Ultiracer cycling system leans into improved cognitive performance and fitness

Launched in 2020, just after the height of the pandemic in South Korea, Ultiracer is an indoor bike with a twist. Developed by Real Design Tech Co., Ltd, founded in 2018, the system allows users to improve their balance as they train in privacy. In an interview with HealthTechAsia at GITEX Digi Health & Biotech, CEO John (Joong-Sik) Lee explained how Ultiracer goes beyond fitness, offering promising rehabilitation benefits for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

In many ways, Ultiracer looks like a typical gym bike, complete with a screen mounted in front that lets you play one of 10 interactive games, including its flagship title, Perfect Racer. But this bike has a unique feature: it can tilt left and right, with the on-screen bike responding in real time — though there’s no risk of falling. Once seated, users engage their core muscles as they work to hold the bike upright and stay centred on the virtual road, pedalling while gripping the handlebars. Riders can also steer into cola bottles for a burst of extra acceleration.

Unlike other fitness devices, the 150kg system is built around brain function, as well as cardiovascular and joint health.

Lee revealed that Ultiracer trains the mind and body simultaneously, enhancing concentration, stamina, cognition, balance, and joint protection. “It feels like racing outdoors, but within the game,” he said.

The system tracks fluid body movements and displays them on-screen, creating a continuous feedback loop for the brain. Over time, this process sharpens balance, coordination, and cognitive function.

“Improvements happen almost unconsciously,” the CEO explained. ‘The key part of the game is visualisation: you’re aware of where you are and can get back on track.”

The company’s main goal with the product is to ensure that nobody fears ageing. “Societies around the world are ageing rapidly,” Lee said. “Physically, people may grow older, but mentally they can stay sharp with Ultiracer.”

Clinical trials have demonstrated that Ultiracer can improve walking abilities in patients with conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. It has also been shown to aid in Parkinson’s detection using AI algorithms and sensors, with analysis revealing that the condition can be identified with 86–87% accuracy from just 30 seconds of data — findings recently published in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation (JNER), one of the world’s leading scientific journals in the field.

The study aimed to identify biomechanical adaptations in cycling balance control among individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Using two sensors placed under the bike seat and frame, the researchers found that participants with Parkinson’s distributed force more evenly between their upper and lower body, indicating a different approach to balance compared with healthy individuals.

Embracing age without fear

The company’s primary target is seniors, with a focus on the American market, followed by Europe. “We are now starting to work with many healthcare institutions and centres, but our priority is distribution to private homes so they can do their own personal care,” Lee said. “In Asia, people often live in apartments, while in the US they typically have individual houses — each with an Ultiracer — so no one needs to be afraid of getting old.”

‘There’s also a cost benefit,” he added. “As people age, society bears the expense of their care. Ultiracer can help reduce healthcare costs.”

With its potential to enhance cognitive abilities, the product also appeals to a much broader audience.

“Ultiracer is suitable for all ages,” clarified Lee. “It’s not just about rehabilitation — it also stimulates the brain. For example, it can benefit people with ADHD and even help students improve focus.” He noted another unexpected benefit: “In Korea, people struggling with gambling addiction are also using it as part of their rehabilitation.”

Research into the product’s potential benefits continues, meanwhile. The University of Birmingham in the UK — ranked among the world’s top institutions for sports and rehabilitation sciences — has adopted Ultiracer for large-scale studies. With over 1,500 researchers and students, their world-class facilities will further investigate how the cycling system supports brain health, rehabilitation, and performance optimisation.

Riding in formation worldwide

It’s not just consumers taking to Ultiracer — businesses are getting on board as well. So far, National Geographic and Kakao, one of Korea’s leading tech giants, have adopted the system. “Office workers spend so long sitting at their computers already,” Lee said. “Just 30 seconds on the Ultiracer can make a difference.”

The product was also showcased to staff at another tech behemoth in 2024, with Ultiracer presented at Meta’s headquarters, further cementing its international recognition, which includes top honours such as the CES 2020 Best New Cycling Technology Award in Las Vegas and Triathlete’s Best Concept Design Award.

Lee shows no signs of slowing down — he recently invented and patented a blockchain-based digital currency designed to partner with healthcare companies and firms like Amazon, rewarding Ultiracer users with discounts.

At the heart of Ultiracer’s appeal, however, is something enduringly simple and universally accessible. “Even without any prior experience of riding a bike, anyone can try Ultiracer,” Lee said. “That’s the main reason it was designed this way — it’s truly universal.”

This ease of use extends to the games themselves, which include one inspired by Space Invaders and another reminiscent of the 1980s classic Outrun.

The system also allows for personalised screen backgrounds. “You can use YouTube clips as a scenic background,” Lee explained. “For example, if you like Jeju Island, you can stream it from YouTube and connect it to Ultiracer.”

Ultiracer’s accessibility is built into its design: the bike can be swapped out for a customer’s own, reducing the $4,000 one-time purchase price, and the screen can be replaced with any other — even that 65-inch LG in the living room.

Looking ahead, the company has ambitious plans, targeting an IPO by 2030 or sooner. There may be a few wobbles along the way, but the signs suggest it is on the right track.