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In this Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike review, I’m happy to review how this bike differs from others on the market and who it works best for. Read on for our expert opinions on this air bike.
Updated: February 22, 2024
Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is a slightly more compact and affordable version of the trustworthy Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike 2.0. For the lower price, you might be expecting a lower quality bike, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. The Residential Air Bike has many of the same components as the Blitz 2.0. The Residential Air Bike is a great addition to your home gym for sneaking cardio into your strength training routine, warming up and cooling down, and logging some low-impact cycling miles.
The Residential Air Bike has a sturdy frame with more compact dimensions than the Blitz 2.0. It is also slightly lighter weight at 108 lbs versus the Blitz’s 108 lbs. Overall, its weight is on par with other popular air bikes like the Rogue Echo bike and the AssaultFitness air bike line. The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is best for users who need something more compact. It is 49.7” long, 24” wide, and 50.7” tall. It is actually an inch wider than the Blitz bike, but I don’t mind this so much.
The steel construction is really nice and solid. Even though this bike is made for residential use only, it does not feel cheaper than the Blitz 2.0. However, it is also easier to move around. I had no trouble rolling it where I wanted to train. It has four leveling feet just in case your floors aren’t even.
The saddle is large and comfortable. It measures approximately 11” x 10” and is pretty soft. It adjusts vertically and horizontally, so you can get the right cycling geometry for your stature. The vertical adjustment is about 7 inches, and the horizontal adjustment is about 5 inches. I did not experience any saddle soreness while using the Residential Air Bike.
The handlebars have a nice rubberized coating. They are not too thick or too thin, so most users’ hands should be comfortable on them. The handles move comfortably. The reach from the saddle to the handles ranges from about 24 to 29 inches. I measured from the nose of the saddle to the furthest point of the handlebars’ range of motion.
The Residential Air Bike has flat pedals. The pedals are textured, but I didn’t find the texture super effective. My shoes slid around a little more than I am accustomed to on an exercise bike. However, if you have problems with this, you should be able to replace the pedals with a style that suits you. The pedals feel very supportive and stable if you choose to stand up on them while you are training.
Like other air bikes, the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike has unlimited resistance. It uses a 6-blade fan to generate as much resistance as you would like. If you want to work harder, pedal harder and faster. The resistance is determined by how hard you are working. The fan is only 20 inches compared to the Blitz Air Bike 2.0’s 25-inch fan. Yet, I did not notice a huge difference in how difficult the bikes were to use compared to one another. If you are a very experienced air bike user, you may prefer the Blitz bike, because its larger fan size generates more resistance, but most other users probably won’t be able to tell a difference. By no means is this air bike easy compared to others.
The fan noise is not quieter than other air bikes either. I have not measured the sound output, but the Residential Air Bike is not appropriate for exercisers who need a quiet machine. You are still going to generate a lot of noise training with this bike.
Air bikes are kind of in a category of their own when it comes to exercise bikes. They don’t need a lot of the features that are becoming increasingly popular on other forms of indoor cycling. One reason for this is that the air bike is a garage gym staple. Other exercise bikes often need to be stored in climate-controlled spaces, making them inappropriate for a garage setting. So, if you just want the bare necessities that make an air bike a powerful exercise tool without the distractions, the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is a great budget and quality option.
The console is one area that Bells of Steel could certainly improve. From its beeping noises to its lack of Bluetooth connectivity, it's just not as impressive as other consoles on the market. However, I do like its simplicity. I will also admit that the beeps are probably not a huge deal in comparison to the louder fan noise.
As for the buttons, I like how straightforward they are. The onboard programs each have their own labeled button, which is super convenient. There are start, stop, enter, up, and down buttons, which are pretty much all you need. I judge exercise equipment a lot by how easily I can use it without consulting the manual. Of course, as a reviewer, I do read the manual, but I know a lot of you won’t. I also don’t want to have to read the manual multiple times or store it nearby to use a piece of equipment. Intuitive buttons like the Residential Air Bike’s make me happy.
No touchscreens here! The simple display shows all the metrics you need it to without making it overly complicated. The only downside is that this screen may not be the easiest to see in low lighting. Overall, I have very few complaints about the screen. It is very utilitarian, and there is nothing wrong with that.
There is one bottle holder. It is just a simple metal piece attached to the frame beneath the console. It should hold a typical cycling water bottle.
There is a device holder on the console that is large enough just to hold your phone. If you put your device here, you won’t be able to see your metrics. I like that the Residential Bike offers this feature, and it is on par with other air bikes. Yet, I wish that Bells of Steel had opted for a phone holder that allowed you to see your screen and your metrics. This could be useful for users who are following along with video training content or watching entertainment while performing an interval workout in manual mode.
All other complaints aside, the lack of Bluetooth heart rate monitor connectivity is the biggest drawback to this bike. The Residential Bike supports 5 kHz monitors, but those are becoming increasingly rare. Most athletes nowadays have some form of fitness wearable that is Bluetooth compatible. It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but I know that some users will be disappointed with having to purchase a new monitor.
The Residential Air Bike may be cheaper and smaller, but it is every bit as grueling as those other air bikes. I typically try to train on exercise equipment without listening to music, so I can really focus on what the equipment feels like and sounds like. However, I do not last very long with air bikes. The Residential Air Bike had me hopeful, but then I reached for my headphones only a few minutes in. It delivers that kind of workout that I can only get through with the help of my hand-selected workout playlist. If you are up for a workout that kicks your butt, the Residential Air Bike is still a good choice.
Now, onto the beeping. I must disclose that the console beeps a lot when you are training in an interval workout. This feature is super helpful if you want a non-visual cue for when you are in your rest interval versus your work interval. Unfortunately, it was getting on my last nerve. I just wish that Bells of Steel had included an option to shut the beeping off if desired. Of course, you could always put on your headphones and be done with it.
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike has several training options built into the console. At the press of a button, you can set up a Tabata or reverse Tabata workout. You can create a custom workout with up to 99 intervals. You can also set a target time, distance, calories, and heart rate. There are no subscriptions or trainer-led content for the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike. That’s not something we typically see with air bikes, though I’m sure one will get the upgrade eventually. As is, the Bells of Steel provides just what you need to supplement a workout in your garage gym or crank out a high-intensity cardio workout in a short amount of time.
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is a challenging air bike, regardless of its budget price and smaller size. It’s the perfect way to get a challenging workout in without breaking the bank or taking up too much space. As with any air bike, it is loud and intense but not unreasonably so. It has the same durable construction we found in the pricier Blitz 2.0. With onboard workouts and unlimited resistance, this bike provides a challenge for athletes of all levels.
