Indoor rowing and cycling
Row or ride indoors: resistance, footprint and real numbers.
Air, magnetic or water rower, upright or spin bike: we compare them on resistance type, levels, max user weight and footprint in centimetres, as the makers state them, and convert splits and watts for you.
Top picks
All buying guides- Best exercise bikes for home in the UK
Sunny upright bike: 4-way seat, free SunnyFit app
110 kg
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best magnetic rowing machines
MERACH Q1S electric: app-controlled resistance
158 kg
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best Peloton alternative bikes
Yesoul G1M Plus: 21.5 inch HD screen, live classes
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best recumbent exercise bikes
Wenoker JC503: 16 levels, 160 kg max user
160 kg
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Split and watts converter
Open the converter →- Power
- 203 W
- Split
- 2:00.0 /500 m
- Pace
- 4:00.0 /1,000 m
- 2,000 m time
- 8:00.0
Concept2's formula: watts = 2.80 ÷ pace³, pace in seconds per metre. Watts rounded to 1 W, splits to 0.1 s.
Boathouse
Every topic on the site, from resistance type to technique.
- Air rowersFan-flywheel rowers like the Concept2, where harder strokes meet more resistance and a damper sets the feel.6 guides · 1 buying guide
- Magnetic rowersQuiet rowers with magnetic or electromagnetic brakes, compared by levels, rail length and max user kg.2 guides · 3 buying guides
- Water rowersRowers with paddles in a water tank, compared by tank litres, frame material and how they store upright.2 guides · 2 buying guides
- Exercise bikesUpright and recumbent bikes compared by resistance type, levels, seat adjustment and max user weight.5 guides · 2 buying guides
- Spin bikesStudio-style bikes with heavy flywheels and app classes, compared by resistance, pedals and screen options.10 guides · 3 buying guides
- Folding and compactRowers and bikes that fold, stand upright or fit a small flat, with footprints in centimetres.4 guides · 1 buying guide
- Setup and techniqueStroke technique, bike fit, monitors, apps and fixes for noises and resistance faults.5 guides · 0 buying guides
Common problems
Noises, slipping straps and resistance faults: causes and fixes.
- Squeak, rough slide or sticking seatRail 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.
- Screen, resistance or connection faultScreen 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.
- Resistance has no effectTension 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.
- Knock, click or squeak when pedallingLoose 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.
- Blank, frozen or not countingBatteries, the pickup and generator cables, firmware updates with Concept2 Utility and blank or frozen screens: the checks to try on a PM5 in order.
Calculators
Splits, watts and power zones worked out for you.
Comparisons
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Buying guides
Focused guides to one type of rower or bike each, compared on what the listings state.
- Best exercise bikes for home in the UK
- Best magnetic rowing machines
- Best Peloton alternative bikes
- Best recumbent exercise bikes
- Best rowing machines for small spaces
- Best rowing machines for home in the UK
- Best rowing machines under £500
- Best smart rowing machines with a screen or app
- Best spin bikes for home
- Best spin bikes under £500
- Best water rowing machines
- WaterRower models compared: Oxbridge, Original, Performance and Hybrid
Guides & advice
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.