Indoor Training Bikes

Reviews and General Information on the Best Home Exercise Bikes
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Marcy Air 1 Fan Exercise Bike Review

Get Wind in Your Hair Without Ever Leaving The House

Every once in a while, I love to set a challenge for myself and push the boundaries of what I am capable of physically. Unfortunately, after a busy week at work, “every once in a while” magically turns into “never”. What little fraction of free time I have left, I don’t spend hunting down gyms around my neighborhood. Instead, I stay at home trying to become one with my couch, watching reruns of “Frasier” and lifting donuts rather than barbells.

My desire to stay in shape without leaving the comfort of my own home was the catalyst for my research on exercise bikes. I figured they were not just a practical alternative to working out at the gym, but also a blessing for those who like to multitask. I’m totally down with the idea of working out and reading office reports simultaneously, so they seemed perfect for my needs.

Marcy Air 1 Bike with Fan

One interesting type of exercise bike I will tackle in this review is the fan bike – the Macy Air 1 Fan Exercise Bike, to be more precise. It’s an affordable option for those who are looking to get started and don’t need a machine which is overly complicated. The fan aspect is what instantly caught my eye, because it’s a 2 in 1 offer, providing air resistance and allowing you to cool off while pedalling at the same time.

Putting It Together

Despite the fact that you need to assemble the bike yourself, there are barely any tools you need to use, apart from the ones which come included in the set. In the box, you will find separately binned fasteners and even 2 AA batteries which power the electronic display. Any fears about the bike not being sturdy and balanced enough are eliminated from the get go, simply because the number of bolts needed to assemble it seems like an overkill.

In fact, the Air 1 gets extra points for that, since it immediately provides you with much needed stability. You can lean in any direction you want without feeling like you are on the verge of falling over. Another plus are the transport wheels which come in handy because, at 95 pounds, you wouldn’t go lifting the bike up and moving it from one place to another. If you would, then you might not need it after all. For the rest of us, these added wheels make transport as easy as moving an office chair.

Dual Action System

If you think you will only work out your feet and leg muscles with this exercise bike, think again. The Marcy Air 1 comes with a pair of dual-action exercise arms which means that it combines both upper and lower body workout. While you can just sit straight and pedal without using your arms, it’s not terribly ergonomic, and since there is no way of turning off those extensions it’s best to stick to both activities at the same time.

The handlebars are foam-covered, making them more pleasant to use. As for keeping the pace during the workout, it’s entirely up to you, depending on your determination. This can be both good and bad. On one hand, you don’t feel pressured to maintain a steady pace, but on the other hand, you can easily get caught up doing something else and lose focus.

Built-in tracker

The stationary bike’s computer uses 2 AA batteries for its LCD panel. While it tracks speed, time, distance and number of calories burned, an important feature I would have wanted to see included is the heart rate monitor. A heart rate monitor tells you if you are pushing yourself too hard or if you should push yourself harder to stay in the fat-burning zone. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to buy a separate monitor to use with an upright bicycle.
There are no other pre-programmed drills, but taking into account that the Marcy Air 1 is a budget bike, I can’t complain.

Ergonomics

One of the best assets is that you can use it for extended periods of time without feeling any cramps or strains in the body. The seat provided is quite large and soft, thanks to the generous foam padding. And while you may have difficulties in finding the ideal position in the beginning, it’s the kind of seat you can get used to in no time because the discomfort disappears shortly afterwards. Just think how the pressure applied to your derriere was previously exerted on your knees and tendons – now you have a chance to spare them.

Final Thoughts

While the Marcy Air 1 Fan Exercise Bike isn’t aimed at professional users, it’s a good product nonetheless, with an affordable price tag. Easy to assemble, pleasant to use and with its own built-in fan, the Air 1 is well-worth checking out. You can find it on Amazon, where there are always great deals available.

Further Information

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