Relax whilst exercising with the L250 bike bed

If there's one thing that Engadget's editors will not stand for, it's being told that we have to put down our gadgets in order to do other tasks that require the use of our hands. That, dear readers, is the reason you will never see any of us getting on one of those mechanical people-powered bicycle contraptions -- we assure you, we have have no aversion to doing exercise, it's merely the idea that the handle bars would limit the number of times that we could check our Treo that prevents us from getting our bike on (which is similar, but not identical to getting on our bike). Fortunately for us, Hypoxi, a company specializing in "VacuTraining Teachnology", has solved our problem with the unveiling of the L250 stationary exercise bike bed. Instead of traditional exercise bike designs, the L250 has a reclined bed shape in the place of one of those awkwardly shaped bike seats. The bed bike apparently also comes with a vacuum chamber that forcibly sucks off any flab you may have around your waist -- only kidding! We have absolutely no idea what the vacuum chamber is, or how it's supposed to help you lose weight, but frankly we don't care, because the freedom that the L250 allows us is all we need. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're just gonna go plug our new bed bike into our recently installed brain port: a fifty mile cycle -- whilst we're sleeping -- should do it.

[Via Fitness Gadgets]

[Teddy-O @ Sep 12th 2006 6:53AM]

Geez, I can't imagine what you guys are worried about as far as riding a bike goes. I've seen numerous people manage to pilot their two-wheeled chariot through the center of the city, whilst simultaneously sending cell phone mail, smoking and holding an umbrella, and all the while dodging pedestrians. I guess that's not enough for the engadget team though, since y'all have to be all supine and stuff...

good luck.

[zoara @ Sep 12th 2006 6:54AM]

I'm eagerly awaiting the comments about how this is photoshopped / would never work from all those people who haven't actually bothered to click the Read link.

Nice pic, Engadget :)

[Idk @ Sep 12th 2006 7:05AM]

I thought it would actually look like the pic above.

The actual concept of a reclined bike bed sounds worthless.

The thing is too round and looks like it came from the 80s'.

I sure hope they aren't trying to sell it. (I wonder if the vacuum suit thing works though.)

[Maff @ Sep 12th 2006 7:05AM]

you should have included a pic, heres an ok one: http://www.sparkasse.si/imagelib/Normal/tedni_zdravja/hypoxi_f2.jpg

[Michael @ Sep 12th 2006 8:33AM]

I find so much technology in biking that I can't believe Engadget isn't envolved more. I have three computers on my bike, 1. Polar 725x heart rate monitor that records just about everything about my ride (speed, distance, altitude, temp, heart rate, average speed, time, cadance, etc) and let's me download it to the PC for storage. 2. Shimano Flightdeck, which shows me lots of information, gearing, and I use it since the Polar monitor shows two bits of information, and the Flight deck can show two bits of information, plus it has an interface directly on the shifters/brakes, which keeps my hands on the handle bar. 3. I have a mount for my Samsung i730 PDA Phone. This allows me to take my phone with me (on non-rainy days), and I have a Bluetooth GPS receiver mounted on the bike as well. I can load up a map of an unfamilar area, use a bluetooth headset with a wind buffer and DSP, play music either through the speaker, or use a hack and play it through the Bluetooth headset (only on one ear so I can pay attention to the outside world).

So that's just the little extras on the bike, not to mention all the pretty carbon fiber on the bike, from a mix in the Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels, to the Easton EC90 stem and bar. My bike weighs in at just over 16 pounds even with the electronics on board, and let's me get away while still being able to do just about anything.

I understand this is a farce with the photoshopped picture, but there is LOTS of available tech in cycling, and you can always take the tech with you, what do you think those big pockets on the back on bike jersey's are for, carrying all the tech toys we want while on a ride... and for food...

[Mikie @ Sep 12th 2006 8:48AM]

http://www.vacunaut.co.uk/images/hypoxittherapy.jpg

Am I the only one who hears "Nano, Nano" when I see this pic?

[shmengie @ Sep 12th 2006 9:31AM]

i, for one, welcome our paradoxical lazy-exercising vacuum-packed overlords...

[Techmonkey @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:19AM]

The vacuum chamber is for inducing slight hypoxia. This simulates exercising at high altitudes. This trains your body to use kess oxygen, so when you go back to your normal air pressure you will have a bit more energy. Someathletes sleep in a tent that lowers the atmospheric pressure and then run at sea-level.