A lot of times people gets home gyms that are one-off pieces of equipment that look like they came out of a furniture store. They make the big purchase in good faith, but after 6 months their winter coats is stored there instead. Should you use a rower or an exercise bike?
Do you want to engage the whole kinetic chain, or isolate lower body? It’s more than about looks. You’re going to use one of these device every day for several years.
Make the wrong decision and you’ll skip out on some workouts. Get it right and you create a habit that lasts. That allows you to make an informed purchase based off what fits your body, where you live/work, and how you want to get fit.
Avoid impulse purchases. Most cardio equipment doesn’t compare with the full body workout of a rowing machine. The legs, the core and the arms all works together each time you take a stroke.
Choosing Between Exercise Bike and Rowing Machine
Full Body Workout vs Isolation
That means more calories burned during every minute of exercise different than riding a bike. Plus: the kind of strength you gain from it is functional strength. It is strength you can use in everyday life.
Because you’re pulling yourself against air or water resistance, more muscle fiber are engaged simultaneously, increasing the energy used. A stand-alone option like an exercise bike force the rider into a more isolated position, with only the legs moving, leaving upper body in place. This focus lets you push hard without stressing your back or shoulders.
High levels of effort can be maintained over greater durations. For targeted endurance work this has become a favorite way to train among many athlete. The mechanics are also simpler so there’s less learning required.
Joint Health and Safety
Just hop on and ride, no instruction necessary. For many people buying cardio gear, joint health is a key motivator. With rowers, you get to sit down and take weight off your hip and knee joints.
The gliding action builds joint strength without any impact. That being said, form matters here, and it’s not optional. Bad form will overwork the lower back.
What should of been a safe exercise becomes an invitation to pain. Learn how to do the drive and only then up the resistance. If you have an existing back issue, stationary bikes tend to be safer for you to use.
Either in the recumbent or upright position, your spine is well supported. For example, Schwinn 270 is a recumbent bike that features a wide seat with back support. This is great for people who can’t sit in a forward leaning position.
Sitting in a seat also eliminates any balance issues completely. You know you’re not going to fall and so you can just concentrate on driving your legs.
Space and Noise Considerations
Where you put the machine is dictated by how big it is (both in terms of footprint and volume) and how loud it is.
A rowing machine such as the WaterRower need plenty of floor length to execute the full stroke. And they are audible when used: The whoosh of air or the slapping of wood on water gives a sound that is a cue to exertion. While some people report that’s motivating, others say it’s disruptive when livig in close quarters with someone else.
Exercise bikes has a smaller footprint because they are smaller. You can fit a Spin-style bike right into a corner. Models with magnetic resistance like the Peloton Bike+ run virtualy silently.
That’s ideal for use in shared spaces like apartments. Their small size also makes them easier to stow when you want to get them out of your way. However, the catch tend to be that the resistance mechanism isn’t always quite as solid.
Cost and Value
You get what you pay for. Premium rowers does not come cheap. High-end rowers cost significantly more then entry-level bikes.
Air and hydraulic resistance models is even pricier upfront. But resell prices of high-end brands are good. Budget bikes depreciate faster.
If you can afford it, think of the machine as an investment with a long lifespan. But entry level cardio machines like an exercise bike gets you started immediately. There are plenty of useful machines that will cost a small portion of what a rower costs.
That low barrier to entry make it easier to stay consistent. For someone new to fitness, being able to start on the cheap eliminates some of the performance anxiety. Commit and upgrade when you’re ready.
Choosing the Best Machine
The price point speaks to the simplicity of the mechanism. However, it’s about what works. In other words, what is the best machine?
The best machine are the one you actualy use. Like with any type of exercise, what you like doing is what’s most important. Want something super quiet?
Bike. Do you like the feeling of using your whole body as you pull? Rower.
Neither one is better or worse in a vacuum. Both have there place. Choose the one that fits into your lifestyle and the rest will fall in line.
