Concept2 Bike Review

Concept 2 Bike Review, December 2021

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Is your home gym lacking in the cardio training department?

Lifting weights and getting strong is integral to staying in shape, but no fitness program is complete without cardio training.

Heart health is important when you are examining your overall fitness, and directly translates to how effectively you can perform daily tasks like climbing stairs or keeping up with your friends on the basketball court.

A great way to incorporate more cardio training into your workout routine is by investing in a stationary bike.

Stationary bikes are compact, versatile, and durable, making them suited to challenge your endurance and get your heart rate in a variety of workout styles. 

Today, I am going to share with you one of my favorite stationary bikes, the Concept 2 BikeErg, and let you know exactly how the BikeErg can bring your training to the next level.

What is the Concept 2 BikeErg?

You might already be familiar with the training equipment company Concept 2 for their world renowned rower design.

The Concept 2 BikeErg predecessor, the Concept 2 RowErg, is the most popular rower used worldwide for indoor training.

These rowing machines are trusted by CrossFit enthusiasts and Olympic, high level athletes for their durability and effective design.

Now meet the Concept 2 BikeErg, essentially the stationary bike version of this famous rower.

In fact, the BikeErg uses the same technology as the rower as they both use a Flywheel (the fan-like piece of equipment near the front of the bike) to get resistance from air. 

The use of this Flywheel makes the BikeErg almost like an air bike, but without the arm handles.

However, the BikeErg sets itself apart from a typical air bike by also featuring a damper control that allows you to change the amount of airflow moving through the BikeErg’s Flywheel and gives users the ability to fully control the level of resistance on their side. 

If you explore their online website, you will notice that Concept 2 only offers a handful of training products. This is what I respect about Concept 2; they do one thing, and they do it well.

So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard that they were introducing a stationary bike to their product line, and that the Concept 2 BikeErg, in my experience, lives up to Concept 2’s esteemed reputation.  

What makes the Concept 2 Bikeerg an Excellent Stationary Bike?

When I review a stationary bike, I look at the following features: quality of the ride, its tech and workout feedback features, and its durability. When I took the Concept 2 Bikeerg for a spin in my home gym, here is what I discovered:

#1. Ride Quality

If I had to pick one word to describe my experience on the Concept 2 BikeErg, I would say smooth.

The Concept 2 BikeErg provides riders with a continuous riding experience that responds quickly to your changes in pace and resistance.

This is supported by the aforementioned Flywheel design, that ergonomically uses airflow technology to mimic the experience and ease of pedaling and changing gears on the real bike.  

The Concept 2 Bikeerg is also conveniently customizable to enhance your ride experience. The saddle and handlebars on this stationary bike are easily adjustable, allowing you to quickly get into your prime position for a comfortable workout. 

As well, the Concept 2 BikeErg is compatible with popular bike parts, so go ahead and switch in your favorite bike saddle, handlebars, or pedals to make this bike your own.

This customizable quality also makes the Concept 2 BikeErg an excellent choice for serious bikers who want to bring their outdoor training indoors during their off-season or winter months. 

#2. Workout Feedback and Tech Integration

My experience with the tech features on the Concept 2 BikeErg was comparable, if not superior, to other high quality cardio trainers I have tried out. 

The Concept 2 BikeErg comes fully integrated with Concept 2’s most advanced workout monitoring system.

When you hop on to the bike and begin to ride, the BikeErg enters “Just Ride” mode that automatically begins your workout.

Right away, the PM5 monitor begins to track your pace, watts, RPM, and calories burned to keep you motivated during your training session. 

This information is vital for athletes who are training in high intensity intervals, for calories burned, or trying to challenge themselves further with each workout to really see results.

To help track your progress, the BikeErg stores that data from your workout into its memory, and you can upload your workout specs from the BikeErg to your computer via USB.

As well, the Concept 2 BikeErg comes with a smartphone cradle that you can attach on top of the stationary bike’s PM5 monitor to enhance its tech capabilities.

You can place your phone in this cradle to view it during the workout, and can also connect your phone to the BikeErg using Bluetooth.

I found this particularly useful because I was able to connect my present workout to the Concept 2 Erg Data app I downloaded to track my workouts, and I also had the option to connect the BikeErg to other popular third party fitness Apps I use to store and analyze my workout data.   

#3. Durability

The first thing I need to mention is that the Concept 2 BikeErg is lighter than your average stationary bike, weighing in at an easy to move 68lbs (while still being able to safely accommodate riders up to 300lbs). 

I will admit that this initially worried me; there is nothing worse than a stationary bike that precariously shakes and tremors underneath you as you are pushing yourself hard in those final 30 seconds of your ride. 

However, I soon discovered on my first ride that Concept 2 has intelligently designed a lightweight bike with tremendous durability and stability. On the Concept 2 Bikeerg, I felt secure and was easily able to push myself to my limits while still enjoying a smooth ride.

Finally, to cycle its pedals, the BikeErg uses something called polygroove belts. Polygroove belts are superior to a traditional chain that turns the bike pedals because they offer a much quieter ride and are less likely to break down and require maintenance.  

Concept 2 Bikeerg: Sizing and Specifications

While Concept 2 training equipment is popular in commercial gyms and public spaces because of how durable and versatile they are, the sizing and specs of the Concept 2 BikeErg also make it the perfect choice for your home gym.

To add the Concept 2 BikeErg to your home gym, you will want to be able to accommodate a 48 inch x 24 inch space for this stationary bike.

This makes the BikeErg a more space efficient choice in comparison to other cardio training machines like treadmills or ellipticals, that generally take up more space. 

Another convenient feature of the Concept 2 BikeErg when it comes to including this stationary bike to your home gym is that it runs on battery, so you do not need to ensure it is placed near a power source or wall outlet.

The BikeErg takes two D Cell batteries, and it saves battery power on its own by using the energy generated by the Flywheel to power its monitor while you ride. 

In terms of build, the Concept 2 BikeErg features an aluminum frame and steel base to make a stationary bike that is equally stable and mobile.

This makes the BikeErg a solid choice for individuals who want to train for long distance biking, or hop on and off as part of the high intensity interval workout or METCON (metabolic conditioning) workout. 

Keep in mind as well that you need to self assemble the Concept 2 BikeErg when you purchase one. The BikeErgs shipping weight is 80lbs, so keep that in consideration when you are adding it to your home gym as well.

If you are concerned about the need to assemble the Concept 2 BikeErg on your own, let me assure you that this stationary bike comes with an easy to read assembly manual with plenty of clearly defined images that I found made putting together the BikeErg a pain-free task. 

Where to Buy the Concept 2 BikeErg

I purchased my Concept 2 BikeErg from Rogue Fitness' website.

By doing this, I now benefit from a limited 2 year and 5 year warranty as reassurance  if I do notice any issues with my BikeErg, although I can’t imagine needing to use it considering the reputation Concept 2 has in the quality department.

Since I did spend $990 on this stationary bike, it was nice to know that I had the option to change my mind within 30 days, but as you can probably guess, I never did.

The BikeErg continues to be one of the most used cardio training equipment in my home gym. 

My Final Pros and Cons List for the Concept 2 BikeErg

Here is my overall Concept 2 BikeErg review:

Pros

  • Innovative Flywheel technology that offers a continuous smooth ride and resistance to enhance workout difficulty
  • High quality and durable design
  • Suitable for cyclists wanting to train indoors, CrossFit athletes, or individuals looking to add more cardio training into their workouts
  • Perfect for smaller home gyms with compact and lightweight design
  • Immediate and accurate workout feedback to track your intensity and progress
  • Customizable with your favourite bike seat, handlebars, or pedals
  • Quiet polygroove belts to turn pedals are a step above regular chain systems 

Cons

  • No water bottle holder
  • Not as large a range for forward and backward seat adjustment as other stationary bikes

Overall, the Concept 2 BikeErg is a high quality choice for any person in the market for a stationary bike to enhance their workout routine.

The BikeErg has the comfort, customization options, and durability of a commercial gym product, but it is light and compact enough to suit your home gym perfectly. 

Denver Matheson
 

I spend a lot of time at the gym and even more time in the kitchen giving my body what it needs to repair itself and grow stronger. The third most important place for any athlete is their research zone. That's exactly why this site exists, to help me share all of the information I've learned throughout the years just like people did for me in the first place!

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