Fuoripista: The Interactive Stationary Bike in Wood, Glass and Steel

19/05/2021 - Davide and Gabriele Adriano describe Fuoripista as an interactive stationary bike that reinterprets the classic concept of the indoor training machine. It was developed with Elite, a brand well-known to cycling enthusiasts.

Sculptural and out of the ordinary - as its name suggests - Fuoripista is a perfect mix of design, technology and interactivity that translates the concept of wellness into a completely new language. It is 'a new way of interpreting fitness equipment as beautiful objects that become true home furnishings - instead of hidden away in gyms'.



Ash wood, laminated glass, aluminium, steel, leather. These precious and sustainable materials define the edgy silhouette of an indoor training bike with a revolutionary design. Fuoripista is an object with superb ergonomics, cutting-edge technology and technical precision that can be left on view in the home.

Fuoripista is not your typical interactive exercise bike. It is a new concept of indoor training that transforms equipment into technological sculpture - to show off, and not put out of sight.

We asked the Adriano brothers to tell us how this unusual object was born. Here's what they told us.

Fuoripista, the Stationary Bike produced by Elite. How did this project come about?

In April 2017, the Salone Satellite in Milan was 20 years old. On that occasion, the curator, Marva Griffin, invited us to imagine a product that could be a testimonial to the event and represent our work and the very concept of Salone Satellite. We can say that Fuoripista was born from empty slate. For the first time, we didn't have an actual client with a real problem to solve. We were free to create something that represented our deepest ideas about what design can do for a product. That's how we decided to dedicate our work to the transformation of an 'anonymous' object that we would never have displayed in our homes.

We wanted to move it from utilitarian machine to technological sculpture. Its success was incredible. In the months following the Salone, there were so many requests. We collaborated intensely with the Italian brand Elite to develop the Fuoripista interactive stationary bike - not only as a product but also as an autonomous Elite brand.

The name Fuoripista alludes to a change in direction from traditional routes. Why this name?

When we saw the first prototype created for the Salone Satellite, we thought about how the product might inspire the birth of a new brand that could bring fresh thinking to the world of indoor training products. The name, Fuoripista, came to us spontaneously right off the bat, thinking about the pleasure you feel when you find a new path, like skiing, mountain biking or open-water swimming.

You have said that Fuoripista is an 'object of desire'. Why?

Fuoripista Bike is the reinterpretation of the very concept of an indoor training machine. But it also reimagines the experience a user can have with a 'sports' object. We wanted to show how the deeper meanings of an object - usually hidden in a garage or a closet - could be reconceived even before thinking about its form, function or aesthetics. From machinery to a sculptural object of desire - obviously without compromising performance and function. So we looked to Elite, one of the leading companies in the stationary bike sector. We developed an interactive exercise bike as an iconic object without skimping on technology. Fuoripista is one of the most complete and high-performing products for training cyclists. And maybe for the first time in the history of this object, it no longer has to be hidden under the bed!

User Experience: What was your idea when creating this new fitness object?
When we talk about user experience, innovation, or the transformation of meanings, we are talking about the primary feature that we seek in all of our projects.

We want to create unique and distinctive industrial products that will last over time, thanks to their ability to create deep emotional bonds. We want people to experience and talk about these product as if they felt they were somehow involved in their creation. We dedicate maniacal attention to all phases of product creation and tell the future user all about the process. Cyclists are passionate about their sport, and they are madly in love with their bikes. Unfortunately, this emotion is lacking when it comes to fitness equipment, which is simple machinery relegated to a gym, garage or fitness room.

With Fuoripista, we wanted to recreate the balance between love for the equipment and pleasure in sports. That is why Fuoripista has to feel at home in the most beautiful corners of our architectural spaces.

Ash wood, tempered glass, steel and leather are unconventional materials for the fitness sector. Why this choice?

One of the most essential characteristics of our products is their longevity, their ability to stand the test of time without being influenced by fashion and trends. We want to create intriguing products destined to last. A necessary ingredient is definitely the use of noble materials like glass, wood, steel, aluminium, leather and hide. If properly cared for, they are timeless and allow the charm of rare and eternal products to be seen with their natural wear and tear. We believe that longevity and affection for a product are the real solutions to environmental sustainability problems.

Coronavirus and home training. How do you think the concept of home-fitness has changed as a result of the global pandemic?

The pandemic changed our relationships with our living spaces, making us realise how important it is to use and care for every square inch of our homes, balconies, terraces or gardens. People are paying more attention to the quality of the products that come into their homes and their relationships with their surroundings.

Home fitness has become more of a necessity than just a mere reality. For this reason, there will be an increasing need for useful products that communicate with the home environment, 'transforming' them from machines into authentic pieces of furniture.

Fuoripista on Archiproducts.com

ELITE on ARCHIPRODUCTS