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I need a low cost fold out bike that will withstand heavy use (1-2 hours a day)
I've gone thru a few and they wear out quick. Wheel/pedal area starts loudly squeaking and knocks inside and gets progressively harder to pedal. Most online information I find says the brake pads need to be greased but some of these models are almost impossible to get open and there is no mention of this kind of maintenance in the user guides. It's like these are meant for people who will use them a few times, shove them in a corner and forget about them.
I did have ProForm X-Bike where a lid popped off the top for easy access inside but let it go at some point figuring I could replace later. Now this model is no longer available and I have a hard time finding something equivalent.
Also I have limited space, hence the need to a fold up and limited budget, with zero income right now. However I have nothing but time to stay in shape and 1 to 2 hours of pedal time are essential for good health and sanity.
I have never been on an exercise bike that allowed a proper position; the pedals are always garbage (like if they even have toe straps they work upside down); saddles are nightmarishly bad; handlebars are uncomfortable; crank tread (distance across the bike from one crank to the next) is ridiculously wide, wider than any real bike; and the crank length is either absurdly short or absurdly long. Forget about it. Just put your regular bike, with your good dialed-in position and the bars, pedals, saddle you prefer, on the resistance stand. Use a music stand with a bungee cord to hold a book open, and you're good to go.
But what do I know? I've only been using this kind of setup since 1982.
Alternatively, buy a track bike and learn how to ride rollers....
I have never been on an exercise bike that allowed a proper position; the pedals are always garbage (like if they even have toe straps they work upside down); saddles are nightmarishly bad; handlebars are uncomfortable; crank tread (distance across the bike from one crank to the next) is ridiculously wide, wider than any real bike; and the crank length is either absurdly short or absurdly long.
Look at the new smart bikes. Wahoo/Stages/Tacx. Really good bikes that take "outdoor" parts - swap out for your saddle, maybe not your handlebars though, adjustable cranks.
The Wahoo bike has a Q factor of 150mm, my bike is 144mm
Those holes are 165mm, 167.5mm, 170, 172.5, and 175mm crank lengths
I have never been on an exercise bike that allowed a proper position; the pedals are always garbage (like if they even have toe straps they work upside down); saddles are nightmarishly bad; handlebars are uncomfortable; crank tread (distance across the bike from one crank to the next) is ridiculously wide, wider than any real bike; and the crank length is either absurdly short or absurdly long. Forget about it. Just put your regular bike, with your good dialed-in position and the bars, pedals, saddle you prefer, on the resistance stand. Use a music stand with a bungee cord to hold a book open, and you're good to go.
But what do I know? I've only been using this kind of setup since 1982.
Alternatively, buy a track bike and learn how to ride rollers....
Currently Proform is offering up a studio bike for free with a 3yr membership. So basically - you pay for the bike over 3 years. Might look and see if that is something you might be interested in. https://www.proform.com/exercise-bik...m_content=Bike
If you want to go REALLY cheap, portable and very lightweight, I just use this. Costs 20 bucks, maybe 30 bucks. Do it while sitting on your own couch or any chair you want. Don't have to worry about seat padding issues.
Can also put it on any table top and work out your arms. Weighs maybe 8 lbs. Talk about taking up no space! Google "exercise bike pedals"
(my image didn't show up in this post, but here's a link to a picture of it)
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