| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness meter | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stamina 876 Check Discounted Price | L:46" W:20" H:45" | 250 lbs | Air | Speed, Time, Distance, Calories, SCAN | Frame: 1 year Parts: 90 days |
If you’re looking for an affordable air resistance exercise bike, several models to put on your list are the Marcy NS-1000, the Sunny Health & Fitness Zephyr, or the Sunny SF-B2640. The Stamina 876 is also one of them. This particular bike also offers adjustable resistance.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 46L x 20W x 45H inches (117L x 51W x 114H cm)
- Assembled weight: 40 lbs (18 kg)
- Supported weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
- Drive: Belt
- Resistance: Air & strap
- Fitness meter: Time, speed, distance, calories, SCAN
- Warranty: Frame 1 year / Parts 90 days
Frame construction
The Stamina 876 air resistance bike features a steel frame. However, it’s a model made for home use 
so it doesn’t have the heavy construction of a commercial trainer, like the Assault Air Bike, for example. With all the parts assembled, it only weighs 40 lbs (18 kg). Therefore, it can be carried and assembled by only one person.
All the steel parts in the bike’s construction are coated with a corrosion-resistant paint finish. The color used is gray, this being the only color available for this bike. Also, the unit has several ABS parts in its construction, the most notable of them being the side belt covers, and the fan covers. The fan is made of heavy-duty plastic as well.
The fully assembled bike is fairly small compared to other fitness machines. It is only 46″ (117 cm) long, and 20″ (51 cm) wide. This being said, it can fit pretty well even into a small room or apartment. However, it still is recommended to allow at least two feet of clearance all around it for ease of access.
Despite its lightweight, the bike offers pretty decent stability as it has a low center of gravity. Plus, its front base side caps have a polygonal shape and can rotate in order to save as levelers. Also, the rear caps can serve as transport wheels.
Seat and handlebars
The Stamina 876 air bike is equipped with a standard seat. Its top is made of polyurethane material. 
It does not integrate extra air cell cushioning, but it’s not extremely hard either. It’s a bit larger than the average spin bike seat and has a contoured surface for extra breathability.
The bike’s seat is only 2-way adjustable (up, down). Its upright bar has several adjustment notches so the bike can accommodate users between 5’0″ and 6’2″ (153 – 188 cm). It is also durable enough to support users up to 250 lbs (113 kg).
The bike is equipped with a set of mobile handlebars. They are directly attached to the pedal bars so they cannot be locked. Therefore, they continue to move for as long as you pedal.
The two handlebars feature short, rubberized grips. They do not have pulse sensors like other upright bikes, and the bike’s exercise meter unit doesn’t have a pulse reading function either.
Drive and resistance
The Stamina 876 is an air resistance exercise bike. Therefore, its main resistance-generating 
element is the large fan at the front. When you begin pedaling, the fan spins inside its casing and the created air current adds resistance to the pedaling motion.
The fan is bi-directional. This means you can pedal and/or move the handlebars in reverse, which gives you the possibility to diversify your workout routines. However, coasting on this exercise bike is not possible. The pedals and the arms continue to move for as long as the fan is spinning.
Like any other air resistance bike or rower, the Stamina 876 delivers a dynamic response during pedaling. This means the pedaling difficulty increases if you pedal faster. This is a plus, as you can benefit from high-intensity cardio workouts, regardless of the fact that the bike is a light-capacity model.
The bike’s resistance system also involves an adjustment strap. This strap is attached to the side of the fan and to the tension knob on top of the frame. By turning the knob clockwise, the strap is tightened on the fan which increases the pedaling difficulty.
As opposed to the exercise bikes with a magnetic resistance system, there aren’t any resistance levels or “clicks” specified on the knob. So, this being said, you can tighten it up to the point where you feel that the overall resistance corresponds to your needs.
This Stamina exercise bike is equipped with a belt drive system. There are two primary benefits to this type of drive. First of all, you don’t have to go through the hassle of lubrication. Second of all, it minimizes vibration and the related usage noise is almost inexistent. However, since this is an air bike, the fan will generate a bit of noise during usage.
The bike’s pedals are made of durable nylon material with a metallic core. They are weighted, so they always turn face-up if you remove your feet from them. It’s important to mention, though, that pedaling while standing up is not recommended for this bike. Although the crank and pedals are pretty solid, pedaling while standing up might reduce the lifespan of the internal elements.
Exercise meter
The Stamina 876 is equipped with a basic fitness meter. It features a fairly large LCD display 
(without backlight) that tracks time, distance, speed, and calories burned. Speed and distance are shown in MPH and miles; it cannot be set to metric units. Also, as we’ve mentioned above, the bike doesn’t have a pulse reading function and the meter cannot communicate with any HR transmitter. Therefore, if you want to monitor your heart rate during exercising, you will have to use a separate device.
The meter unit is very easy to use. It has two buttons, Mode and Reset. The Mode button allows you to scroll through the workout metrics and select the one you want to view on the display. However, the unit also has a Scan Mode; if selected, the meter will rotate all the values showing each one for 4 seconds. The Reset button clears all the values to zero.
The meter unit is battery-powered. It uses two AA batteries which are not included. It starts up when you begin pedaling or when you press the Mode button. It also automatically shuts off if it doesn’t detect any activity on the bike for four minutes.
Assembly and Maintenance
The main body of the bike comes pre-assembled. However, you still have to attach the rear stabilizer, the front stabilizer, the seat, the handlebars, the pedals, and the exercise meter. The task is pretty straight forward, though, and the manual provides very clear assembly instruction. Also, all the necessary tools are included.
Since it’s a belt bike, its transmission doesn’t require any lubrication. All you have to do for maintenance is remove the dust that may accumulate on the flywheel and its cage, and periodically check for loose bolts and parts.
The Pros
- Sturdy frame for a small bike – can hold users up to 250 lbs;
- Transport wheels on the rear base;
- Adjustable levelers on the front base;
- Mobile handlebars for arms workouts;
- Standard seat, easy to replace if necessary;
- Air resistance system, great for interval workouts;
- Internal strap adjustable resistance;
- Exercise meter included;
- Little maintenance required;
- Fairly quiet operation;
- Easy to assemble.
The Cons
- No bottle holder;
- No pulse reading function;
- No front pegs for resting your feet if you only want to exercise your arms.
Summary
The Stamina 876 is a basic air resistance exercise bike designed for home use. It’s equipped with a large fan, it has a strap-based internal resistance adjustment mechanism, and also includes an exercise meter that can track time, distance, calories burned, and pulse. In all, it’s a fairly decent trainer for light to medium-intensity cardio workouts, muscle toning, stamina development, and weight loss.