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Too cold to ride a bike outside and you're bored with the health club's spin class? Try spending the winter months pedaling through the French countryside or the Colorado Rockies without leaving your living room. Several companies offer technology to help cyclists escape the winter blues for prices ranging up to $1,500, depending on whether you're buying a simple DVD or an entire virtual reality cycling system. At the basic level, for instance, are $30 DVDs by Endurance Films, based in Louisville, Kentucky. You would fix your bike to a training stand in front of the TV or computer screen, and watch videos of cruising along roads in the Rocky Mountains. Filmed from a number of viewpoints, including a cyclist's helmetcam, the DVDs are meant to make viewers feel like they are riding in the middle of the pack during a tough, scenic and exciting 60-minute course. "Nobody likes to train indoors, so they are always looking for something to watch," said Eric Feller, president of Endurance Films. "This is as close as you get to a real ride." Serious cyclists, or those with more cash to spare, can look to more sophisticated systems. CompuTrainer is an interactive software system designed by RacerMate Inc. that sells for about $1,500. A microprocessor is attached to the bike's handlebars and connected to a computer that displays everything from distance and heart rate to cadence and power generated by the cyclist. CompuTrainer's interactive software allows the user to choose from a selection of computer-generated landscapes that are displayed on the PC screen. From cities to deserts, the scenery includes animated rides through Canada's British Columbia, the U.S. Pacific Northwest and the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The program is interactive, so when a virtual hill appears on the screen, it becomes tougher to pedal. On descent, the pedaling is easier and the pavement flies by. Cyclists can also compete against a pacer on the course, or ride in groups made up of friends or teammates. CompuTrainer also has a catalog of triathlon courses that can be loaded on the computer. That can be useful for serious athletes who, without leaving home, can practice racing on courses they will actually ride come summer. "When you're inside, in the winter and there's six feet of snow on the ground, you need a little more incentive than you do living in warm Southern California," said company vice president Chuck Wurster. Another company, Tacx, makes a similar indoor cycling system that also connects to a PC and comes with loads of data functions that track performance. Like CompuTrainer, the Tacx setup lets you pick a computer animated course and rider, who will change gears, drink from a water bottle and wear a jersey of your choice, taking a page from video games. In addition to computer-generated scenery, Tacx also has real-life video of courses in Provence, the Alps, the Rockies, through Italy and across South Africa. Tacx's popular Fortius trainer retails for about $1,400, while the real-life videos cost an additional $50. CompuTrainer said its offerings will soon include real-life landscapes, such as high-definition videos of races like the Tour of California. Although a hefty investment, Tacx systems have proven popular. At ATA Cycle in Concord, Massachusetts, a big-screen projector has been put up for demonstrations, prompting brisk sales. "Have you ever spent a winter in the Northeast or any intemperate climate? It's boring, and trying to ride a trainer tests the patience and temerity of the strongest will," an ATA staffer said. "So suddenly here is something that is really exciting and really interesting and actually can captivate somebody's attention for hours," he added. |
Tags: DVD , Endurance Films , CompuTrainer , RacerMate Inc , Tacx , Virtual cycling system
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