Kranking

Get Them Hooked and They'll Reel Themselves In

"ARE your arms tired yet?"
From the sound of things, this is a question that gymgoers may ask of themselves and others who try the latest invention from Johnny Goldberg, widely known as Johnny G, the creator of SPINNING. Mr. Goldberg first developed Spinning 20 years ago and is now trying to grab more attention with the Krankcycle.

A modified version of a Spinning machine, the Krankcycle uses only the arms and can be used either sitting or standing, with the arms moving together or independently to turn height-adjustable cranks. We've neglected the upper body in training, Mr. Goldberg said. The arms are underused muscle groups.

The idea of cycling for the arms is not new, so-called upper body ergometers are common in rehabilitation settings, and some health clubs have them. But the Krankcycle involves more muscle groups, its proponents say, and allows users to incorporate the lower body into the workout.

The Krankcycle has been introduced among other cardiovascular machines and weight-lifting equipment at 10 Club One health clubs in the Bay Area and at four Frog's Fitness clubs in San Diego and in Long Beach, Calif. Not surprisingly, the machines were met with a bit of befuddlement. “When Krankcycles first showed up, people who weren't very athletic didn't really understand them,said Brian Hannah, a fitness director at two Club One outlets. But members who were more athletic and use the gym more often realized what they did. They call it a spinner for the upper body. Mr. Hannah said that personal trainers use them often with their clients but that most club members are hesitant to break their routines.

According to Jim Karanas, the coordinator of instruction for the Krankcycle, there are eight different upper-body movements in Kranking that can be combined with a variety of lower-body moves, like standing on one leg, doing lunges, and extending one leg. (In other words, don't try reading US Weekly during this workout.)

It may go without saying that the Krankcycle is probably not for everyone. Jie Kang, a professor in the department of health and exercise science at the College of New Jersey, thinks Kranking is a welcome addition to the gym for cardiovascular work and also for strength training if set on high resistance. But he said that it isn't the best choice for those who say losing weight is a top priority. Using the larger muscles of the legs and butt burns more calories than working out the smaller ones in the upper body, said Dr. Kang, who was the lead author on a 2005 study about Spinning.

Currently, Mr. Goldberg is looking for a company to mass produce these cycles. Until then, the rollout of cycles is limited. Equinox Fitness in Pasadena, Calif., plans to make four Krankcycles available later this month. Reebok Sports Club/NY on the Upper West Side and The Sports Club/LA in Boston are each scheduled to get 11 Krankcycles next month; Equinox SoHo is getting four.

At Club One locations, Krankcycles are being used by several athletes with knee and ankle injuries who can't spin or run as they would normally, Mr. Hannah said. Kranking is also intended as a good option for people who are overweight, obese, older or pregnant, Mr. Karanas said.

Dr. Kang said people who fall into those categories, though, must proceed with caution. Anyone trying Kranking for the first time should do no more than 10 to 15 minutes on a light resistance, Mr. Karanas said.

Kranking is a challenge. Katrina Lundstedt, 37, a Club One member and former collegiate swimmer who competed in Ironman Canada in 2003, recently tried a Krankcycle after a Spinning class,felt like my shoulders were burning, said Ms. Lundstedt, who lasted only 13 minutes her first time. My heart rate flew right up. When I stopped, I could hardly hold on to my water bottle.

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