What a cardio area has to get right
Most people judge a cardio area by counting treadmills. The count matters less than four other things: whether the mix of machines covers your sessions, whether they work properly, whether there is room to use them comfortably and whether one is open when you arrive. In Abu Dhabi the last point weighs more than in most places, because for much of the year the cardio row is where nearly everyone's walking and running happens.
To pick the machine that suits you, see treadmill, cross-trainer or bike. This page judges the area those machines sit in. RPM's cardio page shows its own row.
The machine mix
A well-stocked cardio area offers more than one way to run each kind of session. This is what to look for, and the gap each type leaves when it is missing or scarce.
| Machine | What a good area has | Gap that shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Treadmills | Enough for the evening crowd, with a good incline range | Queues every evening, with walkers and runners competing for the same few belts |
| Cross-trainers | Several, as the gentler choice for long steady sessions | Everyone who wants less impact ends up on the bikes |
| Upright and recumbent bikes | Both, with seats and bars that adjust easily | No backrest option for people who prefer one |
| Spin bikes | Bikes open outside class times as well as during them | Bikes tied to the studio timetable at your hour |
| Rowers | A few in decent order, with room behind each for the slide | Whole-body intervals move to other kit |
| Ski ergometers and air bikes | At least one of each if you train for race formats | Intervals limited to bikes and treadmills |
| Stair climbers | One or more for short, hard efforts | Hill work falls back on the treadmill incline |
How do I choose a gym with good treadmills and bikes?
Test the treadmills at your own pace: the deck should feel long and wide enough for your stride, the belt should stay steady as you speed up, and the incline should reach the gradient you walk on. On bikes, check that the seat and bars adjust to your height, that resistance climbs smoothly to a hard setting and that spin bikes are open to you outside classes. Then count how many of each stand unused at your hour.
Condition, tested at your own pace
A machine-by-machine check is covered in the equipment condition guide. In the cardio area, test the machines the way you would actually use them.
- Walk or run at your real pace for a minute, not the easy speed a tour uses. A belt that hesitates as your foot lands, or a deck that thumps, shows up only at speed.
- Take the incline to the top and back down. It should move steadily without jerking.
- Ride a bike at a hard setting. On a worn machine the resistance stops climbing well before the dial does.
- Count the out-of-order signs along the row. One is normal on a busy floor, while several suggest repairs are waiting.
- Look for wipes or spray along the row and people using them, because cardio machines collect more sweat than anything else in the gym.
Screens, spacing and views
Comfort in the cardio area comes down to a few practical details.
| Detail | Why it matters | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Screens and phone holders | Long steady sessions pass faster with something to watch | A shelf that holds a phone or tablet, and whether the built-in screens work |
| Space between machines | You can step on and off without brushing the next person | Room to stand beside a treadmill, not only on it |
| Clear floor behind treadmills | A stumble ends on open floor, not against a wall or a machine | Nothing stored behind the belts |
| Airflow | A stuffy row turns a steady session into a slog | Fans or vents that reach the middle of the row, not only the ends |
| Windows and light | Daylight and a view make long sessions easier to face | Blinds, since low afternoon sun can glare across a row of screens |
Screens and views are pleasant extras. Do not let either outweigh a machine being available when you arrive.
Availability at your hour
Once the summer heat arrives, roughly May to September, the walkers and runners of the cooler months come indoors and the cardio row fills before anywhere else. After office hours on weekdays is usually the tightest window, and in Ramadan the rush shifts late into the evening. Visit at your own hour and count:
- How many machines of the type you want are standing empty.
- Whether people wait, and for how long.
- Whether a time limit is posted for busy hours.
- Whether a class has taken the spin bikes.
RPM's day runs from early morning to late evening, shorter on Fridays, and the times are below.
| Days | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday to Thursday | 06:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 09:00–22:00 |
Hours can change, for example during Ramadan. Confirm with the team before a late or early visit.
Checking RPM's cardio row in person
RPM runs one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. Its photos show treadmills, cross-trainers and an upright bike by tall windows, as well as spin bikes. The women-only Ladies section has cardio equipment of its own, and men train in the Mixed section.
Rowers, SkiErgs and stair climbers are not confirmed here, and neither are machine numbers, screen features or any time limit at peak. Ask about the machines your plan relies on, and on a free guided tour, a walk-through with a member of the team rather than a workout, stand by the cardio row at the hour you would train.
Questions, answered.
Do I need a gym with a rower or SkiErg?
Only if your plan uses them, for example in race-style training. RPM offers HYROX-style training as an independent gym, not an official HYROX partner or venue, and whether a rower or SkiErg is available there is not confirmed, so ask.
Are cardio time limits normal at busy hours?
Some gyms post a limit at peak so that more people get a turn. If you plan long steady sessions, ask the rule and train at a quieter hour.
Can women do cardio without using the mixed floor?
At RPM, yes: the women-only Ladies section has its own cardio equipment. Ask which machines it holds if you rely on a particular type.
Can I use my own headphones and watch my own content?
Most gyms expect it. Use headphones rather than a speaker, and keep calls short or take them away from the row.