| For three years, between 1994 and 1997 I lived in a | | | | The second rule is to always buy online. Retailers have |
| small studio apartment and ran a business out of it. | | | | to pay a distributor and carry a large overhead. |
| Saying that it was cramped was an understatement. I | | | | Therefore, their markups are usually very high. Online |
| didn't have room for a chair, much less a piece of | | | | sellers are able to take a much smaller profit and |
| workout equipment. Then I discovered the folding | | | | move more units. |
| exercise bike. I was able to fold it down to a very | | | | Buying direct from the manufacturer is usually the best |
| compact size and store it under my coffee table | | | | way to ensure a low price. Schwinn, Lifecycle, and |
| when it wasn't in use. | | | | Proform are three of the top manufacturers of folding |
| I have bought three since then, and have been able to | | | | exercise bikes and all of them sell direct to the |
| get the best price on them by taking a few easy | | | | consumer. The benefits of buying direct are obvious. |
| steps. | | | | You save on shipping because they are shipped |
| First, I consider buying used. A used exercise bike can | | | | directly from the manufacturer's warehouse. Also, you |
| be a tremendous value because these machines tend | | | | save yourself several markups. |
| to hold their value and are more durable than ellipticals | | | | Lastly, look for advertised sales online. Many online |
| or treadmills. Folding exercise bikes come in several | | | | retailers of fitness equipment schedule specific days to |
| different styles including spinning, magnetic, and dual | | | | cut prices dramatically to either boost sales or to |
| action. The benefit over a recumbant bike is it's small | | | | move items they may be overstocked on. |
| storage size. | | | | |