Has anyone ridden both a C2 bikeerg and a Schwinn Airdyne?

[clampe1066]

I had an Airdyne for years but finally got rid of it because I just couldn't get a comfortable fit on it.

I'm now considering the Concept 2 bikeerg. I've watched several video reviews and at least one reviewer commented on how quickly it fatigued his legs.

I know both the Airdyne and bikeerg use air resistance. How does the resistance compare between the two? Is the lowest damper setting on the bikeerg substantially easier to pedal than an Airyne? Is a setting of 10 substantially harder to pedal than an Airdyne?

[CaseyClarke]

I had an Airdyne for years but finally got rid of it because I just couldn't get a comfortable fit on it.

I'm now considering the Concept 2 bikeerg. I've watched several video reviews and at least one reviewer commented on how quickly it fatigued his legs.

I know both the Airdyne and bikeerg use air resistance. How does the resistance compare between the two? Is the lowest damper setting on the bikeerg substantially easier to pedal than an Airyne? Is a setting of 10 substantially harder to pedal than an Airdyne?

Use the BikeErg several times a week and have had a few goes on the Schwinn in the distant past.

The resistance on the BikeErg is changeable from the damper settings, but isn’t Schwinn just one set resistance which just increases as you pedal faster?

I’m pretty sure at the same RPM then the lowest damper setting on the BikeErg will be substantially lower than a Schwinn. You aren’t putting out much power on a BikeErg on damper 1 at 100rpm, maybe 200w or so. But at damper 10 and 100rpm then you’re well over 1000w. Don’t know about the top end of the Schwinn as I can’t remember pushing it to max.

[clampe1066]

I had an Airdyne for years but finally got rid of it because I just couldn't get a comfortable fit on it.

I'm now considering the Concept 2 bikeerg. I've watched several video reviews and at least one reviewer commented on how quickly it fatigued his legs.

I know both the Airdyne and bikeerg use air resistance. How does the resistance compare between the two? Is the lowest damper setting on the bikeerg substantially easier to pedal than an Airyne? Is a setting of 10 substantially harder to pedal than an Airdyne?

Use the BikeErg several times a week and have had a few goes on the Schwinn in the distant past.

The resistance on the BikeErg is changeable from the damper settings, but isn’t Schwinn just one set resistance which just increases as you pedal faster?

I’m pretty sure at the same RPM then the lowest damper setting on the BikeErg will be substantially lower than a Schwinn. You aren’t putting out much power on a BikeErg on damper 1 at 100rpm, maybe 200w or so. But at damper 10 and 100rpm then you’re well over 1000w. Don’t know about the top end of the Schwinn as I can’t remember pushing it to max.

This exactly answers my question. I would assume this is the case but it's not always safe to assume and the review I saw made it sound like the lowest damper setting on the bikeerg was still a significant thigh burner.

Thanks!

[Dreadnought]

I also don't know about the comparison at the high end.

I've heard some reviewers say that it is not high enough for low RPM high wattage training.

[CaseyClarke]

I also don't know about the comparison at the high end.

I've heard some reviewers say that it is not high enough for low RPM high wattage training.

Depends what you would call low RPM high wattage. Max drag of 232 on mine I get 420w+ from about 73-74rpm.

[johnlvs2run]

I've heard some reviewers say that it is not high enough for low RPM high wattage training.

You could always remove the mesh to nudge it up a bit higher, maybe to 300 plus, which I used to do on the Rowerg.

[optimuswolf]

I had an Airdyne for years but finally got rid of it because I just couldn't get a comfortable fit on it.

I'm now considering the Concept 2 bikeerg. I've watched several video reviews and at least one reviewer commented on how quickly it fatigued his legs.

I know both the Airdyne and bikeerg use air resistance. How does the resistance compare between the two? Is the lowest damper setting on the bikeerg substantially easier to pedal than an Airyne? Is a setting of 10 substantially harder to pedal than an Airdyne?

Use the BikeErg several times a week and have had a few goes on the Schwinn in the distant past.

The resistance on the BikeErg is changeable from the damper settings, but isn’t Schwinn just one set resistance which just increases as you pedal faster?

I’m pretty sure at the same RPM then the lowest damper setting on the BikeErg will be substantially lower than a Schwinn. You aren’t putting out much power on a BikeErg on damper 1 at 100rpm, maybe 200w or so. But at damper 10 and 100rpm then you’re well over 1000w. Don’t know about the top end of the Schwinn as I can’t remember pushing it to max.

This exactly answers my question. I would assume this is the case but it's not always safe to assume and the review I saw made it sound like the lowest damper setting on the bikeerg was still a significant thigh burner.

Thanks!

you can def spin the bike erg, although its maybe not as easy as the lowest setting on a gym magnetic resistance bike.

my 110lb wife is okay on it, so there's a reference point...

[optimuswolf]

I also don't know about the comparison at the high end.

I've heard some reviewers say that it is not high enough for low RPM high wattage training.

Depends what you would call low RPM high wattage. Max drag of 232 on mine I get 420w+ from about 73-74rpm.

if you want to do this sort of work just get on the weights surely? I've not gone near damper setting 10 yet!

[Dreadnought]

40-60 rpm is what Arnie Baker (author of Smart Cycling) recommended for strength training on the bike, and of course you can also do weight training which is a different workout altogether.

https://books.google.com/books?id=Jlvf2 ... ut&f=false

[optimuswolf]

i suppose if what you're looking for is a very high resistance bike then it might not be for you. its not easy to be out of the saddle either like you would be on a steep hill on a smart trainer.

For anything else its grand...

[johnlvs2run]

I've done quite a bit of climbing up steep hills,
and the Bikeerg is quite easy to stand on and ride out of the saddle, much the same as a road bike would be.

[optimuswolf]

hi john. you are very light though! it isn't anywhere near the same experience for someone pumping out 300W at 200+lbs.

I'm 180 and it isn't like being on a smart trainer at v high resistance levels.

but thats a minor thing for me. i prefer to spin up alll but the steepest hills.

[johnlvs2run]

Hi Optimus.
I enjoyed both spinning and standing up hills, my favorite activity on the bike.
On the Bikeerg, 300 watts with a 245 damper is only 63 rpm, a reasonable rate for standing.
But if that is too high, removing the mesh will increase the drag and lower the rpm's down into the 50's.
Here is Lance Armstrong climbing at 80 to 90 rpm. I still enjoy doing some standing every day on the Bikeerg.

[Boooooo]

....
But if that is too high, removing the mesh will increase the drag and lower the rpm's down into the 50's.
...

what you mean by "removing the mesh"? Sorry but yet have to receive the BE

[johnlvs2run]

what you mean by "removing the mesh"? Sorry but yet have to receive the BE

You could remove the perforated metal mesh that's around the fan cage.
You could also leave the fan cage off entirely to raise the drag even higher.
I haven't done those yet on the BE, but used to do both on the Rowerg, for example
here and here. The drag used to go to 300 then start over at 45, which was explained in the 2nd link.