GULF SHORES, Ala. – Want to ride a mountain trail? How about challenge some of your gym buddies to cycling competition?

Or perhaps you’d like to add a video game to your workouts.

The new Expresso stationary bikes offer all that and even a connection to the Internet if want post your workout on Facebook.

In December Gulf Shores OK’d a contract with Fitco Fitness for $83,840 to lease exercise equipment for the fitness center at the Bodenhamer Recreation Center. Now the new gleaming equipment is in place and patrons are enjoying the perks.

“Everything’s new except for about three pieces,” Athletic Coordinator Brook Hopkins said.

“We’re excited because we think it’s something fairly cutting edge with fitness,” Recreation Director Brigette Reynolds added. “I think it speaks to everything we are wanting to do with the rec center to get state-of-the-art stuff and stay fitness trendy.”

That includes four high-tech bikes that offer lots of interaction with riders. Hopkins is one of those who takes advantage of the new gadgets.

“We have leaderboards where you can type yourself in,” Hopkins said. “It’s competitive, very competitive. Me and a couple of other people are kind of competitive, we are trying to get our name on each route that there is possible. Anywhere from one mile to 20 mile bike and we’re going to try to get our name on each leader board.”

If you log in to the Expresso machines, it keeps track of your workouts, how many of the various trails you have completed and it can also post your workout to your Facebook page.

“We’re going to have a computer up here and have our staff help people learn how to go on the Expresso website and put their information in there to where their names are being thrown up on the leaderboard, too,” Hopkins said. “We’ve got some good feedback from them.”

Hopkins says after an initial sign up through Expresso, after each workout it will ask if you want details of your workout posted on Facebook. She likes to add the city logo to her’s and an invitation to the Bodenhamer Center.

“We really like that because it is a marketing tool for us,” she said.

The computerized machines allow you to compete with others around the country that has access to the Expresso equipment.

“Any place in the country that has these bikes and you’re on Facebook,” Reynolds said. “I can challenge my cousin in Indiana and you ride against them. You don’t have to be in the same gym and you still have that same competition amongst friends.”

The bikes also have programs where you chase dragons or try to catch prizes, a video game on wheels.

“You’re riding a bike and you don’t even realize you’re exercising,” Reynolds said. “You’re playing a game.”

The bikes even offer “atta boys” for completing workouts.

“The machine will also reward you for completing miles,” Reynolds said. “It’ll give you ribbons and trophies for doing it.”

Hopkins is working on setting up some local leaderboards within the gym so patrons can track their workouts with other members.

And, Hopkins said, if you just want to ride, the new machines will let you do that, too.

“You can use them just like a regular bike, too,” she said. “Some people like to read. It makes the time go by fast, that’s for sure.”