Stuff - UK (2020-12)

GROUP TEST SMART EXERCISE BIKES

What’s the story?
Designed to get you fit without
even breaking a sweat, this
bike uses Cardiovascular
Optimisation Logic (hence
Car.o.l) to get you a claimed
132 % healthier in 98% less
time. That’s based on 40
seconds of exertion per day,
three days a week, compared
to the same benefits from
jogging 30 minutes five times
a week. Including warm-ups
and cool-downs that’s just 26
minutes each week.
It uses Reduced Exertion
High-Intensity Interval Training

(REHIT) principles to drain

glycogen stores in your

muscles during two

excruciating 20-second

sprints. And because your

heart rate doesn’t have a

chance to stay high, you

shouldn’t sweat.

Disappointingly, all this

fitness comes via an Android

app on an Acer tablet. It’s quite

rudimentary – unplug from the

mains and the tablet’s battery

goes flat – but the principle is

clear: when the screen turns

red, pedal like you’re being

chased by tigers.

Is it any good?

Once it’s calibrated over a few

short rides, Car.o.l then ups the

output with two 20-second

maximum-intensity sprints.

Pedalling as hard as you can

while the resistance adjusts

is brutal, but true enough, you

don’t sweat – although you

will feel like you’re going to

cough up a lung.

It’s hard to believe that a

sweat-free nine-minute blast

equals a 45-minute jog, but

we did feel energised; and unlike

with a traditional HIIT session,

we weren’t left broken on the

gym floor. After four weeks,

each 20-second sprint felt as

excruciating as the first, but

we were fitter and the data

pointed to improved recovery

times. The only thing really

threatening to make you

perspire is the price, but if

you want to get the most

from the least possible effort,

you need Car.o.l in your life.

Price £2995/ stuff.tv/Carol

Key specs O 10.3in Full HD

touchscreen O 2 side speakers

O Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi O 59kg

Car.o.l

STUFF SAYS Sweat-free miracles can happen, if you’re willing to pay for Car.o.l’s clever AI ++++,

HIGHER GRIND
Car.o.l’s crusade
just doesn’t let up,
always changing
your workout so
your performance
will never plateau.

HEART BRAKER

The bike has heart-

rate sensors in the

handlebars, and the

flywheel increases

resistance during

all-out effort.

SIP SLIDIN’ AWAY

No cup-holders for

your water here...

maybe because

you’re not on the

bike long enough

to need any.