Not sure whether to buy an air bike or a spin bike? Read on for all the details of air bikes versus spin bikes.

First up – what is an air bike?

Air bikes are a kind of stationary exercise bike, which are popular in gyms. They are also known as fan bikes, because instead of having a wheel at the front of the bike like other types of stationary exercise bikes, they have a large fan for resistance.  The faster the rider pedals, the faster the fan blades turn, creating air resistance.  Air bikes have made a comeback in recent years due to the Crossfit moment.

Air bikes can give you a challenging workout because the faster you pedal, the more resistance you create. They also typically have handlebars that move back and forth like an elliptical trainer, meaning you are getting an upper body and lower body workout at the same time. This is why air bikes are an excellent choice for riders looking for a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and cardiovascular workout. Air bikes are designed to be challenging and quickly get your heart rate up.

However they aren’t a good choice if you are looking to do long rides or if you are looking to ride while watching TV or reading etc. You will also struggle to find a variety of online classes that cater to air bike workouts.

Pros and cons of an air bike

Pros

• Air bikes provide an intense workout for both the upper and lower body.
• Technically an air bike has an unlimited amount of resistance. The resistance is only limited by how fast you can pedal.
• Air bikes are highly effective for calorie burning in a short period of time.
• Air bikes are very simple to use – just hop on and go.
• Air bikes are often very sturdily built, making them a suitable choice for intense and frequent use.
• Air bikes put less impact on your joints than other workout machines such as treadmills.
• Air bikes are excellent for interval training.
• Air bikes don’t require a power outlet.
• The giant wheel at the front of the bike blows wind on to your face as you ride – great for home garage gyms where you might not have air con!
• Air bikes are great for a quick warm up if you’re primarily lifting weights.
• Air bikes are great for quick, intense workouts.

Cons

• Air bikes take up a lot of room, so are less suitable for home workouts where space may be limited.
• Air bikes are generally more expensive than lower model spin bikes.
• If you are really going hard on the bike, you might find it difficult to hear Netflix etc. over the sound of the bike. If you want to get an idea of how noisy an air bike is, check out this Instagram video. But you are probably having such a difficult time on the bike that there is no way you’d want to watch anything anyway.
• Air bikes don’t come with the interactive touchscreen that some of the higher end spin bikes (such as the Peloton bike) have. Workouts can get pretty boring.
• The Assault Airbike, which is a very popular air bike, only comes with a pretty basic monitor (tracks speed watts, calories, distance). The monitor doesn’t store your stats from previous workouts either.
• Air bikes don’t really replicate the outdoor cycling experience due to the way the resistance operates.
• Air bikes don’t fold up.
• Air bikes aren’t a great choice if you like to do longer rides/ low intensity rides.
• It is difficult to find a variety of online air bike classes.

Popular air bikes

Assault Airbike, Rogue Echo or Schwinn AirDyne are all popular air bikes brands. Note that you can often pick up an air bike second hand. It is worth checking Craigslist etc. for deals etc, instead of buying new if you are unsure of an air bike is right for you.

What is a spin bike?

A spin bike is also a kind of stationary exercise bike, designed to simulate the experience of riding a road bike. Practically every gym will have some kind of spin bikes and they are also popular in home gyms also. The Peloton bike is a type of stationary bike.

Spin bikes have a flywheel (usually at the front of the bike) which provides resistance and momentum as it spins, which feels similar to the way it does when riding a bike outside. This is different to air bikes which have a large fan at the front of the bike for resistance. A rider can increase the intensity of their workout by upping the resistance level on a spin bike.

Spin bikes primarily exercise the lower body, although some models do come with moveable handlebars, just like the air bike.

There are a variety of online spinning classes. With the higher end spin bikes, such as the Peloton, you can stream classes directly from the touchscreen on the bike, or you can get a subscription to the Peloton app, and pair the bike with the app. There is also a huge online community behind the Peloton bike and Peloton app, making it bike or app an excellent choice for riders who need motivation to get on the bike everyday.

Pros and cons of a spin bike

Pros

• Spin bikes are more suitable for people who want to do longer rides.
• Some spin bikes have a touchscreen tv, providing interactive classes and real time fitness stats.
• Able to multitask while riding a spin bike if you want to (e.g. read, watch TV)
• Spin bikes are more suitable for riders who like variety in their workouts.
• Spin bikes are a popular choice for people who are motivated by online classes / online community.
• Spin bikes are less noisy than an air bike
• Some spin bikes can be folded up when not in use and they are generally smaller than air bikes.
• Spin bikes simulate the outdoor riding experience more than air bikes.
• Spin bikes put less impact on your joints than other workout machines such as treadmills.

Cons

• Unlike air bikes, spin bikes generally only work the lower body.
• Some spin bikes, such as the Peloton bike, require a power outlet.
• Spin bikes are generally less suitable than the air bike for quick, intense workouts.
• Spin bikes are generally less sturdy than the air bike, making them less suitable for frequent, intense riding.
• Some spin bikes require cleats to use.

Popular spin bikes

Peloton, NordicTrack, Schwinn or the Yosuda are all popular spin bike brands.

Air bike versus spin bike – differences at a glance

Air bike versus spin bike – concluding thoughts.

Air bikes are effective in burning calories fast and improving cardiovascular fitness while offering a low-impact exercise option. But there is a reason that the most well know air bike is called the Assault Bike. An air bike, can give you a killer workout! Rides never get easier because the better your conditioning, the harder you push.

The following video shows you just how good a workout you can get with an air bike:

You can also get a good, lower body workout on a spin bike, whether that be a long ride, or a ride of shorter length but greater intensity. There are many online spin classes you can take to keep you motivated and interest.

Still undecided on whether to get an air bike or a spin bike?

Obviously you should get the bike that is going to make you motivated to get up and ride each day. But in a nutshell, you should:

buy an air bike if:

• you want to workout your upper body as well as your legs
• you don’t need a fancy touchscreen/ classes to keep you motivated
• you have a large enough space to store the air bike
• you are looking to do quick, intense, HITT workouts (rather than long cardio); and
• you want to build mental toughness.

buy a spin bike if:

• you are only concerned with working out your legs
• your floor space is limited
• classes are important to you
• you want to simulate the outdoor riding experience
• you want to multitask while riding (e.g. read, watch TV)
• you want to do low intensity/ longer rides.

Court Williams

Courtney has a passion for all things fitness on a budget. She loves home workouts and trying out different fitness gear.