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NYC Comedian Finds Worthwhile Use For Citi Bikes Not In Use

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A New York comedian has come up with a new workout for the bikes that aren't being used. Video of his new workout has gone viral.

Who needs a gym? Certainly not Fabrizio Goldstein, a comedian who found a way to turn the Citi Bike program into his very own, impromptu, spin classes.

Goldstein discovered that while the bikes are docked, they can still pedal backward, creating an unintentional workout.

"All of the sudden I'm like wait a minute; I've got a light glaze. I'm getting exercise, I think," Goldstein told CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco on Friday.

New Yorkers And Tourists Adjust To New Citi Bikes

Classes are open to anyone and Goldstein said this is his free version of the popular Soul Cycle classes, which start at $34.

"So I started recruiting people who didn't want to pay $40 a class, homeless people, just anybody," Goldstein said.

Goldstein now has a schedule of times and locations for his Citi Bike spin classes.

And while the classes are catching on, Goldstein said they never interfere with other users, demonstrating how to dismount the bike and exit the area safely.

With thousands of bikes at hundreds of docking stations around the city, many are wondering if there is anything that can be done to stop these impromptu spin classes.

But some Citi Bike users who spoke to Carrasco didn't seem to mind.

"As long as they're not breaking it, who cares?" one person said.

"Everything you can do for exercise is good," another said.

"You already put the bikes here, you stuck us with them, let us get some exercise if they're not being used," Goldstein said.

Now Goldstein just hopes the bike-share program doesn't back pedal on his spin classes.

Goldstein isn't the only one with interesting plans for the bikes, on Friday 1010 WINS reported that a group had contacted NYC Bike Share LLC, the group that operates the Citi Bikes, about holding Citi Bike races.

Some New Yorkers doubted that the bikes would be useful in a race.

"I mean these things ride like tanks, they're really heavy duty. They don't go very fast," Lauren from Brooklyn told 1010 WINS reporter Carol D'Auria.

CBS 2 reached out to the Department of Transportation for a comment, but did not hear back Friday afternoon.

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