Rogue Echo Bike vs Concept 2 Rower – Which training equipment is more effective?


Picking out home-gym training equipment best suited for your needs is complex and confusing for most. Stationary bikes and rowing machines are popular at the gym and perfect for home use. So, which training equipment is more effective?

Hi, my name is Ryan and I am a husband, father, and hardware engineer in Texas. I love to lift weights in my garage gym while doing some type of weight lifting or strength training. I also enjoy bikingand hiking in as many outback locations and as many times as I am available to.

I do own my personal home gym in which I have a stationary bike and I just recently brought in the Concept 2 Rower. We had this argument with my training crew about which equipment does the most and why and here is the summary.

What are the differences between Rogue Echo Bike and Concept 2 Rower 

 
Rogue Echo Bike
Concept 2 Rower 
Resistance
Belt-Driven
Spiral Damper
Heart Rate Monitor
ANT+ compatible
ANT+
Display
LCD not backlit
LCD backlit
Weight capacity
350 pounds
500 pounds
Training
HIIT
LISS
Price

Rogue Echo Bike vs Concept 2 Rower – How they compare

Construction

In terms of durability in design, both the bike and rower equipment have a quality steel build that is designed to last the test of time. Echo bike is 77 pounds heavier in weight and can handle an individual weighing up to 350 pounds while Concept 2 rower has a weight limit of 500 pounds.

The Rogue Echo bike takes up some space but not as much as the Concept 2 rower. What makes this bike stand out from other upright stationary ones is its movable handles making training fun and challenging.

Rowing is low-impact, effective and easy for many individuals to do with varied physical capabilities and medical conditions. The Concept 2 rower takes up the biggest space though storage and moving of the unit is easier as it can break apart in two pieces and it has some transport wheels built into it just like the Echo Bike.

With ergonomic handles and a comfortable wide seat, you can flex your arm muscles on the Concept 2 rower with no worries about your posture. The 14†seat is adjustable along the aluminum railing and the LCD display can also be angled to your clear line of sight.

The technique done on each equipment is different but they all provide you a great cardio workout. You can make your choice based on your preferred motion. So, do you like to row or cycle?

Performance

While using the rower or bike, you are guaranteed to be met withpowerful air resistance. This means that the flywheel of each equipment is fitted withfan blades. Both these flywheels match the pace and energy exerted by the trainee with an equalmeasure of resistance.

Resistance on the Concept 2 is adjusted and controlled by a spiral damper which has resistance levels from 1 to 10 from which to choose. The Echo bike’s resistance is automatic and the only adjustment you need is in your effort.

Both equipment provide a Performance Monitoring (PMS) screen which is adjustable by the monitor arm. That takes your hands off the controls and allows you to focus on how fast you are going, how quick your heart rate is, how far you have cycled and how many calories you have burned as you train.

To get a reading on your heart rate, you have to buy a compatible heart rate monitor to pair with the bike. The rower, on the other hand needs a Bluetooth or an ANT+ heart rate monitor to pair with the bike and display the information on the LCD.

Concept 2 go a step further than the Echo bike in enriching your training experience because they have enabled their bike technologically meaning you can pair it with your handheld devices and through a USB port, you can share or save your workout reports.

Concept 2 rower has a wide range of programs available like preset workouts, games and multiple languages. Rogue bike is preinstalled with two workout options.  The first is a four-minute interval session featuring 20 seconds of workout and 10 seconds of rest. The other is a reverse with 10 second workouts with 20 second rests.

Rogue Echo bike will be best for HIIT members because it works out your whole body and the Concept 2 rower best fits the LISS market whose aim is to strengthen and tone their muscles and joints.

Rogue Echo Bike vs Concept 2 Rower – A Comparison Overview

Rogue Echo Bike – Overview

 Rogue Echo Bike

Rogue Echo bike is made of strong steel metal made to last and it is built with much heavier measurements in thickness of parts. It has a big flywheel featuring 10 blades.

Both bikes have a powder coating finish and it gives riders maximum customizing options such as moving the seat upward, forward, backward and downwards. This bikes uniquely have a set of movable handlebars which introduces arms, back and shoulders to the overall workout.

There are footrests built into the design to allow for you to focus on upper body workouts and take a break from cycling. The pedals on the Echo bike are standard outdoor bike pedals.

These bikes demand a lot of your energy with every revolution or handle bar movement. The harder you push the belt drive system automatically adjusts the resistance and the workout gets harder. This makes it a great trainer for professional or intermediate trainees.

To get a reading of your heart rate, buy a compatible chest strap to pair with the bike. Unfortunately, the bike is not Bluetooth compatible and cannot connect with Apple of Android devices.

Pros

  • 2-way adjustable seat
  • Movable multi-grip arms
  • Infinite air resistance
  • Heart rate receiver
  • Low maintenance

Cons

  • LCD screen not backlit
  • Not Bluetooth compatible

Concept 2 Rower – Overview

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With air power resistance, the rower provides smooth function with little heard movement. The rower has the option to adjusts the resistance by use of a damper or by adding or decreasing the effort you put in. This makes the equipment a great buy for both beginner and expert levels of trainees.

The rower comes with an awesome PM5 display screen that helps the rower, through Bluetooth connection to monitor your heart rate, calories burned, distance rowed and time spent. You are also able to share this data across other Bluetooth compatible devices for future reference.

For training, you have access to several pre-programmed work outs and even games you can challenge yourself on. Handles have been ergonomically placed on the bike with 10-degree bend for better support for rowing motion.

Foot rests on the rower are adjustable to accommodate different proportionate trainees and they break into two parts which makes storage easy.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble
  • Air resistance
  • Wireless heart rate monitor
  • Easy storage

Cons

  • Size takes up space

View Price on Amazon

Verdict: So, which is better, Rogue Echo Bike or Concept 2 Rower?

If you are into High Intensity Interval Training and you have a fitness goal such as weight loss on your bucket list, the Rogue Echo Bikeis your best bet. The belt drive system is taut and indestructible and the resistance levels are limitless.