Shopping for an exercise bike while being “short” can be stressful, inconvenient, and time-consuming. The whole point of a foldable exercise bike is convenience, the simple act of unfolding your bike and getting straight to exercise.
After analyzing over 40 different foldable exercise bikes, I have concluded the top 6 to do just that while being easily accessible and adjustable for short people.
I will also provide you with an insightful buying guide along with my decades of knowledge in the fitness industry, answering the most common questions about exercising on a bike: let’s dive in.
Top 6 Best Folding Bikes For Short People
The Exerpeutic folding exercise bike is perfect for heavier short people, with a weight capacity of 136kg/300lbs with a robust steel frame.
However, this means that it is heavier than most other exercise bikes on our list, making it harder to move around, although the aid of the built-in wheels definitely helps in maneuvering the exercise bike.
Standard features like built-in hand pulse sensors on a typical LCD screen, tracking calories, speed, distance, and time. The tracking console requires two double A batteries.
An added bonus is the extremely adjustable seat making it easy for people shorter than 4 foot 10 to exercise on this bike with ease. All in all, a strong, robust exercise bike for the heavier person.
Pros
- Weight capacity is excellent
- Offers great adjustability for short people
- Eight-level resistance mechanism
- Exceptional for the price point
Cons
- After long cycling periods, may experience discomfort due to no backrest
- Heavy to maneuver
The XTERRA FB150 is an easy, convenient, accessible exercise bike for short people.
This exercise bike has been the market leader for shorter people for years as it supports anyone shorter than 5 feet to exercise and was one of the first to be designed with short people in mind.
With a weight capacity of 102kg/225lbs and the bike itself only weighing 14kg/30lbs, this bike is effortless to maneuver, so it is ideal for people who wish to move the bike around, whether outside or in their living room.
Nothing special with the features. Built-in hand pulse sensors, LCD screen, tracking calories, speed, distance, and heart rate. The tracking console requires two double A batteries.
Another key talking point is the adjustable seat; not only does it support shorter people, but it’s also large and comfortable. All in all a great exercise bike for the shorter person who doesn’t want to break the bank.
Pros
- Small and lightweight
- Offers great adjustability for short people
- Eight-level resistance mechanism, which multiple reviews have noted to be extremely challenging even by experienced cyclists
- Cheap and has that bang for the buck factor
Cons
- No backrest
- Not strong enough for heavier people
The Marcy exercise bike offers the most value for money on our list with its reputable brand and excellent dimensions/features.
The weight capacity is 110kg/240lbs, which is stable for most overweight, short people. Another stand-out feature is its foldable aspect: like the others on our list, it folds at the base; however, this exercise bike folds into a shape that can be easily stored in a closet and takes up less space than others on this list.
Features are much more reliable and less standardized on this exercise bike: the hand pulse sensors and the metrics tracked are much more accurate due to the quality of the control panel. Tracking calories burned, speed, time distance, and heartbeat using two triple A batteries.
The seat can be adjusted to support users of 5 feet and above with a standard seat shape. Overall due to the quality and superior features, this is the most value for money a short person can get for an exercise bike.
Pros
- Weight capacity is suitable for the weight and shape of the bike
- Offers okay support for shorter people
- Eight-level resistance mechanism is magnetic, making it more reliable than typical resistance mechanisms
- Superior features for the price point
- Comes in black & white
Cons
- No mobile holder
- No backrest
The YYFIT 2-in-1 folding exercise bike offers the most support while cycling to ensure maximum comfort and support for heavier users.
With a weight capacity of 120kg/265lbs, it can easily support heavier people, along with its solid structure composed of solid steel. This exercise bike, unlike others on this list, comes with a 16-level resistance mechanism that can challenge all levels of cyclists.
The features are immense, with a modern-day LCD control panel that tracks your vitals like burner calories, speed, time, and even what type of workout you’re doing. The 2-in-1 feature is the built-in resistance bands that can be used to engage your upper body while cycling.
A talking point is its backrest which sets it apart in terms of support and comfort from the other exercise bikes, not to mention how adjustable the seat is for shorter people.
The exercise bike also has brackets for mobiles and tablets. All in all, this exercise bike is a brilliant choice for anyone who wants to get into fitness/cycling while also supporting people from 5 feet and above.
Pros
- 16 level resistance mechanism making this attractive to all levels of fitness
- Offers great adjustability for short people
- Backrest offers an outstanding level of comfort
- Resistance bands included
Cons
- On the pricey side compared to the others on the list
The Dispank 3-in-1 exercise bike offers the most versatility as it has a combination of everything you would want/expect from an exercise bike.
The weight capacity is 150kg/330lbs making it a viable option for even the heavier overweight people, supported again by a solid steel frame. This exercise bike utilizes a 3-in-1 system that consists of resistance bands stationary bike while being a semi-recumbent exercise bike when adjusted.
The features are also a highlight of this exercise bike, with a big LCD screen that tracks pulse speed, distance time, and calories burned, along with a tablet/smartphone holder inbuilt.
The added backrest and handles tick that comfort box for me. Finally, this exercise bike is great for short people offering a solid, easily adjustable all-around structure with added comforts and features to improve your experience.
Pros
- 10 level resistance mechanism gives a good range of difficulties
- Offers excellent support for short people with many adjustable components, not just the seat
- Backrest and handles are a great touch
- Resistance bands included
- Sleek design
- Excellent LCD display
Cons
- On the pricey side compared to the others on the list
- Can be hard to maneuver for the elderly as it weighs 17kg/37lbs
The Lanos 2-in-1 exercise bike offers the best build quality and, therefore, the most reliable exercise bike on our list.
With a solid steel frame and a weight limit of 136kg/300lbs, you can get peace of mind that the integrity of this exercise bike is robust and will last you years, if not decades.
Features on this exercise bike are of higher quality. You can tell Lanos invested in making their LCD monitor optimal for performance as it’s easy to read, reliable, and, most importantly, accurate. Tracking distance, time speed, calories burned, and pulse.
Finally, the support for short people is among the best on our list, starting at 4 foot 6. This is an excellent choice for shorter people, not to mention the added comfortability of the leather seating and backrest.
Pros
- Weight capacity is sturdy
- Offers great versatility with its 2 systems being semi-recumbent and upright
- Ten-level magnetic resistance mechanism
- Little to non-maintenance required
- Different colors are available
Cons
- Harder to maneuver as it weighs 20kg/45lbs
The Ultimate Buying Guide
Seat With Adjustable Height
The most vital asset you need to consider is the seat when buying an exercise bike if you think yourself short. Many seats with adjustable height caterer for people even shorter than five feet with no limitations.
All of our bikes on the list come with an adjustable seat to support heights from as low as 4 foot 6, as well as control over how much distance you want between you and the handles, allowing people with shorter wingspan or arm length to feel comfortable when working out.
The Sturdiness Of The Bike
The sturdiness of an exercise bike is often defined by how strong the frame is. Durable frames with easy folding mechanisms will last longer. Heavy duty steel is often used for the frame, which also allows for a wide range of weight limits that can use on the bike: this is something to consider if your whole family is going to use the bike.
The Tracking Console
Tracking consoles are a valuable accessory to your exercise bike. They allow you to track distance traveled, time speed, and calories burnt. Some of the higher-end bikes come with pulse readers too.
All of our reviewed bikes come with these. They allow you to set goals and be inspired/motivated to exercise.
For example, a goal of mine was always to cycle 15k in 22 minutes, and without the use of a tracking console, I would have never set that goal or trained for it.
Resistance/Level System
A solid, easy-to-use resistance mechanism is optimal for getting faster, stronger, and burning more calories. Resistance mechanisms often come in an 8-level dial system which increases the effort required to move the pedals as the number increases.
You need to consider your goals for an exercise bike. If you simply want to lose weight with steady-state cardio, then perhaps a less viable resistance mechanism is ideal. However, if you want more muscular legs and do Hitt cardio, then an 8-level dial mechanism is perfect.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity you require is entirely subjective to you. If you are overweight and looking to lose some weight, then be sure to check if your exercise bike of choice supports your weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Improve My Cardio With A Exercise Bike?
As mentioned before, there are lots of ways you can manipulate your training on an exercise bike to improve every aspect of your cardio, such as:
High-intensity cycling – This refers to performing 80-90% and above of your maximum effort. This sort of training builds muscle and improves your muscle’s ability to react and move faster and more athletically with power.
However, performing at 80-90% and above cant be sustained for long periods, so we do high-intensity cycling in intervals. This is often referred to as HITT.
Example – 20 seconds – level 8 – 100% effort followed by 40 seconds rest – level 3 x 4 rounds.
Low-intensity cycling – This refers to steady state cardio for long periods. Cycling for longer than 10 minutes without rest would be considered low-intensity: this is great for improving your cardiovascular system and is better for injury prevention as you don’t push your body to its limit.
Example – 30 minutes – level 3.
Is An Exercise Bike Good For Burning Calories?
Folding exercise bikes offer the accessibility to burn calories at your leisure in the comfort of your home. For the price range, an exercise bike offers a wide variety of ways to burn calories and, better yet, a way you can track how many you’ve burnt with the tracking console.
Is An Exercise Bike A Good Alternative To Running?
Exercise bikes offer a great alternative to running, which is known for putting extreme stress on the joints, ligaments, and tendons. Exercise bikes do not put nearly as much stress on the body and prevent injury or further injury while offering the benefits of running and many others, as mentioned in this article.
The Final Mile
This is the top 6 foldable exercise bikes for shorter people: any bike on this list would be a great choice, all of which are easy to use and easy to assemble, supporting heights from as low as 4 foot 6, don’t let your size stop you from becoming the best version of yourself.
