For those of you who love snowboarding, as well as for those who are looking to lose a few pounds in quite the most original way there ever was, there is now a thing called the sideways bike, created by Michael Killian. The bicycle has seen several prototypes, has already garnered plenty of media attention, and is now on its way to being mass-produced.

Dubbed “Not your father’s bicycle” by its creator, the sideways bike is unlike anything that has come out on the market so far. For one, it does not require you to rely on left to right balance, but on the type of balance that snowboarders and surfers use, meaning front to back. It is ridden sideways, in the manner women had of mounting a horse in the Victorian Age, and has independent wheels that drift, “afford[ing] you tremendous grace and motion. It’s dance-like. It’s mesmerizing and entertaining.” as Killian himself says.

“Front to Back balance has very little visual input and is the primary balance used in riding a surfboard, windsurfer and snowboard. Front to Back balance is a finer instrument than Left to Right balance and offers a greater degree of artistic feedback.” Killian says of what was the main reason behind the creation of this unique bike. “This is evidenced by the difference between skiing and snowboarding. Skiing (Left to Right balance) is faster than Snowboarding (Front to Back balance); however people like to snowboard because of the greater artistic expression.” he adds. 

As noted above, each wheel can be steered independently of the other, which makes maintaining balance and learning to ride this bike not quite as easy as with the regular type. However, once this is out of the way, the Sideways Bicycle is guaranteed to keep you in fit shape and, at the same time, help you become a better snowboarder and/or surfer, if that’s what you’re looking for.

The Sideways Bike is not yet available in stores, but buzz in the fitness industry has it that it won’t be long before it goes into mass production. Meanwhile, for a taste of what’s in store for us from creator Michael Killian, below is a short video of this original bicycle.