The recent UCI Track Cycling World Championships 2008 held at Manchester's Velodrome saw the launch of Wattbike.

The first indoor cycle to be endorsed by British Cycling, it's suitable for for riders of all ages and abilities and claimed to be an exercise bike, spinning bike, testing bike, competition bike and rehabilitation bike all in one.

It accurately measures power output in watts, using special software which captures data 100 times per second and provides real-time feedback across 25 separate parameters. This is presented on a computer console, with the data capable of being analysed on a PC.

Explaining the rationale behind the machine's creation, Dusan Adamovic, Wattbike's Technical Director said: "We have designed the Wattbike so that it can be used by everyone, for everything.

"We believe it will work for school children and senior citizens, cardiac rehabilitation patients and Olympic athletes.

"Our aim has been to create the first indoor bike that accurately measures performance. This allows us to establish a worldwide measuring standard for cycling, and a new sport of indoor cycling.

"We knew the bike had to feel like cycling on the road, both on the flat and when climbing. This is why we have worked closely with British Cycling throughout the bike’s development."

All the bikes are calibrated identically, meaning that performances can be compared from machine to machine. Vital statistics are: H 130cm, W 52cm, L 125cm, Weight 50kg.

Spectators at the Championships had the opportunity to compete on Wattbikes as part of British Cycling’s Everyday Cycling programme.

Online Leagues are to be established, and competitions created in indoor arenas, where the Wattbikes will be computer linked to create a real time race environment.