Ever seen someone going hell-for-leather on that bike with the big fan and large moving handles at the gym? Yep, that’s an air bike! Common-place in CrossFit™ Boxes and commercial gyms, air bikes have begun to crop up in the home gyms of HIIT-lovers and fans of ruthless cardio workouts over the past decade.

Fairly simple in design (be warned, their looks are deceiving), air bikes combine the pedals of a bike with the handles of a cross trainer to engage both the upper and lower body. Push, pull and pedal against the fan for unlimited resistance that only increases the harder you work.

THE SCHWINN AIRDYNE AD8

In the world of air bikes, the Schwinn Airdyne AD8 sets the standard. Used at the 2017 CrossFit™ Games, the AD8 is favoured by professional athletes for its total-body benefits and its low-impact motion that helps protect against injury. Capable of burning up to 80 calories per minute, using the Schwinn AD8 is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one - if your goal is to push yourself further than you thought possible, the AD8 is for you.

But the AD8’s target audience doesn’t just stop at the pros! Thanks to its perimeter weighed performance fan, the AD8 is easy to start up and get moving in or out of the saddle, and its oversized cushioned seat accommodates users of all sizes and fitness levels. Whether you’re ready for a calorie-torching, gut-busting effort, or just a leisurely ride, the Schwinn AD8 delivers.

HOW DO YOU USE THE AD8?

So versatile, the Airdyne AD8 is really easy to use, offering incredible performance without complicating things. All you have to do to kick it into life is jump on, and start moving the pedals, handles, or both. Keep track of your workout stats down to the exact mark with the multi-display LCD console, showing you the calories, watts, time, distance, speed, RPM and heart rate readouts of every session. There are 9 pre-set workouts for you to tackle, including Intervals, Heart Rate, Fat Burn goals and more. You can also follow along with online or pre-planned workouts, or jump on and off the AD8 as part of a circuit class.

 AIR BIKE WORKOUTS YOU NEED TO TRY

#1. EMOM

Burn 20 calories as fast as possible, then rest for the remainder of the minute. Repeat at the start of the next minute, for 8 minutes.

#2. TABATA

Classic Tabata is 20 seconds of sprinting, followed by 10 seconds of rest. Repeat for 8 reps, before resting and starting again.

#3. PYRAMIDS

Minute 1: 10 seconds sprint, 50 seconds rest

Minute 2: 20 seconds sprint, 40 seconds rest

Minute 3: 30 seconds sprint, 30 seconds rest

Minute 4: 40 seconds sprint, 20 seconds rest

Minute 5: 50 seconds sprint, 10 seconds rest

Minute 6: 40 seconds sprint, 20 seconds rest

Minute 7: 30 seconds sprint, 30 seconds rest

Minute 8: 20 seconds sprint, 40 seconds rest

Minute 9: 10 seconds sprint, 50 seconds rest

WHERE CAN I SEE THE SCHWINN AD8?

Want to see the AD8 in all its glory before you add it to your home gym? We’ve got it set up in every one of our nationwide stores. Just pop in to your nearest one, jump on, and put it through its paces - you’ll want to get one for yourself there and then!