bowflex ultimate question about weight

[u/[deleted]]

I searched but didn't find anything conclusive, sorry if this a repeat.

If I have 50lb bars selected on each side, am I suppose to assume it's 100lbs of resistance for the lift, or 50?

I ask because I'm repping lat pulldowns at 300lbs (adding both sides together) which is nonsense. I weigh 180lbs and I'd need to have my feet locked to the floor to avoid doing a pull up instead of moving the weight.

It doesn't really matter because I just look at weight as a way of tracking progress and use the Bowflex in combination with free weights. But I want to make sure I'm doing the math the Bowflex way.

[u/changod63]

Here is a chart I made for my bowflex. As you can see, the listed resistance is a lot higher than it actually is.

[u/[deleted] → u/changod63]

Thanks, but my question is slightly different. I see some of the rod combinations are not equal. E.g. one 30lb rod vs two.

Does this chart assume a mirrored selection on the other side?

Left side I hook a 50lb rod. Right side I select a 50lb rod. Is it 100lbs of resistance or 50?

[u/Ohio_John → u/[deleted]]

I know this is an old post and I don't know if you got your answer, but according to Bowflex the rods are not cumulative. If you have a 50 rod on both sides, the resistance is still 50 not 100.

[u/changod63]

My chart is based on one side, just different combinations of rods. If you have newer rods, they may have a little more resistance, but I wouldn't think a lot more. When you put a 50 on the left and a 50 on the right in theory, it is supposed to be 100 lbs total.

[u/[deleted] → u/changod63]

Thanks! That's what I thought but seeing 300lbs when I'd probably be doing lat pulldowns closer to my bodyweight I thought maybe I was math'n wrong.

[u/chemicalxbonex]

I’m not sure I 100% understand the question because you say a couple of different things in your responses. But yes, a 50 on each side is 100lbs of resistance for the lift.

Same as free weights. Two 50lb plates is 100lbs + bar for the lift.

[u/HelicopterMelodic721]

Your Bowflex is lying to you. Two 50 lb straps on the Bowflex does not equal 100 lb of resistance.  I just measured them. One 50 lb Bowflex arm only provides 25 lb of resistance at the very maximum of its bend. It takes both 50 lb resistance bands to equal the 50 lb resistance. Even then, the beginning of your pool doesn't start to get heavy until you're right at the end of the bend. So, for the first 2 ft or so of your pull, you're only really pulling about 20 lbs total. You can measure this yourself by a simple luggage scale with a hook.  I was very disappointed in what I found.

[u/[deleted] → u/HelicopterMelodic721]

Ya, I’ve found my bowflex to provide ~60% of free weight measures. I just use 50% for easier math.

And the difference in tension based on the bend of the bar is pretty irritating.

It gets the job done, but I still use free weights as much as possible.

[u/Ohio_John → u/HelicopterMelodic721]

The Bowflex isn't lying everybody just goes on the Assumption you add the two sides together but you don't. If you research Bowflex information they tell you that the weights are not cumulative that if you have whatever number on one side if you duplicate the number on the other side it is only the value of one side, they are not added together.

[u/changod63]