Is your current bike more of a burden than a help? Do you find it difficult to store, awkward to transport and a hassle to deal with in the city? Perhaps it’s time to get rid of that old albatross and consider an alternative kind of ride. Consider the following benefits of a folding bike the next time you need a new set of wheels.

1. Store it. The general benefit of a folding bike is that you can tuck it away when it’s not in use. Folding bikes come in a wide range of sizes, but even the largest are more compact than a regular bike. If you live in a small apartment and lack storage space, you’ll be amazed at how much more elbow room you have after you have folded up your bike and deposited in the back of a closet, or behind a door.

2. Work it. You don’t have to trade off any functionality with your folding bike. The features range anywhere from single speed to a full set of twenty-gears on a folding mountain bike. You’ll find models with wheels ranging from eight inches on up to sixteen or twenty inches. Some even feature electrically powered motors, making them an excellent choice for city commuters.

3. Move it. Tired of trying to cram your bike into a crowded commuter train? When the bike rack is full, do you find yourself waiting for the next bus? A folding bike allows you to easily access public transportation, office buildings, restaurants and stores. Just fold up the bike and take it in with you. This solution is not only more convenient, it also reduces the chances of theft or vandalism to your bike.

4. Trust it. Folding bikes benefit from state of the art engineering, so there is no possibility of the bike collapsing while you’re riding. You will find that the folding mechanisms are easy, quick, and intuitive, so you don’t need an engineering degree yourself to use it.

The bottom line is that folding bikes are the most convenient transportation solution you will find when living in cramped quarters. You can store the bike without taking up precious living area, easily carry it up and down the stairs, take it with you in an elevator, pop it into the trunk of a car, cover it and carry it in a bag, tuck it under your desk at work, and take it with you on an airplane (perhaps even as a carry-on).

By Barbara Dearing

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For three years, between 1994 and 1997 I lived in a small studio apartment and ran a business out of it. Saying that it was cramped was an understatement. I didn’t have room for a chair, much less a piece of workout equipment. Then I discovered the folding exercise bike. I was able to fold it down to a very compact size and store it under my coffee table when it wasn’t in use.

I have bought three since then, and have been able to get the best price on them by taking a few easy steps.

First, I consider buying used. A used exercise bike can be a tremendous value because these machines tend to hold their value and are more durable than ellipticals or treadmills. Folding exercise bikes come in several different styles including spinning, magnetic, and dual action. The benefit over a recumbant bike is it’s small storage size.

The second rule is to always buy online. Retailers have to pay a distributor and carry a large overhead. Therefore, their markups are usually very high. Online sellers are able to take a much smaller profit and move more units.

Buying direct from the manufacturer is usually the best way to ensure a low price. Schwinn, Lifecycle, and Proform are three of the top manufacturers of folding exercise bikes and all of them sell direct to the consumer. The benefits of buying direct are obvious. You save on shipping because they are shipped directly from the manufacturer’s warehouse. Also, you save yourself several markups.

Lastly, look for advertised sales online. Many online retailers of fitness equipment schedule specific days to cut prices dramatically to either boost sales or to move items they may be overstocked on.

By Jennifer Lynn Hanson

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