As much as you may want to incorporate more exercise into your day, not all of us are lucky enough to have a spare room we can use as a home gym. Whilst the idea of adding exercise equipment to your living room may feel like a suitable solution, no one wants an exercise bike as a permanent fixture – always on display or gathering dust in the corner of their living room. As a result, the popularity of folding exercise bikes has increased significantly in recent years.
These innovative, lightweight and portable exercise bikes are not only generally cheaper and smaller than traditional exercise bikes but are a great space-saving tool too. With the ability to provide great cardio exercise from the comfort of your own home, folding exercise bikes also fold to around half their original size, allowing them to be easily stashed away when not in use.
What should I look for in a folding exercise bike?
- Size: Folding exercise bikes are generally much more compact than traditional stationary exercise bikes, still, it’s worth checking the specific dimensions of each product depending on where you intend to use it. If opting for a folding exercise bike, you should consider both the upright and folded dimensions so that it can be stored appropriately when not in use.
- Casters: Not all folding exercise bikes have casters, but if you’re planning on sharing the bike with family members or moving the bike to various locations around your home, they certainly help with the portability.
- Display: The specification of folding exercise bikes also varies from one brand to the next, but a good quality bike should have an easy-to-read display that shows calories burned, distance and speed at a minimum. Exercise bikes with better specs will also include integrated pulse or heartbeat monitors to more closely assess the quality of your workouts.
- Weight limits: Because folding exercise bikes are generally more lightweight and fold in upon themselves, they often have a maximum weight limit, which will vary from one manufacturer to the next. If you are over 100kg (around 15 stone) in weight, it’s recommended you check the bike’s full specification before investing, opting for one with a higher weight capacity, or reverting back to a traditional stationary exercise bike if required.
- How seriously are you taking your cycling? Are you cycling for fitness, daily exercise and fun, or training and preparing for a competitive cycling event? Whilst they still provide a great cardio workout, folding exercise bikes generally don’t offer the same levels of resistance as a traditional exercise bike. If you are taking your cycling very seriously, you may prefer to opt for a traditional machine.
- Cost: While exercise bikes are cheaper than a gym membership, folding exercise bikes do tend to be more affordable than a fixed exercise bike, ranging between £100-£300 depending on the size, resistance levels and features.
As someone who loves a spin class, but lives in a small studio in London, space is a real challenge. I work from home during the week, and when you’re in a compact home, every bit of space counts. For this test, the ES Best Shopping team looked at a range of folding exercise bikes that could give a decent workout while still being easy to store away.
The main things I focused on were how easily the bikes could be folded up and tucked away without taking up too much space. Comfort was also key – I didn’t want to end up with a sore back or stiff legs after a workout, so the seat and handlebars had to be ergonomic.
We also considered ease of assembly and whether the bike’s features were practical – I didn’t want anything too complicated to figure out. In the end, the bikes that made the cut were the ones that balanced portability, performance, and comfort, proving that even in a small space, you can get a great workout.
Whether you’re trying to burn some calories, increase your cardio, or simply move a bit more during your working day, here are our recommendations for the best folding exercise bikes on the market today.
Best folding exercise bikes at a glance
While you shouldn’t expect the same quality of exercise bike you will find at your local gym, folding exercise bikes are a great space-saving option that allows you to incorporate some gentle movement and cardio exercise into your working day.
A great all-rounder that is feature-rich but at a budget-friendly price, the Xterra Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike from Sweatband is a great folding exercise bike for beginners who aren’t taking their exercise too seriously.
Used regularly, a foldable exercise bike can improve your stamina, reduce body fat and enhance your muscle strength. It’s worth remembering that you will need to do some basic assembly and adjustment every time you ride, but this is generally outweighed by the benefits of compact and portable storage.