Gadget Show races bikes on city route

Published on Wednesday 14 January 2009 09:19

ARTHUR'S Seat is the starting block for an unusual road trip to be shown on TV at the end of the month.

Consumer technology programme "The Gadget Show" sent teams to the Capital's landmark as part of a race to test new technology.

Presenters from the Five show will be shown splitting into two teams to test the speed of two high-tech tandem bicycles.

They race from Arthur's Seat to the Castle on a recumbent tandem – where the riders recline on their backs to peddle – and a half-recumbent/half-upright, to see which was the fastest.

After recovering from the exhausting cycle race, the teams then swap their bikes for cars, trying to get from Edinburgh to Newcastle.

To navigate their route they have to rely on the internet. One team will have 3G enabled mobile phones, while the other team will have to hunt down WiFi hot-spots down the country.

The final stage of the challenge will see the teams racing across London completing various location based tasks using the latest mobiles, GPS devices and laptops.

Highlights of the Edinburgh section of the race will be shown on Five on January 30 at 8pm.