Picture: Pond5
In terms of cardio, we love a superb piece of apparatus that can kick our butts. (Woodway Curve and WaterRower, we’re taking a look at you.) And one of many newer machines to hit the ground is definitely an oldie however goodie: the air bike. Don’t be fooled, although. It’s similar to driving a motorcycle, however in no way. Not like a standard bicycle or spin bike, the air bike has a giant fan in lieu of a entrance wheel (verify one out right here). And when you’ve heard rumblings that it ain’t simple, it’s true. These “assault” bikes will blast main energy, however straight up humble you, too.
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All Concerning the Air Bike
When you’d set a stationery bike at a sure resistance (or watts), the fan bike is completely different in that the sooner you pedal, the extra resistance you generate. “The more durable you’re employed, the more durable it will get,” says Mike Boyle, co-founder of Boston space Mike Boyle Power and Conditioning. Plus, you additionally use your arms on the similar time, which lets you work each your higher and decrease physique collectively. Boyle calls it the bike equal of an indoor rowing machine.
“It turns into a total-body train, which you’re not capable of get on a daily bike,” he says. “They’re nearly like a well-kept secret, as a result of the common particular person tends to say they’re manner too laborious,” he says. However now that CrossFit’s gone mainstream and HIIT is hotter than ever, there’s a need for tools that takes your exercise up a notch.
Since you use your legs and arms concurrently, your coronary heart fee soars about 20 p.c greater than when you have been to only pedal together with your legs, says Boyle. So it is sensible that you just additionally get a lift in calorie burn by about the identical quantity, he provides.
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It’s additionally gentler to your joints. “With any bike, you remove the bottom response power, so it’s safer. The one factor that will get beat up is your coronary heart and lungs,” says Boyle. Plus, in contrast to different bikes, you sit up straighter, which places much less strain in your backbone.
Your Air Bike HIIT Exercise
So how do you utilize the air bike? HIIT exercises are typically the very best place to begin. And, since you don’t need to cope with buttons or dials to alter the resistance, you’ll be able to merely hop on and go.
However earlier than Boyle will get his purchasers going, he first has them do a “most pace cardio check” or MAS. Translation: Trip the bike at a sustainable tempo for 5 to 6 minutes. On the finish, the bike ought to inform you what your common rpm is. The speed you could maintain for 5 minutes is your max cardio pace, says Boyle. As soon as you realize that, then you’ll be able to arrange your intervals in a number of methods:
- 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off
Meaning you journey at 110 p.c of your MAS. Let’s say your trial informed you your MAS was 60 rpm. Within the “on” portion of the interval, you’d shoot for 66 rpm. Observe it up with 10 seconds off. “Off” means you merely spin the pedals together with your toes. Don’t be involved together with your pace right here — the concept is to get well, says Boyle.
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To change issues up, different choices for the intervals embody:
- 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off
- 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off
- 30 seconds on, 15 seconds off
The entire variety of intervals you full will range relying in your work/relaxation ratio. However Boyle usually recommends spending the final 10 to 15 minutes of your exercise doing conditioning on the air bike. (Sure, meaning all this work occurs after your frequently scheduled energy session.)
To range issues up, you may also use the air bike for a gentle state journey (once more within the 10 to 15 minute vary). Or, you’ll be able to strive a timed two or three miles. Regardless of which route you go, we assure you’ll really feel the burn.
