Skip to main content

Cycli is an under-desk cycle that lets you compete with your colleagues

Cycli Kickstarter Video: World's First Social Cycle
If you can’t make them get up, get ’em while they’re sitting down. That would appear to be the new trend in fitness geared towards the chronically busy (or chronically lazy). From standing desks to mobile cycling studios, we’re getting ever more creative with our fitness fads, and the latest comes from Cycli, the world’s first Bluetooth-enabled portable cycle, whose social exercise innovation is now available on Kickstarter.
Recommended Videos

Encouraging users to get fit while they sit, Cycli goes beyond letting you work out while you work by adding a competitive element to the mix. That means that when you’re cycling, you can race against your colleagues, your friends, or even your city. If you really want, you can even challenge the whole world.

Envisioned as a “fun, competitive, and interactive way for people of all ages to engage in social exercise from any location,” Cycli can be placed in front of a chair, your couch, or under your desk at home or at work. And once you’ve set the resistance, you’re ready to start pedaling and working out.

Thanks to its touch-screen interface, this under-desk stationary cycling tool will measure the number of reps you’ve completed, calories burned, and time spent on your faux bike. The companion Cycli app is fed this information by way of Bluetooth connectivity, and you can use the app to create and join both public or private exercise groups to compare your workout to that of your friends, or to a greater group of cyclers.

“Exercise should be fun and accessible,” said Cycli co-creator Dan Zondervan. “But more than that, exercise should be social. When we have a community around us, our innate desires to compete and share our accomplishments create the perfect environment for fitness. That’s why we created Cycli.”

And don’t worry — you’re cycling shouldn’t distract your office mates. With a variable magnetic resistance mechanism, this workout tool promises “smooth and quiet operation.” And with its rechargeable battery, you can take Cycli on the go, or with you from home to work or on to a new job.

“People aren’t exercising enough and it’s often because they’re stuck at the office or lounging on the couch at home. We wanted to transform these historically unhealthy situations into an opportunity to get fit,” added Cycli co-creator Nizan Friedman. “There’s tons of technology out there for fitness junkies, but those aren’t the people that need to be exercising more. We wanted to build a tool that can help everyone get moving.”

You can currently pre-order a Cycli for the early bird price of $99 on Kickstarter.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Apple will now let you fix your own iPhone in win for right-to-repair campaigners
iPhone 13 Pro style shot.

Apple will finally let iPhone users repair their own iPhones, the company announced this week. It will start this effort with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series, with an expansion to older iPhones and more of its product lines in the near future. Dubbed Self Service Repair, it is aimed at those customers who have the experience, skills, and willingness to get hands-on with product repairs. The company will send (or rather, sell) people parts, tools, and a manual in what is a huge win for right-to-repair campaigners.

The new Apple Self Service Repair Online Store will offer more than 200 individual parts and tools for sale.  Apple also noted that these customers who get access to the parts, tools, and manuals join a club of more than 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers and 2,800 Independent Repair Providers.

Read more
Don’t let your cable company sell you a TV
X Class Xfinity TV

In a matter of weeks, Comcast is going to try to sell you a TV. I can understand if you might be tempted by the idea of no longer needing a cable box to get cable TV. But, I implore you: Don’t do it.

One exception: If you love your cable box -- and I mean if you really enjoy your cable box and its remote control and can’t imagine how you could ever watch TV without them -- then maybe go ahead and buy one of the TVs they’ll be hawking.

Read more
Apple Fitness+ now lets you work out with your friends
Apple Fitness Plus on Apple One.

During the Apple California Streaming event, Apple Fitness+ has introduced Group Workouts on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. You will still see your own metrics on display on the screen, but you will also be able to see an indicator of how well your friends are doing in their workouts. It's a fun way to bring a competitive element to working out and to keep yourself and your friends motivated.

Apple has also expanded its Apple Fitness+ program to include even more countries. While it's currently available in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and New Zealand, Apple is adding support for 15 more countries including Italy, Austria, and Brazil. New subscribers to the service will receive one month for free, or three months free with the purchase of an Apple Watch. Afterward, the service is $10 per month or $80 per year in the U.S.

Read more