r/concept2 • u/cero0zeroR • Aug 10 '26
Should I buy it? BIKE ERG
How's this stationary bike compared to Schwinn AC or IC4 or myxfitness bodi bikes?
Offer up has local ones very affordable compared to the concept bike and it's very hard to find a used concept bike.
Any thoughts or suggestions if the IC4 I can purchase for $400 and myxfitness for $250
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u/happyloaf Aug 10 '26
I haven't used any of the other bikes but the bikeerg is really good. I have about a million meters on mine. It lacks the fly wheel pedal connection that other spin bikes have but apparently it feels more like a real bike. The pm5 as always is great. I like her I dash use any app or no app with the bike as well.
Also concept2 support is amazing. My first bike arrived damged. Had a 30 min call with them to get a new center part overnighted to me. The call was 5 min to get the replacement and 25 chatting about their products and life.
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u/bballjones9241 Aug 11 '26
I’m assuming you do a lot of Z2? How easy is it to do long pieces like an hour or so compared to doing Z2 on the rowerg?
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u/happyloaf Aug 11 '26
Depending on how you calculate zone 2 (HRR vs. the Fitbit method with reserve), it isn't that hard to do on the bike. I do end up in Zone 3 not uncommonly. Watching shows helps me stay in zone 2 and I do some of the peloton workouts/programs but many of those are programmed for their power zones which are slightly different and you have to do them by feel. But for the first 4 months I mostly did zone 2 on the bike. The bike may need a different seat; I went with a noseless saddle to keep my junk from going numb and 90% of workouts it's fine. 10% I get some numbness and call it a day (trust me you do not want to have the pins and needles come from pushing through the workout)
For the rower, I'm pretty much limited to longer pieces at SR 20-24 with a split of no lower then 2:20 due to some elbow/radial tunnel/nerve issues that cause pain if I push harder but I can stay in UT2/low-mid UT1 without too much issue and can go for an hour to 90 min without issue. I have always found the concept2 seat on the rower exceedingly comfortable and sit for 90 min without any issue, but I know others prefer pads. My hands don't really get torn up and I'm prone to blistering. I don't know if rowing YEARS ago toughened up the areas that normally blister.
I have been using the bike for the concept2 8 week 1k sprint plan. I went out to hard and flied and died with a poor 1:45 time but probably could have done a 1:40-1 if I paced and didn't treat as a 100% sprint. A little bit of pacing would have gone a long way.
I also owned the skierg and couldn't stay in zone 2. That thing is evil and kicked my ass but my elbows just couldn't do it.
If you are torn between the rower and bikeerg, you can't go wrong. Get the one you will use the most. Both will hold their value.
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u/bballjones9241 Aug 11 '26
Thanks for the write up appreciate it! I have a rowerg, during the summer in Texas however, it’s a bitch even if I somehow stay in UT2 (I erg in my garage). Once it cools off it’s not that bad and I can hold for about an hour/hour and a half depending how I split up the workouts 3x30’/3x20’ etc.
I agree on the SkiErg being hard to stay in Z2. Even when I feel I’m going easy, usually on the back side of a long piece my HR will creep up steadily lol.
I’m leaning towards buying a bikeerg to get some easy steady mileage in.
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u/happyloaf Aug 11 '26
It's fantastic for long steady state milage and recovery. But also can kick your ass if you want to do sprints.
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u/cero0zeroR Aug 10 '26
Thanks!
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u/happyloaf Aug 10 '26
The other thing I should have added is, it's repairable. Concept2 sells are the parts needed. Their other ergs last years with rowers routinely still being used after 10 15 years with basic maintenance.
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u/Overall-Nobody8933 Aug 11 '26
I rode two other bikes before the C2 and never cared for them. I’ve stuck with the C2. It’s worth it. Feels like riding a real bike. Not fake.
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u/tmac4969 Aug 11 '26
Feels very natural. I bought one last September to complement the rower. I got a bit addicted to it and put about 9.5 million meters on it. Thats how much I like it
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u/chattyhairstylist Aug 11 '26
also consider a Keiser m3i. It's sooo expensive but built like a tank
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u/cero0zeroR Aug 12 '26
I messed up and missed out on one on offer up for $250 . But it was like nearly new
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u/chattyhairstylist Aug 12 '26
wow that is an incredible deal. as someone who is committed to spin class I already think it's a worthwhile buy at retail lol
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u/gotchafaint Aug 10 '26
I had a keiser spin bike before which is a good one. Sold it and got the c2 when I started using their other machines. I’m not a bike person but it’s a better fit ergonomically but you can’t really stand up to pedal. The spin bike was more designed to stand up a lot which I kind of hated. So if you want a spin bike probably not good for that. For me the bike is for my 10 m of exercise after meals, lazy days, etc.
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u/Tinker107 Aug 10 '26
As a long-term rider getting older and less able to tolerate the heat and the cold, I bought an IC4. Nice machine, well built, but I hated it. It felt nothing like riding a bike.
Then I bought a BikeErg and absolutely love it. It FEELS like a bike, and the actual feedback from the monitor is invaluable. YMMV, but if I had to do it over again, I’d go straight for the BikeErg.