What is VPR™ Technology?

We've come a long way from the introduction of fire and the wheel — thank you human innovation, I love your work. Today, the newest evolution in home fitness is here: variable pitch resistance (VPR), built to transform the way treadmills, rowers, and air bikes respond to your effort.

Below, I'll dive into what you need to know about this technology, what equipment you can find it on — hello, Strive™ Air Bike featuring VPR™ — and how it compares to other forms of resistance. 

What is VPR™ Technology?

VPR™, in the world of fitness, stands for variable pitch resistance. It's a new form of resistance technology found in upscale cardio equipment like airbikes, ski-ergs, rowers, and curved treadmills. 

Rather than magnets or motors, VPR™ is an air-based, effort-responsive resistance with manual pitch adjustment. The system uses a spinning rotor that interacts with air to create resistance — the harder you pedal, push, or pull, the more resistance the fan generates.

At the same time, you can manually adjust the rotor's pitch to fine-tune the baseline resistance, which, unlike typical air resistance, gives you the option to work with more resistance at a slow pace or lighter resistance as you increase intensity. The hybrid approach makes VPR™ both dynamic and customizable, adpating to your effort while allowing control over difficulty. 

How VPR™ Compares to Magnetic, Air, and Flywheel Resistance

With the assortment of resistance offerings on the market, it might be hard to navigate the best option for you and your goals. As such, we've detailed the pros and cons of each type of resistance:

VPR™ PROS and CONS

Variable pitch resistance provides users with acces to pitch adjustments, creating a wide-range of resistance levels that works in-tandem with air resistance. 

PROS:

• Greater resistance customization
• Smooth and natural feel
• Wider range of resistance than typical equipment
  
• Provides both air resistance and pitch adjustments, suitable for endurance, power, intervals, and rehab work.

CONS:

• May cost more than standard equipment
• Typically louder than magnetic and flywheel resistance

Magnetic Resistance PROS and CONS

This type of resistance places magnets near a metal flywheel. When you adjust them to move closer to the wheel, that creates more resistance, and when you adjust them away, that creates less.

PROS:

• Quietest resistance type
• Low maintenance

CONS:

• Doesn't adapt to your effort automatically
• Less realistic for athletes wanting a real-world feel for training

Fan Resistance PROS and CONS

This resistance system utilizes a fan wheel that spins and pushes air — typically seen on fan exercise bikes. The harder your work with fan resistance, the more resistance is applied.

PROS:

• Great for HIIT and power output
• Simple and low maintenance

CONS:

• Limited range of resistance compared to VPR™
• Typically louder than magnetic and flywheel resistance
• No resistance adjustments

Flywheel Resistance PROS and CONS

In flywheel-based cardio machines, resistance is created by a weighted wheel that spins as you move. Friction slows the wheel down, making it harder to maintain speed and increasing the challenge.

PROS:

• Tends to be the least expensive resistance type
• Smooth feel
• Predictable resistance

CONS:

• The part that creates friction on the flywheel will need to be replaced when it wears down.
• Usually very low-tech
• Difficult to know exactly what level of resistance you're working with
• Can become hot at points of friction

REP's Strive™ Air Bike featuring VPR™

Price: $1,299.99

Unlike typical fan bikes that have fixed resistance that's dependent on how hard you pedal, the Strive™ Air Bike features VPR™ technology that provides you with the ability to totally customize your workout for any level of air bike fitness. "Simply pull down on the VPR™ handle [located between your legs when you're in the seat] to increase the pitch of the fan blades and increase resistance," advises Adam Brandt, REP product marketing manager.

As VPR™ tech is still relatively new — and often a little clunky — REP's engineering team saw an opportunity to give the Strive™ Air Bike a modern upgrade. "[Our goal was to] make it more streamlined and refined," says Bryan Hamilton, principal mechanical engineer here at REP. With a sleeker design, slim blades, and components neatly housed within the frame, the bike looks and functions more smoothly and efficiently.

What muscles does a VPR™ air bike work?

This air bike can provide a total-body workout. Target your biceps, triceps, chest, back, and shoulders as you push and pull on the handles. Plus your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and hip flexors fire as you pedal.

Thanks to the variable pitch resistance, this bike is suitable for a wider range of training than standard air bikes — tackle endurance efforts, interval sprints, power training, and rehab work with the customizable resistance. "It gives you the same feel as a bike you'd find in a [functional fitness] gym, but now with adjustable resistance," adds Hamilton.

Takeaway

For years, air, flywheel, and magnetic resistance were the only options for home and commercial cardio. Now, VPR™ — variable pitch resistance — is changing the game with adjustable pitch, giving you a fully customizable workout experience. No matter your goal — speed, endurance, power, or recovery — VPR™ gives you complete control. 

FAQs

Can air bikes help improve cardiovascular health effectively?

Yes! Air bikes, with and without VPR™ technology, can imcrease aerobic capacity, burn calories, and strengthen your heart and lungs. These piece of equipment are especially good for HIIT training, which is one of the most effecient and effective ways to boost cardiovascular fitness, improve endurance, and burn fat in a shorter amount of time compared to steady-state workouts.

How do I choose the best air bike for my fitness level?

To choose the best air bike for your fitness level, consider your experience, goals, and desired workout intensity. Beginners can start with a simple, adjustable bike, while more advanced riders will benefit from a sturdier, heavy-duty bike that can handle high-intensity training like the Strive™ Air Bike featuring VPR™.

Rosie Borchert is a NASM-CPT, former Nike Volleyball coach, and fitness writer whose work has appeared on BarBend and Tonal. If anyone would like to hire her to play beach volleyball, snowboard, binge watch TV, or go climbing, please get in touch.

This article was reviewed by Ashley Boyer, ACE-CPT, for accuracy.