Cycling is recognized as an effective exercise method in many fields. It is more exercise than running, supports lung health by increasing lung capacity, improves blood circulation by increasing blood flow, and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by stimulating metabolism. It also increases cerebral blood flow and promotes the secretion of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which helps relieve stress as well as depression, and since the saddle accepts weight, it is possible to exercise muscles without straining the joints, and it is an effective exercise method for obese and osteoporosis patients, especially the elderly.

As a result, a movement arises to encourage cycling to older people. In Japan, cycling for the elderly is so active that electric bicycles for the elderly have been launched, and it is argued that it should be introduced in Korea also. Real Design Tech is a company that developed an indoor cycling for the purpose of rehabilitation especially for seniors.

 

Safe indoor cycling

From children to seniors

Real Design Tech is the sport tech startup that developed ULTIRACER, an epoch-breaking indoor cycling exercise device.

ULTIRACER is an indoor exercise device attached with a bicycle. Most of the existing indoor cycling exercise equipment is fixed, and neither the steering wheel nor the body tilts or moves, which is a big difference from riding a real bicycle. Therefore, it is only a matter of rolling the pedals with your feet, and it lacks the sensory part or effect compared to exercising while riding a real bicycle. ULTIRACER, on the other hand, gives a real bicycle riding feel. It realizes grip through 100% weight transfer and even realizes the movement of the bicycle up and down along with the movement of the handlebars, so it feels even more realistic.

It is safer than riding a bike indoors. The bike swings from side to side, giving you the same sensation as real driving, and the clamps (vertical supports) hold the bike from tipping over, so you don’t have to misoperate it and fall over like when you ride a real bike. Therefore, everyone from children to the elderly with disabilities can ride safely without worrying about anything. 

ULTIRACER uses technology that measures left-right movement position data and reflects game or video content to help you experience cycling more real and enjoyable. Through the technology that allows you to use the bicycle like a joystick, you can enjoy cycling by applying it to various games rather than just riding. With an algorithm created using its unique sensing system, it is possible to cycle indoors through virtual reality or live-action-based contents with which the riders can travel various places around the world while riding.

 

▲ Real Design Tech / CEO Joongsik Lee

Winner of the Innovation Award at Eurobike 2019 and CES 2020

Making seniors an asset to society

ULTIRACER perfectly reproduces cycling that was only possible outdoors indoors, giving users the experience and exercise effect. As a result, ULTIRACER has gained great recognition in Europe and the United States, where bicycle populations are high, and has participated in Eurobike 2019 and CES2020, the world’s largest IT exhibition, where it received the Innovation Award. It has also received a lot of attention, including being covered by the BBC in the UK.

Real Design Tech is applying this ULTIRACER to senior rehabilitation-related fields. Real Design Tech CEO Joongsik Lee said “We are expanding into the field of rehabilitation therapy or reverse aging to make seniors no longer a debt to society but an asset.”

ULTIRACER stimulates the muscles of the whole body with pure cycling exercise and helps to improve balance, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, and cognitive abilities. Lee said “What is important for diabetes, cognitive impairment, and spinal rehabilitation are the core muscles such as the erector spinal muscles, and when you ride a bike, you use all of those muscles. So, if you use the ULTIRACER, you will get a lot of exercise efficiency and muscle activity and a great workout effect.” 

Real Design Tech plans to raise the level of senior fitness through ULTIRACER. The company’s goal is to provide energetic wellness without restrictions on exercise and daily life, and to make seniors become production and consumption agents rather than debts to society. To this end, Real Design Tech has developed ULTIRACER as a digital therapeutic for rehabilitation and is in clinical trials with Korea University Anam Medical Center and Korea University College of Medicine.

Real Design Tech aims to enter the U.S. market this year, and North America, Europe, and Japan later.

권동호 기자  dongho2010@naver.com