled dimensions: 41″L x 22 1/2″W x 55″H (104L x 57W x 140H cm)
• Assembled weight: 91 lbs (41 kg)
• Supported weight: 350 lbs (159 kg)
• Handlebars: Fixed, with pulse sensors
• Seat: 4-way adjustable
• Pedals: With adjustable straps
• Resistance: Motorized magnetic, 16 levels
• Console: 16 programs (plus manual mode), 4 user profiles
• Amenities: Bottle holder, accessory holder, tablet shelf
• Warranty:
  In-Home: Frame lifetime / Parts 7 years / Labor 1 year
  Light Commercial: Parts 3 years / Labor 1 year

Frame construction

Since it’s a light-commercial fitness machine, the 3G Cardio Elite UB upright bike features an extremely sturdy frame, which can support users up to 350 lbs (159 kg). Evidently, its main chassis is made of steel tubing, with a thick console mast and a highly durable seat post. The side shrouds of the internal mechanism are made of hard plastic, though.

Like most upright bikes, the 3G Cardio UB is not an extremely large fitness machine. Its fully assembled frame takes only 44″L x 22 1/2″W (104 x 57 cm) of floor space. Therefore, it can be a great choice for a cardio machine if storage and usage space are an issue. However, it is recommended to keep at least two feet of clearance all around the bike when exercising, in order to prevent any hindrance or accidents.

The bike isn’t extremely heavy either. But nonetheless, it weighs 91 lbs (41 kg) which is twice the weight of the average road bike. This weight is reflected in its stability, though. The bike won’t rock or wobble even if you pedal as fast as you can. Plus, its base bars are equipped with adjustable stabilizers, while the front base has transport wheels, so relocating the bike after your workout shouldn’t be a problem.

The bike’s frame is double-coated with a corrosion-resistant and scratch-resistant paint. Despite the fact that the paint finish is resistant to corrosion, it’s important to mention that the bike is for indoor use only. If kept outside, moisture may eventually damage the internal components or the console. The colors used in the bike’s finish are silver for the console mast and seat bar, while the base of the frame is dark gray. These are the only colors available for this bike.

Seat and handlebars

The 3G Cardio Elite UB upright bike is equipped with a fairly wide seat, which integrates a generous layer of cushioning. It has a contoured surface made of durable, sweat-proof faux leather. These being said, the seat delivers much more comfort than a slim spin bike seat.

The seat itself is pretty standard, though. So, in case you still feel that it doesn’t offer the comfort you want, replacement options for it are widely available. Also, you can boost its comfort by adding a gel seat cover on top of it.

The seat is 4-way adjustable – up, down, front, and back. Its upright bar offers 10 adjustment positions. The distance between the adjustment holes is approx. 1.5″, while the horizontal slider of the seat also offers several inches of adjustment. Thus, the bike can accommodate users between 5’0″ and 6’5″ (153 – 196 cm) with no problem. The seat’s upright bar assembly is also very durable, being able to hold users up to 350 lbs (159 kg).

The bike’s handlebars are non-adjustable, but they do offer a multi-grip design, with the possibility of a parallel, horizontal, or upright grip. The lower section of the handlebars are equipped with stainless steel pulse sensors, so by holding on to them, the console will be able to track your pulse.

The handlebars are completely covered by a layer of high-density foam. They provide a comfortable, anti-slip, and secure grip.

Resistance system

The 3G Cardio Elite UB upright bike is equipped with a motorized eddy current resistance system, just like the Life Fitness C1, or ActionLine A81829. This means that the resistance adjustment is automatic and can only be done from the console. The bike also requires to be connected to a power circuit in order to provide resistance, the voltage requirements being 100V – 240V – 50/60Hz. An adapter with a power cord is included.

The resistance system consists of a magnetic, metallic flywheel, a magnetic brake pad, and a servo motor. As you select a specific resistance setting from the console, the servo motor will adjust the position of the magnetic brake pad in order to provide more or less drag to the flywheel. The flywheel and the brake pad will never come in contact, so the wear and tear is basically non-existent. Also, the brake doesn’t generate any noise.

The resistance adjustment is easy to do. The console has a large dial that covers this function. Also, there are several preset programs that will automatically adjust the resistance, if selected.

This 3G Cardio upright bike offers 16 levels of resistance. The 14-16 settings deliver quite some tension, simulating a steep climb and allowing you to perform intense cardio workouts, with a high muscle burn. Conversely, the first 1-3 tension levels deliver a light resistance, perfect for recovery training or warming up.

Drive system

Like most bikes with an eddy current brake, the 3G Cardio Elite UB is equipped with a belt drive system. There are two main advantages related to a belt drive. One, it’s very quiet; the pedaling motion generates almost no noise. And two, it doesn’t require any lubrication. The integrated belt is extremely durable, resistant to stretching, and should hold for many years of use, even if the bike is used within the premises of a gym club, for many hours each day.

The integrated flywheel is perimeter weighted, which means that it delivers a very smooth and steady motion, without the “stair master” effect, in case a higher resistance setting is used. It’s a mid-range weight flywheel and provides a fairly consistent momentum. It’s bi-directional, also allowing you to pedal in reverse, and this way diversify your workouts.

The bike is equipped with a durable, 3-piece crankset, with solid steel crank arms. But even though this a solid piece, standing up on the pedals is not recommended. This is an upright bike intended for seated use only.

The pedals supplied with the bike have a metallic core and a heavy-duty nylon shell. They’re weighted and self-leveling; in other words, they have a small weight underneath which enables them to always turn face-up if you remove your feet from them. They’re equipped with adjustable straps and feature standard threads.

One last aspect to mention here regards the bike’s Q-Factor. Although the exact spacing between the pedals is not specified, the Q-Factor is fairly narrow, so your feet are positioned on the pedals naturally, without any lateral stress on the joints.

Console

The 3G Cardio Elite UB upright bike is equipped with the same console as the recumbent version, 3G Cardio Elite RB. It has a large LCD display with blue LED backlight and large, easy-to-read digits. It’s a multi-panel display so all the workout metrics are shown simultaneously, so you won’t have to use a SCAN function to switch them all the time. The display tracks time, distance, speed, RPM, watts, calories, and pulse.

The console is telemetric. It can read your pulse via the included wireless chest strap transmitter. But in case you don’t want to use this accessory to monitor your heart rate, you can still use the handlebars’ EKG sensors.

Distance and speed can be calculated in both miles/km and mph/kmh. Plus, the unit has user data input settings. It allows you to input personal data such as gender, age, height, and weight, which is quite important for an accurate determination of the calories burned and the energy output.

The 3G Cardio UB exercise bike doesn’t have any online connectivity features. However, the console unit offers 16 programs to keep you motivated, plus the manual mode which basically allows you to freely adjust the resistance as you exercise. Among the included programs we can count 12 preset programs, which offer different workouts focusing on weight loss, peak performance, intervals, etc. There are also 3 heart rate programs and 1-watt program available.

Along with these workout programs, these also are goal settings, 4 user profiles and a recovery function available. The goals function gives you the possibility to select a countdown target for time, distance, calories, and pulse, and exercise until you have reached the selected goal. The 4 user profiles allow you to create and save four custom programs, and use them whenever you like; or, if up to 4 persons use the machine, each one can save their own personal data and program.

There’s also a recovery function which measures your heart rate at the end of your workout in order to provide a recovery status between F1 (best) – F6 (worst), which serves the purpose of helping you make an idea about your level of fitness.

The console is very easy to operate. The resistance adjustment, as well as giving values to your goals, is done by the turn-knob on the console. The Start / Stop button offers the possibility to pause and resume your workout without interrupting the program, a function which you may find useful if you alternate bike workouts with other workouts. The Reset key speaks for itself; it clears all the values on the unit to zero if needed. And finally, the recovery function has its own button.

In terms of extra features, this console doesn’t have too many. For example, the Nautilus U618 is equipped with a sound system and cooling fan. The console of the Elite UB doesn’t have such features. It does have a small tablet shelf and an accessory compartment, though.

Assembly and Maintenance

The main body of the bike come already assembled. All the elements in the bike’s drive and resistance systems are already attached to the base of the frame and sealed by the protective covers. So, in terms of assembly, you only have to add the bike’s bases, the seat post, the seat, the console mast, the handlebars, the console, and the pedals. This shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. The manual provides excellent assembly instructions and all the tools needed for the task are included.

For maintenance, you only have to keep the bike clean, and periodically check the integrity of its parts, or look for loose bolts. The internal parts are pre-lubricated from the factory and shouldn’t need any lubrication for a long period of time.

The Pros

• Durable, commercial-grade construction;
• Aesthetic, professional-looking design;
• Can support users up to 350 lbs;
• Adjustable stabilizers;
• Transport wheels at the front;
• Ergonomic, large seat;
• The seat is 4-way adjustable;
• Multi-grip handlebar;
• EKG sensors integrated into the handlebars;
• Motorized magnetic resistance system with 16 settings available;
• Very smooth, almost silent belt drive;
• Balanced, perimeter-weighted, mid-range flywheel for a consistent momentum;
• Weighted pedals with adjustable straps;
• Large LCD display with backlight;
• 12 preset programs, 3 heart rate programs, 1 watts program, and 1 manual program;
• 4 user profiles; 
• Countdown settings for time, distance, calories, and heart rate;
• Telemetric console (can read pulse via an HR chest strap);
• HR chest strap included;
• Tablet holder included;
• Bottle holder included;
• Basically maintenance free;
• Excellent warranty.

The Cons

• No quick resistance settings only the turn dial on the console;
• No step-thru design;
• No cooling fan;
• No sound system;
• No online connectivity.

Summary

The 3G Cardio Elite UB is a light-commercial upright bike, featuring a motorized eddy current resistance system with 16 settings, and 16 workout programs. Its console is telemetric, has a recovery function, 4 user profiles, and a large, backlit LCD display. It’s a sturdy bike, able to support users up to 350 lbs. It’s perfect for light to intense cardio training, intervals, endurance training, muscle toning, and weight loss. It’s not exactly an affordable exercise bike but does offer excellent value for the price.