Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike vs Assault air runner
This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9 indoor cycle and the Assault air runner including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview and review of the Assault air runner
The Assault Air runner comes in at $3699. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".
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Overview of the Assault Air runner
The
assault air runner is stake on the treadmill which is free of an electrical motor and highly portable. The
air assault runner will be propelled by your own bodyweight. This means that it will be easier for you to accelerate and break during your workouts to simulate real-life conditions in running. The specifications of the
Assault air runner are:
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Product weight 280LB
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Color black
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Length 69.9”
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Width 32.8”
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Height 32.8”
This machine has been endorsed by the CrossFit community and Rogue Fitness. The area for footfall is curved to minimize the impact. This makes it easier for the joints compared to regular treadmills. You will also buy this from a multi-product company which has been around for a while. This is especially important if you are going to buy for commercial use and make heavy use of the service and warranty that comes with the machine.
Pros of the Assault Air runner
These are the pros of the
Assault air runner compared to other similar products and for endurance needs
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Lightweight
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Price
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Company
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Innovative
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Monitor
Compared to other treadmills and the
TrueFrom runner it is lightweight and mobile. The fact that it comes in wheels is especially good for a gym setup where you like to change group setups a lot. You can clearly see that
Assault went with the
TrueForm runner design and optimized it for CrossFit gyms.
The price is also a big advantage when you compare like for like. There are two main options out there when you want a self-propelled treadmill. The
assault air runner has about a $2000 advantage in the
TrueForm runner. That is a considerable amount of money when you buy for your home gym or multiple units for a gym outlet.
Assault has been around for roughly 20 years and has solid revenue streams from three different product lines. With this piece of equipment, you are likely to get proper support and background for your needs.
TrueForm hasn’t been around that long and their channels are a bit less developed.
Compared to other treadmills and ellipticals the experience with the
assault runner for yourself or your client will be more innovative compared to other options. This Ingram attracts some extra clients as you differentiate from the next gym around the corner. Especially the ones who appreciate quality and might pay a higher price.
The monitor on the
Assault air runner is better than the one on the
TrueForm runner based on some reports. If you care about the settings on a machine you propel yourself this might be a deciding factor for you.
Cons of the Assault air runner
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Price
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Me too approach
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Mechanics
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Fewer options
Price can also be a con when you compare the outcome rather than like for like. If your main goal is to improve your endurance and lose weight without being specific to running there are options which are a lot more budget friendly. The
Rogue echo bike would be one of them which still gives you a kick up the bum without costing as much as an entire home gym.
This is more of an ethical one, but if you support innovation you might want to go for the
TrueForm runner. The original idea seems to have come from the first in a well-executed way. Assault just has the experience to copy and mass produce the idea more efficiently and effectively which will probably win the market for self-propelled treadmills.
Based on some reports I have read and seen the air
assault runner accelerates in an unnatural way making you way faster than you actually should be. The
TrueForm runner seems to be doing a better job correcting your posture and simulating real-world conditions.
With the
TrueForm runner, you can also choose between a field turf and running track surface which the
Assault air runner does not offer. If you want to make your training even more specific this might swing it against it.
Alternatives to the Assault Air runner
The
TrueForm runner is the original in the market for self-propelled treadmills. If you want a machine for your football athletes to warm up on before going o the field, this is probably the right choice. Who cares about $1000 to $2000 more a pop if the guys running on these things are paid $100000 a match? If you can afford it or if you don’t buy in bulk, the
TrueForm runner might be the choice just to have the best.
The
rogue echo bike is the realistic version for the home gym to still get a great workout in. A good air bike workout will gas you out and the design is a little more up to date than for the original
assault air bike.
For the price of one
air assault bike, you can even add a Rogue RM6 rack to your shopping list in addition to the
Rogue echo bike. This leaves you with a full gym excluding barbells and plates. Count another $1000 for that.
If you want to spend some extra money for your home for something that is super effective the
Versaclimber H might be for you. You still save $1000 compared to the
Assault air runner and have a machine that burns the most calories over time per square feet. The vertical climb at home is the most intense thing you can do for your cardiovascular fitness.
Summary for the Assault air runner
The
assault air runner is a lower cost option on the idea of self-propelled treadmills. You will buy a piece of equipment from a company with a long tenure which has other products in the market. If you always want the best you probably ought to go for the
TrueForm runner. If you want to provide for your gym or use this innovative idea without breaking the bank, go for the
TrueForm runner.
Overview and review of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9
This is an overview of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness bike to get?
For the most up to date information and asking direct questions you can follow me on Instagram.
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Overview of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle $699
The
Horizon IC 7.9 bike is an indoor cycle that follows a classic spinning bike design. It is belt-driven and uses mechanical resistance to simulate a bike ride from the road as best as possible while being in the comfort of your home. The full specifications list runs as following:
Frame Type: Indoor Cycle
Adjustable Pedal straps: Yes
Pedal Type: Dual-sided Pedals with Toe cages/clips
Seat Type: Racing style road saddle
Seat adjustment: Horizontal, Vertical
Resistance System: Magnetic
Resistance levels: Resistance lever 0 -100%
Flywheel weight: 35lbs
Extras: Tablet rack, Transport Wheels, Water Bottle Holder
Max User Weight: 300
Weight: 123 lbs.
Assembled dimensions: 53x 24 x48
Home Warranty Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty Parts: 1 year
Home Warranty Labor: 1 year
This is a solid option for someone who likes spinning classes and riding hard outdoors but does not want to bring their road bike in a home stance for convenience reasons.
Pros of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle
The frame of this bike is sturdier than if other bike options you can get from Horizon fitness. This seems that bigger athletes can exercise harder on this bike compared to the
GR3.
A lot of bikes work with magnetic resistance in today’s high technology environment. This bike still works with a belt and a mechanical brake. While this means higher maintenance it also translates to an experience that is closer to biking on the street. Depending on what you are looking for this might be an advantage for you.
With the dial to adjust the resistance at the wheel, it is easier to adjust resistance compared to the
GR3 indoor cycle. Think of the
IC 7.9 as a high-quality spinning bike for commercial use, while the
GR3 is more aimed at home users.
Cons of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle
The included computer of the
IC 7.9 is basic and only provides revolutions, distance traveled and other information about how far and fast you are traveling. As it is very similar to a spinning bike you need to set it up near a television or find someplace else for your tablet or phone to rest on. This is not going with the times where peloton and echelon have entire entertainment systems onboard.
The price is rather high for something that is essentially not a lot more than a bike on a stance. If you already have a high-end cycle at home you might as well get an indoor stance for it which is cheaper and gets you the real deal at home.
Alternatives to the Horizon IC7.9
Alternatives to the Horizon IC 7.9 are:
The
horizon GR3 is the little brother of the
IC 7.9. It has the same basic functions but all the parts are a little less sturdy than with the
IC 7.9 which makes the bike cheaper overall. If you are a light home user this bike is the better value for money for you. Commercial buyers should stick with the
IC 7.9 instead.
The
Nordictrack VU19 is the entry-level stationary bike from Nordictrack. It is more aimed at the leisure cyclist and for commercial use. It is bigger and sturdier than the
IC 7.9 and the flywheel is under, rather in front of the user. Therefore the target group is a little different but if you are a commercial buyer comparing the Horizon and Nordictrack fleets have a look at the
VU19.
The
Rogue echo bike is in my opinion the best value for money cardio machine in the sub $1000 category. This is the case if you want a sturdy machine with a basic machine that you can go hard at. If you want a smooth ride and sit comfortably other machines might be better. A lower-budget copy cat of the
Rogue echo bike is the
TITAN fan bike.
If you want a low-impact cardio kick on a small footprint the
concept 2 skierg might be for you. It takes up minimal space compared to other machines and is also fairly silent. The only downside is that it is not a bike or full-body workout and mainly targets the upper body.
Conclusion for the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle
If you are looking for a spinning bike this is the best you can get from Horizon fitness. Especially if you want to stay under $1000 and still get something solid the
Ic 7.9 is a very good option. There are cheaper bikes on Amazon, but they might have some quality issues. There are other bikes with more multimedia and gamification options, but those will break the $1000 budget wall.