Mark Hedley Jones
GameBike
GameBike was my attempt to make exercise less tedious by turning a bike into a racing-game controller. Pedalling controls acceleration, the handlebars steer, and the brake levers brake in the game.
Between 2013 and 2018, I built four versions, starting with a gamepad interface and ending with a metal assembly that emulated a PlayStation 4 racing wheel. Each version addressed something the previous one got wrong: steering feel, stiffness, power or connectivity.
Prototype 1 - 2013
The concept worked - people who tried it seemed to enjoy it and you did tend to forget you were exercising. But there were obvious problems: the front wheel was wrecking the carpet and the steering felt wrong because gamepads interpret steering as effort rather than angle. Small difference, but it made precise steering frustrating.
These issues meant I needed to get a proper cycle trainer and rethink the approach.
Prototype 2 - 2014: Proper Racing Wheel Emulation
This version emulated a Logitech G25 racing wheel instead of a gamepad, which fixed the steering angle issue. Now it felt like using an actual racing wheel.
Added proper handlebars with brake levers and rotary encoders for pedal speed. The sensor housings were pretty rough - just routed them out of wood with a Dremel. Still looked like a prototype but the steering was much better.
Prototype 3 - 2016: PlayStation 4 Integration
Got a 3D printer around this time so I could make a proper housing that held the brake sensors, bearings for the steering shaft, and electronics in one unit. This version worked with PlayStation 4 by emulating a Logitech G29 wheel using GIMX software.
Features included a mount for the PS4 controller (for navigating menus), thumb buttons for gear changes, and USB connectivity. Had to use wall power though, which was annoying.
A mate who’s a personal trainer tested it with some clients. Feedback was mostly positive, but the mechanism felt a bit flimsy during intense use and there were occasional connectivity issues. Plus the wall power requirement was limiting where you could set it up.
Prototype 4 - 2018: Final Version
For the final version I wanted to fix the flimsiness issue, so I went with laser-cut and folded aluminium plus stainless steel components. Much more solid.
Improvements included:
- Stainless steel steering shaft with mechanical stops
- Internal elastic bands to centre the steering
- USB-only power (no wall adapter needed)
- CNC-milled aluminium housing
- 8mm stainless steel base plate
- Fixed the software connectivity issues
- All electronics hidden inside
Used my OMIO CNC to machine the housing and got the metal work done by Stainless Design Limited. This version felt much more solid - no flex when you really got into it.
Unfortunately, right about the time I got this working properly, I decided to move to Japan and had to sell everything including the workshop and the bike. Would definitely buy one if someone made them commercially though.
How it worked out
People who tried it seemed to enjoy the distraction and were often surprised by how much exercise they’d done. That was informal feedback rather than a fitness study. The final version gave me the steering feel and mechanical stiffness I’d been trying to achieve, just as I was preparing to leave New Zealand.
Build Gallery
