| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness meter | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marcy Air 1 Check Discounted Price | L:45" W:25" H:47.5" | 300 lbs | Air | RPM, Speed, Time, Distance, Calories | 2 years limited |
The Marcy Air 1 fan exercise bike is a model in the affordable category. Therefore, if you’re looking for an exercise bike with air resistance and models such as the Schwinn AD6 or the LifeCORE Assault are a bit over your budget, the Marcy Air-1 is definitely one of the best alternatives. Although it’s not an exercise bike with the full range of bells and whistles, it’s perfect for home use, offering the possibility to perform a wide range of cardio exercises. It also includes an exercise meter.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 45L x 25W x 47.5H (114L x 63.5W x 121H cm)
- Assembled weight: 80.5 lbs (36.5 kg)
- Supported weight: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Handlebars: Mobile
- Seat: 2-way adjustable
- Resistance: Air
- Drive: Chain / Belt
- Fitness meter: Time, speed, RPM, distance, calories, calendar, clock, temperature
- Warranty: 2 years limited
Frame construction
First of all, the Marcy Air-1 fan exercise bike falls into the category of upright bikes. Differently put, it’s not made for spin workouts. But nonetheless, it features a sturdy frame made of steel tubing, the only plastic parts in the frame construction being the covers of 
the drive elements and the end covers of the base tubes.
Speaking of the base tubes, they’re both equipped with adjustable stabilizers allowing the perfect leveling of the bike; thus, you don’t have to place it on a rubberized mat for further stability, but the use of a mat is recommended just as for many other items of fitness equipment.
The bike itself is not extremely heavy. It weighs only 80.5 lbs (36.5 kg) when fully assembled, which means it’s approx. twice the weight of the average road bike. This weight adds to its overall stability. However, its front base is equipped with a set of large silicone wheels for transport. So, handling and relocating the bike after you’ve finished your workout shouldn’t be a problem.
This Marcy exercise bike doesn’t have a folding frame, such as the Exerpeutic 1200, for example. But it’s far from being a large fitness machine. It’s only 45″ (114 cm) long, and 25″ (63.5 cm) wide, and doesn’t require a large usage area. The recommended usage area for it is 5′ x 4′ (153 x 122 cm).
All the steel parts in the bike’s construction feature a silver powder coating finish, resistant to corrosion and scratching. The only part with a different finish is the seat post, which is chrome-coated. The PVC covers of the drive system are black, as well as the other covers and the console.
Seat and handlebars
The Marcy Air 1 fan exercise bike is equipped with a fairly large seat, generously padded, which definitely offers much more comfort than a slim spin bike seat. It attaches to its post
via three bolts. Therefore, it’s not exactly a standard bike seat. However, in case you would like to replace it, there should be various types of bike seats out there with universal attachment systems, which should be compatible with this exercise bike. The comfort of the included seat can also be increased by the means of a gel seat cover.
The seat is only two-way adjustable (up and down). It offers an adjustment span of 12″ (30.4 cm). When setup in its lowest position, it stands approx. 29″ (73.6 cm) above floor level, while at its top position it’s 41″ (104 cm) high. The distance between the adjustment holes is 1 1/2″ (3.8 cm). These being said, the seat alone could accommodate users up to 6’5″ (195 cm). But for users taller than 6’2″ (188 cm), the grips of the handlebars will be rather low in order to deliver optimal comfort. So, in conclusion here, this bike is recommended for users between 5’0″ and 6’2″ (153 – 188 cm).
The seat can easily be adjusted. Its adjustment is done via the large knob on the frame 
tube, which is easy to grip, pull and turn. However, considering that the saddle is attached to its post via three bolts, its angle cannot be adjusted as most standard bike seats.
In terms of handlebars, this exercise bike only has a set of two mobile ones. These are non-adjustable, and in case you’re wondering, they cannot be locked; they will continue to move for as long as you pedal. They’re finished with rubber foam grips to deliver optimal comfort.
The bike’s mobile arms integrate foot resting pegs in their lower section. Therefore, by placing your feet onto them, you can only use the bike’s arms in your workout, without pedaling.
The arms connection points to the bike’s front fork, as well as the sidebars that connect the pedals to the arms, integrate stainless steel, sealed ball bearings in order to deliver a smooth motion.
Drive and resistance
The Marcy Air 1 fan exercise bike features a drive system that integrates both a chain and a belt. It has an idler pulley which connects to the cog of the crankset via a standard bike chain. Conversely, the idler pulley is connected to the bike’s fan via a rubber belt, which 
adds a bit of tension and stability to the pedaling motion and the motion of the arms.
The bike’s fan is made of thick, durable plastic material. It’s smaller than the fan of the Schwinn Airdyne AD6, and due to this fact, it generates less resistance. But on the other hand, the level of noise that it generates during a more intense workout session is also lower. You can be sure that it won’t cover the sound of your TV.
The Marcy Air-1 is equipped with a 3-piece, solid steel crankset, similar to the ones in road bikes. Its arms are finished with weighted, self-leveling pedals, with adjustable straps. The pedals are made of heavy-duty PVC material, but they do have a metallic core.
Pedaling in reverse is possible, which is quite a plus as you can put a lot of diversity into your workouts by alternating normal pedaling with backpedaling. When pedaling in reverse, the console will continue to measure distance, calories and all the other metrics.
The fan does generate an air flow which provides some cooling during more intense pedaling sessions. The fan cage is not equipped with any cover to block the air flow in case you don’t want it. However, the current is directed to your feet and lower legs, not towards your face or upper body, so it shouldn’t be bothersome in case you don’t really need it.
When it comes to resistance, this upright exercise bike doesn’t feature any type of adjustment system. It doesn’t have a resistance control knob like the magnetic bikes, such as the Marcy NS-40504U, for example. The resistance generated is strictly related to how fast you pedal and/or move the bike’s handlebars. Therefore, if you want more resistance, all you have to do is pedal faster.
As a general idea, the Marcy Air 1 fan exercise bike is made for light to medium cardio workouts. It doesn’t generate extreme resistance, but it can definitely help you break a sweat if you engage in faster-pedaling sessions, or undertake an interval training regimen.
Exercise meter
The fitness meter supplied with the Marcy Air-1 fan exercise bike offer a bit more than a basic unit. First of all, it has a 6-panel display, which can show time, distance, RPM, speed, and calories burned at the same time. When the bike is not in use, the display will show 
room temperature, clock, and date.
The unit has a SCAN function, which can be enabled by pressing its MODE button, in order to rotate each value on the top, larger window. It doesn’t have any preset workout programs, but it does offer the possibility to setup goal values for time, distance and calories. Distance is calculated only in miles, while speed is shown only in MPH.
The meter unit requires two 1.5V (AA) batteries. It’s quite easy to operate. It has only three buttons MODE, SET and RESET. The MODE button activates the SCAN function. The SET button allows you to setup date and clock, and also various desired target values for time, distance and calories. And finally, RESET allows you to clear the unit’s values to zero.
Assembly and Maintenance
The bike’s assembly is fairly easy and straightforward. Its main body, along with the fan, pulley, crank, belt, chain and all the other internal parts, come pre-assembled. So, for assembly you only have to mount the bike’s body on its base bars, add the console mast, the seat post, the seat, the handlebars and the console. This shouldn’t take more than one hour. All the tools required for the assembly are included, while the manual provides clear and concise assembly instructions.
Maintenance requires the periodic lubrication of the chain. Also, the periodic check for loose parts and bolts is recommended.
The Pros
- Sturdy frame, being able to support users up to 300 lbs;
- Adjustable stabilizers, with rubber caps on both base bars;
- Transport wheels;
- Large, ergonomic seat with an adjustment span of 12″;
- Smooth air resistance for light to medium workouts;
- 6-panel console display, showing time, speed, distance, calories, and RPM;
- Goal settings for time, distance, and calories;
- Pedals with standard 9/16″ threads, easy to find replacements for them;
- Little maintenance required;
- Easy to set-up;
- Excellent warranty.
The Cons
- No backlight on the fitness meter display;
- Meter cannot track pulse;
- Not tablet holder;
- No bottle holder.
Summary
The Marcy Air-1 is an air resistance upright exercise bike designed for home use. It features a sturdy frame, able to support users up to 300 lbs. It’s equipped with a large, padded seat, offering excellent comfort. It also includes a fitness meter which can help you keep track of your progress, or set up targets for time, calories and distance. It’s a bike designed for light to medium workouts, perfect for interval training, gaining stamina, recovery training and weight loss. And finally, it’s one of the most affordable air bikes that you can find at the moment, offering excellent value for the price.