If you’ve used an air bike before, you know what an amazing piece of fitness equipment it is. If you haven’t, you’re going to find out all about them.
CrossFit athletes, you know they are some of the fittest people on earth and they often make use of these bikes.
We’ve had stationary bikes for quite a while, but air bikes take it to the next level.
An air bike or assault bike as some people call them – involves moving handles which turn the exercise into a full-body cardiovascular output. The handles move with your pedaling and they work by using wind resistance. A large fan is attached to the bike meaning that the harder you work: the more resistance you feel. Air bikes allow you to go at your own pace as you control the intensity.
The great thing about these cycles is: they’re not just for elite athletes, but anyone can use them to build their stamina and endurance, and they make a great part of a home gym as well.
At a Glance: 5 Best Air Resistance Fan Bikes in 2023
Air bikes have been around for quite a while as they had been used for rehab purposes, but once the Crossfit community got a hold of them, they exploded in popularity.
But what are the best air bikes on the market, if you’re looking to get one and create your own Crossfit workouts at home?
Here’s a rundown of 5 great choices of 2023.
| MODEL NAME | RESISTANCE TYPE | RATINGS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue Echo Bike (Editor's Choice) | Belt-driven | 4.9 | |
| Assault AirBike Classic (Best Overall) | Chain-driven | 4.8 | |
| Schwinn Airdyne AD7 Bike (Our Top Pick) | Belt-driven | 4.6 | |
| Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike (Best Budget) | Belt-driven | 4.4 | |
| Sunny Health & Fitness Tornado Bike | Chain-driven | 4.2 |
1. Rogue Echo Bike – (Editor’s Choice)
Rogue makes some of the best fitness equipment on the market today and their Echo bike is no exception. This is a heavy-duty air bike that looks like it’s right out of a CrossFit gym.
What makes this air bike stand is how hard you will be able to exercise on it, and the amount of resistance it can take. The Echo bike can handle weights of up 350 pounds and can hold up to the most physical outburst.
As solid as this bike is, it’s still easy to move around. If you are using it in your home gym, it can be wheeled to a different place for storage, and easily brought out when you’re ready to use it.
Construction-wise, it’s made with a belt-driven steel fan blade which provides a smooth ride no matter how intense you’re going. Size-wise, it’s 52 inches high, 59 inches long, and 30 inches wide.
As heavy-duty as this bike is, it still comes with some great technology. The Echo bike features an LCD console which is a feature you’ll be very happy to have. This display will indicate your distance, calories burned, and heart rate among other things. It will also indicate intervals which makes it an ideal choice for doing high-intensity interval training to really bump up your cardio and calorie burning.
Lastly, if you’re like me who doesn’t want to do HIIT workouts but still wants to shred those extra pounds…believe me this is for you.
Key Features
- Built like a tank
- Belt driven means less noisy
- Adjustable seats for height and depth
- Max user weight: 350lbs
2. Assault AirBike Classic – (Best Overall)
The Assault AirBike Classic is a throwback to classic air bikes but made for the modern era.
Despite its classic look, it’s still a heavy-duty bike that can also hold weights of up to 350 pounds. The strong frame is made up of 20 sealed ball bearings throughout the frame and pivot points. This means you get the smoothest riding experience throughout the entire range of motion. The smoother the motion, the more consistency you get with your riding.
The fan is 25 inches in diameter which allows you to get that maximum resistance to make an air bike workout as intense as possible. It also features a 6-way adjustable seat to let you find the ultimate riding position to give your maximum effort.
Even though this air bike has a classic design, it still features some great modern technology. The onboard computer allows you to follow quite a few different programs for a variety of workouts. This bike will be your choice if you are someone who likes to have set workouts ready to go, and don’t need to plan anything out.
The computer program allows you to do Tabata workouts, intervals, Watt training, and more. These are also motivational programs to encourage and push you through the workout.
One last thing with the computer program: You are able to set different goals such as hitting a certain amount of calories burnt, distance, or a timed target. This lets you design your own custom workouts if you’re wanting a quick, simple workout.
I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to train like Crossfit athletes, but not willing to spend a fortune — it falls under $1000 range.
Key Features
- Made of sturdy steel frame
- Chain-driven system that can last a lifetime with proper care
- Used in Crossfit games nearly every year
- Max user weight: 350lbs
3. Schwinn Airdyne AD7 Bike – (Best Value)
Schwinn and bikes go hand-in-hand as they are one of the most famous bike makers in the world. They’ve entered the air bike market with their Airdyne AD7.
Since Schwinn is such a reputable company, you know you’ll be getting a great air bike. This is an ideal choice for a home gym or small space. It measures 53 inches long, 26 inches wide, and 53 inches tall, and the entire bike only weighs 113 pounds. It can easily be moved around and stored out of the way to not take up too much space.
The AD7 features a single-belt drive which is not only smooth but keeps the bike running very quietly. This makes it a great choice if you live with other people and need to keep noise to a minimum.
The design is still very solid featuring rubber grips with multiple hand positions. This gives you a different upper body workout with each grip which is great for having more variety in your training and creating a changing muscle stimulus.
The technology is what really makes this air bike stand out. The AD7 has heart rate level indicators. This lets you find your exact heart rate if you are trying to train in a certain range. The level indicators also display fat burning. The high-resolution display console comes with preset programs to include interval and target programs. They are designed to give you aerobic, and anaerobic training options. There are an endless amount of training options with this bike making it very easy for you to get as fit as possible.
The LCD display also relays your stats to you such as calories burned, watts used, time, distance, speed, and RPM. If you’re looking for an air bike to replicate Crossfit workouts at home: the AD7 is an ideal choice.
Key Features
- Corrosion resistant steel construction
- Single belt-drive for smoother operation
- Real time heart rate monitor
- Max user weight: 350lbs
4. Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike – (Best Budget)
Marcy makes some high-end and affordable fitness equipment including this upright fan bike. This is a stylish air bike that would look right at home at a great fitness club.
It’s made up of premium steel for the framework, with 14-inch steel tubing that is scratch resistant.
This air bike has a more unique resistance system. You’re aware now that resistance increases the faster you pedal, but this fan will actually produce cool air to keep you comfortable throughout your entire workout.
The simple design still allows you to adjust the seat to various positions to find the ideal setting for your riding style.
It can easily accommodate different body types while allowing you to keep proper form during your workout. This is a great choice if you have unique proportions such as shorter legs and longer arms, or a short trunk and longer legs.
Technology-wise it comes with a large LCD display to show you your time, speed, distance, and calories burned. If you are looking for a basic bike that is just about the exercise, this is an ideal option. It is easy to transport and move with its built-in wheels so you can pull it out whenever you’re ready to train and get going with minimal setup.
key Features
- 14-gauge steel tubing makes it durable
- Well-padded adjustable seat
- Belt drive system
- Max user weight: 300lbs
5. Sunny Health & Fitness Tornado Fan Air Bike
The Tornado is one of the best ergonomically designed air bikes out there. It is specifically designed to give you the best muscle engagement during your workout. The handlebar grips are angled at a specific level to engage your muscles as efficiently as possible. The handles will target your back, shoulders, and arms in the best way possible making this a great upper body workout along with the legs.
The Tornado has a solid base to hold up to rigorous workouts and features oversized pedals to keep your feet more secure and to keep you as safe as possible. The large, non-slip pedals are not just for safety, but are there to give you the ultimate pushing workout for the legs. This air bike is your ultimate calorie burner for your own home.
The Tornado has a bit larger fan than most, but this gives it as much resistance as possible while still making it sturdy. It comes with a digital monitor which will track your time, distance, calories burned, and RPM.
But it also has some great functionality with its quick access interval keys. With one press of a button, you can start an onboard interval program to keep you locked in during the intervals. Also, you get the option for high-intensity intervals such as a 1:2 work/rest ratio, or you can keep things more moderate with a pre-set 2:1 work/rest ratio.
If you’re looking to focus on interval training which is always a big part of CrossFit – the Tornado makes it easy.
Key Features
- 27.5-inch fan wheel generates a gentle breeze
- It uses a Chain drive system
- Transport wheels on the front
- Max user weight: 330lbs
How to Choose the Best Air Bike?
The first thing to do is to determine your budget. This will help narrow down the options of which Air Bike is the best for you. If you plan on working out at home and creating your own home CrossFit experience, you’ll be saving membership money which can be put towards your equipment.
RELATED: 6 Best Home Rowing Machine under $1000
After your budget is determined, you have to figure out your needs when it comes to exercise. If you like a simple experience, and just want to jump on and go, you can go for an air bike without the bells and whistles. Since you determine the intensity with your own output, you can go for a simpler bike.
If you’re someone who likes a lot of variety, you will want to select an air bike that comes with pre-programmed workouts. This gives you some time to follow and don’t have to worry about planning out your workouts.
If you like to track your progress and data, you’ll want to make sure you select a bike that gives you as much information as possible, specifically, calories burned, distance, watts, time, speed, etc.
Since you are providing the resistance with your own intensity, you want to make sure the bike is perfect for your specific size. If you are taller or larger, make sure it will properly support you and comes with different adjustments to customize it to your specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should I get an Air bike or Spin bike?
It depends on your fitness goals and budget. If you like simple stationary biking for long periods of cardio or intervals, a spin bike can be a great option, and always give you a great workout. If you want the ultimate cardio experience, you should go for an air bike. Not only do you get the cardiovascular workout, but a muscular endurance one at the same time.
The big draw to an air bike is that you exercise not only your leg muscles but your arms as well. The great thing – as was pointed out earlier – is the ability to control the pace of your workout.
The harder you work, the more resistance you get.
This makes it easy to use depending on your energy levels for the day. If you are feeling a little less energetic then you can keep the intensity lower. But if you’re looking for a full-on workout, you can go as hard as you like. With an air bike, every workout can be different, and this variety is very important for improving your fitness.
An air bike is also a great option if you have any joint or knee pain. Being in a stationary position takes away any impact on the joints and knees that may come from running or upright exercise. The air bike gives you a way to get an amazing workout if you are limited due to joint, tendon, knee issues.
2. Is an Air bike good for cardio?
Not only is an air bike good for cardio, but it can also be one of the best cardio workouts you ever do. There’s a reason that high-end athletes, Olympians, and Crossfitters use them: they work.
Through this review, you can see how an air bike is the ultimate for a cardiovascular workout. As great as a spin bike can be for cardio, it can’t replicate the full-body experience that comes from an air bike. It’s the ability to do full high-intensity interval training that makes an air bike a staple of CrossFit gyms everywhere.
High-intensity interval training is the ultimate calorie burner that provides a better workout in a shorter amount of time. It requires a lot of oxygen to perform and leads to an afterburn effect where you are burning calories long after the workout is done. Not only is this great to get fitter, and burn body fat, but it still is the ultimate cardio workout.
3. Which Air bike is used in Crossfit games?
More often than not, the go-to air bike used for Crossfit games is the Rogue Echo Bike made by Rogue Fitness – it’s “The official Air Bike of Crossfit.”
It is considered the Gold standard for CrossFit around the world as not only is it smooth and efficient, but it is super heavy-duty and can hold up to the most intense riding. If you’re trying to recreate a CrossFit experience in your home or garage gym the Rogue Echo Bike will have you covered.
References
- Image source: https://www.menshealth.com/uk/fitness/lifestyle/a28605170/crossfit-games-mat-fraser/
- Mathew Fraser – Crossfit games: https://games.crossfit.com/athlete/153604