Fairhaven Bike Path’s Strange Find Leads to a Twisted Workout

A wise man once told me that if you're looking for a change of scenery or bored with your current commute, take a different path home. This advice led me to an unexpected discovery during a friendly walk with a coworker on Tuesday, August 20.

My coworker, a regular walker who knows the area well, suggested we stroll along the Fairhaven Bike Path. It was a perfect day — not too hot, not too cold, just right. Goldilocks would have approved.

As we walked, we passed by one of the public workout stations installed by the company Playworld. However, something was off. The name of the equipment and instructions on how to use it were missing. The sign had either been taken down or vandalized or never existed in the first place, leaving us to figure out the machine's purpose.

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Determined to solve the mystery, I gave it my best shot. I got on the equipment, moved back and forth, squatted, shot back up. No idea.

Later, after revisiting an article I wrote in April 2019, I discovered that the machine was called The Twister, part of Playworld's Stretch & Go series. According to the manufacturer, you "step up onto the disk, hold onto the bar, and twist your torso from side to side. (It) stretches the lower back and your oblique muscles."

Who knew?

To my surprise, this outdoor exercise equipment comes with a hefty price tag: $3,305.

Holy smokes!