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Fitness arcade at Pendle Leisure Centre
Pendle Leisure Trust is to launch an interactive fitness arcade featuring 25 Exertris Interactive Bikes, plasma screens, virtual projection, concert-style lighting and interactive programming at Pendle Leisure Centre, Colne, in Lancashire.
The trust hopes the £150,000 X r-cade will encourage the youth of East Lancashire to get fit by offering the gaming bikes, on which users can play games and race against each other.
The arcade stands alone from the leisure centre's other fitness facilities - occupying space which used to be the centre's gym, but was left vacant when a new £500,000 fitness suite opened in January. The trust's Clive Escreet said this was to another move to help users if the arcade feel as though they were in an arcade rather than a leisure centre. Designed completely in-house by the trust, users can cycle through various locations with a virtual reality package, play games themselves, or compete against up to 15 others.
Multi-player competitive leagues and instructor-led classes will be established to encourage users to return.
The concept was devised by the trust's CEO, Phil Storey: 'This is the UK's first interactive fitness arcade and at first I thought it would be ideal for motivating youngsters to get some exercise, however I soon realised it actually appeals to all age groups.
'By creating the arcade, we have a fitness concept that really does make exercise fun.'