Feb. 1, 2006 Test-Riding a $5,000 Indoor Bike By WALTER S. MOSSBERG and KATHERINE BOEHRET
Cardiovascular exercise saves lives. But, for millions of people who need it the most -- those who aren't naturally drawn to physical activity -- using a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical machine has one huge drawback: it's boring. The timers on those machines seem to move excruciatingly slowly while you grind out your daily fitness regimen. To combat this boredom, the fitness industry has mainly relied on television in gyms, or encouraged people to use their iPods or other portable music players while on the machines. But, despite these distractions, basic exercise can still be mind-numbingly boring. Now, a Silicon Valley company has come up with a new idea to enliven cardiovascular workouts. It is turning exercise into a videogame, complete with opponents and scenery. Expresso Fitness Corp. in Sunnyvale, Calif., (www.expressofitness.com) has introduced the Spark -- a stationary bike with a built-in computer and flat-panel monitor that allows you to race against virtual riders through a variety of simulated outdoor courses. Unlike the typical exercise bike, the Spark has movable handlebars to steer you through the three-dimensional virtual trails on its screen, and a gearshift for tackling the many hills you encounter. When you climb a hill on the screen, the pedaling really feels like you're climbing a hill. The bike has a built-in TV and built-in music channels, but its key feature is its competitive virtual riding courses, which can be updated by the company over the bike's built-in Internet connection. The Spark's $5,000 price tag plus $225 installation fee and shipping seems like a high price to fend off boredom. But even though the bike was originally designed for use in gyms, the company claims it has been attracting individual buyers as well. We've been testing the Spark for about a week in a spare office near ours that we turned into a temporary gym. Our verdict: the Spark makes stationary bicycling more interesting and challenging, even for average users. But there's a downside: Most of its courses would be far too difficult and strenuous, and highly discouraging, for the average, out-of-shape users who need it the most. The Spark seems to have been designed by and for athletic bicycling enthusiasts who we assume would rather be outside on real bikes most of the year. ... http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20060201.html Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
