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Stationary Bike
New on audio from Stephen King...an unabridged novella"as artful as anything he has ever written." (Booklist)
Climb aboard Stationary Bike -- a streamlined fever dream of a tale, in which an ordinary household object assumes otherworldly powers and a familiar journey takes a terrifying twist.
When commercial artist Richard Sifkitz finally gets around to having that physical he'd been putting off for years, and his cholesterol comes back dangerously high, he does what so many thirty-something, junk food-eating couch potatoes have done before him: he buys a stationary bike, and vows to ride it regularly.
Unlike many a mid-life exercise convert, however, Richard actually starts to ride his new stationary bike. A lot. Soon he's spending so much time on his bike that he decides to put his artistic talents to use and paint a mural on the wall opposite his stationary bike. But it turns out that Richard's mural is no ordinary picture -- and soon his stationary bike is taking him places he doesn't want to go...and can't stay away from.
A riveting riff on artistic frustration, midlife mortality, and hard-won redemption, Stationary Bike is a thrill ride that could come only from the mind of Stephen King.
34 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2003
20 people are currently reading
4207 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,497 books886k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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October 29, 2025
الهوس قاتله الله ..داء خبيث مدمر..يتسلل من بوابات مشروعة ليتربع على قلبك و يحتل ساعات يومك
كعادة كينج يدهشنا برواية مرعبة عن السمنة و الكولسترول
يقدم لنا بطله مصمم الاعلانات و رسام الاغلفة و هو يجني ثمار هوسه بالاكل.. و طبيبه يشرح له بطريقه مضحكة سأظل أتذكرها طويلا .."في أجسادنا هناك عمال مختصين بالحرق..لحسن حظك كانوا
يعملون بكفاءة بلا كلل ..🍗
و لكنك لم ترحمهم يوما ..لم تمنحهم اجازة..لذا ترك أحدهم العمل. .و الباقين صاروا يضربون عن العمل كثيرا..لهذا ارتفع كوليسترولك و وزنك"ا🍦
و من هذه الصورة المدهشة..مزج الفنان بخياله بين لوحة اعلانات ينجزها لعمله..و بين وقوفه الإجباري الكريه على "العجلة الرياضية الثابتة "
حسنا لقد توقعت الحبكة...بالتأكيد ستنطلق العجلة الي اللوحة ..و لكن ماذا بعد؟
الرواية مكثفة مرهقة تعتمد على العالم الداخلي لبطل واحد ..
The poor schmuck saying this is The last time ..I will never do this again.
و لكنها تصف الهوس بشكل أستاذي..الهوس هو البوابة الرئيسية لأي ادمان..فكل مدمن مهووس..و لكن ليس كل مهووس مدمن..و عموما هناك أنواع من الهوس يستقبلها المجتمع" بترحاب و حب"مثل الهوس بالعمل..الرياضة..المذاكرة..بالقراءة📚ا
كعادة كينج تصلح النوفيلا "خمسين صفحة" كدراسةنفسية ثمينة..و سجلها بصوته.
و هنا يستبدل الفنان هوس الأكل بهوس الرياضة. .فهل يتحمل عقله؟
كعادة كينج يدهشنا برواية مرعبة عن السمنة و الكولسترول
يقدم لنا بطله مصمم الاعلانات و رسام الاغلفة و هو يجني ثمار هوسه بالاكل.. و طبيبه يشرح له بطريقه مضحكة سأظل أتذكرها طويلا .."في أجسادنا هناك عمال مختصين بالحرق..لحسن حظك كانوا
يعملون بكفاءة بلا كلل ..🍗
و لكنك لم ترحمهم يوما ..لم تمنحهم اجازة..لذا ترك أحدهم العمل. .و الباقين صاروا يضربون عن العمل كثيرا..لهذا ارتفع كوليسترولك و وزنك"ا🍦
و من هذه الصورة المدهشة..مزج الفنان بخياله بين لوحة اعلانات ينجزها لعمله..و بين وقوفه الإجباري الكريه على "العجلة الرياضية الثابتة "
حسنا لقد توقعت الحبكة...بالتأكيد ستنطلق العجلة الي اللوحة ..و لكن ماذا بعد؟
الرواية مكثفة مرهقة تعتمد على العالم الداخلي لبطل واحد ..
The poor schmuck saying this is The last time ..I will never do this again.
و لكنها تصف الهوس بشكل أستاذي..الهوس هو البوابة الرئيسية لأي ادمان..فكل مدمن مهووس..و لكن ليس كل مهووس مدمن..و عموما هناك أنواع من الهوس يستقبلها المجتمع" بترحاب و حب"مثل الهوس بالعمل..الرياضة..المذاكرة..بالقراءة📚ا
كعادة كينج تصلح النوفيلا "خمسين صفحة" كدراسةنفسية ثمينة..و سجلها بصوته.
و هنا يستبدل الفنان هوس الأكل بهوس الرياضة. .فهل يتحمل عقله؟
January 26, 2023
لا تقرأها اذا كنت فى العقد الرابع و خصوصا اذا بدأت أعراض السمنة و هى أول انذار يقول لك
مرحبا بك يا عزيزى فى طريق الكهوله
اذكر هذه اللحظات تماما لذلك كانت القصة بالنسبة لى مرعبة
البطل فى الثامنة و الثلاثين قام بتحليل اكتشف فيه ارتفاع طفيف فى الكوليسترول على اثر عدم انتظامه فى الطعام على مدار السنوات الأربعه التى أعقبت وفاة زوجته
اذا فقد الإنسان شيئا فإن عليه تعويضه بأى طريقهفقد زوجته فأفرط فى الطعام و ترك لنفسه متعة بلا قيود و كأنه يواسى نفسه و يلهي روحه عن الفراغ الذى اصابها و هنا يعطيك جسمك الإنذار الأول
انتبه يا عزيزى و دعك من روحك الخاويه فمعدتك الخاويه هى الأكثر فائدة لك
يرتفع الكوليسترول فى الدم مهددا بجلطات و ذبحات و خطر مستمر بالوفاة المبكرة
يبدأ فى الدايت و الرياضة المستمرة عن طريق دراجة ثابته فى قبو منزله و لأنه فنان فقد رسم على الحائط المواجه طريق و غابه و سماء مائلة للحمرة و تفاصيل فنيه لن يلبث أن يتماهى معها و يصبح جزء من اللوحه اثناء رياضته اليومية
تتصاعد الأحداث التى يحركها صراع بين اكتئاب الدايت و ادمان الرياضة و خواء الروح الذى كان المحرك الأول للأحداث
القصة مرعبة و كئيبه و صادقة و ممتعه
بالطبع هى فى مجموعة بعيد الغروب
و هى مجموعه من القصص القصيرة غاية فى الإبداع
January 13, 2023
When I go to the gym and get on the stationary bike I remember this story...and that is testament to what a fantastic author Stephen King is; he is able to take something we would never see as menacing and spin a tale that we will never be able to get out of our mind! Really going to try to read more of his works this next year; any suggestions would be more than welcome!
June 22, 2020
This little story was a roller coaster for me. I was bored at first and then it got very interesting and I still am not sure what I feel about the ending. I sort of think it’s good and sort of not like it.
We meet a man at the doctor being told his Cholesterol is high and he needs to do something about it now. He explains the digestion process as like a work crew clearing the streets. Our main man is an artist so he decides to start working out and his creative juices go into overdrive. He sees that cure the doctor was talking about in his painting.
I loved how Stephen King explains the aging digestive process. It makes a lot of sense. I love the painting idea, and it did get creepy there at the end, but I don’t know if it was a good kind of creepy. I was expecting something else, but the more I think about it, the more I think this works.
I think there is a soft message here and it seems to be moderation. We can be too healthy and unhealthy and a donut now and then isn’t a bad thing. I think I’m liking the ending more and more, so I am going to give this story 4 stars.
We meet a man at the doctor being told his Cholesterol is high and he needs to do something about it now. He explains the digestion process as like a work crew clearing the streets. Our main man is an artist so he decides to start working out and his creative juices go into overdrive. He sees that cure the doctor was talking about in his painting.
I loved how Stephen King explains the aging digestive process. It makes a lot of sense. I love the painting idea, and it did get creepy there at the end, but I don’t know if it was a good kind of creepy. I was expecting something else, but the more I think about it, the more I think this works.
I think there is a soft message here and it seems to be moderation. We can be too healthy and unhealthy and a donut now and then isn’t a bad thing. I think I’m liking the ending more and more, so I am going to give this story 4 stars.
April 5, 2020
Interesting novella about an artist named Sifkitz trying to get in shape and buying a stationary bike for that reason (the story also is included in the anthology Just After Sunset). While cycling he invents an inset story (and a set of paintings) about a group of construction workers. Will that group die when he quits his cycling (and working on that series)? What about the construction workers when one of them commits suicide? There is much social criticism inside and that you shouldn't outdo exercises. Overall a very solid story. Not the most haunting one but one well written and literary. Recommended!
October 18, 2022
I am a lifelong Stephen King fan. My first adult book was the terrifying and sexually charged SALEM'S LOT, and reading that at 12 was a bit like a baptism into a life of horror-love.
My adoration for King's style and handling of the fiction engine was so strong, I could hardly read anything else for at a few years into my adulthood. Everything I did read, I compared to him, and I often felt disappointed. Despite what a lot of people feel about him and his work, the man is definitely capable of brilliant writing.
What I love about him though is how far he'll chase his concept across the page. His storlines really embody the expression, "flights of fancy," or I prefer, "flights of fantasy." Sometimes, King's story logic doesn't hold together so tightly. You can't so much delicately dangle your disbelief to follow the story thread, so much as you need to tie it to a wild mustang. But if you can do that, and relax into the enjoyment meant for you in King's wild stories, a fecund kind of fun you will find.
STATIONARY BIKE is just this sort of Stephen King story. Its about an overweight man who changes his body on his stationary bike--and learns some deadly lessons about fitness. It reminds me of THINNER, and THE RUNNING MAN, and DUMA KEY, and all of them at once, and none of them at all. But it is such a wild, unbelievably wonderful story. I listened to it twice on Scrib'd because it was just a really fun two and a half hours!
Just a note about Ron McLarty, the narrator, in case you happen to listen to the audiobook in Scrib'd--that dude is intense! As though when the story ends, he's going to pitch a car sale to you or something! It wasn't awful, but a little distracting maybe. And obviously, I still listened twice!
Rating 4.5 stars, rounded down for LOGIC!
Finished October 2022
Recommended to fans of horror shorts & novellas, psychological thrillers, horror thrillers
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
My adoration for King's style and handling of the fiction engine was so strong, I could hardly read anything else for at a few years into my adulthood. Everything I did read, I compared to him, and I often felt disappointed. Despite what a lot of people feel about him and his work, the man is definitely capable of brilliant writing.
What I love about him though is how far he'll chase his concept across the page. His storlines really embody the expression, "flights of fancy," or I prefer, "flights of fantasy." Sometimes, King's story logic doesn't hold together so tightly. You can't so much delicately dangle your disbelief to follow the story thread, so much as you need to tie it to a wild mustang. But if you can do that, and relax into the enjoyment meant for you in King's wild stories, a fecund kind of fun you will find.
STATIONARY BIKE is just this sort of Stephen King story. Its about an overweight man who changes his body on his stationary bike--and learns some deadly lessons about fitness. It reminds me of THINNER, and THE RUNNING MAN, and DUMA KEY, and all of them at once, and none of them at all. But it is such a wild, unbelievably wonderful story. I listened to it twice on Scrib'd because it was just a really fun two and a half hours!
Just a note about Ron McLarty, the narrator, in case you happen to listen to the audiobook in Scrib'd--that dude is intense! As though when the story ends, he's going to pitch a car sale to you or something! It wasn't awful, but a little distracting maybe. And obviously, I still listened twice!
Rating 4.5 stars, rounded down for LOGIC!
Finished October 2022
Recommended to fans of horror shorts & novellas, psychological thrillers, horror thrillers
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
June 29, 2020
Story 3.5 stars**
Audio 3.75 Stars**
Narrator Ron McLarty
May 4, 2020
Oh I don't know what to say about this one except I just didn't much care for Richard the artist....who needs to lose weight and his STATIONARY BIKE adventures and misadventures on the imaginary road in the basement.
Perhaps it was the audio or my mood, but I was a bit bored.
An ok 3 for me.
December 3, 2019
This really reminds me of that Family Guy episode where they make fun of Stephen King writing about a haunted lamp. But in a good way, ya know?
October 6, 2017
عندما يتأجج الألم النفسي وتصحبه معوقات الحياة، يصير الهوس هو المئآل .. شعرت بالعزلة بين طيات النوفيلا وودت لو صرخت في سيفكيتز لأخبره ان يدع الحزن والأسى يمران ويستعيد حياته من جديد .. وقد كان
February 14, 2019
And that, my friends, is why, although I do go to the gym, I NEVER ride the stationary bike!
June 19, 2025
кінг сила спорт могила
July 23, 2018
Enjoyable little (short novella? long short story?) tale of an artist's fantasies run amok. King's Stationary Bike reminded me a lot of a Ray Bradbury kind of story. Good stuff!
February 27, 2009
I saw a few Stephen King audiobooks at my library and thought, well, I haven't read anything by him in a long time and I used to love his stuff back in high school. At only an hour and a half, there wasn't much to lose by trying it, and I wasn't disappointed. This is my favorite kind of Stephen King story: short, and not as concerned with the supernatural as it is with the mysteries of your own mind. I think most people find the prospect of insanity far more frightening than the bogeyman. The main character in this book loses his marbles a little after beginning to exercise for the first time in his life. His doctor tells him to picture a work crew inside his body, a metaphor he takes a bit too literally and starts to have some powerful hallucinations about them. Where does Stephen King come up with this stuff? And how does he make you believe it without feeling ridiculous? An added bonus is that the moral of the story seems to be that you should occasionally have some cheesecake, which is a lesson I can really get behind. I'm a born-again fan.
September 12, 2024
A man gradually disappears into madness on a stationary bike... Incredible despite the bad premise.
July 2, 2014
My third time to read a Stephen King. The first two were: his 1001 book, The Shining (3 stars) and his 501 book, It (3 stars).
Actually, I listened not read. Last week, I got this 2-disc audio (one and a half listening pleasure) from Booksale at P45 (US$1.10). My 2014 Reading Challenge is at the brink of lagging behind schedule so I must augment my reading with listening. Why not? When I set my goals, I always try my best to meet them. Less task for my eyes. "Reading" while driving. With the bumper-to-bumper traffic in Manila though, I sometimes missed parts of the audio because my mind was on the cars in front, behind, beside mine not to mention street hawkers peddling the goods like newspapers, rags, cigarettes, bottled water, etc. and the street beggars, children and adults alike. I am saying this because prior to writing this review, I had to look up for the Wiki entry for this book just to check if I understood completely what I heard.
Richard Sifkitz is a 38-y/o man (single, it seems) who is fat, does not exercise and has funny feeling about himself. So he goes to a clinic and undergoes a physical examination. He finds out that his cholesterol level is at dangerous level so his doctor tells him to diet and exercise. He inquires membership at the nearby Fitness Boys Gym but the membership is expensive so he buys himself a stationary bike and puts it in his basement. He feels bored so he puts up a big map of America in front of the bike and imagines himself traveling while cycling. That does not take the boredom away so he, an artist, paints the walls with first scenic scenes that later become gory due to the picture that his doctor has told him, as a metaphor, during his checkup: about four workers who are working on a road full of fats using Sifkitz blood vessels.
This reminded me of a big hotel in Jakarta in 2001 where I stayed during one of my three visits. There was a gym in there but since I had to be in the office at 8am and the traveling time was 2 hours, I had to hit the gym at 5am when the hotel was still dark and guests were still sleeping. So, I rode the stationary bike or ran/walked on the thread mill. Eerie silence with only the sound of the machine and my breathing could be heard. I had goosebumps while doing those but I was a fitness fanatic (then and now) so I just went on and on even if I felt all the time that there were eyes watching me. Have you been to Indonesia? Have you seen those wooden scary sculptures, paintings, etc. that they sell at their souvenir shops? Those, they say, are to ward off evil spirits but excuse to my Indonesian friends, they themselves are scary for me and they were on the walls of that hotel.
I had a grander time reading, err listening to this novella, than reading the two thick books by Stephen King. But I liked them all.
Hurray to the King!
Actually, I listened not read. Last week, I got this 2-disc audio (one and a half listening pleasure) from Booksale at P45 (US$1.10). My 2014 Reading Challenge is at the brink of lagging behind schedule so I must augment my reading with listening. Why not? When I set my goals, I always try my best to meet them. Less task for my eyes. "Reading" while driving. With the bumper-to-bumper traffic in Manila though, I sometimes missed parts of the audio because my mind was on the cars in front, behind, beside mine not to mention street hawkers peddling the goods like newspapers, rags, cigarettes, bottled water, etc. and the street beggars, children and adults alike. I am saying this because prior to writing this review, I had to look up for the Wiki entry for this book just to check if I understood completely what I heard.
Richard Sifkitz is a 38-y/o man (single, it seems) who is fat, does not exercise and has funny feeling about himself. So he goes to a clinic and undergoes a physical examination. He finds out that his cholesterol level is at dangerous level so his doctor tells him to diet and exercise. He inquires membership at the nearby Fitness Boys Gym but the membership is expensive so he buys himself a stationary bike and puts it in his basement. He feels bored so he puts up a big map of America in front of the bike and imagines himself traveling while cycling. That does not take the boredom away so he, an artist, paints the walls with first scenic scenes that later become gory due to the picture that his doctor has told him, as a metaphor, during his checkup: about four workers who are working on a road full of fats using Sifkitz blood vessels.
This reminded me of a big hotel in Jakarta in 2001 where I stayed during one of my three visits. There was a gym in there but since I had to be in the office at 8am and the traveling time was 2 hours, I had to hit the gym at 5am when the hotel was still dark and guests were still sleeping. So, I rode the stationary bike or ran/walked on the thread mill. Eerie silence with only the sound of the machine and my breathing could be heard. I had goosebumps while doing those but I was a fitness fanatic (then and now) so I just went on and on even if I felt all the time that there were eyes watching me. Have you been to Indonesia? Have you seen those wooden scary sculptures, paintings, etc. that they sell at their souvenir shops? Those, they say, are to ward off evil spirits but excuse to my Indonesian friends, they themselves are scary for me and they were on the walls of that hotel.
I had a grander time reading, err listening to this novella, than reading the two thick books by Stephen King. But I liked them all.
Hurray to the King!
May 7, 2021
كينج ابدع في التصوير النفسي للشخص المهووس في هذه القصة .. لكن شعرت بالملل ووجدت معظم الكلام "حشو"
جميل جدًا طريقة شرحه لعملية الأيض 😃
جميل جدًا طريقة شرحه لعملية الأيض 😃
January 11, 2017
This book took me on a philosphical roller-coaster from start to finish. Initially, I thought the book was just a sweet life journey, until the full ride began and King did what he does best. The story follows a man subconciously struggling to come to terms with the untimely death of his wife, and has since contuinued on into unhealthy eating habbits. His doctor has called him in to warn him that while it's ok now, it won't be as he gets older. His attitudes make you believe that he won't take the warning seriously, however from this point, the fun ride begins!
It's not often I give King stories place in my Horror shelf. King writes fantastic character stories, but these character stories just happen to be placed in bizare situations. He only does this to see how these specific characters would react though, and most of the time, he's not scary at all. This character story, however, earned it's shelf placement of horror. Of course we know that none of the horror in this story was psychological. As in every King story, the universe bends to his whim and these sorts of paradoxes actually take place. Whether you bare this is mind or believe it was all in the characters head is irrelevant, you're in for one hell of a bike ride regardless...
Now, while I was becoming confused midway through the story (which isn't surprising knowing Kings other works and methods - Looking at you Dark Tower), King did what he does best, swept me up, turned me around, and showed me his life changing metaphors and beliefs. This ultimately awarded the five stars you see, from the four I was originally going to place it with due to his execution and my confusion. The ending is quite amazing. Simple but amazing. Everyone should read this story, and I know more then one person who would benefit from it immensly. It opens your eyes to what life is, and what we should do to live the best we can with what we have. Just because one person exercises hard daily and limits themself to Kale only, does not mean they will live any longer then someone who allows themselves that one Kripsy Kreme. Do youselves a favour and read it. Then read it to your gym junkie friends.
It's not often I give King stories place in my Horror shelf. King writes fantastic character stories, but these character stories just happen to be placed in bizare situations. He only does this to see how these specific characters would react though, and most of the time, he's not scary at all. This character story, however, earned it's shelf placement of horror. Of course we know that none of the horror in this story was psychological. As in every King story, the universe bends to his whim and these sorts of paradoxes actually take place. Whether you bare this is mind or believe it was all in the characters head is irrelevant, you're in for one hell of a bike ride regardless...
Now, while I was becoming confused midway through the story (which isn't surprising knowing Kings other works and methods - Looking at you Dark Tower), King did what he does best, swept me up, turned me around, and showed me his life changing metaphors and beliefs. This ultimately awarded the five stars you see, from the four I was originally going to place it with due to his execution and my confusion. The ending is quite amazing. Simple but amazing. Everyone should read this story, and I know more then one person who would benefit from it immensly. It opens your eyes to what life is, and what we should do to live the best we can with what we have. Just because one person exercises hard daily and limits themself to Kale only, does not mean they will live any longer then someone who allows themselves that one Kripsy Kreme. Do youselves a favour and read it. Then read it to your gym junkie friends.
February 17, 2009
I need a bunch of audio books to listen to while I obsessively ride a stationary bike, and I couldn't think of a better choice than this novella about a man who obsessively rides a stationary bike...and slowly feels himself hunted by the creations of his artistic mind. It was a solid story (though not stunningly fantastic) with moments of humor and meta-literary awareness. It was clearly a King creation, but a bit more lighthearted than his norm, and with an unconventional ending. I enjoyed my brief time with the story, including reader Ron McLarty who has a warm and fitting voice. I'm pretty sure that my experience and my rating were enhanced by the fact that I was riding a stationary bike and visually tracking my mileage, just like the protagonist (though with less immersion and imagination), but it's a good and quick read regardless.
July 30, 2020
A short story that I wish went on for 600 pages.
November 24, 2013
I listened to this novella driving back and forth to work this week. It was only a bit creepy and I liked the reader a whole lot.
Sifkits cholesterol level is high - the only red figure on his lab results - and he's a bit overweight. He doctor basically says -- eat less fast food or soon your better than average (but not great) metabolism will be overwhelmed and you will be obese and a heart attack waiting to happen. To illustrate, the doctor analogizes Sifkits' metabolism to a work crew that is working overtime and getting tired.
Sifkits is an illustrator. It seems his doctor's description captured his artist soul because suddenly Sifkits finds himself drawing the Lipid crew -- four guys who take care of cleaning up the fat that Sifkits eats. Then Sifkits buys himself a stationary bike, sets it up in the basement, and starts to ride. To make the exercise less boring, he draws a scene on the wall showing a road weaving its way through the trees and picks a destination in Canada. Sifkits goes so far as to have plat maps to record his progress towards the goal after each days two hours of pedaling. Then things start to get a bit squirrely. But to find out why and how it turns out, you will just have to read/listen to the novella!
Moral of the story: Everthing in moderation works!
Sifkits cholesterol level is high - the only red figure on his lab results - and he's a bit overweight. He doctor basically says -- eat less fast food or soon your better than average (but not great) metabolism will be overwhelmed and you will be obese and a heart attack waiting to happen. To illustrate, the doctor analogizes Sifkits' metabolism to a work crew that is working overtime and getting tired.
Sifkits is an illustrator. It seems his doctor's description captured his artist soul because suddenly Sifkits finds himself drawing the Lipid crew -- four guys who take care of cleaning up the fat that Sifkits eats. Then Sifkits buys himself a stationary bike, sets it up in the basement, and starts to ride. To make the exercise less boring, he draws a scene on the wall showing a road weaving its way through the trees and picks a destination in Canada. Sifkits goes so far as to have plat maps to record his progress towards the goal after each days two hours of pedaling. Then things start to get a bit squirrely. But to find out why and how it turns out, you will just have to read/listen to the novella!
Moral of the story: Everthing in moderation works!
March 12, 2019
I enjoyed this, but not as much as other Stephen King novellas. I can't pinpoint why exactly, but it didn't resonate with me even though I liked many different aspects of it. Stationary Bike opens with a middle aged overweight man in a doctor's office. Things are being written down in red, weight cholesterol, he has to do something about it. Actually taking the doctor's advice he starts to eat better, sleep more at night, and introduce some work outs. Rather than join a gym, he purchases a stationary bike and puts it in his basement. At first it's tedious and boring, there is nothing to look at. As an artist he decides to paint a trail, a bike path he remembers from childhood. Overnight his biking improves and it turns to his favorite part of the day. If it weren't for the timer to snap him out of his biking reverie he might never stop. It's like he really is biking right there in his art/memories. But one day he sees something and in the distance he can hear an approaching truck. He can't bear to think about what will happen if the truck catches him while biking. Suspenseful, unique, and witty.
January 8, 2017
I took this thing apart myself, he thought. That's my story and if I stick to it, soon I'll believe it.
Neat little Stephen King novella about a commercial artist who gets caught in a paranoid vision of something following after him while he rides his stationary bike down in the basement.
This is a classic Stephen King type story. I've said it before and I'll say it until I'm old and wrinkled and delusional, but Stephen King can paint a character like no other author I've ever read. He creates these people that feel so very real that you're almost convinced you've met them somewhere before, and nowhere do I appreciate that more than in his short stories and novellas.
A crisp character, paranoia-laden story, and good solid narration, this was a quick and enjoyable listen.
Neat little Stephen King novella about a commercial artist who gets caught in a paranoid vision of something following after him while he rides his stationary bike down in the basement.
This is a classic Stephen King type story. I've said it before and I'll say it until I'm old and wrinkled and delusional, but Stephen King can paint a character like no other author I've ever read. He creates these people that feel so very real that you're almost convinced you've met them somewhere before, and nowhere do I appreciate that more than in his short stories and novellas.
A crisp character, paranoia-laden story, and good solid narration, this was a quick and enjoyable listen.
March 18, 2021
This story is a ride into the mind of a middle-aged man as he exercises on a stationary bike and interacts with a small host of imaginary characters that he has drawn/created in a mural he put on a wall in the basement of his house. It is interesting how the characters of the painting are from his memory and imagination, and represent pieces of himself that he deals with through a type of midlife crisis.
September 22, 2013
In this novella by Stephen King a painter needs to exercise for his health and buys a stationary bike. Then he paints a picture of a road and - day after day - imagines himself riding down it. Of course there are the typical King twists and turns. Enjoyable read.
October 1, 2018
A weird, mind-boggling parable. I’ll admit, I’m still a little lost...
March 3, 2022
Read as part of Just Before Sunset but I know I read this before....
March 23, 2023
3.5
Probably gonna avoid stationary bikes for, idk, ever
Probably gonna avoid stationary bikes for, idk, ever
April 13, 2013
Published by Simon and Schuster Audio in 2006
Read by Ron McClarty
Stephen King
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
I am not sure who the person was at Simon and Schuster Audio that decided to record Stephen King's short stories as separately packaged stories, but I think it was a stroke of brilliance. I am leery of listening to a 30-40 hour audiobook for a taste of King's special brand and I am equally leery of a short story collection - I get tired of mentally shifting gears so often.
In this short story, Richard Sifkitz is an overweight graphic artist (he specializes in book covers and advertisements) who was told by his doctor that he needs to lose a little weight and eat better because his cholesterol is too high. The doctor compares his cardiovascular system to a road maintenance crew and says that Sifkitz is working his crew to death and soon enough it will start to fail.
Sifkitz resolves to work out and buys a stationary bike. He paints a simple painting of a landscape on the wall as well. Soon enough, he begins to fall into some sort of trance as he rides and it seems like he is actually riding into the landscape he has painted - and what he finds there is a definite surprise! Note that this is not a "horror story" so much as it is a story with a twist, much like The Twilight Zone.
Stationary Bike was read by veteran reader Ron McClarty who covered all of the characters well and helped to make this an enjoyable audiobook experience, despite its short length. His conversational reading style reinforced the idea that Sifkitz is just a regular guy with an extraordinary story.
Read by Ron McClarty
Stephen King
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
I am not sure who the person was at Simon and Schuster Audio that decided to record Stephen King's short stories as separately packaged stories, but I think it was a stroke of brilliance. I am leery of listening to a 30-40 hour audiobook for a taste of King's special brand and I am equally leery of a short story collection - I get tired of mentally shifting gears so often.
In this short story, Richard Sifkitz is an overweight graphic artist (he specializes in book covers and advertisements) who was told by his doctor that he needs to lose a little weight and eat better because his cholesterol is too high. The doctor compares his cardiovascular system to a road maintenance crew and says that Sifkitz is working his crew to death and soon enough it will start to fail.
Sifkitz resolves to work out and buys a stationary bike. He paints a simple painting of a landscape on the wall as well. Soon enough, he begins to fall into some sort of trance as he rides and it seems like he is actually riding into the landscape he has painted - and what he finds there is a definite surprise! Note that this is not a "horror story" so much as it is a story with a twist, much like The Twilight Zone.
Stationary Bike was read by veteran reader Ron McClarty who covered all of the characters well and helped to make this an enjoyable audiobook experience, despite its short length. His conversational reading style reinforced the idea that Sifkitz is just a regular guy with an extraordinary story.
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