Interactive stationary bikes are gaining popularity in gyms around the world. These bikes allow you to play computer games while driving and directing your avatar through virtual worlds.
Designed to divert your attention, interactive stationary bikes offer a variety of activities that can distract you from your workout. Boredom is one of the biggest threats to regular exercise, and anything that can help alleviate that boredom is a step in the right direction. If you find exercise boring or exhausting, start using an interactive exercise bike.
There are many benefits that you can get from riding a stationary bike. People with joint problems can try stationary biking instead of running as a low-impact way to stay in shape. Riding a stationary bike doesn’t put as much stress on your knees and lower back as running does.
If you want to get started, there are several options available. The first option to consider is to buy a ready-to-use interactive bike. The second option is to get an interactive bike kit.
Expresso Bike: The bike offers an integrated LCD screen packed with interactive cycling routes, games and social networking capabilities. The bikes are very well built, however they are expensive. Give it a try before you commit to spending thousands of dollars.
Cyber ExerCycle: If you already have a stationary bike, consider turning your old stationary bike into an interactive exercise bike using a PC game controller kit. The game controller turns any stationary cycle into an interactive exercise bike. It detects the movement of the pedals and sends it to the PC. Since the device connects to a regular PC, you are no longer restricted by the selection of games provided by the bike manufacturer. There is a huge selection of driving and racing games, RPGs, first-person shooters, as well as cycling simulation software, many of which are available for free. Clearly this is a much lower cost solution, however it does require some setup.
If you’re a gamer at heart and looking for a way to motivate yourself to exercise, you might want to consider trying an interactive bike. Always remember, before you ride an exercise bike, do some stretching to relax. Gradually start to increase your speed while riding the bike. And finally, follow all the safety precautions indicated by the manufacturer of the exercise equipment.