Lopifit treadmill bike makes U.S. debut in Destin

It’s a bike! It’s a treadmill! It’s … both?

The Lopifit bike (pronounced low-pie-fit) is unlike any other bike on the market. Invented in Holland by a man named Bruin Bergmeester, the 110-pound contraption has made its U.S. debut in Destin thanks to resident Steve Drummond.

After first seeing the bike on YouTube about two years ago, Drummond made a call to Bergmeester and agreed to be the North American importer and distributor for Lopifit. He opened his corporate headquarters on Airport Road in Destin about a month ago, and has just begun to make the bike available for purchase across the country.

“I was watching a YouTube video and … it caught my eye, where the guy (on the Lopifit bike) is zooming past these guys on regular bicycles,” Drummond said. “I really saw its potential.”

Check out a video of the bike in action here >>

The bike works by moving when its rider pushes a button to activate a treadmill, which turns the wheels of the bike. The person rides the bike just like they are walking on a treadmill, and it can reach speeds up to 17 miles per hour. It is powered by an electric battery that can go 40 to 60 miles on a single charge, but is still classified as a bicycle.

“I love living on the Emerald Coast, going outdoors and experiencing it as much as possible, but I hate riding a bike because the seats hurt your behind,” he said. “There’s a huge population that loves the idea of riding bikes, but their ability to ride a reasonable distance is limited because of things like hurt ankles, knees and backs.”

The Lopifit bike, he said, will solve that issue. It can help people with physical disabilities, mental disabilities like PTSD who have difficulty driving, commuters, college students and even physical rehabilitation patients.

It could also be useful in areas like Destin where parking is scarce.

“Parking is so limited,” said Jennifer Wilson, director of marketing and public relations. “Say you’re a boat captain on the harbor, and there’s no parking. That’s where the Lopifit would come in.”

The bike retails at $2,495 plus shipping, and Drummond said he has already sold 95 of them and counting. He hopes to begin making them available at rental stores along the Emerald Coast in as little as 45 days.

“There are so many positive implications of this bike,” Drummond said. “It’s eco-friendly, has top of the line components and, best of all, it can cover some serious ground. With this bike, you can see so much more of what the world has to offer.”