Here’s one home trend from across the pond that we’d like to see catch on stateside: cabins that allow you to train like an Olympian in your own backyard. The company behind these ingenious creations is Tiger Sheds, a Leeds-based manufacturer perhaps best known for their zombie fortification cabin and spider-proof sheds.
Inspired by the 2016 Summer Olympics, the company recently introduced the Summer of Sport line of athletic training cabins in three styles: cycling, running, and diving. “We know our customers are inspired to get out and try new sports whenever an event like this comes along, so we wanted to give them the chance to do so in their very own back garden,” said Tiger Sheds director Jack Sutcliffe in a press release.
The 40 x 20-foot cycling cabin is outfitted with a velodrome that can accommodate multiple bikes, plus indoor and outdoor bike stands for storage. Six opening windows bathe the 100-meter circuit in natural light. A deck addition, tire puncture repair kit, locks, apparel, and helmets are add-on options. Base price for this cabin rounds the corner at $54K.
For those who prefer their endorphins induced by running, the 100-meter track cabin features a sports-grade rubber tarmac, wall-mounted timer, interior and exterior distance markers, and a finish line. While lacking somewhat in exterior appeal (the 328 x 7-foot structure has the aesthetic sensibility of a box car, plus a front door and windows), the set-up is ideal for sprinting. Optional wireless speakers pump motivating music into the space and an add-on hot and cool fan heater allows you to manipulate the climate in which you sweat. This cabin clocks in at about $16K.
Want to pimp out your pool? Try a 14 x 10-foot diving cabin. Practice your best moves from the 5-meter or 10-meter slip-proof boards, accessible by loft ladders. An interior wooden bench and pegs for towels make for a private changing space or a place to rest and window-gaze between maneuvers. This cabin’s costs will sink your bank account balance by around $38K.
Alas, even if these too-cool-to-be-true buildings were deliverable in the U.S., you’d have to have some building sense to put them together. An athlete can dream, no?