My Best Folding Exercise Bike Review: 7 Nice & Cheap Ones

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The pedals and front of a folding exercise bike

For this review article I evaluated over two dozen folding exercise bikes, between my retail store product testing and online owner research.

And the seven models featured in this review are the ones that made the grade, and share the following qualities:

  • all have quiet magnetic resistance;
  • are light enough to be considered portable;
  • have a very small space footprint when in use;
  • and of course fold up easily too.

The folding stationary bikes that got cut from the team were excluded from this review due to any of the following:

  • a poor showing at the sporting goods and retailers I visited;
  • too many owner complaints online;
  • for being a knockoff model without any real fitness company behind them.

 

Table of Contents show

About these 7 folding exercise bikes

This article features six well-rated upright folding exercise bikes, and for a little variety I’ve also included a folding recumbent exercise bike too.

Listed below are the seven worthy candidates for best folding exercise bike that we’ll be looking at.

Sale
Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike, 8 Levels of...
  • All LEVELS: An 8-level magnetic control system allows the user to adjust...
  • THE FUTURE OF FITNESS: Add the MyCloud Fitness Cadence sensor (sold...
  • EASY TO READ: A 3.5 W" x 1.5" H LCD screen allows you to see your distance,...
Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike with...
  • Heavy duty and high durability steel frame construction with up to 400...
  • An 8 level Magnetic Tension control system for an easier or more...
  • Folds to 1/2 the size, so it is uniquely compact; Folded dimensions: 26.4"...
Sale
ATIVAFIT Exercise Bike Foldable Fitness Indoor Cycling...
  • DIGITAL MONITOR SHOWS YOUR DATA - Monitor your distance, speed, time and...
  • VERSATILE & ADJUSTABLE SEAT SUITABLE FOR ANYONE - Wide & Comfortable seat...
  • STABLE DESIGN - Ativafit stationary bike’s frame combining the X-type...
Sale
XTERRA Fitness Folding Exercise Bike, 225 LB Weight...
  • Solid X-frame foldable design — folds to just 20.5" x 20.5" of floor...
  • Ergonomically designed for comfort — large contoured seat with back pad...
  • 2" x 1" LCD window — clearly displays speed, distance, time, calories,...
Sale
Marcy Foldable Magnetic Resistance Upright Exercise...
  • CUSTOMIZABLE CYCLING WORKOUT – Created for fitness enthusiasts of all...
  • COMFORTABLE SEAT WITH HANDLEBARS – Designed for a comfortable and...
  • LCD DISPLAY TRACKS PROGRESS – Push beyond your limits and track your...
Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Exercise Bike
  • Foldable recumbent exercise bike with quiet V-belt double-drive...
  • Precision-balanced flywheel; 8-level adjustable magnetic tension control...
  • Easy-to-read LCD display tracks your distance, calories, time, speed, and...
Xspec Foldable Stationary Upright Exercise Folding...
  • The universal heavy-duty steel frame has 3 levels that can be adjusted with...
  • Large ergonomic seat cushion provides max comfort. The vertically...
  • Folds for storage and can moved with the included transportation wheels....

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Science resources included

As is my custom here on heydayDo, I will provide links to all of the relevant sports science & medical resources, clinical studies, and nutritional data used in this article.

Advantages of a folding exercise bike

Here are three big reasons why owning a small exercise bike for apartment or home use is a convenient and practical way to work out.

 

#1 A folding bike is space saving

When space is at a premium in your apartment or home, a compact workout machine like a folding stationary bike is a great way to get your cardio in.

A little later on in the article I list the required floor space for each of the seven foldable exercise bikes featured here, which you’ll quickly see is a lot less than what a treadmill or elliptical machine requires.

I’ll also provide their folded-up dimensions too, in case you need to put it away somewhere when not in use.

These small cardio machines are great for anyone who wants to get their aerobic exercise in at home but simply doesn’t have the room for a standard size treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike.

 

Just a quick glance at those numbers will illustrate how little space a folding exercise bike needs, whether you’re riding them or stashing them.

 

#2 The best folding exercise bikes are portable

None of these folding bikes is too heavy to move it somewhere when you need to. Looking at their respective weights, I see the Exerpeutic Gold folding exercise bike weighs 52 lb., and that’s the heaviest bike of the bunch.

There’s one weighing 43 lb., and the other five folding bikes are all in the 30-39 lb. range – so they’re all pretty lightweight as far as exercise bikes go.

That fact plus their lack of bulk — especially after folding — makes them a breeze to move. Portable folding bikes like these can be easily parked in a corner, moved to another room without hassle, or even moved outdoors if you’ve got a spot to ride it.

 

#3 A folding exercise bike is cheap too

As I write this, all seven of these folding bikes in this review cost under 200 bucks.

If you’re unfamiliar with the prices of indoor cycles made for home use, I can tell you that an exercise bike under 200 dollars is definitely in the bargain bin aisle of this category of compact cardio machines.

 

Protect Your Investment

Do you need a fitness equipment mat to protect your floor from your workouts on your folding exercise bike? Over time, your bodyweight pressure down through the legs of the bike — plus any sweat you’re tossing — can damage both hardwood & carpeted floors.

A good mat also keeps floor dust or carpet fibers from getting up into your equipment’s moving parts and causing problems.

I wrote an article — Best Treadmill Mat & Exercise Equipment Matsthat includes a buyer’s guide on what to look for in a top-quality exercise equipment mat.

Best folding exercise bikes sneak peek

What do the owners of these folding bikes have to say? Well, all seven of these models have very good ratings numbers.

The percent of owners leaving five star and four star ratings is very high, ranging from 88% on the low end for the Xterra up to 92% for the Exerpeutic 1200.

Also — six of these seven bikes have several thousand buyer reviews apiece across the internet.

You can click on their names or the pics to check today’s price or go read more owner feedback on Amazon if you want.

 

Most popular folding exercise bike

Exerpeutic 1200

4.6 ⭐   16,000+ online reviews

“For daily use it works great for those of us who do not have a gym membership and want something that we can use conveniently at home. The price point was right too, and I feel like I got a bargain.” – S

Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Bike

 

Highest weight capacity folding bike

Exerpeutic GOLD 500 XLS 

4.6 ⭐   7,500+ online reviews

“It rides very smoothly and very quietly. It is also very sturdy. As a heavier person I am pleased with this product and it’s made working out at home comfortable and easy!” – K

Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS Folding Bike

 

ATIVAFIT Folding Upright Bike

4.5 ⭐   9,800+ online reviews

“This bike has a lot of positives. It is easy to put together and the lumbar support makes it very comfortable. It folds up nicely and doesn’t take up a lot of space. The downside for me is that when I adjust the resistance to 3 or above, the pedaling cycle gets very jerky.” – WW

ATIVAFIT Folding Upright Bike

 

Xterra Fitness FB350 Folding Bike

4.5 ⭐   7,000+ online reviews

“Awesome exercise bike. Easy to assemble; easy to use, folds and moves easily, and quiet while pedaling.” – CC

 

Xterra Fitness FB350 Folding Bike

 

Cheapest of these folding upright bikes

Marcy Foldable Bike

4.5 ⭐   5,000+ online reviews

“Overall, a great purchase and I highly recommend. Quiet as a mouse. This bike was easy to put together, love that it folds for easy storage, love that it’s light enough that I can move it by myself, and I am amazed at how quiet this bike is! – B

Marcy Foldable Bike

Best folding recumbent exercise bike

Exerpeutic 400xl 

4.5 ⭐   6,000+ online reviews

“Still going strong…I bought this bike almost two years ago, and I’ve put over 1800 miles on it so far. It has been the best deal on a piece of exercise equipment that I have ever purchased…” – AC

Exerpeutic 400xl Folding Bike

 

Smallest Foldable Exercise Bike

Xspec Folding Bike

4.5 ⭐   500+ online reviews

“I thoroughly enjoy using it, and the way it folds up it’s so compact it takes hardly any room. I would highly recommend this exercise bike!” – MD

Xspec Folding Bike

 

Folding exercise bike comparisons

Circus performer muscle man riding a strange bicycle that's not a folding exercise bike

#1 Floor space needed while in use

(length x width, in inches)

Exerpeutic 1200      31” x 19”

Exerpeutic Gold      39” x 26”

Ativafit                        43″ x 16″

XTERRA FB350       41” x 21”

Marcy                           39″ x 19″

Exerpeutic 400XL  33” x 20”

Xspec                           27” x 17”

 

#2 Folded dimensions and bike weight

Exerpeutic 1200      22” x 19”   39 lb.

Exerpeutic Gold      25” x 26”   52 lb.

Ativafit                        26″ x 16″  30 lb. (estimate)

XTERRA FB350       21” x 21” 32 lb.

Marcy                           39″ x 19″   37 lb.

Exerpeutic 400XL  17” x 20”   43 lb.

Xspec                           14″ x 17″  32 lb.

 

#3 User Weight Capacity

Exerpeutic 1200      300 lb.

Exerpeutic Gold      400 lb.

Ativafit                        265 lb.

XTERRA FB350       225 lb.

Marcy                           250 lb.

Exerpeutic 400XL  300 lb.

Xspec                           220 lb.

 

Best Folding Exercise Bike Review

A pedal and its foot strap on a folding exercise bike

I listed these individual reviews in descending order, from the highest-rated (and coincidentally, best-selling) bike on down.

 

Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Bike

4.6 ⭐   16,000+ online reviews

Sale
Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike, 8 Levels of...
  • All LEVELS: An 8-level magnetic control system allows the user to adjust...
  • THE FUTURE OF FITNESS: Add the MyCloud Fitness Cadence sensor (sold...
  • EASY TO READ: A 3.5 W" x 1.5" H LCD screen allows you to see your distance,...

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The biggest selling foldable exercise bike in town, this Exerpeutic 1200 has had many copycats pop up over the years because it’s a classic prototype for the inexpensive, space-saving, upright exercise bike.

Since it also has the highest buyer ratings among the popular top-selling brands, we may as well call this the best of the Best Folding Exercise Bikes, if there is such a thing.

 

What I like:

*Higher weight capacity – The Exerpeutic 1200’s 300 lb. maximum weight capacity is higher compared to all of the other folding bikes in this review except for its big brother, the Exerpeutic Gold.

*Very good owner satisfaction rating – 92% (4.6 stars, over 16,000 owner reviews online).

*Very quiet when in use – thanks to its magnetic resistance.

*Ticks all the boxes of typical folding exercise bikes: 

  • it’s foldable;
  • it’s lightweight and easy to move (39 lb.);
  • it has a small space footprint (31” x 19”)
  • it’s cheap (easy on the wallet).

Any issues?

No problems unique to this bike alone, just the typical stuff that eventually starts showing up on a cheap exercise bike.

I’ll be repeating that phrase a few more times here in this review.

 

Exerpeutic GOLD 500 XLS 

4.6 ⭐   7,500+ online reviews

Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike with...
  • Heavy duty and high durability steel frame construction with up to 400...
  • An 8 level Magnetic Tension control system for an easier or more...
  • Folds to 1/2 the size, so it is uniquely compact; Folded dimensions: 26.4"...

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

At 400 lb. capacity, this GOLD 500XLS upright exercise bike has the highest weight capacity of any of the folding models I’ve come across.

Yet it’s still light enough to be considered a piece of portable exercise equipment, weighing at around fifty two pounds. And it’s a compact exercise bike too, needing a floor space that’s less than four feet by three feet when in use.

 

What I like:

*Very high capacity at 400 lb. – good for the heavy bike riders among us.

*Very good owner satisfaction rating – 91% (4.6 stars, 7,500+ online reviews)

*Quiet magnetic resistance – good for situations needing quiet exercise equipment.

*Ticks all the typical folding exercise bike boxes: 

  • it’s a foldable compact bike;
  • it’s lightweight and pretty easy to move (52 lb.);
  • it has a small space footprint (39″ x 26″);
  • it’s cheap (easy on the wallet).

Any issues?

Nothing unique to this model, just the typical cheap exercise bike stuff that’s likely to crop up as time goes by.

 

Ativafit Folding Upright Bike

4.5 ⭐   9,800+ online reviews

Sale
ATIVAFIT Exercise Bike Foldable Fitness Indoor Cycling...
  • DIGITAL MONITOR SHOWS YOUR DATA - Monitor your distance, speed, time and...
  • VERSATILE & ADJUSTABLE SEAT SUITABLE FOR ANYONE - Wide & Comfortable seat...
  • STABLE DESIGN - Ativafit stationary bike’s frame combining the X-type...

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The newest bike to hit the market out of the bunch in this article, Ativafit debuted this on Amazon in 2019. They appear to be a young company judging by their bare-bones website, and they also sell adjustable dumbbells and some yoga gear too.

I included it as one of the best exercise bikes in this foldable and portable category based on the strong buyer ratings & the high number of bikes they’ve sold on Amazon.

You can buy it off of their website for the same price, but I suggest sticking with Amazon since their website has very little company information.

On their Amazon product page you’ll see they actually have three folding bike models, and I’m showing you the model that comes with resistance bands and has a better seat than the two other cheaper bikes.

Looks like all three versions come with quiet magnetic resistance.

 

What I like:

*Very good owner satisfaction rating – 89% (4.5 stars, 9,800+ owner reviews online)

*Another very compact exercise machine – needs only 43” x 21” when in use, & only 19” x 18” after folding.

*Light – Users report there’s no information anywhere on how much the bike weighs (I couldn’t find any either), but that it’s in the neighborhood of 30 lb.

*Quiet magnetic resistance – This makes it a good upright exercise bike for apartments and other noise-free zones.

*Ticks all the typical folding stationary bike boxes – 

  • it’s foldable;
  • it’s lightweight & easy to move;
  • it has a small space footprint (43″ x 16″) when in use;
  • it’s cheap (easy on the wallet).

Any issues?

  • A few users report that Amazon’s listed weight capacity (of 265 lb.) is over-stated, since the manual that comes with the bike lists 220 lb.
  • A few buyer complaints about the assembly instructions being poorly written.

 

Xterra Fitness FB350 Folding Bike

4.5 ⭐   7,000+ online reviews

Sale
XTERRA Fitness Folding Exercise Bike, 225 LB Weight...
  • Solid X-frame foldable design — folds to just 20.5" x 20.5" of floor...
  • Ergonomically designed for comfort — large contoured seat with back pad...
  • 2" x 1" LCD window — clearly displays speed, distance, time, calories,...

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Amongst our seven bikes in this article, the Xterra FB350 is the fourth cheapest & the fourth highest rated.

Its size at 41” x 21” is a little bit longer than the 2 previous mini fold up exercise bicycles but that’s splitting hairs, and it still folds down to a compact 21” x 21”.

Xterra makes a junior of this called the FB150. It is basically a stripped-down and slightly smaller version of the Xterra FB350, and it does come with the apartment-friendly magnetic resistance too.

They look like they’re selling roughly twice as many of the FB150s compared to the FB350, and it has slightly higher ratings from its buyers. It looks like this:

Xterra FB150 Folding Bike
My guess the better sales and ratings for the FB150 are due because it’s cheaper, and (currently) the FB150 costs around thirty bucks less than the FB350.

What does the $30 on this Xterra FB350 get you?

  • a seat back
  • side handle bars
  • a phone holder
  • more room due to a larger frame

(Curiously though – the extra frame size didn’t increase the weight capacity. User weight limit on both bikes is 225 lb.)

 

What I like:

*Quiet magnetic resistance

*Good owner satisfaction rating – 88% (4.5 stars,  7,000+ online reviews)

*Ticks all the typical folding exercise bike boxes – 

  • it’s foldable;
  • it’s lightweight & easy to move;
  • it has a small space footprint;
  • it’s cheap (easy on the wallet).

Any issues?

Nothing unique to this model.

 

Marcy Foldable Bike

4.5 ⭐   5,000+ online reviews

Sale
Marcy Foldable Magnetic Resistance Upright Exercise...
  • CUSTOMIZABLE CYCLING WORKOUT – Created for fitness enthusiasts of all...
  • COMFORTABLE SEAT WITH HANDLEBARS – Designed for a comfortable and...
  • LCD DISPLAY TRACKS PROGRESS – Push beyond your limits and track your...

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here’s the most inexpensive folding bike featured in this review, and even though it is the cheapest it still comes with magnetic resistance.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Marcy name, I can share that its parent company Impex has been around for about forty years.

They manufacture all sorts of home gym equipment, both on the cardio machine side of things and the weightlifting side too.

My dumbbell racks and my adjustable weightlifting bench are both from Marcy and have lasted years — though I’m sure they’ll easily outlast a folding upright exercise bike like this one that’s only a little over a hundred dollars.

 

What I like:

*Quiet magnetic resistance

*Good owner satisfaction rating – 89% (4.5 stars,  5,000+ online reviews)

*Ticks all the typical folding stationary bike boxes – 

  • it’s foldable;
  • it’s lightweight & easy to move;
  • it has a small space footprint;
  • it’s (super) cheap.

Any issues?

Nothing unique to this model.

 

Best Folding Recumbent Exercise Bike

Exerpeutic 400xl Folding Recumbent Bike

4.5 ⭐   7,000+ online reviews

Sale
Marcy Foldable Magnetic Resistance Upright Exercise...
  • CUSTOMIZABLE CYCLING WORKOUT – Created for fitness enthusiasts of all...
  • COMFORTABLE SEAT WITH HANDLEBARS – Designed for a comfortable and...
  • LCD DISPLAY TRACKS PROGRESS – Push beyond your limits and track your...

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is another very popular bike from Exerpeutic, and it’s a recumbent bike to boot.

Unlike an upright exercise bike, this one has the reclining seated angle sort of like those more expensive recumbent exercise bikes.

I say “sort of” because your legs aren’t a little closer to parallel like they would be on a typical recumbent exercise bike.

If anyone is looking for that “semi-reclining” feature in their stationary bike and wants one that folds too, this is probably your best bet.

 

What I like:

*The biggest selling folding recumbent exercise bike for years – and one of Exerpeutic’s better-rated portable exercise bikes too.

*Very good owner satisfaction rating – 89%, (4.5 stars, 6,000+ online owner reviews)

*High capacity – for a folding bike anyway, 300 lb.

*Magnetic resistance – good quiet bike for apartments.

*Ticks all the typical folding exercise bike boxes: 

  • it’s foldable;
  • it’s lightweight & easy to move;
  • it has a very small space footprint for a recumbent bike;
  • it’s cheap (easy on the wallet).

Any issues?

Nothing unique to this model, just the typical cheap exercise bike stuff.

 

Smallest of the folding bikes 

Xspec Folding Bike

4.5 ⭐  700+ online reviews

Xspec Foldable Stationary Upright Exercise Folding...
  • The universal heavy-duty steel frame has 3 levels that can be adjusted with...
  • Large ergonomic seat cushion provides max comfort. The vertically...
  • Folds for storage and can moved with the included transportation wheels....

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

All of the models in this review are considered small and portable as far as cardio equipment goes.

But this petite Xspec folding exercise bike takes it to the next level, yet it still has all of the same basic features the other models in this review have.

 

What I like:

*Especially good for short people – a number of short owners reported the Xspec folding bike’s size being ideal for their smaller bodies & shorter legs.

*Very little space required – the floor footprint is only 27” x 17” when in use, and stored it only needs 14” x 17”.

*The lightest of the bunch – only weighs 32 lb.

*Very good owner satisfaction rating – 89% (4.5 stars, 500+ online reviews).

*Ticks all the typical folding exercise bike boxes – 

  • it’s foldable;
  • it’s lightweight & easy to move;
  • it has a small space footprint;
  • it’s cheap (easy on the wallet).

Any issues?

Nothing unique to this model, just the typical cheap stationary bike stuff.

 

Best Folding Exercise Bike Buyer’s Guide

Tree growing from magic book used for folding exercise bike guide

We’ll be comparing the 7 folding exercise bikes in this review in terms of a few qualities that may be important to you:

  • Area required – the floor space footprint needed when it’s in use;
  • Storage space needed – what are the bike’s dimensions when folded;
  • Capacity – the user weight limit (AKA the weight capacity of the bike);
  • Portability – how much does the foldaway exercise bike weigh?

If you have certain size or weight limit needs, you’ll be able to quickly determine which of these fold up stationary bicycles is better-suited for you.

First though, let’s look at a few of the things that all seven of these bikes have in common.

 

Qualities these folding exercise bikes share

Despite their size & capacity differences, the foldable stationary bikes in this review are actually similar to each other in a number of ways.

 

They’re all quiet cardio machines

Like their high-quality siblings spin bikes, these folding bikes all come with magnetic resistance, which makes them much quieter than bikes that use a felt pad coming into direct contact with the bike’s flywheel.

To make it harder to pedal, on a magnetic resistance bike you’re adjusting the magnet closer to the flywheel — but it’s not creating friction by rubbing up against it.

Thus it’s very quiet, which makes the bike ideal for use in thin-walled apartments or even in the same room as someone sleeping.

 

They’re all cheap

Really cheap actually, as far as the home exercise bike market goes.

The good side of cheap means your wallet isn’t being emptied much.

The bad side of cheap means you can expect all of the usual things that typically (eventually) occur: parts breaking, odd noises developing, electronic console quits or malfunctions, resistance settings revolting on you, etc.

I refer to this in the individual product reviews — in the Any Issues? section — as “typical cheap bike stuff”.

 

They’re all portable

As you’ll see in a bit, these fold up stationary bicycles don’t all weigh the same.

But as a group they’re a lot lighter than traditional upright bikes, and so they’re easy to move somewhere if need be.

 

They’re all small

Chihuahua on a folding bike

Compared to other home cardio machines, these folding exercise bikes are definitely in the compact exercise equipment category.

As you’ll read in a little bit, all of the bikes mentioned in this article only need a couple of square feet when stored.

And while in use, none of them require even as much as a 4’ x 3’ area.

 

They’re all minimal

Feature-wise these folding bikes are all pretty much bare bones. You have a frame, pedals, a seat, and maybe a couple of cheaply-made heart rate sensor handles.

 

Example #1 – iffy electronics

For example, the small and hopefully legible workout console you’ll find on these types of bikes spits out a couple of basic stats that aren’t even accurate anyway.

No biggie, a good workout is all about the pedaling time when you get down to it.

If you want accurate heart rate, calories, & distance numbers, pick up something like this cheap Lintelek.

Or if you want something with a little more robust features, this FitBit will do the trick.

 

Example # 2 – not the most comfortable seat you ever sat on

Another example is that typical cheap exercise bikes like these come with seats that definitely never remind you of your favorite comfy chair or pillow.

(None of the 7 models in this review have been described as torture chambers, so that’s good. No one’s spending more than an hour at a time on them either…)

 

Cliché time: You get what you pay for

It would be naive to expect a foldable stationary bike that costs under two hundred bucks to come with all the bells, whistles, & creature comforts of an exercise bike that costs $1,000 or more.

 

They all have very short warranties

Compared to high-quality exercise bikes, the manufacturers of these fold up exercise bikes provide a lot less buyer protection.

But that should come as no surprise, given how inexpensive these bikes are.

 

Benefits of aerobic exercise

This section’s for any of you readers who are on the fence about whether to kickstart an effective exercise program for yourself.

Getting a piece of compact and portable exercise equipment like one of these space saving foldable stationary bikes is a good start.

But you need to use it.

A lot.

And often.

 

Research proves exercise is good, film at 11

A smiling doctor on an exercise bike

I’ll share a few important facts about exercise, provided by the leading medical, scientific, and physical fitness experts in the world.

 

Their research findings are crystal clear: get moving and create a physically active lifestyle for yourself, because it will improve your quality of life as well as your health.

 

What science and medical experts say

The American Council on Exercise put out this cool infographic a few years ago on the benefits of exercise, and I’ll bullet point their topics here.

*It improves your cardiovascular health – your heart gets stronger, doesn’t have to work as hard compared to the out-of-shape you.

As a result you feel less tired, have more pep, and you’re able to accomplish more in your life.

*Weight management – ACE’s point is that most people fail at diets alone, and that adding exercise to your life significantly increases the calories your body will burn each day.

*There are several more benefits listed too – go check the chart out if you’re interested.

  • slows the aging process
  • improves bone strength
  • lowers blood pressure
  • lowers cholesterol
  • improves sleep
  • lowers stress
  • is good for your mental health too

 

Your folding stationary bike burns calories

Harvard Medical has a chart they created on exercise and calorie burning.

Regarding our pack of folding exercise bikes, I see on Harvard’s list that every 30 minutes of moderate cycling burns 311 calories for a 185 lb. person like me.

Add 5-6 days a week of that to a clean, weight-loss friendly diet, and excess pounds and belly fat will become a thing of your past.

 

No matter your age, get a move on

The venerable Mayo Clinic writes

“Aerobic activity has many health benefits, no matter your age. As your body adapts to regular aerobic exercise, you’ll get stronger and fitter.”

 

They go on to echo many of the benefits I wrote about earlier.

They also recommend increased exercise to serve as protection against viral illnesses and reducing your risk of developing a number of serious chronic conditions:

  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • stroke

 

Benefits of pedaling a bike

Your humble little foldable exercise bike can provide you a number of great benefits itself, providing you use it often.

Just look…

 

Pedaling a bike builds muscle

The resistance your legs encounter when pushing down on the pedals stimulates your muscles to grow.

One of the great benefits of strength training is that the more muscle you have, the more efficient your body is at burning calories.

 

Pedaling a bike fights bone loss

As we age from about 30 onward, our bodies can start to lose bone mass unless we (literally and figuratively) put our foot down to stop it.

That same resistance I just spoke about helps to send your body signals to keep building bone mass.

So keep pedaling.

 

Biking is easier on your bones and joints

Compared to jogging or walking, bike riding’s no-impact exercise is WAY kinder to your joints.

This is especially helpful to anyone with any kind of chronic stiffness or pain in those areas.

And if you’re not in any kind of discomfort while you’re exercising, you’re MUCH more likely to work out for longer periods of time.

And more workout time = more health and quality of life benefits for YOU.

 

Benefits of working out at home

Smiling man waving as he rides his folding exercise bike in his living room at home

Working out at home has a few advantages over shelling out for a commercial gym membership, whether you have a full-blown home gym set up in your garage or just a folding exercise bike in your living room.

I think the main two areas where I’ve benefitted the most from working out at home are with my time and with my money.

 

Exercising at home saves you a lot of time

Here’s a quick comparison between your newly acquired folding exercise bike and a commercial gym membership, from a “time spent” perspective.

On the one hand your new bike is ready and waiting at home, and it’ll take you all of a few seconds to climb aboard and start exercising.

And on the other hand there’s the commercial gym that’s a few miles away if not more.

So —

  • you need to spend time getting ready to go to the gym;
  • you need to spend time getting to the gym;
  • you spend time at the gym just dealing with the gym:
    • front desk sign in;
    • cardio machine waiting lists;
    • changing and/or using the locker room;
    • wiping down sweaty equipment.
  • and you need to spend time coming back from the gym.

 

All that for 1 workout.

Multiply all that time spent by 5-6 workouts a week, and that’s a lot of hours lost caused by your gym membership.

Bottom line: Reclaim your life, take back those wasted hours, and ride your own bike in your own home whenever you want.

 

Exercising at home saves a lot of money

Remember how inexpensive those seven best folding exercise bikes in this article were? They’re less than the cost of a yearly membership at most gyms.

Let’s say you get 3 years’ use out of your folding bike before it conks out. That’s going to save you hundreds of dollars in gym fees, plus your bike doesn’t need any gas money to use.

And since your kitchen’s only a few feet away, you’re a lot less likely to go pay for a post-workout meal than if you’re driving to and from a gym.

 

Wrapping Up

Related articles here on heydayDo

My Magnetic Resistance Spin Bike Review: 5 Top Picks

Best Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms

Best Exercise Bike For Seniors

All About The Amazing Low-Impact HIIT Workout

I hope this review article on folding exercise bikes is useful to you, and that the buyer’s guide and health benefits sections were helpful too.

I wish you well on your fitness journey.


About The Author

heydayDo author Greg Simon

Hi, I’m Gregory Simon. Fitness training & nutrition researching since 1982. ISSN (International Society of Sports Nutrition) Pro Member. MBA, B.Sc.

Author. Surfer. Organic food grower. Congenital heart disease survivor (so far).

heydayDo.com is my wellness blog that’s about encouraging a healthy lifestyle as we age. 

I share my fitness training experience as well as the sports science research I’ve done on the many benefits strength building, exercise, & good eating habits offer us. 

I also write review articles after product testing and evaluating home gym equipment & fitness supplements.

My hope is that you’ll find useful or encouraging information here on my website that will benefit your unique fitness journey.

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