The Assault Fitness AirBike is an excellent piece of equipment for cardio training that is also very beneficial for boxers too. Not only is it easy to use, but the way it is built allows for air to blow like a fan when the user begins pedaling (great, right?).
Among other features are a time and a distance tracker and the ability to help arms workout too at the same time so you can get a very complete training when using it. In this post, we want to tell you everything that we can about this exercise bike and why we believe it will be a great addition to your home boxing gym or if the gym you go to has one, starting getting on it and incorporate it into your training.
Characteristics of the Assault Fitness AirBike
The Assault Fitness AirBike has great characteristics that will allow you to benefit from cycling as much as possible, especially if you are a boxer. Some of its main features are:
- Twenty Sealed Ball Bearings throughout the frame and pivot points for providing a smooth and durable feel;
- Unlimited Resistance for upper and lower body extremities based on Air Resistance;
- A computer with several motivational programs is available, such as Tabata, Intervals, Watts and Heart Rate;
- It allows a maximum user weight of 350 pounds;
- The 25-inch diameter steel fan delivers maximum resistance;
- It also comes with a six-way adjustable seat fore and aft, up and down and tilt;
- Set a calorie, distance, or time target goal with the advanced computer display.
Air bikes are not new. They have been around for more than 40 years. However, the Assault Fitness is a modern take on the traditional model that fixes many things the old model had issues with and if you think that it is the same as hopping on a bicycle and riding, think again! Air bikes are tough, check out this video and see it for yourself.
Are air bikes good for exercising?
The Assault Air Bike can give you a workout without limits since it uses the resistance that air provides and the more you use it, the harder it gets, which is why some people even say that you can burn up to 80 calories per minute when using it, as you can read in this article by Daily Mail.
Since this stationary bike does not have a motor, the fan in its front wheel provides wind resistance, so the harder you pedal your feet and pump your arms, the higher the resistance becomes and of course the more calories you burn.
Jamie Hellier, a personal trainer at Virgin Active Aldersgat in the UK told the aforementioned website that the Assault Air Bike is a piece of equipment that “can equally push a seasoned athlete or newbie gym-goer to the max, doing exactly the same workout”.
When you push hard on the exercise bike, you get an incredible quad burn and also on your core, arms, back and shoulders as well. Hellier says that you burn more fat than when using a standard treadmill for running. However, if you are a boxer, running is also a good cross-training option for you, as we have told you before.
If you are still not convinced after everything we told you about the Assault Air Bike, sit back and keep on reading, we are sure that you will be convinced in the next few paragraphs that this piece of equipment is a great option for exercising and burning calories.
As we said before, air bikes help you work out your upper and lower body at the same time. It has handlebars that you can alternate with your arms while you cycle which is why some people say that these bikes give you the arms of a boxer, the legs of a cyclist and the abs of a dancer.
Benefits of cycling for boxers
Assault is a great exercise bike for boxers because there are a lot of benefits in cycling for these athletes. If you are someone who wants to learn to maintain endurance, then cycling is just what you need. It is also a low-impact physical activity so you lower the risk of an overuse injury that you could get from running, for example.
Better Health Channel says that it only takes two to four hours of cycling a week to achieve a general improvement to one’s health and some of the characteristics of this activity are:
- You get a good muscle workout when you pedal;
- It is an easy sport, you do not need high levels of physical skill to do it;
- It is perfect for strength and stamina;
- It can be as intense as you want;
- It is a fun way to get fit since you get to be in the outdoors and see other places;
- It can be used as a mode of transport to replace a sedentary lifestyle.
Better health also lists the following cycling benefits:
- Increased cardiovascular fitness
- Increased muscle strength and flexibility
- Improved joint mobility
- Decreased stress levels
- Improved posture and coordination
- Strengthened bones
- Decreased body fat levels
- Prevention or management of disease
- Reduced anxiety and depression
Nonetheless, cycling will not replace your boxing workout. If you want to be the best you can be in the ring and have the endurance necessary for boxing you need to do bag work, work on your footwork, shadow boxing and even train with light weights.
Cross-training, in boxing and in any other sport, is always positive since it keeps you from burning out and from over-specialization weaknesses.
You can find this fitness exercise bike on Amazon and read some of the reviews past customers have left after their experience with this piece of equipment. Have you used this bike before as a boxer? What benefits have you seen in your training by using the air bike? Tell us your opinion about this product in the comments below!
