# Looking for an exercise bike (stationary/spin bike)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-exercise-bike-stationary-spin-bike/852498>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 24, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-exercise-bike-stationary-spin-bike/852498 "2020-04-24T14:03:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-exercise-bike-stationary-spin-bike/852498/1 "2020-04-24T14:03:03Z")

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I currently use a [Virzoom](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HL84HN4) bike which is a cheap folding exercise bike fitted with a wireless interface to a VR headset. The company ([VZFit](https://www.vzfit.com/stats/)) has since come out with a sensor that can attach to any exercise bike, so I’m looking to upgrade.

The thing is, I have some issues and preferences:

- I’m somewhat bow-legged, so I don’t deal well with bikes that have wide Q-factor (wide spacing between right/left pedals. The Virzoom bike is actually not bad - 170mm between outer edges of the cranks.

- I have a bad back, so the doctor recommends against road bikes (and by extension, any bike that has a road-bike-like riding position)

- I have very limited space in our house. I can’t fit a bike longer than about 4 ft (1.2 m) in my room. I think that rules out recumbent exercise bikes.

Is there anything left? It seems spin bikes have narrow Q-factors, but they all seem to have road-bike riding posture. Prefer to keep it under $800, but that’s flexible.