Rogue Echo Or Assault Airbike?

colinmoses5067

I'm trying to decide which Fan bike to get for my clients ... the Assault or the Echo? I'm primarily interested to know (for real ... in other words honestly 😉 ) which of the two is better for Low Intensity Steady State cardio? A fair number of my clients can't do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) but yet I'd like to give them an alternative to the treadmill. On the other hand I'd like something that'll challenge my fitter clients. I WILL be getting a fanbike. The question is which of the two is more "all around" for LISS and HITT?

So your help is needed! I concede that neither the Rogue Echo Bike or Assault Airbike are great for Low Intensity Steady State cardio but which of the two would be better for it?

Thanks!

Duck_Puddle

They are essentially the same product-except the rogue is belt driven (assault bike is chain driven).

They are both equally bad for LISS. So pick whichever one fits your budget/style.

I have the assault bike. In theory one could just go “easier” and make it LI (and SS depending on effort). The fan just isn’t built for that. It takes a fair amount of effort to move the fan and keep it going-which builds beyond LI fairly quickly. HI is quite easy to achieve.

Since Rogue is so tied in with CrossFit and cf uses these machines for HI, I would assume the Rogue model is built similarly.

A concept2 rower has a flywheel/air system that IS capable of multiple levels of effort.

But you’re getting an air bike.

rpk974

We have both bikes at my gym. Either bike is fine for whatever intensity one throws at it. I'm 6', 190-200lbs, and the Rogue bike feels rock solid. The Assault bike, not so much. It feels rickety, and the seat seems pitched forward making it very uncomfortable to be on for a long time. C2 also makes a great Erg Bike, which is a solid machine. It mimics a road bicycle, and has the greatest range of seat and handlebar adjustment.
I would buy the Rogue bike if I wanted to include something for arm movement, the Concept2 Erg Bike for leg only work.

EHollander89

We have a Rogue Echo bike at home and love it! We typically use it for the interval training, so not really what you are going for with your clients. The screen has various settings, so you can enter in a distance goal, time goal, calorie goal, etc. for whatever your client wants to do. As a previous poster mentioned, I feel like the Rogue Echo is much sturdier than the Assault Bike. Our gym has an assault bike. After using the Echo at home, the assault bike seems so rickety.

MikePfirrman

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

They are essentially the same product-except the rogue is belt driven (assault bike is chain driven).

They are both equally bad for LISS. So pick whichever one fits your budget/style.

I have the assault bike. In theory one could just go “easier” and make it LI (and SS depending on effort). The fan just isn’t built for that. It takes a fair amount of effort to move the fan and keep it going-which builds beyond LI fairly quickly. HI is quite easy to achieve.

Since Rogue is so tied in with CrossFit and cf uses these machines for HI, I would assume the Rogue model is built similarly.

A concept2 rower has a flywheel/air system that IS capable of multiple levels of effort.

But you’re getting an air bike.

I have a C2 Rower and an AD Pro (Schwinn's Assault Bike). I have no problems doing either LISS or HIIT on the AD Pro. I have no problem doing HIIT on the C2, but I have much more problems keeping my HR down on the rower for LISS work. I prefer the rower, but my wife can't do the rower. She's 58 and does very little HIIT work. She's like the client that the OP is describing. She can do 30 minutes easy on the Assault Bike and she doesn't really like cardio all that much.

FWIT, I'd get the Echo. It's what I wanted but my wife wanted the Schwinn AD Pro. It's a great machine, but customer service is horrific. I broke the metal foot crank right off and had to wait six weeks for Customer Service to send me the right part. Rogue's service is fantastic.

I don't know if the Schwinn is easier to pedal, but I assume it isn't. If I go under 47 or so RPM, I can't get my HR above warmup mode. Now, I'm highly trained aerobically, but my wife isn't. Maybe the Schwinn is easier to pedal then the Assault Bike that Duck_Puddle mentioned. I've heard, though, they are similar, with many saying the AD Pro (aside from Customer Service) is better. I don't think so with my experience breaking the crankshaft in half.

Duck_Puddle

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

They are essentially the same product-except the rogue is belt driven (assault bike is chain driven).

They are both equally bad for LISS. So pick whichever one fits your budget/style.

I have the assault bike. In theory one could just go “easier” and make it LI (and SS depending on effort). The fan just isn’t built for that. It takes a fair amount of effort to move the fan and keep it going-which builds beyond LI fairly quickly. HI is quite easy to achieve.

Since Rogue is so tied in with CrossFit and cf uses these machines for HI, I would assume the Rogue model is built similarly.

A concept2 rower has a flywheel/air system that IS capable of multiple levels of effort.

But you’re getting an air bike.

I have a C2 Rower and an AD Pro (Schwinn's Assault Bike). I have no problems doing either LISS or HIIT on the AD Pro. I have no problem doing HIIT on the C2, but I have much more problems keeping my HR down on the rower for LISS work. I prefer the rower, but my wife can't do the rower. She's 58 and does very little HIIT work. She's like the client that the OP is describing. She can do 30 minutes easy on the Assault Bike and she doesn't really like cardio all that much.

After reading this thread, I’m wondering if my bike just isn’t right? I have no trouble doing LISS on the rower or running or biking or...anything but the assault bike. It takes a monumental effort to get it moving. But it is also ... not exactly rickety-but something.

I am a long distance runner and just did a marathon. I’m not cardio deficient or cardio averse (LISS or HIIT or anything else). So I’m thinking my particular bike might just be off or something.

Or aliens. Idk.

MikePfirrman

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

They are essentially the same product-except the rogue is belt driven (assault bike is chain driven).

They are both equally bad for LISS. So pick whichever one fits your budget/style.

I have the assault bike. In theory one could just go “easier” and make it LI (and SS depending on effort). The fan just isn’t built for that. It takes a fair amount of effort to move the fan and keep it going-which builds beyond LI fairly quickly. HI is quite easy to achieve.

Since Rogue is so tied in with CrossFit and cf uses these machines for HI, I would assume the Rogue model is built similarly.

A concept2 rower has a flywheel/air system that IS capable of multiple levels of effort.

But you’re getting an air bike.

I have a C2 Rower and an AD Pro (Schwinn's Assault Bike). I have no problems doing either LISS or HIIT on the AD Pro. I have no problem doing HIIT on the C2, but I have much more problems keeping my HR down on the rower for LISS work. I prefer the rower, but my wife can't do the rower. She's 58 and does very little HIIT work. She's like the client that the OP is describing. She can do 30 minutes easy on the Assault Bike and she doesn't really like cardio all that much.

After reading this thread, I’m wondering if my bike just isn’t right? I have no trouble doing LISS on the rower or running or biking or...anything but the assault bike. It takes a monumental effort to get it moving. But it is also ... not exactly rickety-but something.

I am a long distance runner and just did a marathon. I’m not cardio deficient or cardio averse (LISS or HIIT or anything else). So I’m thinking my particular bike might just be off or something.

Or aliens. Idk.

Everyone is built for different things. I'd likely die trying to run at 5 MPH. I can do LISS on a rower (did it the last two days) but I have to keep the stroke rate very low, like 18 SPM. And while I'm close to doing a half marathon on the rower once a week (on Sundays, my long slow day), I could never run a marathon. Maybe it's just a LOT harder to move an Assault Bike than an AD Pro.

By the way, I found a Reddit thread where most of the responses saying that you could do LISS on an Assault Style bike were from AD Pro owners. Maybe that's something worth looking into.

sijomial

Curious why a fan bike and not just a standard exercise bike which can do everything from LISS all the way up to extreme levels of effort?

Most people I know find a stationary bike the easiest to modulate their effort through cadence and resistance which makes it very suitable for unfit people to find a sweet spot they can sustain.

Duck_Puddle

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

They are essentially the same product-except the rogue is belt driven (assault bike is chain driven).

They are both equally bad for LISS. So pick whichever one fits your budget/style.

I have the assault bike. In theory one could just go “easier” and make it LI (and SS depending on effort). The fan just isn’t built for that. It takes a fair amount of effort to move the fan and keep it going-which builds beyond LI fairly quickly. HI is quite easy to achieve.

Since Rogue is so tied in with CrossFit and cf uses these machines for HI, I would assume the Rogue model is built similarly.

A concept2 rower has a flywheel/air system that IS capable of multiple levels of effort.

But you’re getting an air bike.

I have a C2 Rower and an AD Pro (Schwinn's Assault Bike). I have no problems doing either LISS or HIIT on the AD Pro. I have no problem doing HIIT on the C2, but I have much more problems keeping my HR down on the rower for LISS work. I prefer the rower, but my wife can't do the rower. She's 58 and does very little HIIT work. She's like the client that the OP is describing. She can do 30 minutes easy on the Assault Bike and she doesn't really like cardio all that much.

After reading this thread, I’m wondering if my bike just isn’t right? I have no trouble doing LISS on the rower or running or biking or...anything but the assault bike. It takes a monumental effort to get it moving. But it is also ... not exactly rickety-but something.

I am a long distance runner and just did a marathon. I’m not cardio deficient or cardio averse (LISS or HIIT or anything else). So I’m thinking my particular bike might just be off or something.

Or aliens. Idk.

Everyone is built for different things. I'd likely die trying to run at 5 MPH. I can do LISS on a rower (did it the last two days) but I have to keep the stroke rate very low, like 18 SPM. And while I'm close to doing a half marathon on the rower once a week, I could never run a marathon. Maybe it's just a LOT harder to move an Assault Bike than an AD Pro.

By the way, I found a Reddit thread where most of the responses saying that you could do LISS on an Assault Style bike were from AD Pro owners. Maybe that's something worth looking into.

I’m not really trying to use it for LISS so I’m not too worried. I typically run, or do regular biking, or stationary biking or the rower (kind of in that order). I’ve tried to use the assault bike for LISS on a few occasions - but It’s just not in the rotation for that at all anymore. I use it for HIIT and I’ve used it for “cardio” when various injuries prevented my other 17 activity choices. I also use it as warmup for some lifting sessions.

But idk...it’s just a bear to get moving and keep moving. I haven’t ever tried a different air bike nor another assault bike to know if there’s something about mine in particular. Just seeing this thread is making me wonder if there’s something funky on my particular bike.

I’m not worried. It’s fitting into my plan just fine as it is.

colinmoses5067

sijomial wrote: »

Curious why a fan bike and not just a standard exercise bike which can do everything from LISS all the way up to extreme levels of effort?

Most people I know find a stationary bike the easiest to modulate their effort through cadence and resistance which makes it very suitable for unfit people to find a sweet spot they can sustain.

That's a good question ... but I ilke the idea of "moving" the upper and lower body at the same time. Having said that I know that the upper body doesn't get the same intensity as the lower in a fan bike but that's just as well cause of my client base. After reading this thread I'm really starting to question my decision of getting an air/fan bike after all.

My problem is lack of space. I have a 400 sq ft studio where I do one on one sessions and its crammed with everything I need .... and certainly everything my clients would need. I just have space for one more thing and an alternative to my treadmill would be an excellent addition. Therein lies the problem though ... because I only have space for ONE more thing I'd like to cover my whole range of clients with that.

My clients range in age from early 20's right up to mid 70's! Anywhere from really fit people to people with slight to moderate mobility issues. The treadmill really covers everybody but I'd like to offer ALL my clients an alternative that's easy on the joints ... "easy" enough to do to accommodate LISS ... but "hard" enough to do if called upon. So its starting to sound like a fan bike is not gonna fit the bill based on my criteria.

So guys ... based on my criteria ... if you were me and you had to pick ONE piece of equipment what would it be?

Thanks!

Colin.

P.S. A rower MIGHT have fit the bill only it has too big of a footprint.

Duck_Puddle

Honestly a traditional stationary bike will fit your criteria (it’s also maybe the smallest footprint).

I’m primarily a runner. Over a multitude of injuries over the years, I’ve used my regular stationary bike for easy/gentle “just do some movement” exercise soon after injury, all the way through long and/or complex and/or intense workouts when I was able to freely workout (but not run). It’s also been a welcome change for recovery efforts after long runs and so forth.

The stationary bike has served a much wider range of needs than my rower (and infinitely more than my assault bike).

sgt1372

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

The stationary bike has served a much wider range of needs than my rower (and infinitely more than my assault bike).

I've got the space for a C2 rower and a LeMond RevMaster Pro spin bike at home and, in my case, the rower fits my needs far better than the spin bike.

sijomial

colinmoses5067 wrote: »

sijomial wrote: »

Curious why a fan bike and not just a standard exercise bike which can do everything from LISS all the way up to extreme levels of effort?

Most people I know find a stationary bike the easiest to modulate their effort through cadence and resistance which makes it very suitable for unfit people to find a sweet spot they can sustain.

That's a good question ... but I ilke the idea of "moving" the upper and lower body at the same time. Having said that I know that the upper body doesn't get the same intensity as the lower in a fan bike but that's just as well cause of my client base. After reading this thread I'm really starting to question my decision of getting an air/fan bike after all.

My problem is lack of space. I have a 400 sq ft studio where I do one on one sessions and its crammed with everything I need .... and certainly everything my clients would need. I just have space for one more thing and an alternative to my treadmill would be an excellent addition. Therein lies the problem though ... because I only have space for ONE more thing I'd like to cover my whole range of clients with that.

My clients range in age from early 20's right up to mid 70's! Anywhere from really fit people to people with slight to moderate mobility issues. The treadmill really covers everybody but I'd like to offer ALL my clients an alternative that's easy on the joints ... "easy" enough to do to accommodate LISS ... but "hard" enough to do if called upon. So its starting to sound like a fan bike is not gonna fit the bill based on my criteria.

So guys ... based on my criteria ... if you were me and you had to pick ONE piece of equipment what would it be?

Thanks!

Colin.

P.S. A rower MIGHT have fit the bill only it has too big of a footprint.

A friend of mine has recently started on the path back to fitness from a very low start point and it's been quite revealing how some one like that (60, very overweight, not done much exercise at all in last ten years) simply has to start very, very easy.

She gets completely exhausted very quickly and it's noticable that cardio equipment that uses arms and legs (elliptical or rowing) makes the sustainable duration very short and she struggles to recover enough to continue to do anything useful after that.

But on a stationary bike she can moderate her effort to do 20 mins and then do some light weights afterwards as she isn't completely gassed.
Even lifting where I would normally steer someone towards compound lifts has had to be modified - just got fatigued very quickly, couldn't recover and had to stop the workout. So for now cable machines where again the effort can be low and more isolated helps get a more useful duration and total volume of exercise without feeling hateful. Good news is that she is enjoying the gym and her fitness is improving rapidly.

I use a high quality indoor bike (WattbikePro) and although that's good enough for elite riders to use for extreme training the effort can easily be regulated right down to suit someone at the other end of the fitness spectrum. Being a non impact, non weight bearing exercise it is very easy on the joints.

Duck_Puddle

sgt1372 wrote: »

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

The stationary bike has served a much wider range of needs than my rower (and infinitely more than my assault bike).

I've got the space for a C2 rower and a LeMond RevMaster Pro spin bike at home and, in my case, the rower fits my needs far better than the spin bike.

May you continue to be forever blessed with none of the many conditions that limit the mobility/permitted degree of flexion of your knees and/or ankles which prevent rowing as an option.

That probably sounds nasty-which wasn’t my intent.

There are a number of injuries/conditions that make rowing not possible, not advised or just plain really uncomfortable.

Those same conditions don’t limit the ability to bike.

From a global accessibility standpoint, biking will win-it also requires far less skill/technique than rowing.

So for someone looking to outfit a studio with one piece of equipment that will be usable across the widest range of clients-those with fitness/mobility restrictions through those who are quite fit, a bike will cover more of that range.

If I’m physically able to row, it is a more thorough workout. But that hasn’t been the case with the injuries & conditions I have had.

MikePfirrman

I know really strong rowers that cross train all the time on the new ErgBike, by Concept2. They seem to love it. It's affordable and durable (and I think smaller). Love the WattBike, but I know some Brit rowers that have both the WattBike and ErgBike and really love their ErgBikes. And for the comparison on cost, way cheaper. Plus, you can do HIIT on them and C2 has amazing interval PMs.

Theoldguy1

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

They are essentially the same product-except the rogue is belt driven (assault bike is chain driven).

They are both equally bad for LISS. So pick whichever one fits your budget/style.

I have the assault bike. In theory one could just go “easier” and make it LI (and SS depending on effort). The fan just isn’t built for that. It takes a fair amount of effort to move the fan and keep it going-which builds beyond LI fairly quickly. HI is quite easy to achieve.

Since Rogue is so tied in with CrossFit and cf uses these machines for HI, I would assume the Rogue model is built similarly.

A concept2 rower has a flywheel/air system that IS capable of multiple levels of effort.

But you’re getting an air bike.

I have a C2 Rower and an AD Pro (Schwinn's Assault Bike). I have no problems doing either LISS or HIIT on the AD Pro. I have no problem doing HIIT on the C2, but I have much more problems keeping my HR down on the rower for LISS work. I prefer the rower, but my wife can't do the rower. She's 58 and does very little HIIT work. She's like the client that the OP is describing. She can do 30 minutes easy on the Assault Bike and she doesn't really like cardio all that much.

FWIT, I'd get the Echo. It's what I wanted but my wife wanted the Schwinn AD Pro. It's a great machine, but customer service is horrific. I broke the metal foot crank right off and had to wait six weeks for Customer Service to send me the right part. Rogue's service is fantastic.

I don't know if the Schwinn is easier to pedal, but I assume it isn't. If I go under 47 or so RPM, I can't get my HR above warmup mode. Now, I'm highly trained aerobically, but my wife isn't. Maybe the Schwinn is easier to pedal then the Assault Bike that Duck_Puddle mentioned. I've heard, though, they are similar, with many saying the AD Pro (aside from Customer Service) is better. I don't think so with my experience breaking the crankshaft in half.

We have an Echo bike and love it. Also agree the customer service is fantastic. I was just about finished putting it together and found an issue with one of the movement arms. I contacted them and they next day air shipped a replacement and e-mailed me a $50 gift card for my trouble.

The Echo is close to 50 pounds heavier than an Assault bike so very sturdy feeling.

MikePfirrman

Theoldguy1 wrote: »

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

They are essentially the same product-except the rogue is belt driven (assault bike is chain driven).

They are both equally bad for LISS. So pick whichever one fits your budget/style.

I have the assault bike. In theory one could just go “easier” and make it LI (and SS depending on effort). The fan just isn’t built for that. It takes a fair amount of effort to move the fan and keep it going-which builds beyond LI fairly quickly. HI is quite easy to achieve.

Since Rogue is so tied in with CrossFit and cf uses these machines for HI, I would assume the Rogue model is built similarly.

A concept2 rower has a flywheel/air system that IS capable of multiple levels of effort.

But you’re getting an air bike.

I have a C2 Rower and an AD Pro (Schwinn's Assault Bike). I have no problems doing either LISS or HIIT on the AD Pro. I have no problem doing HIIT on the C2, but I have much more problems keeping my HR down on the rower for LISS work. I prefer the rower, but my wife can't do the rower. She's 58 and does very little HIIT work. She's like the client that the OP is describing. She can do 30 minutes easy on the Assault Bike and she doesn't really like cardio all that much.

FWIT, I'd get the Echo. It's what I wanted but my wife wanted the Schwinn AD Pro. It's a great machine, but customer service is horrific. I broke the metal foot crank right off and had to wait six weeks for Customer Service to send me the right part. Rogue's service is fantastic.

I don't know if the Schwinn is easier to pedal, but I assume it isn't. If I go under 47 or so RPM, I can't get my HR above warmup mode. Now, I'm highly trained aerobically, but my wife isn't. Maybe the Schwinn is easier to pedal then the Assault Bike that Duck_Puddle mentioned. I've heard, though, they are similar, with many saying the AD Pro (aside from Customer Service) is better. I don't think so with my experience breaking the crankshaft in half.

We have an Echo bike and love it. Also agree the customer service is fantastic. I was just about finished putting it together and found an issue with one of the movement arms. I contacted them and they next day air shipped a replacement and e-mailed me a $50 gift card for my trouble.

The Echo is close to 50 pounds heavier than an Assault bike so very sturdy feeling.

To quote an older movie, "you're killing me Schmalz!". When my right crankshaft broke in half (metal shouldn't break first of all), Schwinn sent me two left pedals before I finally dug in and figured out that their parts replacement diagrams were actually reversed and had to point out that their engineer was *kitten* backward. You're welcome Schwinn users.