Virtual Reality Cycling: A Competitive and Low-Latency Exer-Gaming Environment

Virtual cycling is an engaging way to promote health and fitness while addressing the safety challenges of outdoor cycling. This paper introduces a Competitive Virtual Cycling (CVC) system that enhances user experience through immersive visuals, real-time competition, and low-latency networking. The system integrates virtual reality (VR) headsets, smart bicycle trainers, and real-world 360 ° videos to create a realistic gaming environment. A dynamic resistance feedback mechanism, driven by real-time sensor data from smart trainers and actuators, adjusts pedal resistance based on terrain variations, ensuring an authentic riding experience. To enhance engagement, we propose a novel avatar placement algorithm that optimizes competitor visibility in immersive, interactive races. Performance evaluations show that the system achieves a mean latency of 60 ms on a 4G network and 30 ms on a private 5G network, staying within the 63 ms cyber-sickness threshold for smooth, responsive gameplay. A comprehensive user experience survey revealed that 85% of the participants rated the system as "Excellent" or "Good," highlighting its ability to deliver a high-quality immersive virtual cycling experience.