Most of us looking for exercise equipment that will allow us to do low-impact cardio and whole-body conditioning are looking for quality machines. However, some are built with mediocre-quality materials and then put together in a very haphazard manner. We simply don’t know how long it will last keeping us fit or whether it can keep us fit at all.
And if you’re like me who prefers very minimal automation, you’d also want an exercise bike that behaves like a bike and gives you the kind of resistance that you need to really work those muscles without any computer or programming telling you that you’ve reached your limit.
Personally, the real essence of exercising and going fit is that they empower me to push myself harder. I determine my own capabilities, thank you. And for that I believe there’s a reason why a lot of the pros consider the Assault Air Exercise Bike as one of the best on the planet.
Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to try this awesome machine. I’ve explained it further below highlighting the features, pros and cons, and more below:
Assault Air Bike Overview
Built for sturdiness that will last many years, the Assault Air Exercise Bike is a fan bike that looks as impressive as it is very functional. It has all the right technical specifications of an air resistance exercise bike.
It gives you the ability to achieve more meaningful cardiovascular endurance and robust muscle tone without causing unnecessary stress on your joints. The Assault Air Bike is best suited for HIIT fanatics. Although absolute newbies will also find it exceptionally adequate, although tricky.
At the heart of the Assault AirBike is a fan mechanism that utilises air resistance to make your muscles work even harder. Just like water resistance-powered rowing exercise machines, the faster you pedal the greater the level of resistance generated by the spinning fan blades. So if you really want to work out those muscles, you’ve got to really pedal as hard and fast as you possibly can.
There’s a reason why the Assault Air Exercise Bike is favoured by many professional trainers, physiotherapists, and even fitness club owners. It’s stable, sturdy, durable, and comes with a reliable resistance mechanism that will make you work your muscles like there’s no tomorrow.
Features of the Assault Air Bike
Powerful, user-dependent air resistance mechanism
If you’re looking for an exercise bike in Australia that utilises the power of air resistance to provide you with highly variable levels of resistance to get your muscles up to speed, then the Assault Air Exercise Bike is definitely for you. At the heart of the Assault Air is its fascinating 27-inch fan that generates the air resistance you’ll need to work your muscles.
The unique part is, there are no manual adjustment settings for the levels of resistance. I can almost imagine the confusion among absolute newbies as they try to figure out how the Assault Air actually works to their advantage.
But, I prefer exercise machines that will never dampen my resolve to push myself to the hilt. There are no complicated computers on the Assault Air to tell you enough is enough. I get to decide how to obtain the best fitness levels that I think I deserve.
Bicycle chain drive system
The chain drive of the Assault gives you a remarkable cycling experience without necessarily going anywhere. The chain drive mechanism of the Assault nevertheless gives you the feel of a bike ride complete with clinking sound and slight vibration. It isn’t quiet, but it sure is a welcome relief to know you’ve got a bicycle between your legs.
Not everyone will agree with me that the sound of the bike chain clinking is like music to my ears. For those who wish an ultra-quiet drive, then a belt drive system should be a great choice; definitely not the Assault.
If you’re like me who appreciates the sound of the chain rolling on its sprocket, then the noise is nothing more than an auditory feedback to what you’re accomplishing.
Sturdy, stable, and durable construction
The Assault Air Exercise Bike is built to last, no question about that. It looks like one which can stand up to the kind of gruelling activities military and crossfit trainers do on a daily basis. If you are searching for an exercise bike that is being used in some of the planet’s most gruelling tests of strength and endurance, then it should be worth investigating further.
The makers of Assault Air decided to go with commercial-grade materials in its construction, complete with 12-gauge steel handlebars, high-tensile strength steel frame, and 20 premium-grade ball bearings for its fan mechanism. It really is designed to stand the test of time, even though it only costs a fraction of similarly-spec’d products.
The Assault air doesn’t shake nor flex. I found it extremely reliable when it comes to stability. It also comes with levellers, just in case your floor is not even.
Fully adjustable seat, both vertically and horizontally
The Assault Air Bike is fully adjustable. I once saw a small-figure lady working out on one of these machines and she did just fine. I’ve also seen a tall, bulky man using the Assault just fine. It is versatile in terms of user weight and dimensions. The seat can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally for optimum fit.
I have to agree with some users’ comments about the seat of the Assault Air. While it can be adjusted to accommodate the height of the user, the seat can be improved further for comfortability.
Modest console with just enough fitness and exercise programmes
The console on the Assault Air is the best I have seen so far in air resistance exercise bikes. Compared with those of the higher-end model, it may not show extra information such as heart rate. In my opinion however, the information it provides are sufficient for a great workout. It provides all the basic information like calories, RPM, interval, distance, time, speed, and watts.
While it does have a heart rate tracker, you’d have to purchase a separate chest strap to make full use of the feature. Most exercise machines today always throw in their heart rate chest strap monitor in the package. Obviously the makers of Assault Air decided against it.
In addition to the absence of a chest strap, there are several improvements which can be made in future models in terms of features/accessories.
First, the LCD doesn’t come with a backlight so reading the information takes a bit of getting used to especially in low-light conditions.
Second, it doesn’t show the last custom interval setting set to by the last user.
Third, reading the workout summary requires you to be a fast-reader, otherwise you won’t read everything. You cannot upload your workout results to an app either so you’d have to write it down yourself.
Pros and Cons
- Built to last many years, thanks to the use of commercial-grade materials and the design input of fitness experts
- Versatile application
- Very easy to assemble requiring only minimal tools
- Ample-sized console complete with 7 programmable workouts
- Fully-adjustable seat height for different users
- Designed for heavy-duty CrossFit games and military training
- Provides moderate to high-intensity conditioning for both upper and lower body
- Fully stable platform
- Inexpensive yet can last many years
- Air resistance cannot be manually adjusted for fine-tuning
- Console doesn’t come with backlighting for easier reading
- Doesn’t come with a heart rate strap
- The pedals are pretty standard without straps for a more secure grip
- Inadequate directions for newbies on how to properly use the air bike to get the most out of it
Final Words on the Assault Air Exercise Bike
The Assault Air Exercise Bike is far from being the perfect exercise bike. However, it does come with features and technical specifications that make it a favourite among serious fitness buffs. Personally, the Assault Air allows me to work as hard as I can ever handle.
It’s built for moderate-intensity workouts, but will never fail you if you do decide to push it to the limit. It has a stable and dependable construction. I’d say it will be a good buy to those who are keen to burn some calories. With a unique drive mechanism, I really wouldn’t mind recommending the Assault Air Bike to anyone who would like to experience the thrill of air exercise bikes.