We have been starved for indoor exercise. Before Wii, we had Twister and Jane Fonda workouts. Most middle aged-men who participated in the lounge aerobics where mainly watching Hanoi Jane’s bouncing assets. Now we are calling out for Wii Cycling – the answer to busy roads and life schedules.
The hard truth is that Nintendo Wii and cycling are never likely to merge into a product. Some alternatives are suggested at the end of the article.
The hard truth is that Nintendo Wii and cycling are never likely to merge into a product. Some alternatives are suggested at the end of the article.
Nintendo's pitfalls are:
1. You need a bicycle – Nintendo don’t make white plastic moulds of bikes
2. You need to measure power from the back wheel – this is a specialty area that involves large investment from Nintendo
3. You need resistance – air guitar works; no-chain cycling doesn’t
There is also CompuTrainer: http://www.racermateinc.com/computrainer.asp
Let me know if you find any others.
2. You need to measure power from the back wheel – this is a specialty area that involves large investment from Nintendo
3. You need resistance – air guitar works; no-chain cycling doesn’t
4. Virtual reality software – riding along and seeing cartoon caricatures and Little Red Riding Hood is not what cyclist would like to see when they are training. The more real the better.
Never mind, there are alternatives already in existence. I happily use the Tacx trainer to web-race in virtual reality or for Real Life Video where I ride along the island of Majorca or some other pre-filmed route.
Check them out at: http://www.tacxvr.com/enThere is also CompuTrainer: http://www.racermateinc.com/computrainer.asp
Let me know if you find any others.