I have had a row bike since they first came out. It is well built. fun to ride and gets lots of attention. Going up hill, there is a great deal of resistence, on level ground you don't get much of a workout. You CANNOT take one hand off the handlebars, even for a second, you WILL crash if you do. If I had it to do again, I would have invested that money (600.00) in a recumbent.