Assault Bike Vs. Rower: 3 Mistakes To Avoid

Both assault bikes and rowers are effective fitness machines that work out your entire body; many happy customers use these with fantastic results.

Choosing one of the two isn’t that easy unless you’re very clear about your needs and expectations.

We’re here to help by analyzing three of the most frequent mistakes people do when purchasing a rower vs. assault bike. We’ll explain how to avoid making the wrong choice below:

Table of Contents

Air Bike Vs. Rower – Similarities

The most obvious similarity between an air bike and a rower is that both machines offer you a challenging low-impact exercise. That means you can get slimmer and more toned without jumping or running on the treadmill.

Besides, both the assault bike and the rower will exercise your entire body, from your neck and shoulders down to your tippy toes.

Sure, you can use the air bike with just your legs or just your upper body, but do so at your own peril. It’s one of the most uncomfortable motions you can do.

Apart from that, both an air bike and a rower are massive pieces of equipment so make sure there’s enough space in your home.

Pro tip: You can find rowers that break in two pieces for convenient storage, but there’s no such thing as a two-piece air bike.

Air Bike Vs. Rower – Differences

Now that we’ve seen the three biggest similarities between these two pieces of equipment, let’s analyze the differences.

1. Purpose: Resistance Training Vs. HIIT

The number one mistake you can make is not knowing the purpose for which you buy a certain piece of equipment.

Let’s clear this up first:

The assault bike works thanks to a huge fan that you activate when you’re pedaling. The harder you’re pedaling, the faster that fan spins to create more resistance.

So when you’re slowing down or stopping that fan decelerates.

By comparison, a rower entails a recovery period when you’re gliding back to the original position. Therefore:

The rower is easier to use and may keep you motivated for longer.
The rower is better for long steady workouts that build resistance.

In turn, assault bikes are best for HIIT workouts.

Results: Muscle Building Vs. Weight Loss

The second mistake is not thinking on the long-term.

Here’s how you could err in this department.

If we agree rowers are better for resistance training, that means they’ll build more muscle mass whereas air bikes will help you burn through your fat stores faster.

Of course the air bike’s resistance never ceases to grow depending on how hard you’re pushing. However, slow and steady movements are what increase muscle mass.

Now for the weight loss part.

Both machines entail total body workouts. According to Healthline, working out on a rower burns approximately 300 calories/ 30 minutes. Most sources agree that you can burn 300-500 calories/ 30 minutes on an assault bike too, though some people can burn up to 80 calories/ minute.

So a quick comparison shows us assault bikes are better for weight loss if you’re just looking at these numbers.

Here’s the catch:

Even if at first you can burn 80 calories/ minute with an assault bike, that won’t happen three months into your workout regimen. Your body will get used to this extreme effort so your metabolism will slow down which means you’ll reach a weight loss plateau soon enough.

By comparison, rowers increase your muscle mass so that your metabolic rate increases. Thus, you can burn through your fat stores even when you’re resting.

If you need quick weight loss in the short-term, choose an air bike.
If you want to lose weight slow and steady, by shaping your muscles, choose a rower.

Preexisting Issues: Back Pain Vs. Shoulder Pain

The third biggest mistake you can make is not considering your medical problems.

You should always take into account preexisting health issues before choosing the right fitness machine for your needs. If you’re pregnant or have a heart/ lung condition, speak with your doctor first. If you have arthritis or chronic pain, talk to your physical therapist.

With that in mind, air bikes are better for chronic back pain than rowers because they keep your back more stabilized. You can still row when your back is acting up, though, if you have enough experience and your PT okays that.

Conversely, rowers are better for rotator cuff pain because you’re only pulling instead of pushing with your shoulders. When you’re on an air bike, your shoulders are generally in a low position and you’re also using them a lot to push.

Warning: Neither of these two pieces of equipment work for hip pain, so maybe look into recumbent bikes if you have that issue.

In Conclusion. Rower Vs. Air Bike: What Should You Choose?

Both rowers and air bikes allow for tough workouts that increase your endurance and conditioning. They’ll improve your heart health, help you lose weight, and tone your muscles.

However, air bikes are better for HIIT and quick weight loss. You can also use them for light pedaling in front of the TV if you simply want to gain some flexibility and keep your muscles active.

If you need constant resistance training to sculpt your muscles, a rower would be best.

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Mary D. Brown

Mary is a mom of three, blog writer, strength training addict, fitness psychology guru, Origami dork, and Metallica lover. She has degrees in Communication and Physics and is a certified Personal Trainer.

Mary advocates for one powerful idea: fitness is about challenging yourself, but it’s not a race against the clock. She wants people to understand that the best fitness equipment doesn’t have to be expensive or very popular. The best workouts and machines should always fit your style and needs, not the other way around. So, Mary’s dedication and hard work are the engines that keep this website going.