This is a great bike for working out. I have bad knees and so am limited in the types of exercise I can safely do. Swimming is OK once per week, but the chlorine gets to me and I don't like doing it more than that. Rowing is OK but it doesn't give me much of a lower body workout. The fancy electronic stationary bikes at the gym are fine for legs, but it is a waste of time for the upper body. Elliptical machines give a nice full body workout, but my knees won't tolerate much of that. Resistance training is also good but only once or twice per week. Pilates, Yoga and stretching are great exercises and have their place but they don't fill the need for cardio. Walking, Running, and Stair steppers are absolutely out of the question for me. So, my personal favorite form of exercise is the Dual-Action Stationary Bike for a well rounded workout that gets my heart pumping, uses all of my limbs, and puts absolutely no pressure on my knees.
For 30 years, I have enjoyed an old time Schwinn Airdyne Comp which served me well. It has preserved my health by keeping my handicap from making me hopelessly sedentary. But for the past year or so I could see the end of the line coming when my old faithful Schwinn started making unusual noises and shuddering in a strange way. Much to my surprise, I couldn't find anyone who could work on it. No one could get parts for it, no one even knew how it was put together. Even Schwinn no longer makes these and they do not support repairs of a bike that they no longer produce. I kept my Airdyne going for as long as possible, but the day finally arrived when I knew that I had done my last ride on "old Faithful". I was forced to look for a new bike.
Imagine my dismay when I set out to find a new bike and there was NOTHING that even remotely measured up to my beloved Airdyne Comp! Everything was flimsy. Everything was plastic. I even tried out one of the new-fangled Airdynes in the store and it actually collapsed with me in the saddle! Yikes! To tell the truth, I was scared that I might not find a worthy successor to the bike I had come to know and love. Then, I was researching bikes online and reading as many reviews as I could find, when one reviewer mentioned that he had returned his bike for a refund and spent the necessary bucks for and Assault Air Bike. I immediately googled that term and was delighted to find a bike that looks like the younger, cooler, and more hip granddaughter of my old, worn out Schwinn! I ordered it immediately!
It came today and I am in love! If possible, it is even better than the old Airdyne that served me so well. It was really, REALLY fast and easy to assemble because of the clearly presented video that is included in the ad on this page. Within 30 minutes, my new bike was up and running and I had my first workout. The ONLY negative is that the seat of the Assault Air Bike is atrociously painful! I am not sure why such seats are made, but by the time I finished my hour ride, I was weeping in pain. For awhile, I was regretfully considering that I might have to send the new bike to Amazon for a refund. Then, as I looked longingly at my old Airdyne Comp and dreamed about former days of riding in the comfort of the wide, cushy Schwinn seat, it dawned on me that I could probably ditch that nasty instrument of torture that came with the Assault, and replace it with my old fave, the Schwinn Airdyne Seat! Yay! Within 10 minutes, my new bike was just as comfy as the old, and I was so inspired that I indulged in a second, oh-so-comfy spin!
Some of the great features of the Assault that make it a step beyond the old Airdyne is the way the seat adjusts not only to height, but also to length. This gives a great custom fit to my body. I also learned very quickly that the onboard computer is much more complete than my old Comp and gives me great choices for incorporating HIIT training, which is just the perfect compliment to my new-found Paleo lifestyle. The new Assault computer is a little bit different in the way it counts calories, but that is not a problem for me, since I don't measure calories burned, but only time, distance, and heart rate. A few things are different that I wish they had kept but those things are minor. All in all, it is a worthy successor to my old Airdyne.
So. I purchased my Schwinn when I was 30 years old, and now I am 60. If the Assault gives me the same amount of years that I got from the Airdyne, I will be 90 by the time I need to buy yet another bike. Do you guys think the Assault will still be around by then, or should I just go ahead and purchase a back-up Assault Bike just in case? ;-)
| Brand | Assault Fitness |
|---|---|
| Special Feature | Pivot points to provide a smooth and durable feel, Unlimited resistance for upper and lower body extremities based on air resistance, Twenty sealed ball bearings throughout the frame |
| Color | Black |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Indoor |
| Item Weight | 110 Pounds |
| Material | Aluminum, Alloy Steel |
| Resistance Mechanism | Air |
| Product Dimensions | 59.95"D x 23.34"W x 50"H |
| Maximum Weight Recommendation | 350 Pounds |
| Model Name | AS-Assault Airbike |
| Maximum Height | 50 Inches |
| Minimum Height | 50 Inches |
| Number of Resistance Levels | 8 |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 50.5 x 34 x 11 inches |
| Package Weight | 49.9 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 59.95 x 23.34 x 50 inches |
| Brand Name | Assault Fitness |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Manufacturer | Lifecore Fitness, Inc. |
| Part Number | 1 |
| Model Year | 2017 |
