GENTRY -- A new accessory for stationary bicycle enthusiasts is now being manufactured by a start-up Gentry company and is set to be available this fall in area sporting-goods stores and bicycle shops across the region. The new product is designed to give stationary cyclists the same experience as non-stationary bikers but without the added cost of purchasing a second bicycle.
The new product, which was unveiled at a Friday press conference at the company's Main Street back-alley address, is a small, lightweight flat-bed trailer with adjustable tie downs to fasten any stationary bicycle firmly to the trailer floor.
The stationary-bike trailer can be pulled behind any car or truck with a 2-inch ball hitch and electrical connections, and the stationary-bike rider won't be stationary any more.
"Our stationary bike trailer is designed to give stationary bike riders the same feel and experience as those who ride regular two-wheelers down our streets, roads and highways," said Zeke Brighton, the company's owner and the patent holder on the new accessory. "Why should stationary bike riders miss out on all the fun?" he said. "With our new accessory, they don't have to any more!"
And the advanced orders have been coming in. Oso Stihl, one stationary bike rider whose bike was parked next to the new Gentry business, was camped out and waiting for the first trailers to come off the stationary assembly line.
"I am so excited about this new accessory," Stihl said. "I've been riding my stationary bike for about 10 years now, but I just don't feel like I've gotten anywhere. No matter how hard or long I peddle, everything is just the same. I'm parked here and still peddling slowly, but pretty soon I'll really be going places on my bike," he said.
Bobbi Fits, a local exercise guru, is hoping the new stationary bike trailer will get more people excited about riding their stationary bicycles again.
"Riding a stationary bike is such good exercise," Fits said. "It not only tones a rider's legs and arms, it is a good cardio workout too," she said.
The biggest downside to the exercise method, she said, is that people get bored because they aren't going anywhere and just see the same four walls day after day.
"The stationary-bike trailer should change all that," she said, blushingly adding a side note that she was hoping Brighton's new company would also build long, narrow trailers designed to pull stationary bikes for two.
The state police voiced concerns at first -- about people riding stationary bicycles on a trailer being pulled down the highway. They were worried about the injuries which the stationary bike rider could suffer should the trailer be involved in an accident or come unhitched. But, when, Brighton pointed out the reduced risk to vehicles traveling at highway speeds and not impeding traffic, the police colonel agreed the bike trailers were a good idea as long as the stationary bike riders wore bicycle helmets, seat belts and learned to give proper arm signals while peddling their stationary cycles down the roadway.
A local club for Schwinn Air-Dyne riders is really excited about the new development. The club members bought matching spandex cycling shorts and shirts and matching bicycle helmets with the club's logo printed on them.
"This will be the first time we've ever been able to ride anywhere as a team," said Jaci Johnson, the club's president and stationary cycling motivator. "Now, we're going to ride together in style," she said.
One club member said he is now planning to ride his stationary bicycle to work if he can just find a coworker to pull the trailer.
"Think of the exercise I'll get riding to and from work,"said Lane Blocker. "And think of all the gas money I'll save. I might even be able to buy another stationary bicycle and get my wife to ride to work too."
To help us give our readers a better feel for the new stationary bike accessory, Brighton gave this author the opportunity to ride a stationary bike on his prototype trailer. With a helmet on, goggles to protect the eyes, and securely strapped to the seat of a stationary bicycle, I started to peddle. And with ease, my stationary bike quickly reached speeds of 40, 50 and even 60 miles an hour. The wind in my face was fantastic and riding a stationary bike was fun again. I could even coast going uphill. It was fantastic!
You can bet this author, too, will soon be out, getting more exercise on his stationary bike. And, yes, then his exercise program will really be going places!
S.A. Tired covers fictitious news from an unrealistic perspective for the Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. News and views in Spinning the News are claimed by no one else but the author.
Editorial on 08/17/2016