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Get Buff While Geeking Out

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the just-keep-moving dept.

Two different devices intended to slow the nerd obesity epidemic just came to our attention. PoconoPCDoctor writes about the Geek-A-Cycle, which is a workstation with built-on exercise bike that you have to pedal to run the computer. And several readers pointed out the FP Gamerunner (mirror), reviewed here: think treadmill meets Quake 4. Again, you have to keep moving to stay in the game.

5 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. I Ride A Bicycle 20 Miles Each Way To/From Work by mrs+clear+plastic · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I am solving this problem the cheap way.

    I ditched my car and now get around on a bicycle.

    My commute is 20 miles each way to and from work. That includes goeing up and down an 800 foot hill (Council Crest, in Portland, Oregon).

    I am losing my weight fast.

    I am saving about $400 per month in car related costs now that I got rid of the car.

    People tell me it can't be done, but it' no problem for me so far.

    And I don't need some new fangled cycle/workstation or treadmill/workstation. And I don't need to spend $$$ for waiting to use unwashed health club equipment.

    Peace

    --
    Cleara
    1. Re:I Ride A Bicycle 20 Miles Each Way To/From Work by PoconoPCDoctor · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I had mod points to give on your post, but you're at the max! Totally agree with your approach. I used to commute from Brooklyn to mid-town Manhattan in the mid 1970's. Man what a workout! The view of New York Harbor while riding over the Brooklyn Bridge was spectacular. Round-trip was about the same as yours - 20 miles. I got to work a little sweaty at times, but used to shower at work when it was really hot. My resting pulse at the time was about 45.

      Not getting hit by NY taxi drivers, buses, and delivery trucks also added that gaming element to the daily trip.

      --
      "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair" - George Washington
  2. Obesity and skepticism by rumblin'rabbit · · Score: 4, Interesting
    My BMI (body-mass index) is 29.3. That's just on the border between overweight and obese. And yet no one seems to consider me overweight. I take a size 34 waste, my belly doesn't overhang my belt, I can easily run 5 miles at a decent pace, and I keep up to obviously fit people when circuit training. My doctor has never once told me I should lose weight.


    The problem, of course, is that the BMI doesn't compensate for muscle or stature. Now everyone knows the BMI is only a rough guide, and that there are better ways to measure obesity. But if it's the main instrument for claiming an "obesity epidemic" then we have to know how rough.

    If the BMI doesn't work for me, how many others does it not work for?

  3. Doop! by loteck · · Score: 4, Interesting
    What's funny is that not only did I post this back in '03 but that I also misspelled pedal in the story body and it didn't get picked up by the editor then either.

    Slashdot is like buddhism for stories. All stories are headed for reincarnation until they reach Nerdvana.

  4. Re:Clean energy, hamster style? by phoenix321 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My question exactly. My notebook draws around 35W when idle and 40-45W when loaded, including the battery recharging. This site http://www.windstreampower.com/humanpower/hpgtech. html is claiming for 125W of continuous pedaling power of the average human - and they even sell the equipment needed. But only in 120V US-voltage, which is not quite right for my European 220V appliances. Hmpf. But nonetheless, one hour of pedalling would yield enough power for two hours of computing - which would ne rather nice to have in not grid-connected cabins to be able to watch some dvds in the evening. Not bad...