Pedal-powered Pong?

I’m really not sure what to make of Fisher-Price’s Smart Cycle Physical Learning Arcade System—that’s an exercise bike connected to a video game console to you and me.

We know that some kids (including some rather mature ‘kids’) can sit there forever happily twiddling a joystick. I suppose some would have us believe that the computer game is solely responsible for our current generation of sedentary, obese little fatty-boobahs. So making them pedal for their fun is an interesting idea and one with some merit.

I’ve really got nothing against video games (I did spent a fair bit of my yoof in front of a screen) but I’d be far happier to see kids spending some of their time outside really riding bikes. Or kicking a ball. Or chasing each other. Or climbing trees. Or throwing stones. You know, having a childhood.

And I notice that it is still possible for them to straddle the Smart Cycle and…sit there forever happily twiddling a joystick. Hmm, I wonder what games the little pork sausages will opt for in the long term?

Something that bugs me about this ’system’ is that it could possibly make a kid quite a physically strong rider without helping them develop any corresponding street smarts. We don’t tend to give kids enough credit—I reckon they’re pretty good at telling reality and TV/video games apart—but for the reality of riding, split-second timing and a full awareness of one’s surroundings is critical (even on off-road trails). It’s not a video game, and you don’t get three lives. And this exercise bike is not going to help kids develop those skills. But in fairness, I’m quibbling—it’s clearly not intended to be a cycling trainer and any exercise that kids get is great.

While I’m on a roll, surely some parents could do with a bit more exercise too. Why not spend the same amount of money getting a hitch bike and hitting the trails together?

But it could be worse, I suppose—at least it’s not a kiddie treadmill:

Now there’s an idea that truly sucks.

So, with Chri$tma$ just around the corner, will you be slapping down the dough to get a Smart Cycle for a child that you love? Or will it be the hitch bike?

More on related topics

• Families trundle the Outer Circle
• 5 tips for cycling with kids
• 11 ways to get cycling fit
• Fat-arsed schoolkids
• Want your kid on a treadmill?