Introducing the Bike Stepper!
The Bike Stepper is a unique experience!
Your feet move in almost the same way as on a cross trainer. The difference however is that instead of being stuck in a stuffy gym, you can get out and enjoy the world outside your door.
There are two models of Stepper to choose from:
The City Stepper, which comes with wide extra tyres and looks and feels as if your cycle over anything.
The Race, which comes with narrow racing tyres.
Features include:
The Bike Stepper is a unique experience!
Your feet move in almost the same way as on a cross trainer. The difference however is that instead of being stuck in a stuffy gym, you can get out and enjoy the world outside your door.
There are two models of Stepper to choose from:
The City Stepper, which comes with wide extra tyres and looks and feels as if your cycle over anything.
The Race, which comes with narrow racing tyres.
Features include:
- No Comfy Saddle! This is a get-you-off-your-bum fitness machine so you stand as you pedal. Just think how those legs will tone up and the butt once you dispense with the comfy saddle!
- 7 Speed Nexus Gears.
- V brakes front and rear
- Water Bottle Cage and Batavus Bottle
- Side Stand
The City Stepper
Note the big fat tyres and overall meaty feel
The Stepper Race
Narrower tyres and a faster feeling.
Note the big fat tyres and overall meaty feel
The Stepper Race
Narrower tyres and a faster feeling.
So how do they ride?
Well, I must admit that the Bike Stepper is as far away from the traditional Old Dutch bike as you can get.
The Stepper is a modern fitness machine and not a bicycle as we're used to. It's odd getting onto a machine where you stand on the two running boards/steps and then push your weight up and down similar to a step machine. But once you're underway it's great fun.
You can certainly feel yourself getting a good workout as you ride. You can achieve relatively fast speeds as you hammer along and get lots of head turning as you pass by pedestrians.
It's worth pointing out that the manufacturers say it's not intended as a means of transport, but more as a fitness machine. A way of swapping the boring step machine for something that's a lot of fun and get you fit.
A slight drawback I found when I rode it initially was how difficult it is to climb hills. I'm not too sure if this is down to my lack of fitness, or everyone would find it the same. However the next morning when I tried it again on the same hill, I found myself able to climb it without too much difficulty. I don't know whether this is because I'm become more used to riding it, or my technique has improved, but either way I found today's riding to be far more easy and fun than yesterdays.
Where would you use it?
Batavus say that it's an exercise tool as opposed to a mode of transport. However, I can see all sorts of possibilities for it. For example, the Stepper is would be ideal for taking on holiday in the caravan or car and using as a way of getting round your holiday destination while also keeping fit. It rides beautifully along seaside tracks just like we have here in Littlehampton. The extra wide tyres on the City Stepper really do take to bumpy ground well and you feel it's for a real go-anywhere feel to it.
You could also use it for taking exercise in the park. Pedal along your favourite running route and build those leg muscles as you go. Or you could simply use it for short commutes. I always cycle from our shop to our town centre, which is only a matter of minutes away. The Stepper would be ideal for this journey.
What's it got over a normal bicycle?
Someone asked me this question this morning when I was out on my second ride. I told them it's not meant to compete with bicycles, but simply to add a new dimension to pedal power. It's fun and it's different. If you like being eccentric. Then this is certainly worth considering. If your normal exercise regime includes taking time on stepping machines or cross trainers, then the Stepper is certainly worth considering.
Who knows I might just use it on my next Land's End to John O Groat's Cycle Ride......
Price
The bike Stepper doesn't come cheap at £538. However when you compare the price to buying other home fitness equipment, say a rowing machine, step machine etc, then I believe it offers value for money.
Personally I hate gyms, I detest the bottom braking boredom of a stationary cycle machine or step machine and I detest entirely the whole ethos of spending otherwise quality time in expensive Health Clubs.
I think this offers a fun alternative.
Available to test ride in our Littlehampton Shop.
Bike Steppers On YOU TUBE
Bike Steppers are making a big hit in the USA where they are made by 3G Stepper. You can see some footage of them in action, together with some views of Personal Trainers on the Video Below. We're in the process of putting together our own video on our City Steppers, but the You Tube Video gives you a fairly good overview of the stepper.
See the video here
Paul
March 08
Well, I must admit that the Bike Stepper is as far away from the traditional Old Dutch bike as you can get.
The Stepper is a modern fitness machine and not a bicycle as we're used to. It's odd getting onto a machine where you stand on the two running boards/steps and then push your weight up and down similar to a step machine. But once you're underway it's great fun.
You can certainly feel yourself getting a good workout as you ride. You can achieve relatively fast speeds as you hammer along and get lots of head turning as you pass by pedestrians.
It's worth pointing out that the manufacturers say it's not intended as a means of transport, but more as a fitness machine. A way of swapping the boring step machine for something that's a lot of fun and get you fit.
A slight drawback I found when I rode it initially was how difficult it is to climb hills. I'm not too sure if this is down to my lack of fitness, or everyone would find it the same. However the next morning when I tried it again on the same hill, I found myself able to climb it without too much difficulty. I don't know whether this is because I'm become more used to riding it, or my technique has improved, but either way I found today's riding to be far more easy and fun than yesterdays.
Where would you use it?
Batavus say that it's an exercise tool as opposed to a mode of transport. However, I can see all sorts of possibilities for it. For example, the Stepper is would be ideal for taking on holiday in the caravan or car and using as a way of getting round your holiday destination while also keeping fit. It rides beautifully along seaside tracks just like we have here in Littlehampton. The extra wide tyres on the City Stepper really do take to bumpy ground well and you feel it's for a real go-anywhere feel to it.
You could also use it for taking exercise in the park. Pedal along your favourite running route and build those leg muscles as you go. Or you could simply use it for short commutes. I always cycle from our shop to our town centre, which is only a matter of minutes away. The Stepper would be ideal for this journey.
What's it got over a normal bicycle?
Someone asked me this question this morning when I was out on my second ride. I told them it's not meant to compete with bicycles, but simply to add a new dimension to pedal power. It's fun and it's different. If you like being eccentric. Then this is certainly worth considering. If your normal exercise regime includes taking time on stepping machines or cross trainers, then the Stepper is certainly worth considering.
Who knows I might just use it on my next Land's End to John O Groat's Cycle Ride......
Price
The bike Stepper doesn't come cheap at £538. However when you compare the price to buying other home fitness equipment, say a rowing machine, step machine etc, then I believe it offers value for money.
Personally I hate gyms, I detest the bottom braking boredom of a stationary cycle machine or step machine and I detest entirely the whole ethos of spending otherwise quality time in expensive Health Clubs.
I think this offers a fun alternative.
Available to test ride in our Littlehampton Shop.
Bike Steppers On YOU TUBE
Bike Steppers are making a big hit in the USA where they are made by 3G Stepper. You can see some footage of them in action, together with some views of Personal Trainers on the Video Below. We're in the process of putting together our own video on our City Steppers, but the You Tube Video gives you a fairly good overview of the stepper.
See the video here
Paul
March 08