Concept2 BikeErg Review by a Gym Owner
If you’re thinking of buying a Concept2 BikeErg, this is for you. It’s a detailed Concept2 BikeErg review, running through everything you need to know about the machine.
I own MyGym Hazel Grove, a strength and conditioning facility in Stockport. I added a couple of Concept2 BikeErgs to the cardio line up a few months ago, and have given them extensive use. Now I have had them long enough to form an accurate opinion, I thought I’d put out a Concept2 BikeErg review from an owners perspective.
Why Did I Buy Concept2 BikeErgs?
My cardio line up is pretty extensive already. I own stair masters, treadmills, air bikes, rowers, SkiErgs etc. What I was missing was a good quality ‘standard’ bike. I’m not a fan of traditional ‘exercise bikes’ or recumbent bikes, so they were out.
I didn’t need the specialist nature of the WattBike, and I didn’t want the price tag of a Peloton. There was only one game in town then – the Concept2 BikeErg.
I already owned RowErgs and SkiErgs, so a couple of BikeErgs would complete the set. Concept2 had already proved their reliability and quality with their other kit offerings, and the wider feedback from the fitness world was that their BikeErg was just as good as the RowErg and SkiErg.
Concept2 BikeErg Cost
Here’s the thing… as a commercial buyer of fitness equipment, I get pretty good discounts with manufacturers and suppliers. Not with Concept2 though. That’s not because I’v been blacklisted by the way – it’s their policy. You’ll never get a discount from them, whether you’re buying 1 or 10 machines.
So now you know I don’t get any discount, you’ll appreciate that the price I paid is the price you’ll pay. I bought two machines at £1,160 each. You’ll pay something similar as well. You won’t get a discount from them, but they’re actually really fairly priced in my opinion.
BikeErg Construction
Like all Concept2 equipment, you have to build it yourself. It comes in a couple of boxes, with most of the machine put together. You’ve just got to get the main sections joined and the computer on. It’s not a difficult or complicated job.
For anyone reasonably handy with a screwdriver and able to read instructions, you’ll have the machine put together in 15 minutes or less.
The box comes complete with an instruction manual and the tooling required. Personally, I use my own impact driver to make the process faster and easier, but it’s not necessary. The bigger issue is disposing of the massive boxes afterwards!
Concept2 Build Quality
There’s a reason why Concept2 have dominated the rower and SkiErg markets in commercial fitness – their build quality is second to none. When doing a Conncept2 BikeErg review, I’ve got to give a nod to how well-made the kit is.
Other machines might be more feature-heavy, more interactive, cheaper etc, but nobody gets close to Concept2 in terms of build quality. Their machining, materials, ease of use, warranties and robustness is the reason they’re the most popular machines of their type across the world.
My Concept2 BikeErgs are used all day, every day by people of different sizes and weights. They’re absolutely hammered on a regular basis, and yet they stand up to it. With a little clean, quick spray of WD40 on the moving parts and an occasional battery change in the monitor, they’re good to go.
They’re also super stable. That might sound like an odd plus point, but I’ve used Rogue Echo Bikes and have always been disappointed with how wobbly they are, and how poorly they’re made.
Data Collection
If you’re a serious cyclist and you’re particularly interested in your data, cycling position and cycling-specifics, I’d probably opt for a WattBike. Not because the BikeErg isn’t very good – it’s because it’s not as specialist.
The BikeErg suits a wider market. You can glean accurate data from the PM5 computer (which is why the RowErg is used for international competition – it’s accurate across machines), but it won’t give you the precise technical data that a WattBike will. If you want cycling data, use a WattBike. If you want fitness data, the BikeErg is excellent.
The fly wheel and damper is the mechanism by which a BikeErg adjusts resistance. This means it’s not a precise or sensitive as some other systems, but for the vast majority of users that’s not a problem at all. The metrics most users are looking for is ‘is it hard enough or not’?!
Concept2 App Support
For the first time ever, I downloaded the Concept2 app recently, and I use it when I’m doing a longer ride on the BikeErg. It’s a really good app, combining a mix of single-user data (real time workout data, stored workouts etc) with challenges, community elements and the like.
I’m not really one for apps with my training (the only other health app I use is the Polar Flow app), but this one has impressed me so I’ll stick with it. I only really do a long ride every couple of weeks, so I’m not a heavy user, but it’s a good support system to have in place.
Although this is a Concept2 BikeErg review and not a review of the app, it seems to be a pretty good, well-considered app for the community.
Concept2 BikeErg Size
One of the great things about the BikeErg is its size. It’s pretty compact and occupies a narrow footprint. This means you don’t need much room to house one, and for me I can fit several machines into a small area (I have 2 so far, I’ll add more in future).
The official footprint is width: 24 in (61 cm), length, 48 in (122 cm) and height: Seat to Pedal range (approximately): 31–40.5 in (79–103 cm). It’ll fit in most houses and garage gyms without much issue. You’ve just got to be aware of the air turbulence from the flywheel knocking things over, and the potential for the noise to upset neighbours.
Machine Adjustability
A plus point for the Concept2 BikeErg is how adaptable it is to varying sizes of user. The saddle height, the handlebar height, and the handlebar proximity can all be easily changed. The PM5 monitor position has plenty of adjustability too.
You can adjust the damper on the flywheel (it’s a stretch mind – one of the only downfalls of the BikeErg), to switch the difficulty of the workout. It’s hard to do mid-workout though because of the position. Ideally, fix the resistance at the start of the workout and go from there.
The max user weight is listed as 159kg, or 350 lb.
BikeErg Maintenance
Thanks to the simplicity of the machine and the quality of its construction, maintaining the BikeErg is really easy. First you just need to keep it clean. Wipe down the touch points, keep the surfaces clean etc. Sweat can be corrosive, so get rid of that.
The flywheel can collect dust, but the cover can easily be removed to clean the flywheel. When I’ve done that, I tend to oil the moving parts and the chain. It’s a short job and very easy.
The only other maintenance job you need to take care of is making sure the batteries are changed on the monitor when they run out. That’s not too frequently though, even in a commercial setting where the machines are used for several hours, 7 days per week.
Concept2 BikeErg review – Could I Buy a Cheaper Bike?
There’s always a cheaper option, but the question is whether or not it’s as good. In my opinion, I’m yet to find a cheaper bike that is as good as the Concept2 BikeErg.
I’ve been down the road of cheaper gym equipment, and whilst it might work just fine, finding replacement parts when things break down (as they do – everything does eventually) is hard. I once bought a couple of curved treadmills from a wholesaler, but I soon realised the reason they were so cheap is because they were made in China.
When I needed a replacement part, it was such an awful, long-winded process to get them that I eventually gave up, and simply replaced the machines.
Concept2 have a huge stock of replacement parts, worldwide distribution and they’re reasonably priced. You’ve also got a simple job to replace any parts, because of the basic construction of the kit. If you don’t know how to replace a part, there’ll be a YouTube video showing you how.
Concept2 BikeErg Review – Final Thoughts
Frankly, I love the Concept2 BikeErg. It’s well made, reasonably-priced, does a great job, is small enough to fit in lots of spaces and is suitable for a range of sizes. There’s not much not to love.
I appreciate that budgets might not always be the same as mine – I’m writing as a gym owner, but I wanted to give you an honest Concept2 BikeErg review, and I can only do that from my perspective. My suggestion to anyone though is that if you can afford it, buy the Concept2 BikeErg. It’s significantly better than any of its competitors.
The only time I’d opt for something like the WattBike is if I was a cyclist, looking for specialist stationary bike. Beyond that though, the Concept2 BikeErg has my full backing. I’ve bought two, and I’ll certainly be buying more.
If you’d like to read my review on the Concept2 RowErg, click here.
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