Children in Florida are being given stationary cycles under their desks in a move that teachers say encourages them to focus and be less restless at their desks.
One school that has introduced the ‘desk cycles’ says that kids are calmer and more diligent - and more active.
Calorie counters attached to the cycles keep an eye on the child’s output - and the teachers at Meadow Park school say they can see a difference.
10-year-old Marek told NewsNet5: "If I didn't have this, I'd be all over the place, but with the desk cycle, well..."
"The blood flowing and pumping through the brain, and continuing that oxygen cycle all the way through, it increases a lot of focus," Meadow Park Principal Asena Mott said.
"There are benefits to people being able to pay attention, even decrease anxiety, decrease panic, decrease depression.”
"They are able to keep their bodies going, their feet are moving, and their brains are going at the same time," Kindergarten teacher Victoria Antrim said.
Marek added that the machinery itself was also fascinating. "I can see all the little things working in here. That interests me a lot," he said.
Each one costs $150, and are paid for using grant money.
Back in 2011 we reported on the Kickstand desk, which offers extra height so bike-starved workers can keep up the mileage.
If the Kickstand desk looks like it was engineered by a bicycle framebuilder, it's because a local bike workshop does the welding of the sturdy 50mm-square tubular steel structure which in turn supports either a tempered glass or recycled maple 150 x 75cm worktop.
Its maker said, "Many days I've been tied to my desk, looking for any break where I could cut out for an hour or so to get on my bike and ride. The problem was, the time wasn't there. On the weekends, when I did have a chance to get out for a few hours, I felt slow and sluggish. This wasn't good."
The price of the special desk, just the first from the new Kickstand Furniture concern with the aim of bringing 'cycling into the workplace' is $2,500 which is pricey by IKEA standards but in line with similarly-engineered architectural office furniture.
The next step, we reckon, would be to hook up the trainer to a generator and battery supply so that the office lighting, heating and computer can be human-powered.
Details here.
The speed looks ok to me. He just needed to brake. It looks like he didn't even steer then brake, only steered. It's a bizarre choice, perhaps it...
I stand to be corrected but I'm not sure the riders are using illegal bikes....
Clumsy movements are fine and can absolutely be excused - if you don't have your finger on a trigger!
If you have one nearby go to your local velodrome instead. Meet some new people have a chat in between exercise and support your local cycling...
The problem is - the dogs here vote. (Or rather dog-owners - in fact in this land it's mostly dogs and dog-fanciers). The mad dogs (or those with...
The law is slightly bizarre in this area: the first part of what you say is correct, if you set out to inflict GBH and a person dies as a result,...
25 years ago I used regularly to see a motorcycle courier around the Fleet Street area (at a time when I was spending a few months doing the same...
Sam3, this makes good sense!...
Fears new parking charges will 'destroy' seaside town...
Dear road.cc! You wrote the size: large. do you mean L or XL here? Thank you