The Layer x Saga HoloBike

Meet the world’s first holographic exercise bike that makes home workouts immersive and fun.

Created by London-based design agency Layer for Saga, a new company founded by Samuel Matson, a former Google VR researcher who wants to bring fitness into the metaverse, the HoloBike is a world’s first. Engineered to offer an immersive cycling experience, this exercise bike takes riders on exciting trails – without leaving their home. The innovative design aims to replace monotonous workouts with a stimulating exercise experience like no other. A 27-inch screen displays life-like 3D landscapes in crisp 4K resolution, transporting riders to another world.

“When I’m riding outdoors, I can go for 3 hours just absorbed in that captivating rhythm of moving through space. But even 10 minutes training on a stationary bike feels painfully monotonous. That phenomenon of time dilation is fascinating. If we could tap into that sense of flow, we could create a more meditative training experience that enhances focus and endurance,” says Samuel Matson, Saga CEO and Founder.

HoloBike’s design specifically amplifies the immersive aspect of the cycling experience. The stereoscopic light-field display allows users to see the virtual scenes with the naked eye, without the need for specialized eyewear or a VR headset. Additionally, the landscapes are life-like. Thanks to the powerful integrated graphics processing unit, leaves seem to drift off the screen as the rider goes through a trail in a woodland or landscape features recede in the horizon.

“Fitness is an important part of a healthy life – yet working out, particularly in the home, can be boring and full of distractions. HoloBike tackles these challenges by recreating the exhilaration of an outdoor ride to bring an incredibly immersive and engaging experience to the comfort of the home. The immersive on-screen visuals keep users focused on performance, and the design of the HoloBike combines the visual language of highperformance bikes with a striking geometry that sits seamlessly in a home environment,” says Benjamin Hubert, Layer Founder.

The Saga HoloBike boasts a geometry that enhances the realistic cycling experience further. More similar to a performance bike rather than a classic exercise bike, it features a streamlined, cantilevered silhouette and a rear flywheel to promote a racing stance while cycling. Furthermore, the electromagnetic resistance control adapts in real-time to the changes in the virtual setting to simulate realistic climbs and even gear shifting.

Designed with flexibility and accessibility in mind, the HoloBike is ergonomic and suits a wide range of cyclists and body types. Several features allow users to adjust the bike for their needs, from the seat height that goes from 485mm to 880mm to the monitor that rotates up to 90 degrees.

Launched via Kickstarter on the 7th of May 2024, the HoloBike has received full funding from backers in less than 4 hours. If you want to support the campaign and get the HoloBike at super early bird and early bird prices, you can become a backer until the 1st of July 2024. Images courtesy of Layer.