Wall balls and bodyweight squats can work your cardio, but if you want to really work on your aerobic system, you need to put some time into monostructural activities like running, swimming, or rowing. But running too much can be hard on the joints, and we don’t all have access to a pool when we train, and maybe your back is too fried from deadlifting to row.

That’s where air bikes come in. They’re great low-impact cardio solutions that you can fit just about anywhere. Bike machines, like the AssaultBike or Airdyne, are great for endurance, specifically lower body endurance. They can even be a better workout than rowing machines because they deliver constant resistance, unlike rowing machines which give you a glide after every pull.

In this article, we looked at the two most common types of bike machines, the Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro, and the Schwinn Airdyne Pro. We compared the two machines on different metrics to help you decide which is right for your specific needs.  

The Air Bikes Compared

	Product's name	Dimension	Weights	Cost USD	More Info
	Durability Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro	49.8” L x 24.1” W x 51.1” H	118.4 LBS	$899	View Product
	Noise Schwinn Airdyne Pro	42" L x 20" W x 52" H	113 Pounds	$999	View Product

The Contenders

Durability

#1- Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro

See latest price

Assault Fitness is a California-based company, specializing in cardio machines like treadmills, rowers, and of course, the AssaultBike. The company’s mission is to improve life through fitness. The AssaultBike Pro is a hybrid of Assault Fitness’ Classic AssaultBike and their AssaultBike Elite. The AssaultBike Pro is made to be the ultimate mix of durability and low-maintenance. 

The AssaultBike Pro uses air resistance and a system which actually makes it harder to pedal, the harder you push. This is quite different to other exercise machines that become smoother once you get up to speed. The AssaultBike Pro delivers the same assaulting workout no matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned athlete. 

The frame of the AssaultBike is made durable, so you can push yourself as hard as you can and not worry about damaging the equipment. The bike also comes with a 3 year warranty on parts, and a 7 year warranty on the steel frame. 

The AssaultBike Pro also offers some impressive customization features. With 11 height settings, and 6 horizontal settings, the bike can fit most bodies. The monitor is also bluetooth enabled and carries over 7 different customizable settings. The AssaultBike Pro can track watts, calories, distance, time, heart rate, RPM, and more!

The AssaultBike Pro retails for $899. 

Noise

#2- Schwinn Airdyne Pro

See latest price

For over 125 years, Schwinn has been a leader in bike manufacturing. Starting in the 1960s, Schwinn began making their first indoor exercise bikes. From there, Airdyne has become a synonymous term for indoor bike machines. The Airdyne Pro combines all those years of experience into a quiet, reliable machine. 

The Airdyne Pro uses a drive belt system, combined with the fan, the resistance increases as you go harder. The use of a belt system instead of a chain system also makes the Airdyne Pro much quieter than most other exercise bikes. 

The Airdyne Pro has an adjustable seat, both for height and backwards and forwards. The seat is well-cushioned for optimal comfort. Similarly, the Airdyne Pro has a couple different handle options, that you could switch up during a longer workout. The monitor has 9 programmable settings, and tracks metrics like watts, calories, distance, time, and more!

The Schwinn Airdyne Pro retails for $999.            

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few other exercise bikes we tested. They certainly aren’t the same quality of the AssaultBike or Airdyne, but each one has a special feature that we felt compelled to mention. 

Marcy Fitness have established themselves as a great cost-effective fitness brand. The Marcy Fan Bike has a fan and air resistance system, and combines both foot pedals and arm handles. The Marcy bike has a display monitor, which can track time, distance, and calories. 

Common issues people have with the Marcy Bike include the belt drive rubbing on parts, the pedals breaking after a few months, and the monitor having issues. That being said, if you don’t quite want to commit $1000 to a piece of equipment you aren’t sure you’ll be using that often, the Marcy Fan Bike might be a viable option. 

The Marcy Fan Bike retails for $199. 

I’ve always found it weird that the machines Crossfit endorses and those it doesn’t. Specifically, I think more Crossfit boxes could incorporate elliptical machines into their gyms. The Body Rider BRD2000 is a really interesting piece of equipment, which combines an exercise bike and an elliptical. You can use the machine like you would an Airdyne, or you can use it feet only, or you can use it like an elliptical machine, making it the most versatile equipment on this list. The BRD2000 also tracks distance, time, and calories. 

The drawbacks to this machine include the issue that some people feel like the bike does not offer enough tension for a tough workout. The plastic design also makes the machine less durable than others. Some customers have also complained about the noise the machine produces. 

So, Which is Better?

Well like anything, it depends. If you’re training for Crossfit, your main metrics for workouts are going to be calories, which both Airdyne Pro and the AssaultBike Pro track (or even the Rogue Echo). Either machine is a great option for warming up or cooling down pre and post WOD. The AssaultBike Pro is constructed of more metal, so may be more durable. That being said, the Airdyne Pro comes with a longer warranty. The Airdyne Pro is also much quieter because it uses a belt drive instead of a chain drive like the AssaultBike Pro. So if you workout early and you have other people living close by, you might opt for the Airdyne. 

Still not sure which bike is right for you? Check out the buying guide below for more tips.

Air Bike Buying Guide

What to look for when buying an air bike

Ask yourself what you need a bike machine to do for you. Are you looking to complete WODs RX’d? Are you just looking for a reliable cardio machine? Is durability the most important factor or is a quiet ride?

Design

If you’re going to be looking at the bike every single day, you’ll probably want one that looks good in your home. The all black design of the AssaultBike Pro looks better than the greys and reds of the Airdyne Pro. The all black design also ensures your bike matches most decors. 

Feel

As discussed earlier, the AssaultBike Pro uses a chain drive system, whereas the Airdyne Pro uses a belt drive system. The belt drive system, while being quieter, is also much smoother than the chain drive. The AssaultBike Pro’s chain drive can often feel quite cumbersome, not ideal when training. 

Workouts

Both Airdyne and AssaultBike tracks calories and distance, the main metrics used in Crossfit workouts. If you are using the bike in an open type workout, you should be fine with either style. Some competitions, like the Crossfit Games, use the AssaultBike, while others, like the Kill Cliff Championships, use the Airdyne. 

Durability

The AssaultBike Pro is the more durable and stable of the two. This is largely because of its use of metal in the frame as opposed to plastics. While Schwinn has increased the amount of metal in it’s Airdyne Pro, there is still a good amount of plastic in the construction. Not only does the metal give AssaultBike a slight edge on durability, but it feels more stable as well. 

Warranty

Both the AssaultBike Pro and the Airdyne Pro come with warranties. The parts of the Airdyne have a 2 year warranty, while the parts of the AssaultBike have a 3 year warranty. The frame of the Airdyne has a 10 year warranty, and the frame of the AssaultBike has a 5 year warranty. Because the frame is going to be the most expensive piece to replace, I would give the edge to Airdyne here. 

Noise

Both the Airdyne Pro and the AssaultBike Pro use fans in their construction. The main difference in noise level comes from the drive system. The Airdyne’s belt drive is much quieter than the AssaultBike’s chain drive. If you live in a condo, or workout early and don’t want to offend the neighbours or family members, you might want to go with the Airdyne. 

 FAQs for Airdyne and AssaultBike

Airdyne / AssaultBike WODs

Here are a few workouts to try to get you started:

1. Time Trial: Pick one of the following distances and complete as fast as you can. 250m, 500m, 1K, 2K, 5K, 10K, 21.1K, 42.2K. 
2. With a partner: Bike 1000m. One partner must be performing WallBalls or Goblet Squats while the other is biking. Anytime the ball or weight is dropped, you must stop biking and switch. 
3. 5 Rounds: Bike 500m, 50 air squats.
4. Death by AssaultBike/Airdyne: Every Minute On the Minute (EMOM) bike 3 calories. Each minute, add 3 more calories. So minute one is 3, minuty two is 6, and so on. See how long you can last. 
5. 5 Rounds: :30 seconds max effort for calories. 4:30 rest. 

Conclusion

Hopefully this list has helped you make informed decisions when it comes to purchasing a bike machine. Biking is a fantastic exercise that targets your full body, and no matter which machine you choose, you’re in for some healthy torture.