VR Bike Riding on Oculus Quest 2 & VZfit Explore

New Fitness App

VZFit Explore

So, I am so excited!  About 3 weeks ago I ordered a cadence sensor on Amazon so I could attach it to my exercise bike and try out a fitness app called VZFit Explore.  The app lets me wear my Oculus Quest 2 headset and explore the world on my exercise bike, and simulates bike rides anywhere that the google car has gone.  It's based on Google Earth and it's very, very cool.

I was going to buy a one year membership myself, but my parents wanted to do something special for me for Christmas and I didn't want them going in stores so I mentioned the app and they got me a subscription for a year.  

This is where I got it: https://www.virzoom.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAw_H-BRD-ARIsALQE_2Ot2C_7q8YGO06yBpKQFO42LoSbmNh4zvDDyJSrAyUCfMckQhNW0C8aAk_KEALw_wcB

First Ride...my home to Belleview Park

For my first ride, I decided to do a ride I do on my regular outside bike...home to Belleview Park, a pretty riverside park across town.  So, I set my address as the start of the ride, and the park as the end of the ride, and the app made my route.  Next thing I knew, I was simultaneously sitting in my living room, and also outside on the street in front of my house, lol. 

My house in VR/VZfit Explore

The next thing I knew, I was happily biking down the street.  Now, it's not perfect, because you can see where one photo merges into another; there's a sort of...blink?  Not sure what to call it, but it's like a glitch in the matrix, lol.  I tried to time my blinking to the apps blinks and soon I barely noticed it.  I was blown away by how much it felt like I was actually riding outside, while riding my exercise bike in the living room.  

The underpass

Next thing I knew I was riding through the underpass and well on my way across town. It was so much fun to see my home town speed by, and I was impressed that the faster I pedaled, the faster my bike went, just like in real life.  I was also able to stop whenever I wanted, and once stopped, I could press the Y or B buttons on my controller and the view would clear up and look amazing.  I took these photos with the Oculus button but there's a way to take them right in the app. I haven't figured it out yet though.

Top of Pine St. Hill heading toward Bay St

The weather changed as I cycled, and when I got tot he top of Pine Street, it was a bright sunny day with blue skies.  

Belleview Park

Once I made it to the park, it was overcast and cloudy, lol.  It was so cool.  I am super excited about th is because I bike ride outside spring, summer, and fall, and miss it a lot in winter.  I hate riding the exercise bike, but now I'm going to enjoy it.