| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Resistance | Fitness meter | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schwinn Airdyne Pro Check Discounted Price | L:53" W:26.5" H:53" | 350 lbs | Air | RPM, Speed, Time, Distance, Watts, Calories, Pulse. | Frame: 10 years Parts: 2 years Electronics: 2 years Labor: 6 months |
As its name suggests, the Schwinn Airdyne Pro is a professional exercise bike which pretty much meets all the requirements of a gym-grade fitness machine. It’s actually one of the best (if not the best) fitness machines from Schwinn. It has much more to offer than the Schwinn AD6 model, some of the extra features being the more versatile console, the multi-grip handlebars, and the 4-way adjustable seat.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 53L x 26.5W x 53H inches (137L x 67W x 137H cm)
- Assembled weight: 113 lbs (51.3 kg)
- Supported weight: 350 lbs (159 kg)
- Handlebars: Mobile
- Seat: 4-way adjustable
- Drive: Belt
- Resistance: Air
- Fitness meter: 4 programs
- Included accessories: Bottle holder,
- Warranty: Frame 10 years / Parts 2 years / Electronics 2 years / Labor 6 months
Frame construction
The Schwinn Airdyne Pro features an extremely sturdy construction which meets just about any gym standard. It can support riders up to 350 lbs (159 kg), and not just for seated workouts. It can also withstand standing-up pedaling routines. Needless to say, most of its frame is made of
steel. Due to this fact, it’s quite heavy, with a net assembled weight of 113 lbs (51.3 kg). This weight, though, is actually a plus. It adds a lot of stability to the assembled machine. And on top of that, both of its bases are equipped with adjustable levelers, which means that you can achieve perfect stability on any type of flooring. The stabilizers also have large, rubberized pads, in order to protect your floors from damage. However, just for any other heavy fitness machine, it is recommended to place it and use it on a rubberized mat.
The bike’s front base is equipped with transport wheels, in order to facilitate its relocation. When moving the fully assembled bike you will be handling less than half of its total weight.
Like most other exercise bikes, the Schwinn Airdyne Pro isn’t a very large fitness machine. With the frame fully assembled, it takes only 53″L x 26.5″W (135 x 67 cm) of floor space. Of course, in order to use it without any hindrance, it is recommended to leave at least two feet of clearance all around it. But still, compared to a treadmill, such as the Body-Solid Endurance T100 for example, it takes much less usage space. So, this being said, the bike can fit well even in a smaller room or apartment.
Two important elements that we must mention here are the foot pegs and the footstep pad. Just as the Sunny SF-B2706 and Marcy Air 1 bike, this Schwinn model features two front foot resting pegs, which you can use if you want to only exercise by using the handlebars. This feature is quite useful as it allows you to put some diversity into your workouts. The footstep pad is a feature found typically in spin bikes, which means that the Airdyne Pro can actually support several spin workouts, which involve the footstep elements.
The frame features a highly-durable, corrosion-resistant and scratch-resistant powder coating finish. The color available for this bike is dark gray. However, the seat post and its horizontal slider have a chrome finish.
Seat and handlebars
To begin with, this Schwinn exercise bike is equipped with a fairly large and consistently cushioned seat. Its upholstery combines highly-durable vinyl and synthetic materials. It also has a longitudinal groove to promote airflow and a healthy blood circulation. So, these being said, 
it’s one of the most comfortable upright bike seats.
The seat offers 4-way adjustability (up, down, forward and backward). Its upright post has 10 adjustment holes, and the horizontal slider also has several. Thus, the bike can accommodate users between 5’0″ and 6’7″ (153 – 201 cm) with no problem.
Like most air resistance bikes, the Schwinn Airdyne Pro features only mobile handlebars. They’re connected to the bike’s main pulley via a linkage arm concealed by the belt and pulley guard. Therefore, they cannot move independently from the pedals. They also cannot be locked-in to remain stationary as you pedal. In other words, whenever you pedal, the arm bars will move as well.
The arm bars offer multiple grips, which is quite a plus as you can put a bit of diversity into your workouts. Their handgrips are coated with a sheet of high-density foam, in order to provide optimal comfort.
Resistance and drive
It’s pretty obvious that the Schwinn Airdyne Pro is an exercise bike that uses air resistance. This means that it doesn’t have any servo motor or eddy current brake mechanism. The resistance is generated solely by the custom 26-blade fan. Also, there aren’t any resistance adjustment 
elements. You won’t find any knobs for increasing or decreasing resistance, and the console has nothing to do with the resistance control as for bikes with eddy current resistance.
However, like most fitness machines with air resistance, the bike generates a dynamic response. In other words, the resistance progressively increases with how fast and hard you pedal. Therefore, it meets the needs of beginner exercisers or persons who require recovery training. But on the other hand, when pedaling and using the arms at full speed, the resistance generated will meet the needs of elite athletes, offering the possibility to perform advanced interval workouts.
When it comes to drive elements, this Schwinn exercise bike uses only one belt, not two like other models. Therefore, the pulley puts the fan in motion directly, providing a more challenging workout.
The bike’s crank assembly is different than for other bikes as well. It uses two crank links, one on each side, to which the main crank arms are attached. The crank arms are steel-made and can hold the users in standing-up pedaling workout sessions with no problem. In fact, even though it’s essentially an upright bike, this Schwinn Airdyne model can support a wide array of workouts similar to the spin workouts.
The pedals supplied with the bike are also highly-durable, made of metallic alloy. They do not have straps, toe cages or SPD clips for spin shoes. However, they do have standard threads, so in case you want to replace them, compatible pedals are widely available.
One last aspect to mention here regards the noise generated by the bike’s resistance fan. Evidently, like most air bikes, this Schwinn model is quite a bit noisier than a fully magnetic bike. However, compared with the Assault Air Bike, it generates considerably less noise. So, as a general idea, the sound generated by the bike’s fan, is similar to the sound generated by a large electric fan.
Console
The Schwinn Airdyne Pro comes with an advanced console. It features two main displays. The top one is actually a tachometer, while the bottom, large one interests the workout programs 
data.
The top Tachometer Display is divided into 60 segments to show calories-per-minute and Watts. It also indicates RPMs and speed. The Program Data Display shows the timer for the interval programs, the round of each interval, sprint and recover data, cumulative metrics (calories/kJ or distance in miles or km), heart rate metrics, battery indicator and volume indicator.
The console offers three main interval programs, these being 20/10 interval, 30/90 interval and Custom interval, which basically allows you to create your own desired interval workout. There also are three main target setting programs. You can set up a target for time, calories and distance.
The console also has three preset HR intervals, for 65%, 75%, and 85%. It’s a telemetric unit and can monitor your heart rate via an uncoded HR strap from Polar Electro or an uncoded Polar 
compatible model. This accessory is not included, though.
An important aspect that needs to be mentioned here regards the console calibration. The unit has a built-in temperature and pressure sensor which automatically calibrates the resistance output for differences in air pressure (such as altitude). In addition, the console provides a manual calibration procedure. The Calibration procedure adjusts the console’s calculations of resistance for differences in belt tension and bearing friction. Therefore, the unit can provide quite accurate readings for your overall calorie consumption.
The console unit can be powered via an AC adapter, Rated 120V 60Hz Input, 9VDC, 1500mA. However, it can also use 2 D-type batteries which are included.
Assembly and Maintenance
The core of the bike comes already assembled. Therefore, you will only need to mount it on the base stabilizer bars, add the moving arms, the pedals, the console mast assembly, the foot resting pegs and the seat. This shouldn’t take more than 30-40 minutes. All the tools required for the assembly are included. Also, the manual provides pretty consistent assembly instructions.
Since it’s a belt drive bike, it doesn’t require any transmission maintenance. In fact, the whole maintenance required for this bike is a periodic check for loose bolts and parts.
The Pros
- Extremely sturdy frame – can hold users up to 350 lbs;
- Professional-looking design, aspect that can serve as a good motivation factor;
- Adjustable levelers on both bases;
- Transport wheels;
- Footstep pad frame element included;
- Foot resting pegs included;
- Mobile arms with multi-grips for a wide variety of workouts;
- Ergonomic, consistently padded seat;
- 4-way adjustable seat;
- Can accommodate a wide range of users, between 5’0″ and 6’7″;
- Highly durable pedals, which can support the full weight of the user;
- Air resistance system, great for interval workouts;
- Advanced console with two main displays, one for the tachometer and one for the workout programs data;
- Telemetric console – can read pulse via an HR Polar transmitter;
- Three main interval programs;
- Three preset HR intervals;
- Target setting functions;
- Basically maintenance free;
- Easy to assemble;
- Excellent warranty.
The Cons
- Pedals without straps;
- No stationary handlebars;
- No sound system;
- No tablet holder;
- HR chest strap not included;
- No online connectivity.
Summary
The Schwinn Airdyne Pro is an air resistance upright bike featuring an extremely sturdy construction, able to hold riders up to 350 lbs. It offers excellent micro-adjustability and a consistently cushioned, wide seat. It’s equipped with a highly accurate console which keeps track of all your important workout data and offers three interval programs, target value settings, and HR intervals. It’s an exercise bike for users of all levels, perfect for high-intensity interval training, but also for recovery training. It’s great for endurance building, muscle toning, and weight loss. And finally, it may not an affordable bike, but considering the fact that it’s a commercial model, its price/value ratio is quite excellent.