Guides & advice
All guides and advice
How-tos, explainers, fixes and comparisons, newest first.
- What is an air bike?An air bike uses a large fan for resistance and has handles that move with the pedals. How it works, why it is loud and how it differs from a BikeErg.Guide
- What is a recumbent exercise bike?A recumbent exercise bike has a reclined seat with a backrest and pedals out in front. Here is how the design works, how it differs and who tends to choose one.Guide
- Water vs air rowing machineWater vs air rowing machine: how the resistance builds, how each sounds, footprint and storage, and what the monitors show, explained without jargon.Comparison
- How to fill and clean a water rower tankHow to fill a water rower tank to the right level, use purification tablets, deal with green or cloudy water and drain the tank before a move.How-to
- Water or magnetic rowing machine?Water or magnetic rowing machine? Compare stroke feel, noise, maintenance, resistance levels and storage to pick the right rower for your home.Comparison
- How to use Zwift or the Peloton app with any exercise bikeCadence sensors, Bluetooth and ANT+, smart bikes and trainers: how to connect Zwift or the Peloton app to a home bike and what data each app can read.How-to
- Spin bike vs exercise bikeSpin bike vs exercise bike: flywheel weight, riding position, resistance control, pedals and classes compared, so you can choose the right bike style.Comparison
- Spin bike shoes and pedals: SPD, Delta or trainers?SPD and Look Delta cleats explained, which bikes use which, when trainers with toe cages are fine, and how to swap spin bike pedals with a 15 mm spanner.Guide
- Rowing split times and watts explainedWhat a /500 m split means on a rowing machine, how it converts to watts with Concept2's formula and how stroke rate fits in, with a conversion table.Guide
- Rowing machine vs exercise bikeRowing machine vs exercise bike: compare floor space, storage, noise, how you move on each and set-up, with a folding rower and a folding bike as examples.Comparison
- Rowing machine squeaking or seat stickingRail cleaning, seat rollers, chain or strap care and worn parts: how to stop a rowing machine squeaking or a seat sticking, and when to order a part.Fix
- Rowing machine dimensions: how much space do you need?Typical rowing machine lengths and widths from makers' listings, the clearance to leave around the rail and how much floor a folded rower takes up.Guide
- Do you need a mat under a rowing machine or spin bike?Why a mat under a rower or spin bike helps protect floors, catch sweat and cut vibration in upstairs flats, plus the mat sizes long rowers need.Guide
- Recumbent vs upright exercise bikeRecumbent vs upright exercise bike: compare seat and backrest, riding position, step-through access, footprint and features, with two example bikes.Comparison
- Can you use a Peloton bike without a subscription?What a Peloton bike can do with no membership, which membership the touchscreen classes need, the app-only option and bikes that need no subscription.Guide
- Peloton vs Echelon bikesPeloton vs Echelon bikes compared on screens, resistance control, pedals, class membership and UK availability, so you know what each brand offers.Comparison
- Peloton bike not working: screen, resistance and connection fixesScreen restarts, resistance readings, Wi-Fi drops and pedal problems on a Peloton bike, with the safe checks to try and when to contact Peloton support.Fix
- Magnetic or air rowing machine?Magnetic or air rowing machine? Compare fan noise and draught with quiet fixed levels, and see which type suits flats, shared houses and garages.Comparison
- Is a spin bike worth buying?Whether a spin bike is worth it depends on how you ride, where it goes and who hears it. Classes vs solo rides, subscriptions, noise and space explained.Guide
- Is a rowing machine worth buying?Whether a rowing machine is worth buying for your home: space, noise, how often you will use it, upkeep and which types tend to hold their resale value.Guide
- How to use the Concept2 Logbook and PM5Setting up the PM5 monitor, pairing ErgData, syncing workouts to the online Concept2 Logbook and joining challenges, explained step by step.How-to
- How to use a rowing machine properlyCatch, drive, finish and recovery in order, plus foot strap height, damper or level choice and the common faults to avoid on a home rower.How-to
- How to set up and use a recumbent exercise bikeSeat distance, knee bend, backrest angle, foot straps and resistance levels for a comfortable ride on a home recumbent exercise bike.How-to
- How to set up a spin bikeSaddle height, fore-aft position, handlebar height and cleat fit for a home spin bike, step by step, with measurements in centimetres.How-to
- How do magnetic rowing machines work?How a magnetic rowing machine creates resistance with eddy currents, why moving magnets closer makes it harder and how electromagnetic rowers set levels.Guide
- Exercise bike resistance not working: causes and fixesTension knob, brake pad wear, magnet gap, cable stretch and console faults checked in order, so you can find why your bike's resistance has gone.Fix
- Exercise bike knocking or clicking noiseLoose pedals and cranks, a worn bottom bracket, belt rub and frame bolts: how to find the cause of a knock or click and which jobs you can do yourself.Fix
- Exercise bike and spin bike dimensionsListed footprints in cm for upright, spin and recumbent bikes, plus how to plan ceiling height for tall riders, clearance and room for a fan.Guide
- Cycling power zones and FTP explainedWhat FTP means, the seven Coggan power zones as percentages, and how spin bikes estimate watts from cadence and resistance. Includes a zone calculator.Guide
- Concept2 RowErg vs WaterRowerConcept2 RowErg vs WaterRower compared by stroke feel, monitor and data, length and storage, sound and resale, so you can pick the right rower.Comparison
- Concept2 PM5 monitor not workingBatteries, the pickup and generator cables, firmware updates with Concept2 Utility and blank or frozen screens: the checks to try on a PM5 in order.Fix
- Concept2 damper settings and drag factor explainedWhat the Concept2 damper lever changes, how to show drag factor on the PM5 and why damper 10 is not the same as the hardest workout.Guide
- Are magnetic rowing machines any good?The pros and cons of magnetic rowing machines: where they shine on noise, size and simplicity, and where they fall short against air and water rowers.Guide
- Air bike vs spin bikeAir bike vs spin bike: fan resistance with moving arms against a weighted flywheel, compared by noise, draught, footprint, data and workout style.Comparison