Bulldog Gear - Ab Mat Pad
Description
The Bulldog Gear Ab Mat is a great tool to develop full spinal range of motion abdominal strength. It helps develop cursory strength and gets the abdominals thinking about midline stability for other movements too.
Our Bulldog Gear Ad Mat is made from Urethane and moulded as one single form. Not only does this increase its shelf life as opposed to other models made from multiple components including lower grade foam, with a wooden board and wrapped in vinyl. It is also much more comfortable to use as it keeps its shape throughout usage for sit ups or under an arm for side planks.
For more information on why the Ab Mat is a useful training aid see below.
Why use an Ab Mat?
Before we talk about the reason for the Ab Mat, there’s some basic abdominal muscle anatomy that needs to be understood. The anterior and lateral trunk muscles function in multiple ways: they support the abdominal viscera (that’s what holds your insides together), breathing, and they are concerned with trunk movements of flexion, lateral bending, and rotation. One of the most fascinating parts of abdominals is that the fibers in different layers run in different directions, contributing to their gross strength.
The rectus abdominis is the most superficial (close to the surface) of these muscles and attaches the ribcage to the pelvis. Its primary role is trunk flexion. The internal and external obliques also attach the ribs to the pelvis, and are responsible for rotation and side bending of the trunk. There is another muscle, and it’s one that like the gluteus medius goes on vacation frequently. It’s called the transverse abdominus. This muscle also connects the ribs to the pelvis, but has a line of application much like a weight belt. It’s fibers run on the horizontal and it is responsible for abdominal compression during movement.
Most of our muscles work in three planes of motion. By functioning in three planes of movement, a muscle group can stabilize in one plane and exert movement in another.
What Happens in a Sit Up
In a sit up, like any other movement we do, it is imperative that our body moves through a complete and full range of motion. What this means is that if you lie on the floor, your spine is in a neutral position, or perhaps has a little flexion. To get the most out of a sit up, the abdominals must go from a position of maximal length to a position of minimal length. This is achieved by creating two pivot points, one in the spine and another in the pelvis. The lumbar spine should be extended fifteen to thirty degrees, and the pelvis should be in an anterior tilt of ten to fifteen degrees.
Why is the Bulldog Gear Ab Mat a useful training aid?
The Ab Mat, when placed under the lumbar spine with the higher portion towards your bum creates an environment for the abdominals to move through their full and available range of motion. It allows for the extension needed in the lumbar spine and the anterior tilt in the pelvis, thereby giving the abdominal muscles full range, elongation, and forceful contraction.
The Ab Mat sit up is great exercise to develop full spinal range of motion abdominal strength so that a person can start to think about getting on a GHD to perform GHD sit-ups. It also helps develop cursory strength for toes-to-bar and knees-to-elbows and gets the abdominals thinking about midline stability during barbell movements.
Registered Design: 6086986
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Due to the huge range of products within our catalogue, not all of our products have the same warranty terms. However, it is worth noting that damage suffered to ANY ITEM arising from improper use, normal wear and tear, improper maintenance, unauthorised repairs, alteration, or negligence are not covered under any of our warranty terms.
Submitting a Warranty Claim
Prior to contacting our team on customer.service@bulldog gear.com please make sure to have as much product & claim information as you can, this allows us to process your claim as quickly as possible.
Please Include: The name on the original order, order number, the date of the original order, and any photos or videos of the issues along with a description of the issue.
For all 3rd party products and components please contact the manufacturer directly for more information/warranty steps. If you are unsure our customer service team will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Concept 2 Customer Service/ General Enquiries:
Indoor Rower, SkiErg and General Inquiries: info@concept2.co.uk
Concept 2 Sales and Customer Service: 0115 9340140.
Barbells
| Barbell Type | Warranty Period |
| 15kg Olympic Barbells | 1 years |
| 20kg Olympic Barbells | 1 years |
| Shorty/Training Barbells | 1 year |
| Speciality Barbells | 1 year |
All Bulldog Gear - 15kg & 20kg Barbells are guaranteed for 1 Years against bending or breaking, this however does not extend to damage caused by unsuitable storage, negligence, accidents or normal expected wear and tear. Our Bulldog Gear warranty covers any manufacturing flaw and may be subject to return and inspection prior to a refund being issued.
Our Barbells are only to be used on suitable shock-absorbing gym flooring, which is 18mm thick as a minimum. If used on rubber flooring that is less than the specified minimum of 18mm your Barbell warranty will be deemed void. Stable matting, sprung floors, concrete, tarmac, carpet or flooring types that are not specifically designed for a gym environment are not classed as suitable flooring and will deem your warranty void. If you do not want to matt your space, Drop pads are a great alternative.
Barbells must be stored correctly in a non humid environment (not suitable for outdoor use) and must not be left loaded in the rack. Normal wear and tear does not fall under warranty, and failure to maintain barbells on a regular basis will invalidate the warranty. See how to maintain your Barbell here.
Do not drop the empty Barbell or with weight plates less than 5kg on any surface, this can damage the bearings and will vastly reduce the lifespan of your Barbell. If this is suspected to be the issue when a claim is raised you may not be successful in your claim.
Bumpers
| Bumper Type | Warranty Period |
| 5kg plates (all lines) | 30 days |
| Home Gym Black Rubber Bumper Plates | HOME USE ONLY - 1 Years |
| Hybrid 2 - Black / Colour | 1 Years |
| Competition Plates | 1 Years - This is only valid when used with 30mm rubber matting. Anything Less than 30mm will void the warranty. Normal wear and tear does not fall under warranty. |
| Change Plates - Competition / Embossed / Cast | 1 Years |
Dropping 5KG bumper plates from any of our collections alone on the barbell repeatedly will damage the plates and will void the warranty, it will be clear to our customer service team if this is the case.
Bumper Plates will not be replaced under warranty if they are deemed to have been used incorrectly. Incorrect use includes, but is not limited to, dropping 5kg and 10kg plates from above hip height, dropping any sized plates onto unprotected flooring surfaces or unsuitable storage. Suitable flooring is either specified gym matting at a minimum of 18mm OR drop pads - any flooring that is not designed to be used in a gym environment is not deemed suitable, this includes stable matting other rubber, foam matts, yoga matts, concrete or carpet pads.
Kettlebells & Dumbbells
| Free Weight Type | Warranty Period |
| Hex Dumbbell 1.0 | 1 Year |
| Hex Dumbbell 2.0 | 1 Year |
| Box Kettlebell | 1 Year |
| Competition Kettlebells | 1 Year |
Your Kettlebell / Dumbbell warranty covers manufacturing faults and defects. It does not cover accidental damage, negligence or visual scratches or imperfections caused by the manufacturing process submitted more than a week post delivery / after use.
Electronics
| Device Type | Warranty Detail |
| Monitors | 3 months - This includes screens and electronic displays on Bulldog Gear Products - Please note this excluded Concept 2 items which are subject to Concept 2 warranties. |
| Timers | 3 months |
Our Bulldog Gear electronics warranty covers any electronic monitors or timers which use either mains or battery as their power source. This warranty excludes normal depletion of consumable parts (such as batteries) unless the failure has occurred due to a defect in material or workmanship. Bulldog Gear is not liable for any consequential damages resulting from any use, self repairs or inability to use its products, including incorrect or inappropriate usage or storage in an unsuitable environment.
Selectorised & Plate Loaded
| Selectorised | See parts detail below |
| Plate Loaded | See parts detail below |
All Bulldog Gear Selectorised and Plate Loaded machines are covered under warranty as follows:
- All steel frames carry a limited lifetime warranty against separation and/or cracking of welded joints. This does not include powder coat finish or expected wear and tear due to use.
- 3 Years: Weight stack, Selector shaft.
- 1 Year: Linear bearings, weight shafts (shafts require regular lubrication to protect against rusting and performance)
- 1 Year: Rotational bearings Pulley wheels (all sizes)
- 6 Months: Spring loaded pins, selector pins Cable and cable parts, handles, end caps.
- 6 Months: Vinyl covers, seams and embroidery manufacturing defects. Excessive wear caused by incorrect use is NOT covered under warranty.
Rigs, Racks & Pull Up Bars
This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage/signs of use/wear from normal expected use.
| Home Gym Series | 1 Year |
| Bulldog Series (BS) | 1 Year |
| Perseverance | 1 Year |
| Mammoth Lite (ML) | 1 Year |
Custom Rigs, Custom Racks & Custom Storage
Warranty agreements for custom rigs, racks, storage or other specifically sourced custom item will be dealt with on a case by case basis. If you need further clarification on this or assistance please contact your original sales representative directly - or contact our sales department on: sales@bulldoggear.com.
Storage
All items must be checked upon delivery for damage and reported to our customer service team if this is the case, we cannot offer support for dents, paint finish or imperfections after the item has been assembled. Damage caused by exceeding the weight limit on the item is not covered. Due to the variety of storage items we offer, we deal with issues on a case by case basis. Please contact customer service directly with as much information, images, videos and order number and date. Having this information to hand allows our team to process your query as quickly as possible.
Benches
Please note that all warranties are subject to inspection by our team - if weight limits on benches have not been adhered to we are unable to issue a refund. Please check individual items for weight tolerances.
| Bench type | Warranty Period (Textiles / upholstery are subject to individual warranty) | |
| Flat Benches | 1 Year | |
| Adjustable Bench 2.0 | 1 Year | |
| Adjustable Bench 1.0 | 1 Year | |
| Zero Fold Flat Bench | 1 Year |
Textiles and Upholstery
| Product Element | Warranty Period |
| Medicine Balls | 1 Year - If the ball has been abused by repeated impact on a rough, aggregate surface or slamming on the ground from overhead - This damage will not be covered by warranty. |
| Vinyl fabric | 6 Months |
| Zips | 6 Months |
| Hook and Loop fastenings | 6 Months |
| Hook and loop patches | 6 Months |
| Stitching | 6 Months |
If the product/element you are looking for isn't covered in the table above then please contact us directly on customer.service@bulldoggear.com.
Gym Accessories, Athlete Accessories & Clothing
| Product | Warranty Period/info |
| 20kg Weighted Vest |
30 Days - Vest. We advise that you store the vest laid flat, so the shoulders or straps are not stored under tension. Always make sure to dry your vest properly after workouts to ensure the longevity of fabric and stitching. 3 Months - Hook & Loop Fastenings. Please note that general wear and tear of these fastenings are not covered in the standard warranty of the product. |
| Weight lifting Belts | 6 months - Please make sure that you have correctly measured and sized your belt, if the hook and loop doesn't cross over fully, it is not the right size and may cause additional wear to the hook and loop fastening. |
| Jump Ropes | 30 days - Ropes should not be left in gym bags to prevent damage, always use you rope on suitable gym flooring, failure to do so will damage the plastic coating on the wire and greatly diminish the lifespan of your rope - this type of damage is not covered by warranty. Spare/Replacement parts are available here. |
| Shakers/Mugs/Flasks | 3 months |
| Resistance bands | 3 months |
| Gym Rings |
6 months |
If the item you are looking for is not listed please contact our customer service team for assistance.
Treadmills
| Treadmill Model / Part | Warranty Period *see terms |
| Curve Runner - Monitor | 3 months |
| Curve Runner - Parts | 3 Years |
| Curve Runner - Frame | 5 Years |
This warranty covers manufacturing defects; it does not cover normal wear and tear.
This warranty is void if the product has been improperly stored such as in damp environments, exposure to extreme temperatures or extreme temperature fluctuations, assembled incorrectly, altered and/or modified in any way. Improper assembly indications such as damaged/pinched/stripped wiring and damaged threads on nuts.
This warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse or accidental damage either cosmetic or structural. This includes but is not limited to scratches, broken covers, seat damage or cosmetic damage to powder coat or plastic trim not highlighted to our customer service team on delivery.
This Warranty does not extend to treadmills that have been damaged or rendered defective; as a result of accident, misuse, abuse, by modification of the product, by normal wear and tear, or as a result of service by anyone other than an authorised service provider.
Bulldog Gear may choose at our discretion to repair or replace any defective treadmill frame or parts with new or serviceable used parts that are equivalent in function to the original parts.
As described in the corresponding Treadmill User Guides, the product requires regular maintenance. This warranty does not cover claims for damage caused by failure to maintain or improper maintenance nor does it cover repair for any noises such as: squeaks, clunks, thumps resulting from poor or lack of preventive maintenance.
Airbikes
| Airbike Model | Warranty Period *see terms |
| Home Gym Airbike | HOME USE ONLY - 1 Year |
| Airbike 4.0 | 1 Year |
All Airbike lines are covered under warranty for a period of 1 year. This warranty covers manufacturing defects; it does not cover normal wear and tear on heavy wear items such as, but not limited to foot pedals, mobility wheels, grips, seat wear or plastic fairing.
This warranty is void if the product has been improperly stored such as in damp environments, exposure to extreme temperatures or extreme temperature fluctuations, assembled incorrectly, altered and/or modified in any way. Improper assembly indications such as damaged/pinched/stripped wiring and damaged threads on nuts or pedals.
This warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse or accidental damage either cosmetic or structural. This includes but is not limited to scratches, broken covers, seat damage or cosmetic damage to powder coat or plastic trim not highlighted to our customer service team on delivery.
This Warranty does not extend to Airbikes that have been damaged or rendered defective; as a result of accident, misuse, abuse, by modification of the product, by normal wear and tear, or as a result of service by anyone other than an authorised service provider.
Bulldog Gear may choose at our discretion to repair or replace any defective Airbike frame or parts with new or serviceable used parts that are equivalent in function to the original parts.
As described in the corresponding Airbike User Guides, the product requires regular maintenance. This warranty does not cover claims for damage caused by failure to maintain or improper maintenance nor does it cover repair for any noises such as: squeaks, clunks, thumps resulting from poor or lack of preventive maintenance.
Flooring
The customer must notify Bulldog Gear of any obvious visual defects or damaged flooring prior to installation. Please note that some of our flooring may have white powder or residue left from the manufacturing process and agents to protect the rubber during transportation. These residues are easily removed with dish soap and warm water. We advise cleaning your flooring tiles both prior to and after installation. Upon delivery it is important to let your mats reach room temperature prior to installation to allow for contraction and expansion of the rubber. Rubber flooring can only be installed over a suitable base, concrete floors must be sealed to prevent powdering and cracking. It is essential that you check weight limits on you existing floor prior to installation, we do not advise installing over a non concrete base and Bulldog Gear are not liable for damage caused to unsuitable under-flooring. Bulldog Gear’s obligation under this warranty is limited to repair or replacement, subject to the warranty exclusions below. Bulldog Gear cannot accept any returns on flooring that has been cut in any way.
Warranty Exclusions: Bulldog Gear’s flooring warranty does not apply to damage occurring from improper installation, improper use of cleaning agents/materials, improper maintenance methods, products sold on a ‘seconds’/’sold as seen’ basis, damage to flooring due to high heels or spiked furniture, additional expenses associated with overtime, replacing or moving appliances or furniture, business interruptions, loss of use or other related costs associated with the replacement of the flooring.
Concept 2 & Other Third Party Products
Bulldog Gear are unable to rectify defects/ issues with third party products. For all 3rd party products and components please contact the manufacturer directly for more information/warranty steps.
Concept 2 Customer Service/ General Enquiries:
BikeErgs, Indoor Rower, SkiErg and General Inquiries: info@concept2.co.uk
C2 Sales and Customer Service: 0115 9340140.
Discontinued Products & Product Updates
If a product is found to be defective due to a production error and the product is discontinued or otherwise unavailable, Bulldog Gear reserves the right to select and supply the customer with a similar quality replacement product. These will be dealt with on a case by case basis to enable the best solution for all parties.