Customer Reviews

Lamar Fitness Air Force Dual Action Bike

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This bike is great. It is so much better than the Schwinn, or many of the other fan bikes out there. You definitely can feel yourself getting an all over body workout from the first few minutes, but not where you are in pain. It is great for those wanting just a light therapy workout, or an intense toning.

My only dislikes about it are:

It is not made for short people like myself. Even at the lowest height on the seat it is still a little too tall and I am 5'2" tall.

The back part of the seat is adjustable, but you don't really get the effects of leaning against it unless you are doing a leg workout alone.

There is one disadvantage to a leg only workout as well. The arms do not stop moving, so you will have to lean back so the arms do not hit you in the chest. There also is nothing to hold onto while you are peddling.

It is a little louder than I expected it to be, but not too bad. It sounds a little like when kids used to put the baseball cards in the spokes of their tires. The flipping sound is due to metal shields that are in the fan to propel the air toward the rider.

This bike is made very well and unlike a few of the less expensive products made by other companies, it is well worth the expense. It should last quite a long time. In fact, you may never have to buy another exercise bike again. It is that good.

One last thing. If you are concerned at all that having a fan bike will be too cold in the winter or before you really start getting your heart pumping, this is easily resolved. Take a towel and drape it over the cup holder while you get warmed up. It won't get caught in the fan and will keep the air from blowing on you too much.

So, is it worth buying?

Absolutely. An eliptical workout without causing any undue stress to your legs or back. I love it.

I've had the bike for about a month and use it for 60-90 minutes a day. I couldn't be more pleased with it. The previous reviewer is spot-on about getting a good workout without getting aching joints. I was completely surprised at how easily I can get a good heart-pumping workout without beating up my knees or back like jogging would do.

I have a Polar F6 heart rate monitor and rely on it for measurement of heart rate zone and calories burned. The computer that comes with the bike is good for telling you how long you've been exercising but the calories burned is not the same as my Polar monitor says.

The bike arrives in a 4x5 foot box about 8 inches deep. Everything you need to put it together is in the box except for a crescent wrench. The bolts and nuts are packaged in separate compartments for each stage of construction so there is no guesswork as to which nut or bolt is for which part of the assembly. It took me about 90 minutes to complete the assembly.

I use the bike on carpet and roll it around with the wheels. It is completely stable and I've never felt like I was swaying or concerned about tipping over.

The fan moves enough air to keep me cool but not so much to part my hair which will be nice in the summer. There's no clicking sound, just a low pitched rumble of the air moving so perhaps my 2007 model is quieter than the previous reviewer's model. With open ear headphones I don't really notice the sound.

I can watch TV or movies and go through 60 minutes / 800 calories and not feel any joint or back pain but I can definitely tell that i'm getting a good workout.

The placement of the arms and their range of motion is bliss - i've tried some different machines at the fancy gym clubs around Boston and find the action of my bike to be more comfortable. But don't let the notion of comfort mean less of a workout - the seat can be positioned by height and front-to-back and the back rest is useful for sitting further back on the seat and using your legs more. I have problems with my back but the adjustments let me get it just right for the most comfortable sitting position without leaning over or sitting in a strange way - my back never hurts even if I push it to 120 minutes in one sitting.

The seat is large, wide and comfortable.

The foot rests are nice because I can use my arms to keep going and give my legs a rest.

The fan cage is made of strong steel with narrow openings which keep little children's fingers out.

The construction quality is excellent - the welding joints are impressive, nothing is "tacked" down. Some friends of mine are welders for pharmaceutical tank companies and gave the welding quality two thumbs up. It's built like a tank and i'm sure i'll have this bike for a very long time. Lamar Fitness will keep you updated on maintenance tips (lube the chain, etc.) if you fill out the warranty card.


Most importantly - if you want good exercise without feeling like you've been beaten up from running 10 miles, get one of these. You can easily get your heart thumping without putting stress on your joints. The only places I felt sore were my out-of-shape muscles. I can climb stairs without feeling like i'm going to croak just after 3 weeks of using the bike. You don't need to jog or run to get in great shape - keep your knees in good shape when you're 90 and ride a bike.

There was a defective bolt connecting a critical component in the package of nuts, washers and bolts shipped with the bike. Gone are the days when companies sent extra hardware! After nine days, four telephone calls and two e-mails, I finally received the proper bolt. During those nine days while Lamar Fitness made one misstep after another, I obtained a facsimile bolt from a local hardware store, allowing me to use the bike. The bolt had to be tightened after every use of the machine, but it was at least a serviceable solution. During all this, Lamar Fitness never seemed to grasp my frustration. This is not an inexpensive machine, albeit a very solidly built one. I'm happy with the bike, but I would never buy another piece of Lamar Fitness equipment.

I love the Airforce! As soon as you start pedaling, you start sweating. Excellent cardio/fat burning exercise in a short time. Great for rehab needs, after Left Total Knee Replacement, s/p Left Hip Fracture and now Right Knee injury/pain I can do this, slowly but surely... Well worth the money, easy to move and doesn't take up much space. My only downside is the seat, the upright seats cause me some agony so I must find another seat but I can tolerate it for now. Overall 95% satisfaction here... Assembly pretty straight forward and very sturdy. Good luck and great health wishes!