Nordictrack SE7i vs Schwinn Airdyne Pro

The Schwinn Airdyne Pro comes in at $999 - $1200. 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".

 

Schwinn has been in the game of producing bikes for over a century now. The Schwinn Airdyne pro is their flagship take on the Airbike market. The special features of this design are the handles and how the fans are formed. This machine will blow some serious air into your face. Great if you train in a hot environment. The handles of the Airdyne pro give you many options to vary your ride and burn calories.

 

Air bikes are unique as the resistance increases the faster you go. This makes for very intense workouts which burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time. You also have less impact than on a treadmill. The Airdyne comes with the following specifications:

 

 

This is a solid option for your gym which looks a little more space than comparable products. If you care about looks, that is, but why have a gym otherwise. 

 

 

The pros of the Schwinn Airdyne are

 

 

One of the biggest pros of the Schwinn is the noise canceling design. Schwinn was one of the first Airbike companies in the market to look into belts rather than chains to propel the wheel on the Airbike. This makes the bike more reliable and silent. Since then it has become an industry standard. 

 

The new handles are clever and take a leaf out the treadmill and elliptical industry. Most Airbikes have simple handles which leave fewer options. I personally liked and some might say this can get in the way of a very intense workout. 

 

Design is always a matter of taste. I personally like the Schwinn. It looks spacey and tasteful and might even make it even a little interior design statement if out in the right spot. I don’t see that happening with other, more down to earth, models in the market. 

 

Schwinn has been building bikes for a while now. You can be sure you will get a top-notch product with a great finish. 

 

For the quality, you are getting it is aggressively priced just around the $1000 mark. Most other Pro/elite/sport models are usually priced nearer to the $1200 to $2000 mark. 

 

 

 

What you do on an Airbike is not specific to most sports. Most bikes do not have self-moving handles or blow air in your face while riding them. A gym which trains athletes who compete in team sports will still have to invest in equipment like treadmills and run rockets to offer specific training. 

 

If you only want an Airbike and don’t care that much about design or noise canceling there are cheaper options which can be had to get an Airbike into your place. 

 

 

Alternatives to the Schwinn Airdyne Pro Are:

 

 

A concept 2 bike will come in a little cheaper than the Airbike and is more specific for cycling indoors when you can not get out on the road. It will not burn as many calories in the same amount of time but offers you a solid alternative.

 

The Rogue echo bike is a very solid alternative if you want an Airbike. It sells like hot cake and is very popular in the CrossFit community. It is built like a tank and comes in at a good price. Like everything from Rogue, it is designed to work, not to look pretty. In some gyms, it might look displaced. 

 

The concept two rower is solid, time tested machine to build cardiovascular endurance. If you are a fan of water sports this is probably the better option for you than any of the bikes and treadmills. The only downside is that it takes a bit more space than other options. 

 

 

The Schwinn Airdyne Pro has a good design at a good price point. For a flagship product, it is reasonably priced and comes from a vendor with experience in the market. If you are budget conscious there are also solid Airbike options at a lower price. 

 

• 5” Backlit Display
• NordicTrack iFit® Membership Ready
• Integrated Tablet Holder
• Auxiliary Music Port
• Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers

• AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
• SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
• Adjustable, Oversized Cushion Pedals

• Rear Drive
• 18 Lb. Effective Flywheel
• SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
• 22 Digital Resistance Levels
• 10% Power Adjustable Incline
• Commercial Solid Steel Construction
• Oversized Levelers
• 325 Lb. User Weight Capacity
• EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor

• Vertical SpaceSaver® Design
• 24 On-Board Workouts
• Rear-mounted Transport Wheels
• Water Bottle Holder
• Out-of-the-Box Easy Assembly
• 67" H X 32" W X 80" L
• 10-Year Frame Warranty
• 2-Year Parts Warranty

he concept 2 rower is a good option for anyone who likes a bit more intensity but does not want to stand while exercising. These rowers can also be conveniently stored on a wall hanger to save space when not in use. The main models are the Model E and Model D. Go for the Model E when you are either big and strong (reads NFL player sized) are have problems with going very low. The Model D version is the standard concept 2 model.

 

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite when it comes to bang for your buck. It has a high-quality machine that can be used professionally and only costs $700. It is space-efficient and intense.  If you are a home gym owner who means business and does not need any fancy stuff, this is the machine to get.