The best folding exercise bike will come in handy for those who live in small spaces or have tight storage spaces because they are built on rolling away or fold up. The folding exercise bike is an amazing space saver that you can easily fit in any one of the rooms.
These exercise bikes will easily fold for storage and allow you to burn some calories while still working. Luckily, there is an exercise bike for every budget, which means no matter your budget or price point, you can always get a folding bike that provides great value for money.
However, with the wide range of folding exercise bikes available in the market today, it can be challenging to know which one offers a good value for money. This guide will make the search process easier for you. From experienced users to beginners, you can find a bike that won't end up wasting your space.
Are Folding Exercise Bikes Worth It?
An exercise bike is one of the main pieces of equipment that most people buy when they are planning to start a home gym. It gives a cardio workout that helps burn calories, improve your heart, and lower blood pressure.
Although the folding bikes won't give the same degree of workouts as a professional exercise bike or a real bike, it doesn't mean that they are not worth it. The idea of going to the gym can be exhausting, costly, and time-consuming, and this is why most people prefer having the best exercise bikes to use at home.
For people who have limited space, this is where the folding bikes come in. Additionally, these bikes are affordable and flexible to use. Since they are in your home, you can use them whenever you want and mix them with other activities like working or watching shows.
Compared to traditional stationary bikes, folding bikes are less stable and lack some high-end features. However, stationary bikes are more difficult to store and heavyweight when compared to folding bikes.
If you're looking to invest in a folding exercise bike, here are the five best folding exercise bikes you should consider.
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Best Folding Exercise Bikes
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Best Folding Exercise Bike - Reviews
Exerpeutic is a popular brand in the fitness market because of its high quality and affordable products. The Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike, a product of the brand, is one of the best folding exercise bikes, especially if you're looking for an affordable option.
It measures 78.5 cm in length, 48 cm in width, and 117 cm tall when not folded and 59 cm in length, 51 cm in width, and 141 cm in height when folded. In addition, it comes with a larger frame that provides great weight distribution and can withstand a weight capacity of up to 136 kgs.
These foldable exercise bicycles also have a sturdy frame, as well as a huge and comfortable seat pad. Additionally, the bike is pretty lightweight, weighing at 20kgs, making it easy to move the bike from one place to another.
It also has wheels on the sides of the base, which make it even easier to move on hard floors. It features eight levels of magnetic resistance, and there are plenty of levels of resistance between the heaviest and lightest settings.
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Generally, recumbent bikes have a low impact and gentler workout than upright bikes, making them the best exercise bike for seniors. The Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709 provides more lumbar support to recline on a cushioned back and exerts less pressure on your ankles, knees, and hips.
It also comes with comfortable padding on the back and seat to provide extra support and adjustable straps to ensure your feet will remain in place. The LCD display indicates the distance, speed, time, and calories burnt.
This Marcy Foldable exercise bike has eight levels of magnetic resistance mechanism, and the knob controls the difficulty and the intensity to stimulate the riding on different terrains. The multi-functional LCD monitor screen has a panel display and sharp function that allows you to view the distance, calories burnt, speed, and time with extra-large numbers for better readability.
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The XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Indoor Exercise Bike is a sturdy and solid bike that is lightweight, very quiet, easy to maneuver, and perfect for people who are under 5’10”. Unlike some of the cheaper models, this bike comes with a comfy and wide seat.
As one of the best exercise bikes, the XTERRA FB150 Folding Exercise Bike folds to approximately 18x18 square inches of floor space and has wheels that make it easy to move around. It also has a large seat for comfort and adjustable height.
This bike comes with eight levels of manual resistance, a small LCD window that displays the distance, pulse, calories, time, and speed, as well as eight levels of manual resistance.
It features a flywheel construction with strap food pedals. It takes up minimal space and folds up easily with dimensions of 18.1” x 18.1” of floor space when it's not in use.
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The XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike is a magnetic upright bike that is designed to be used by everyone, both tall or short people, beginners, and experts. This bike can support up to 225 lbs. of weight and comes with a big LCD display calories burnt, time, speed, etc.
As one of the best exercise bikes, this bike has pulse rate sensors that measure the heart rate while cycling. Additionally, it has casters that help to transfer the bike after usage. Its seat is big enough and comes with brackets that can hold a tablet, a kindle, an iPad, and also a remote.
The magnetic resistance of this bike is very quiet, which means you can exercise anytime, even when the kids are napping. This bike also features a three-piece crank for additional durability with no custom or preset programs.
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The Exerpeutic Folding Recumbent Bike is another affordable option that boasts premium features. This bike is one of the best folding recumbent exercise bikes in the market today and features a combination of a recumbent and upright bike.
This semi-recumbent exercise bike has slightly inclined seats that come in handy to support your back, and the padding is quite comfortable. It is a super lightweight bike with just 43 pounds and dimensions of 22 inches in length, 19 inches in width, and 46 inches in height.
It has a precision balanced flywheel and eight levels of magnetic resistance. The display features also come with a great number of readings, including the resistance level, heart rate, speed, and calories burnt. In addition, this folding recumbent exercise bike has handles on both sides that are very comfortable and easy to grip.
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What are the Different Types of Exercise Bikes?
There are four main types of bikes that include;
1. Recumbent Bike
The folding recumbent exercise bike is friendlier for users or people who experience point pain. With this bike, the user sits in a reclined position offering a good posture to help relieve the pressure in the ankle and joints.
2. Upright Bikes
An upright bike is like a regular bike; however, the difference from the regular one is that you bend over the handlebar with an upright bike. The folding upright exercise bike provides better cardio than other bikes; however, users may need to apply pressure on their joints while pedaling.
3. Spinner Exercise Bikes
The spinner exercise bikes are similar to upright, but they have a modified design where there are reduced handlebars. This means that the user needs to bend, therefore providing an intense workout.
4. Semi-recumbent Bike
The semi-recumbent bikes are a combination of upright and recumbent exercise bikes. Just like other recumbent bikes, their pedals are located in the front, and as the foldable upright exercise bike, they are down into an angle resembling them. The benefit of these bikes is that you tend to engage your leg muscles and achieve a more well-rounded leg workout.
What Do You Consider Before Buying the Best Folding Exercise Bike?
1. Resistance
Before buying any bike, it is crucial to check out resistance levels. While a folding bike offers moderate resistance at the top of the setting and is quite sufficient for most people but not for experts, If you are an expert, you should opt for a bike with intense resistance at the high tension level.
You also need to consider the style of resistance. Most exercise bikes on the market use magnetic resistance, which is a compact technology that uses a flywheel and magnet to create a resistance that turns the dial to put the magnet closer to the flywheel, which induces more resistance. On the other hand, air bikes have a fan-type flywheel that uses wind resistance to form a resistance.
Here are the common types of resistance;
a). Flywheel Resistance
The flywheel resistance is not very common because it is not quite practical. A large flywheel is used to create resistance, which can make the bike very heavy. It is mostly used with other types.
b). Friction Resistance
Friction resistance is the most popular for enthusiasts since they have brac=kes to influence how difficult it is to pedal. Therefore, they tend to give very high levels of resistance. However, they are not popular for home use because they can cause a bit of noise.
c). Magnetic Resistance
This type uses magnets to generate resistance and is popular for home use for many reasons. They offer reliable operation, require little to no maintenance, and are one of the quietest available in the market today.
d). Fan-Based Resistance
With the fan-based resistance, a large fan is placed on the front section of the bike, which works to form a resistance. It is very popular among professional cyclists because of the amazing level of resistance that IT can create. In addition, it provides the option of increasing the airflow, helping to keep the ride comfortable and cool during the workout.
2. Height and Weight Capacity
Weight capacity and height limits are the most overlooked factors when buying a bike, and later the user realizes that the folding fitness bike cannot support their physique. Although weight and height are not something that is a must, they tend to give you a rough idea of what the ideal weight and height should be.
If you're above the recommended weight limit of the best exercise bike, you will most likely get it damaged. Additionally, if your height is lower, then it is most likely that the pedals will be hard to reach, and if you're taller, then you will not have the capacity to stretch your leg properly, and in turn, cause some joint pain.
3. Seat
Most bikes will come with extra padded seats which are comfortable enough for you. This means that no matter the length of time you will exercise, your back won't become sore. Other bikes will come with basic seats, which are only comfortable for a short time.
If you're looking to exercise for a long period of time with no strain or pain, the extra foam or gel seat covers will come in handy. Additionally, folding a towel to add extra support to your seat might help.
4. Portability
When it comes to portability, the material of the bike plays a huge role in how heavy the bike will be. Steel tends to be the heaviest, while aluminum is both durable and lightweight.
During your search for the best folding exercise bike, you will find that there are heavy bikes and lightweights. However, the weight may not matter much, especially since the bike has wheels that make it easy to move.
5. Folding Capacity
Although the folding ability is the main reason you're buying the best folding exercise bike, it is crucial to note that different best exercise bikes have varying folding capacities.
Some bikes will do a great job when it comes to folding. This way, when folded, they return to nearly half the size or sometimes even smaller. So, you should always consider how easily and how far the bike folds.
The main concern when it comes to foldup exercise bikes is how much space it takes once it is folded. In addition, you need to ensure that the folding stationary bike is easily movable and the wheels are easy to maneuver from one place to another.
6. Ease of Assembly
The best folding exercise bike won't come ready to be used straight out of the box. Moreover, these bikes will vary on how difficult or easy they are to assemble and the quality of the instructions manual that makes it easy to install.
7. Sturdiness
For many users of these bikes, one of the most crucial features is stability and sturdiness. However, you should note that it is portable and small tend to be less sturdy, while substantial bikes will provide sturdiness and stability.
If you're a heavy user or planning to have an engaging in demanding workouts, you want to look for a model that can handle heavy use. Of course, this means you may need to sacrifice the portability, size, and weight, but those features are worth the trade-off for added stability.
8. Additional Features
Exercise bikes also come with additional features that will enhance your exercise routine. These features may include the pulse rate, brackets for holding your tablets/iPad, bigger LCDs, backlit LCDs, etc. These additional features need to be taken into account before making your final decision.
9. Price
There are bikes made for every budget depending on a number of factors, including the budget, features, etc. More expensive bikes tend to have more resistance levels and more features, but not always. There are also some budget options that come with features that are good enough for a basic workout.
Benefits of the Foldable Exercise Bike
1. Ease of Use
Folding exercise bikes are very easy to use, and you won't have to go to the gym to be able to exercise. In addition, the bikes provide you with the relative comfort of exercising from your home.
2. Affordable
Although folding exercise bikes offer a wide range of prices, they are quite affordable, and there is something for every budget. So it makes them a budget-friendly way of exercise.
3. Space
A folding bike does require so much space when compared to a non-folding bike. However, the recumbent folding exercise bike can be folded in half and may be able to be stored in small spaces. This makes them a good option for shared spaces, apartments, or people who want to keep the bike away from their sight.
4. Ideal for Beginners
These portable exercise bikes will easily fold away, making them a perfect choice for people who are just getting started. These bikes are also great for people looking to lose weight and who find it costly or time-consuming to go to the gym.
5. Multiple exercises
Foldable bikes will allow users to move through the different kinds of exercise regimens based on the requirements. In addition, the resistance level offered by the bikes makes them easy to adjust to different exercised based on the fitness levels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Folding Bikes
1. Are Folding Bikes Good For Long Rides?
The best folding exercise bikes are a great option for both long and short rides. However, this depends on the endurance because long rides need more endurance, and also the ability of the bike should be great. Folding exercise bikes will perform in a similar way to any other exercise bike when it comes to long distances.
2. How Long Should I Ride An Exercise Bike?
The length of time you should ride an exercising bike varies depending on a number of factors. If you're using a bike for aerobic or cardio exercise, then you can ride for 30 to 40 minutes for at least 3 to 5 days a week.
3. Are Folding Bikes Durable?
The durability of the folding bikes will depend on the material is dependent on the material, the design, and the construction of the folding bikes. Most bikes are aluminum or steel material which are very durable materials.
4. Are Folding Exercise Bikes Good?
Folding are a great choice because of their small footprint and easy storage. These bikes are designed in such a way that they are lightweight and are easy to move. If your space is limited, then these folding bikes will provide you a number of exercising opportunities.
Image Source: thesun.co.uk
