Books like Stationary Bike by Stephen King

After a doctor warns him his cholesterol level is dangerously high, Richard Sefkitz turns to a stationary bike in the basement of his apartment building for daily exercise. To keep the routine engaging, he purchases maps and plots a symbolic route from New York to Herkimer, a town on the U.S./Canadian border, marking each day's progress. He even paints a road scene on the blank wall beside the bike to imagine traveling the distance. As Richard’s fitness improves and he approaches Herkimer according to his calculations, he begins experiencing unsettling thoughts that someone may be following him on his rides. The story blends themes of metabolism, physical examinations, and creative mural art, offering a close look at how routine can become a quest—and a psychological puzzle. This Stephen King short story is part of a broader collection and appears alongside works such as "Borderlands 5" and "Just After Sunset," placing it within a context of contemporary explorations of health, art, and the human psyche.

First publish date: June 6, 2006