Schwinn Airdyne Upright Bike -- Why Buy One?

I bought this Schwinn Airdyne upright bike almost 20 years ago, and it was used when I got the thing. Like many folks, I'd ridden an older one in the gym years before. A newer bike has a certain appeal, especially one with more electronics. But there's no need for one since the old Airdyne just keeps going. Here's the deal...

1. Simple, rugged construction.

There isn't much to tear up on the Air-Dyne. It's mostly just heavy duty mechanical simplicity. With nearly no electronics there are few if any expensive components likely to fail. There is on the other hand nearly no electronics. That means no programmable workouts. That can be a plus. Here are more advantages.

2. Comfort seating...

Not a recumbent, the bikes still aren't bad in the comfort area. It's a comfortable ride. Why with that big padded seat, you may ride longer than you think you can. It's a tough seat as well. Mine still looks almost good as new... Unlike popular recumbents, the Airdyne possesses a riding position much like a road bike.

3. A fun to ride exercise bike???

A dual action bike keeps riding interesting. You get to mix it up a bit. You can work just the lower body or upper body or both at the same time. It's a great way to fight boredom... You get varied motions rather than lots of electronics and computer power.

4. The fan difference.

The load is created by turning that large fan. That makes for quite a wind storm. The faster you pedal and pump, the faster the fan turns and the more resistance. The fan makes a lot of noise, but it's just wind noise. There's no banging and knocking noise.

5. Solid...

This is a solid machine. It's heavy and built to last. It's like this. It's so well built that it's a very stable platform. So??? It therefore just all but demands hard work. You can hammer this bike and there's no flexing and swaying. It's rock solid... It's true that lighter bikes often self-destruct simply from the movement and swaying that result from use.

6. The circuit option...

Loafing along is worth something. Real progress can be had with more like a circuit routine. You can vary the pace and tempo of pedaling. You can also get off the bike and do a set of exercises and then hop back on. This bike takes the roughest use in stride. Working the arms is just part of the routine with these, the overall results you get from using one of these is more balanced and tends to help you achieve better overall conditioning.

7. Not too many second sales...

I estimate Schwinn rarely sells a second one to anyone... Know why? You can't wear out the first one! You probably will only need one of these machines.

The Schwinn Airdyne bike is a classic of a machine. Well built, so it's tough and fun to use. The quality makes it a value in a field of less expensive machines. A newer version is now offered called the Schwinn Airdyne Evolution Comp. This model sports belt instead of chain drive and a smaller and thus quieter fan.

See our article about the Schwinn Airdyne, a classic machine that's worth a look.


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