I am, shall I say, a “healthy” individual of 250lbs of relaxed muscle, therefore, I knew I needed a piece of equipment that could handle the heft. Another major if not THE most important factor for me was accessibility. The Nautilus T618 I used for almost eight years before it went to that great gym in the sky provided a very tactile console with both direct incline and speed selection and increment/decrement toggles. The best feature for us were the increment/decrement toggles on the arms of the machine. The Start/Stop buttons were also very pronounced. While I’m certain these features were useful to any individual, for me they represented independence. As a blind individual these features meant I could comfortably and safely manage my own workout. We began our search of a comparable product. What I learned quickly is that while the app integration features, the built-in programs, and the consoles have modernized, improved, and gotten larger, many have lost their tactile feel choosing to go with touchscreen controls or direct access buttons that are not distinguishable to the touch of a finger. Because of my access needs, putting hands on any equipment I was considering was both figuratively and literally vital to making the best choice. Thus, I chose to visit Bandit Fitness, a local fitness equipment dealer. On our first visit to their showroom, my wife and I were greeted by Matt. Both from my admission and the obvious sign of my visual impairment, a white cane, Matt made sure to help me navigate within the store from machine to machine and once on a machine through the various console features. Matt fielded all my questions. What impressed me most about our exchange was Matt’s attentiveness to my unique access requirements and highlighting the features of the various machines that could accommodate those needs. These included the incline and speed toggle controls on the treadmill arms, to the handrail mounted level adjusters on the recumbent bike. Adding to Matt’s excellent pressure-free demeanor, their in-house delivery, install, and service team paired with the long warranty period covered by the manufacturer, Spirit Fitness, at no extra cost made it tough not to close the deal then and there. However, we had a good amount of information to consider including deciding between treadmill or bike, space, and budget. Thus, we left without making a purchase. After additional online research, a couple of visits to big box retailers, and a second visit to Bandit Fitness, we believed we had done our due diligence but were still undecided. At our second visit to Bandit Fitness, we had the privilege of chatting with Matt again. He helped me to the new recumbent bike that we were almost set on, but before finalizing the deal, he showed us to their used inventory area. My experience with other retailers offering high discounts on off-season products, used products, or outlet type spaces, has been that the areas displaying these products appear to be an intentional night-and-day contrast in the shopping experience to influence the consumers decision towards the “shiny” new stuff (i.e. big money sale). At Bandit Fitness, however, I believe I can refer to this area as their second showroom. The area was well lit, clean, and organized which made it easier for me to navigate and try other pieces of equipment. Ultimately, we walked away informed, refreshed, and with the purchase of a new XBR95 bike. BTW, the delivery and setup experience of our bike was an extension of the first-class sales experience. Turns out it was a different Matt, but this Matt and the other gentleman that arrived at my home were as attentive and patient to my access needs as at the showroom. Folks, SHOP LOCAL!!!
