Stationary Bike
Encyclopedia
"Stationary Bike" is a novella
written by Stephen King
, which was originally published in the fifth edition of From the Borderlands in 2003. It was recently released as part of King's 2008 short story anthology, Just After Sunset
.
. Richard's cholesterol
is dangerously high, largely due to his high fast food intake. The doctor tells him an interesting anecdote in relation to the number. He likens Richard's metabolism
to a team of workmen who clear the various junk foods that Richard ingests. As Richard ages, these metabolic workmen tire out and begin to slow down, resulting in heart trouble. This metaphor strikes Richard, and he becomes rather obsessed with the idea.
Richard becomes determined to lose weight, and sets up a stationary bike in his basement. At first, he hangs a map of the United States on the wall, imagining himself traveling to a foreign destination with each mile. As time passes, though, the notion of the metabolic workmen enter his mind again, and he paints a bizarre landscape on a mural
, depicting four tired workers clearing a fat-laden road. Richard begins to lose weight, but as he does, he begins to see the workmen in his dreams. He is then gripped by another vision, in which he paints the garage of the youngest of his metabolic workmen, who has committed suicide. These events cause the mural Richard has painted to transform, warping into a more nightmarish appearance with every passing day. Despite these warning signs, though, Richard cannot stop exercising; he enters a trance when he rides, and seems to enter the mysterious landscape as he does.
When Richard goes back to his doctor, he finds that his cholesterol levels have dropped to safe levels. He is pleased, and tries to stop exercising, but cannot resist the lure of the stationary bike. Richard even goes so far as to try dismantling the machine, but he suddenly finds himself riding on the bike "one last time".
When Richard goes on this ride, he finds himself on the road of his mural once more - face to face with the three remaining workmen on the crew. They speak to him, accusing him of ruining their lives; without a stream of fatty foods, they have stopped receiving income for their work. The workmen list their expenses, and explain that their fellow member committed suicide out of desperation. Richard realizes that the men are conglomerations of people he has met before in life, and tries to tell them that they are nothing but imaginary figures. Their pleas and threats of violence, though, convince him otherwise. Richard agrees to relax his diet, but makes one request - he wants a cap that the workmen wear. As he steps back through the mural, he begins to wonder when he will convince himself that the strange experience was all a dream.
The story jumps forward to a few weeks later. Richard now eats dessert and has finally escaped the bike. When his mail comes one afternoon, he sees a package which contains a baseball cap with the word "LIPID
" written on it. He smiles as he dons the cap and prepares to go to work painting.
, was adapted from Stephen King's work "Stationary Bike" and released on CD in June 2006.
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
written by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, which was originally published in the fifth edition of From the Borderlands in 2003. It was recently released as part of King's 2008 short story anthology, Just After Sunset
Just After Sunset
Just After Sunset is the fifth collection of short stories by Stephen King. It was released in hardcover by Scribner on November 11, 2008, and features a holographic dust jacket. On February 6, 2008, the author's official website revealed the title of the collection to be Just Past Sunset. About a...
.
Synopsis
The story opens with Richard Sifkitz, a commercial artist and widower, visiting his doctor, and staring at the results of his physicalPhysical examination
Physical examination or clinical examination is the process by which a doctor investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history — an account of the symptoms as experienced by the patient...
. Richard's cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
is dangerously high, largely due to his high fast food intake. The doctor tells him an interesting anecdote in relation to the number. He likens Richard's metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
to a team of workmen who clear the various junk foods that Richard ingests. As Richard ages, these metabolic workmen tire out and begin to slow down, resulting in heart trouble. This metaphor strikes Richard, and he becomes rather obsessed with the idea.
Richard becomes determined to lose weight, and sets up a stationary bike in his basement. At first, he hangs a map of the United States on the wall, imagining himself traveling to a foreign destination with each mile. As time passes, though, the notion of the metabolic workmen enter his mind again, and he paints a bizarre landscape on a mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
, depicting four tired workers clearing a fat-laden road. Richard begins to lose weight, but as he does, he begins to see the workmen in his dreams. He is then gripped by another vision, in which he paints the garage of the youngest of his metabolic workmen, who has committed suicide. These events cause the mural Richard has painted to transform, warping into a more nightmarish appearance with every passing day. Despite these warning signs, though, Richard cannot stop exercising; he enters a trance when he rides, and seems to enter the mysterious landscape as he does.
When Richard goes back to his doctor, he finds that his cholesterol levels have dropped to safe levels. He is pleased, and tries to stop exercising, but cannot resist the lure of the stationary bike. Richard even goes so far as to try dismantling the machine, but he suddenly finds himself riding on the bike "one last time".
When Richard goes on this ride, he finds himself on the road of his mural once more - face to face with the three remaining workmen on the crew. They speak to him, accusing him of ruining their lives; without a stream of fatty foods, they have stopped receiving income for their work. The workmen list their expenses, and explain that their fellow member committed suicide out of desperation. Richard realizes that the men are conglomerations of people he has met before in life, and tries to tell them that they are nothing but imaginary figures. Their pleas and threats of violence, though, convince him otherwise. Richard agrees to relax his diet, but makes one request - he wants a cap that the workmen wear. As he steps back through the mural, he begins to wonder when he will convince himself that the strange experience was all a dream.
The story jumps forward to a few weeks later. Richard now eats dessert and has finally escaped the bike. When his mail comes one afternoon, he sees a package which contains a baseball cap with the word "LIPID
Lipid
Lipids constitute a broad group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins , monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others...
" written on it. He smiles as he dons the cap and prepares to go to work painting.
Film Adaptation
In 2011/12 film producers, Random Download Productions will be adapting the story into a short-film of which more details can be found at their website. http://www.randomdownload.co.ukAudiobook
An audio book version, read by Ron McLartyRon McLarty
Ron McLarty is an American actor, playwright and author. He began his career in theatre during the early 1970s with one his earliest professional performances being the role of Lucky in Michael Weller's Moonchildren for the play's American premiere at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. in November...
, was adapted from Stephen King's work "Stationary Bike" and released on CD in June 2006.