Foldable Exercise Bikes: Advantages and Disadvantages

Those new to stationary cycling are often surprised by the range of indoor bikes available. Sometimes, the differences between each make or model are marginal, such as physical design or price. Other times, as with foldable exercise bikes, the differences can relate to functionality, user expectation or experience.  

Beginners often face a dilemma. Do they buy the more technical bike? The one that's more expensive but with all the bells and whistles but which will also future-proof their fitness journey. Or do they pick a cheaper and less advanced bike? The one they can shove into a cupboard when visitors pop around?  Should they get an upright or recumbent bike?

Foldable bikes can be a great option, especially for beginners or occasional users. We'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of collapsible exercise bikes below, but don't rule out other bikes that may be equally suitable.    

One quick note. If you already own an outdoor bike, you can add a trainer and use it indoors. You're essentially turning your road bike into a stationary one, which saves having two separate bikes. Many outdoor riders choose this method as they're already comfortable with their bike, and using a trainer means they can train during the winter or in bad weather. It saves them from paying for and storing an indoor bike, but this may not be ideal if you want a foldable bike for space-saving reasons.   

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Advantages of a foldable bike  

• Foldable bikes are designed for portability and collapse for easy storage. They’re space savers. A regular upright or recumbent bike will be heavier as it’s designed to be positioned in a single spot and used from there. You might have difficulty moving an indoor cycling bike, for example, into and out of a cupboard after each use.  
  
  
• Foldable bikes are more convenient for people living in smaller apartments or houses or those sharing communal spaces. Equally, they can be a good option for occasional riders who just want something they can jump on if they’re unable to ride outdoors or get to a gym or studio. 
  
  
• Foldable bikes are also beginner-friendly. They're often more affordable and aren't as tech heavy. You’ll often still get basic metrics like distance and speed, but the display will be simple to use and read, which some people prefer. Some of the top-end indoor cycling bikes come with a huge range of available data, which is not going to be relevant to most casual riders. They're also a good option if you're not looking at cycling too intensively. Some riders may be using cycling as a form of rehabilitation (or prehabilitation) or gentle exercise to support health in old age or for chronic or short term illness. More of us are also now using exercise to manage mental health conditions. 
  
  
• You'll often find foldable bikes on second-hand sale sites. On local social media groups, you may even get them for free. Collapsable bikes are more affordable, so people tend to make a faster buying decision, which can mean an impulse buy that doesn't go the distance. Of course, foldable bikes purchased brand new are also cheaper, so they're a great beginner-friendly offering before people invest more money into their first piece of kit. This can also mean greater availability of second-hand equipment.With 31% of people failing to get enough exercise, getting a cheap bike can be a great first step to a healthier lifestyle. 
  
  
• Foldable bikes can be shared by several people. This may be helpful in a house share situation where people can access the bike and move it to an office or bedroom or lounge away from others. Unless there's a gym or specific space to exercise, a fold up exercise bike can serve several people throughout the day. 

Disadvantages of a foldable bike  

• Generally, they're not suitable for higher speeds. They're less sturdy so you wouldn't take a HIIT or high-intensity class on a foldable bike. While a petite rider may find the bike stable enough during riding, larger riders may not. Check the weight limit and, if possible, read the reviews about its stability. Even if you're not riding hard, you still want to feel stable and secure during your workout. Placing a mat under the bike may help. This isn't specific to foldable bikes, as many indoor cycling and upright bikes need one, too, but this may help stability, especially on wooden floors. 
  
  
• You can't stand up on the pedals of a foldable bike, which may limit your workout if you're using your bike and following a class or looking to create a more challenging workout.
  
  
• Foldable bikes may be designed for portability, but some can still be quite heavy. Not all foldable bikes have wheels. Check the bike's weight and look at the reviews to see how easy it is to move around.
  
  
• Foldable bikes are generally limited in the data reporting. Smart bikes like the electricity-generating RE:GEN have FTP meters and, along with digital resistance, can push your fitness journey further. While you don't need to spend much money to have a great workout, it is worth considering the data types you want to track. 
  
  
• Collapsible bikes are designed to be space-saving, so they may not come with added extras like a screen or bottle holder. 
  
  
• Research suggests that group exercise can help people stick to their exercise habits for longer. Collapsible exercise bikes are designed for solitary exercise, which can make it harder to commit to a regular workout regimen. 
  
  

• In Atomic Habits, James Clear writes that it's hard to build habits, especially as motivation can wear off quite quickly. It's one reason so many of us abandon the fitness intentions we swore we'd keep (compare the gym in the first few weeks of January to the gym in July). James Clear recommends one way of getting around this: keeping the thing you want to do easy to hand and visible, creating a visual cue, and making you more likely to act on it. He recommends putting your gym kit out the night before so it's one of the first things you see when you wake up. Seeing your running shoes or sports shorts acts as a trigger and you're more likely to put them on because they're easy to hand. He uses another example that makes this clearer. If you want to practice the guitar, put the instrument somewhere where you can see it and easily pick it up and start playing, even if it's just for 5 minutes. If you have to get your guitar or exercise bike out of a cupboard or move it into another room to play, you're less likely to do so. Removing these mental (and physical) barriers makes it easier to do the work. 
  
  
• You'll find a greater range of options if you look at non-foldable options. Collapsible bike options are more limited.  

Ultimately, there's no right or wrong answer that's universal to everyone. A collapsible exercise bike is ideal for some people because it's simple to use and portable. Crucially, it's also easy to store, which will be the deciding factor for those who don’t live somewhere with a lot of space.  

If space-saving isn't your prime consideration, then it's worth exploring other options. There's a vast range of upright exercise bikes; indoor cycling and recumbent bikes may be more suitable, especially if you're ready to build a long-term exercise habit. Upright bikes and indoor cycling bikes don't have to be huge. Some have smaller footprints than others. It tends to be recumbent bikes that take up more room.   
  
It's also about being honest with yourself about the likely outcome of buying one. Will you use the bike 3-4 times a week in six months? Foldable bikes may be a better option for occasional cyclists. Some people get carried away with the technical side of cycling too soon, purchasing expensive bikes that, while superb for regular riders, are unnecessary for others.   
  
You can always join an indoor cycling class or take a free trial at a gym and try out indoor cycling or different types of bikes. You may be more suited to cross-trainers or rowing machines. You may find that classes are what keep your habit going for longer. 

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