I try to cycle three or four days a week

Each ride is a  couple of hours covering around thirty miles

I ride through quiet lanes with hardly any traffic

Being close to nature makes it more than just grinding exercise

Recently I was away from home without my bike

I decided to work out in the gym on a stationary bike

The last time I sat on one of these devices it was total boredom

Staring at a blank gym wall with only a speed dial for amusement

Todays new machines are a real revolution

The touch screen display offering so many options

You can either watch TV or take a virtual ride

I opted to ride across Ireland

As I rode through winding roads and beautiful scenery

Other virtual riders appeared in the distance

The display told me how far away they were

Enticing me to pedal faster and catch them

I did miss feeling the wind in my face and chatting in real group rides

Overall it was a much better experience than expected  

Just for fun I flipped screens and rode through French mountains

I could almost smell the garlic and hear French accents

How many other activities could be enhanced by virtual reality

No more boring commute to work when you buy a self driving car

With a virtual reality world projected outside you could pretend to drive anywhere

Winning the Indy 500 at top speed while your car takes you to the supermarket

As you push your cart through the aisles

Clever robots place all your grocery items the cart

While you focus on the virtual realty screen

The frozen food aisle becomes a Swiss mountain downhill bobsleigh run

Visit a virtual restaurant for a virtual gourmet meal

Try your hand at meeting a new virtual dating partner

Get married and have a bunch of virtual kids

When you feel old hit the rewind button and live your virtual life all over again