Here is our list of the best air bikes of 2024:
1. Lifecore Fitness Assault Air Bike
- IMPROVE YOUR REACTIONSKILL: While using this fight ball reflex punch exercise,...
- Lightweight and portable: easy to carry and can be used in different occasions,...
The Assault Air Bike is a robust machine and can suit almost anyone. It is extremely versatile in its adjustments and intensity so that it will work well for both elite athletes and beginners of all shapes and sizes. This bike’s weighty, solid steel frame makes it a durable, quality machine that will stand up to heavy use. It meets the standard for military and family gyms.
The Lifecore Bike provides many features including an advanced computer display which tracks the following metrics: tabata, watts, heart rate, intervals, time, speed and distance.
The seat is adjustable six ways, which makes this bike one of the best for a customised fit for a wide range of people. It provides both an upper and lower body workout but comes equipped with pegs for your feet, so you’re able to isolate and have only an upper body workout.
The infinite resistance levels allow you to achieve greater resistance the harder you pedal giving you total control over your workout intensity. The Assault Air Bike is also compatible with a wireless chest-strap heart rate monitor.
Resistance. Infinite resistance levels
Drive. Chain
Weight. 110 pounds with a maximum user weight of 350 pounds
Features. Includes 8 programmable workouts and monitors calories, distance and time goals
Seat. While the seat is reported to be uncomfortable by some people, the bike provides the option to replace the seat with any standard outdoor bike saddle
Adjustments. Six-way adjustable seat moves vertically, horizontally and tilt
Additional Features. Has heart rate monitoring capabilities via Polar and allows for both an upper body and lower body workout with the option to rest your feet on pegs for only an upper body workout
Dimensions. 50.9″ x 23.3″ x 48.4″
Assembly. Less than an hour
Pros
– Durable, commercial grade construction
– Works for all ages and abilities
– Easy, highly-customizable adjustments
Cons
– Resistance can’t be adjusted manually
– Console does not have a backlight
2. Schwinn Airdyne AD6 – Best Airdyne Bike
- Progressive wind resistance system offers infinite levels of challenge
- Single-stage belt drive keeps it running quietly
Schwinn has remained a market leader and set the standard for dual-action fan bikes. The AD6 is designed for light commercial use and has a compact design which makes this bike a good choice for home exercise equipment that is suitable for most people’s needs.
The bike comes with a clear built in LCD display that shows you all the metrics you will need such as: RPM, time, speed, distance, watts, calories and pulse. The display is large enough that is able to show all these different functions at once while still being clear. I particularly like the the RevMeter showing the RPM as you are cycling as it creates a sense of competition with yourself helping to keep you working hard.
A nice little bonus for this bike is that it includes a built-in water bottle holder whereas a lot of the assault bikes seem to be lacking this accessory.
The AD6 is built with an ABS plastic fan which makes this bike quieter than other models, especially when combined with a belt drive system. The infinite resistance levels allow you to achieve greater resistance the harder you pedal giving you total control over your workout intensity.
Schwinn haven’t become the leading brand in the airdyne bike market by mistake. They have created a fantastic exercise bike, built to be able to withstand the punishment an assault bike would expect.
Resistance. Infinite resistance levels
Drive. Belt
Weight. 118 pounds with a maximum user weight of 250 pounds
Features. Screen measures distance, time, calories, heart rate and RPM
Seat. Thick and sturdy
Adjustments. Adjustable height seat
Additional Features. Built-in water bottle holder and heart rate monitoring
Dimensions. 49.7” x 25.7” x 50.9”
Assembly. Less than an hour
Pros
– Comfortable
– Built-in water bottle holder
– Quieter ABS plastic fan
Cons
– Not suitable for longer duration workouts
– No built-in workout programs
3. Schwinn Airdyne AD2
- BioFit Comfort: Air flow from the unique fan provides a comfortable, cooling...
- Foot rest pegs allows a user to target upper body exercises.
Schwinn clearly produce all of their equipment to the same high quality finish as the AD2 felt just as sterdy as the AD6. Schwinn seem to set the standard when it comes to dual-action fan bikes and the AD2 comes at a much reduced price compared to the AD6.
The display on the AD2 is a lot smaller but still has a nice and clear LCD monitor that displays the following metrics: RPM, speed, distance, time and calories. The display is easy to use and has everything you need even though it isn’t all constantly visible, but this is a worthwhile sacrifice in order to save a few hundred pounds.
This bike also comes with the foot rest pegs that you see on most assault bikes making it a lot easier to only work your upper body if you wish.
This model caters for users of all fitness levels and is ideal for anyone that has a smaller home, thanks to its compact design and transport wheels.
Resistance. Infinite resistance levels
Drive. Belt
Weight. 96 pounds with a maximum user weight of 250 pounds
Features. Displays time, speed, RPM, calories, and distance
Seat. Ergonomic and well-padded seat
Adjustments. Adjustable height seat
Additional Features. Allows for both an upper body and lower body workout with the option to rest your feet on pegs for only an upper body workout
Dimensions. 50” x 25” x 46”
Assembly. Less than an hour
Pros
– Compact and sturdy
– Well-priced
Cons
– Lack of seat comfort
4. V-fit ATC1 Air Cycle
- Progressive air-fanwheel and adjustable friction tape resistance system with...
- Comfortable height adjustable PVC covered saddle
The ATC1 is a good bike for meeting weight-loss goals, as it is well-suited to interval training. It provides a great workout for your upper and lower body. However, it does not hold up well to more strenuous and long duration workouts. The ATC1 is by far the lightest on this list, which makes it great for mobile home gyms.
While the ATC1 is lightweight and may present issues with stability, this is balanced out by the inclusion of weighted pedals that help avoid slipping by maintaining their correct position. It’s compact and folds up for easy storage. This machine is simple and does not provide additional features such as heart rate monitoring. This is the only bike on the list that provides an adjustable friction tape resistance system. A bonus with this bike is that it does provide demountable handlebars.
The V-Fit ATC1 is by far the cheapest model in our top 5 and can be picked up for about £130. It might not be built to quite the same standard that you would expect of models such as Schwinn, but it does offer great value for money and provides a great workout.
Resistance. Provides an adjustable friction tape resistance system
Drive. Chain
Weight. 40 pounds with a maximum user weight of 242 pounds
Features. 5-function monitor displaying distance, calories, scan, speed and time
Seat. Comfortable, PVC covered seat that can be replaced
Adjustments. Adjustable height seat with demountable handlebars
Additional Features. Able to be folded up and has weighted pedals to avoid slipping
Dimensions. 44″ x 20″ x 46″
Assembly. Less than an hour
Pros
– Simple operation
– Easy to move and store
– Adjustable resistance
Cons
– Not suitable for a strenuous workout
– No heart rate monitor
5. Inspire Fitness CB1
- Using a multilevel resistance that pushes harder as the speed increases, the Air...
- Dual-Action design delivers a full body workout.
The CB1 is sturdy, compact and ideal for home use. With dual-action design, it delivers a fantstic full-body workout. While you are cycling you will notice the smooth feel, and its steel frame provides good stability.
Built for simplicity and comfort, this will meet your basic needs for an air bike. The infinite resistance levels allow you to achieve greater resistance the harder you pedal giving you total control over your workout intensity.
The display is quite basic but still shows you the important information such as: time, speed, distance and calories.
Overall the CB1 is a great bike that gave me a brilliant workout but it lacked a “wow” factor and that is why it has number 5 in our top5. If I am going to spend £450 on an assualt bike I would rather but the Schwinn AD2 than this model.
Resistance. Infinite resistance levels
Drive. Belt
Weight. 83 pounds with a maximum user weight of 300 pounds
Features. Displays speed, distance, time and calories burned
Seat. Over-sized seat for comfort
Adjustments. Adjustable height seat
Additional Features. Allows for both an upper body and lower body workout with the option to rest your feet on pegs for only an upper body workout
Dimensions. 43.9” x 24.8” x 45.7”
Assembly. Less than an hour
Pros
– Durable, stable steel frame
– Smooth feel
Cons
– No heart rate monitor
Assault bikes are a terrific way to get high intensity, low-impact exercise whether you’re at the gym or home. There are many bikes to choose from depending what your goals are. There are light, compact bikes that are good for easy workouts that may be perfect for a beginner and there are heavy, durable bikes that can serve the needs of enthusiasts and elite athletes.
These bikes use a fan for resistance, which means you will get more resistance the faster you pedal.
Most fan bikes have infinite resistance, which means you can’t manually or automatically adjust the resistance as it is determined by the pedal speed. This can be great for high-intensity interval training especially as you can work both your arms and legs at the same time.
An air assault bike will work you as hard as you are willing to push yourself. This makes the bikes popular for CrossFit and HIIT workouts as you can burn calories fast, but you will also tire quickly.
These bikes tend to be very basic. In general, there are no pre-programmed workouts, so the bikes provide a simple workout that you can customise.
There are a wide variety of bike features, and usually, the more you spend, the more features you get. However, there aren’t very many accessories available with this kind of exercise bike and you would be lucky to even get a water bottle holder but while you are pedaling with your arms and legs this could get in the way.
A bonus feature of air resistance bikes is you will get a gentle breeze blowing back from the fan to cool you down.
What to Look for in a Fan Bike
When evaluating which bike to buy, there are a few key features you’ll need to evaluate which are detailed below.
Resistance. This will change depending on how fast you pedal. However, not all fan bikes are created equal. The size of the fan and the blades will determine how much resistance there will be, though some bikes have manual adjustments available. Smaller fans will have less resistance than bigger fans.
Drive. Belt and chain drives are available. A belt drive will be smoother and quieter than a chain drive and is usually more expensive. Chain drives may cause slight vibration and do require simple maintenance by the user. Belts don’t need maintenance but will eventually need replacing by a specialist.
Weight. A key factor to consider is weight as it determines the stability of the bike. The more a bike weighs, the more stable it will be. However, a heavier bike also means it will be harder to move your machine. The maximum user weight is also important for safety. Buying a bike with a greater weight limit means you will put less strain on the machine and its parts. Moderate bikes may weigh about 50 pounds, but more durable bikes can weigh upwards of 100 pounds.
Features. While air resistance bikes are generally simple machines, they will come with a basic console to track your workouts and some bikes are equipped with more advanced computer displays that give you additional information. Some bikes also give you the ability to have heart rate monitoring.
Seat. Comfort is important, especially if you’re going to be working out for a long duration. Padding levels will vary on each bike. Due to the diversity of shapes and sizes of people and seats, what works for you may not work for someone else. Usually, if you don’t like the seat, you can either replace it or buy a seat cover for additional padding.
Adjustments. Adjusting the seat will allow you to customize the bike’s fit to your body. Some bikes will only allow for vertical adjustment, while more expensive bikes may also provide the ability to move the seat horizontally. Some bikes also allow for handlebar adjustments. A bike that fits properly will allow you to feel more comfortable for longer.
We hope that you have found our guide helpful and we wish you all the best on your fitness journey. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch with the team here at Indoor Biker.
