Buying guide for Best air bikes
Ready to buy now? Shop the best:
Many people think of riding a bicycle as a leisurely activity. This is because you can pedal for a little bit and then coast — going downhill requires no effort at all. With an air bike, however, there is no down time. An air bike delivers one of the most intense workout experiences possible, so if you’re looking for a great piece of exercise equipment, look no further.
The best air bikes are fully adjustable, so you can position the seat properly. They feature some way to monitor the intensity of your activity, allowing you to track your calorie burn. Many have foot pegs, so you can rest your feet if you want to and just focus on your upper body. When selecting an air bike, you want to make sure you get one that’s rated to support your weight and the weight of anyone else who might use it. And of course, you want one with the particular features you need to get the best workout possible.
If you’re ready to ride, read on. Our buying guide will point you in the direction of your fitness goals with information and tips to help you find the best air bike for your needs.
Key considerations
When purchasing an air bike, some considerations are a little more important than others. If the bike doesn’t have the weight capacity, stability, and adjustability you need to complete a good workout, that’s a deal breaker.
Weight capacity
Some lower-priced air bikes do not feature very high weight limits. If you are a large individual, make sure the model you are considering is appropriate for your size.
Stability
An air bike that wobbles won’t give you the intensity you want. Look for an air bike that is not only well-built and durable, but also one that features leveling feet. With leveling feet, you can fine-tune your experience so there is absolutely no rocking.
Adjustable seat
It is important to be able to adjust the seat of your air bike so your feet comfortably reach the pedals. Do not forget that you will also be using your arms on this piece of equipment, so your seat (or handlebars) may also need to be adjustable so you can get a comfortable reach.
Expert tip
Adjust the height of the seat so your knees are slightly bent (about 20 degrees) at the lowest point of your pedal stroke. This is the safest position for your knees and allows you to generate the most force.
BestReviews Fitness Expert
Other features
In this section, we are going to bring attention to other features that are important. Notably, these features are more preference-based than essential.
Belt or chain
An air bike is driven by a belt or a chain. A chain is more durable, but it creates a louder, clunkier experience. A belt typically delivers a smoother experience with more efficient energy transfer.
Blades
Fan blades provide the resistance on an air bike. Blade size, quantity, and angle can all affect the intensity of your workout. Some blades may be so small that they provide more cooling than resistance. In these instances, the air bike will likely come with a resistance control as well.
Monitor
Feedback is crucial when you want to excel. The more information you can track, the more effective your workout session can be. Look for an air bike that can, at the very least, track speed, distance, time, and calories burned. For those who wish to take it up a notch, look for a unit with a dedicated app.
Multi-grip handle
An air bike with handles that feature a variety of grip options provides you with the ability to use the grip that best suits your needs.
Foot pegs
As mentioned, if you want to focus on your upper body, you will need to purchase an air bike that has foot pegs. The pegs allow your feet to remain stationary while you work your upper body.
Pedal straps
The highest intensity levels on an air bike can only be achieved if you have a productive stroke all the way around. To accomplish this, you will need pedals that feature straps to hold your feet in place.
Transport wheels
If you need to store your air bike when it is not in use, you will want a model that features durable transport wheels. Heavy-duty air bikes can weigh well over 45 kilograms. If you do not have transport wheels, moving your air bike may be a two-person job.
Expert tip
A slight forward lean of the trunk, or torso, is also important for force production. The exact amount of lean will differ from one person to another depending on body length, shape, and size.
BestReviews Fitness Expert
Air bike prices
Inexpensive
At the bottom end of the overall price range, in the $100 to $200 category, you can find very basic air bikes. These bikes typically do not have many features, and the fan may not provide adequate resistance.
Mid-range
From around $200 to $600, you'll find the largest variety of choices. These bikes are more rugged and designed for moderate use. They are built better than budget models. Some may be lacking the bells and whistles that allow for a greater variety of workouts, though.
Expensive
Air bikes priced at over $600 are for the serious athletes. Many of these come with monitors, apps, foot pegs, and more. Durability is enhanced at this level to help ensure that your air bike can withstand the toughest workouts.
Tips
There is a big difference between exercising to stay healthy and training to compete. However, either type of workout is possible on an air bike. Just remember, your body adapts to the specific stress you place on it, so variety is a key ingredient in any exercise regimen.
Below, we provide tips about the different types of workouts you can complete on an air bike.
- Cardio: Basically, a cardio workout is any exercise routine that raises your heart rate above a resting rate.
- Low-intensity: In this type of workout, the goal is to keep your heart rate below 50% of its maximum. (Maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age.) This level may be hard to maintain on an air bike.
- Medium-intensity: In this type of workout, the goal is to keep your heart rate between 50% and 70% of your maximum heart rate.
- High-intensity: In this type of workout, the goal is to raise your heart rate above 70% of your maximum heart rate.
- HIIT: High intensity interval training is a work/recovery workout that can be divided in different ways. Beginners may start with one minute of high-intensity exercise followed by three minutes of recovery. An experienced athlete, however, may prefer one minute of high-intensity exercise followed by one minute of rest.
- Tabata: This is a specific type of HIIT that consists of 20 seconds of high-intensity exercise followed by 10 seconds of recovery and persists for about four minutes.
FAQ
Q. What makes an air bike different from other stationary bikes?
A. There are two features that set an air bike apart from other stationary bikes. The first is that the handlebars and pedals are connected, so when the pedals spin round and round, the handlebars move back and forth, providing you with an upper body and lower body workout. The second is the method of achieving resistance. On most stationary bikes, resistance comes from adding tension. On an air bike, however, there are blades that push the air as it spins, which is how the machine derives its resistance.
Expert tip
Pushing, pulling, and pedaling should be given equal effort unless your goal is to isolate the arms or legs. I find that most people tend to focus more of their effort on the legs out of habit. Give equal effort to the arms and you’ll get a better workout and burn more calories.
BestReviews Fitness Expert
Q. How do I set the resistance on an air bike?
A. On most air bikes, you may notice that there is no adjustment for tension. Do not panic; you did not get a defective bike. Since the blades create the resistance by moving air, the resistance is increased simply by working harder (because you'll be moving more air). When you go slow, the bike is easier to operate, but as you get into the workout and start moving your hands and feet faster, the resistance increases dramatically. In short, if you feel the need for more resistance, just work harder.
Q. How high should the seat be on my air bike?
A. An air bike is just like any other bike in this regard, stationary or not. When the pedal is at its lowest point, your foot should be resting on it with your knee only slightly bent. Additionally, if the seat moves forward and back, adjust it so the handlebars are not too far away or too close at any point during the cycle of motion.
