Biking Underwater

Despite its clunky looks, this water-powered bicycle works.

Bike riding is a great way to work up a sweat and burn calories, but it can also be tough on your knees and other joints. That’s why some people are turning to biking underwater to get a high-intensity workout without all the stress.

The sport, which is popular in Europe and the United States, involves cycling a bike while submerged in a pool or ocean. It’s a low-impact exercise that can burn up to 800 calories an hour, according to fitness experts. In addition, it strengthens muscle groups and improves balance, which can help with injury recovery from land-based exercise.

A new company has created a prototype water bike that allows users to drive it with their arms while underwater. It has a propeller system to generate thrust and can travel on flat or wavy surfaces. The company is now looking for investors to help fund production of the bikes.

A new scoping review has been published that explores the literature on head-out aquatic cycling training. The review highlights the different exercise variations, core outcomes and study designs used in the available research on aquatic cycling. This comprehensive outline of the current evidence will serve as a valuable starting point for further systematic reviews and clinical studies on cardiovascular responses to aquatic cycling.