HoloBike, a holographic training bike that simulates trail rides in lifelike 3D, is aiming to push indoor cycling technology up a gear.
A California-based group of engineers and designers, Saga Holographic, have been working on the bike for three years, since coming up with the idea while cycling through the Andes in Colombia.
Founder, Samuel Matson, says the aim was to make indoor cycling feel as exciting as being outside in beautiful scenery: “When I’m biking outdoors, I can go for three hours just absorbed in that captivating rhythm of moving through space.
“But even 10 minutes training on a stationary bike feels painfully monotonous. That phenomenon of time dilation is fascinating. Tapping into that sense of flow, we can create a more meditative experience that enhances focus and endurance.”
The team have used expertise from across the globe – including the UK-based Layer Design and hologram technology from Silicon Valley research labs – in their quest to create an immersive cycling experience, without the need for cumbersome headsets or eyewear,
A panoramic light-field display creates a visceral sense of being on the trail and an infrared depth sensor dynamically responds to the users’ line-of-sight, delivering life-like spatial perception.
Electromagnetic resistance dynamically adapts to the virtual world for lifelike hill climbs and gear shifting.
A library of virtual rides is currently being compiled, from the Alps to the Outback, reconstructed in 3D from digital scans of real-life trails.
Having developed the prototype, the team launched a Kickstarter campaign yesterday to take it to the next level. Within a day, it exceeded its US$25,000 target, raising US$31,570 from 18 backers.
The starting price is US$2,599 and each bike will come with three to four trails of around 20 kilometres in the system, then there will be a subscription programme for other content. It is expected to be ready for shipping in Q4.
The HoloBike has been built to accommodate a height range of 1.5 metres to 1.93 metres and can fit into a floor space of 66 by 150 centimetres.
