Signs of Spring

A sign of spring as I walked away from my class this morning!

Life Time Fitness Sets New World Record for Static Indoor Cycling Participants @ 1052

That was fun, being part of a New World Record for Static (their word) Indoor Cycling Participants. The official total of 1052 was certified by a representative of the Guinness World Records, who was on site to observe, at the end of the 2 hour class.

What an undertaking and to pull it off with only 4 weeks from conception to World Record.

Here is some video I shot while I was there.

Up Date: Here is a second video taken by another participant. If you pay close attention, at the 26 second point, the camera captures yours truly (I’m in the white hat)

Indoor Cycling World Record – History

Tomorrow I’m participating in a new world Indoor Cycling World Record attempt that will take place in Minneapolis at the Target Center. Billed as The Ride Of a Lifetime and is sponsored by Life Time Fitness. (my employer) 1,000 participants are registered, with many on the waiting list!

I did a little research as to recient attemps and they are:

• January 9, 2010 – 600 participants road in the Life Time Fitness “Ride of a Lifetime, in Houston, Texas
• September 18, 2009, 450 cyclists participated in a static cycle class in Galway, Ireland (no link to be found)
• March 23, 2009, 418 participants took part in an outdoor cycle ride at the Life Time Fitness center in Plano, Texas
• February 21st 2009 – 412 cyclists pedaled into the record books this week at Esporta Health Clubs’ annual conference in Gloucestershire.
• August 14th 2008 – 354 Indoor Cyclists break world record at Can – Fit Pro conference in Toronto.
• February 28th 2008 – 323 cyclists at Esporta Health Clubs’ annual conference in Gloucestershire.

So why 1,000? I’m guessing Life Time Chairman, CEO and President, Bahram Akradi is just sticking the flag way down the beach, to an almost unreachable point, essentially ending the back-and-forth.

Video coming tomorrow.

Life Time Fitness – The Ride of a Lifetime Indoor Cycling World Record Attempt

Looks like they are close to making have made their goal of having One Thousand Indoor Cyclists at this event!  Updated 2/4/10

I just saw an email that, as of this morning, they have 925 riders registered. It should be a lot of fun and I’m guaranteed a great parking spot at the Target Center – I’m helping to unload trucks and wheel bikes into place, starting at 4:00am Sunday morning.

If you plan to be there let me know so I can say hi!  Posted by John. For some strange reason my blog doesn’t know who I am anymore

Half Moon Sets Off Spinning® Programme

Our very own ICI/PRO Team Member Barbara Hoots announces;

First Officially Licensed Spinning® Resort in Caribbean

(I know how hard she worked and all the hurdles she overcame to make this a reality. I’m very proud of her + it’s going to be a great place to teach! - John)

Find a hammock for after your class...

From their press release:
Rose Hall, Jamaica (February 2009) – Half Moon, the luxury resort located in Rose Hall, Jamaica, has teamed up with internationally acclaimed STAR 3 Spinning instructor Barbara Hoots and Mad Dogg Athletics, developers of Spinning® to offer guests the popular cycling-inspired Spinning® classes. This will make the luxury resort the only Caribbean resort to offer this popular fitness programme.

Equipped with 10 custom-designed Spinner® bikes and state of the art sound system in specially-designed Spinning studio, guests of the 400-acre resort can choose from three unique tours that invite them on a virtual experience of Jamaica.

The programmes Climb to Blue Mountain, No Problem Tour and Adventures in Negril were developed by Spin veteran Barbara Hoots and feature specially created soundtrack to inspire and energize riders.

Read more…

Introducing MixMeister Express 7

MixMeister Express 7 is now for both PC and Mac – but you still can’t use AAC Audio files of any type. Students of the MixMeister Express Academy learn how to convert their files from AAC to MP3 in lesson #1

Yep, it’s $70.00 but that’s better than the $200 Mac users needed to spend for MixMeister Studio. Existing users can upgrade for $19.99.

It’s a whole new install so you can keep MixMeister 6 installed and start over with version 7.

I have been playing with for a few minutes and the first cool new thing is it will import a playlist from iTunes. I have always preferred to build my playlists in iTunes instead of MixMeister so I see this is a big improvement.

I will have my full review soon and I will be making changes to the MixMeister Express Academy to reflect the new features.

2010 Ride of a Life Time Fitness Registration

I'm planning to ride this. Are you?

Life Time Fitness is planning an Indoor Cycling world record attempt on March 7th 2010 in Minneapolis MN.

Here is the link for more info on how to register so you can join me there.

Jennifer Sage joins 10th Annual Ride for a Reason to benefit Special Olympics

It gives me (beyond) great pleasure to announce that the state of Vermont will be welcoming Jennifer Sage to the 10th Annual Ride for a Reason indoor cycling marathon to benefit the Special Olympics on Sunday, March 21, 2010. The event will be held at the Sheraton in Burlington, Vermont.

Along with myself (STAR 3 Instructor Melissa Marotta, Vermont), Spinning Master Instructors Anthony Musemici (New York) and Angie Scott (Vermont), and STAR 2 Instructor David Means (Vermont), Jennifer will co-lead what will undoubtedly be an inspiring and invigorating six-hour endurance challenge. 150+ riders at last year’s event raised nearly $40,000 to support the athletes of the Special Olympics.

When Jennifer officially confirmed our invitation by phone, I nearly blew out her ear drum with shrieks of glee. It is an incredible honor to have one of my personal heroes up there beside me for a life event of such significance to me as a coach.

To join us all for the big event in Vermont, you can visit http://www.vtso.org/spinning_marathon.php
You can register for the full day (6 hours), put together a relay team to split up the day, or simply register for any number of hours you’d like to ride.

Jennifer’s east coast cameo will include Master Classes at several Boston area clubs. If you are interested in riding with Jennifer or would like to arrange for Jennifer to host a Master Class at your club, please contact her at jennifer@indoorcycleinstructor.com.

Hope to see many of you in the no-longer-very-frozen north!

You are invited to participate in the World’s Largest Indoor Cycling Event:

We will find out if 1,000 Spinning Indoor Cycling Bikes will fit in the Target Center

That was the heading of the email I just received.

It continued:

Life Time Fitness is holding a record breaking 2 Hour Spin class with 1000 bikes for the ride!  The event will be held March 7^th from  11am-1pm in the Target Center Downtown Minneapolis.  CEO and Founder Bahram Akradi, along with 4 of Life Time’s top spin instructors, will lead you through what is bound to be a tough but fun 2 hour ride!  During the ride you will have the BEST tunes spun by DJ Roberto Costa with various guest appearances that will keep you entertained throughout the ride.  In order to participate in this record breaking event, you will need to wear a Life Time Fitness jersey.  If you do not own one already, you can order one online or you can purchase the 2010 jersey from me for $49.95. (there’s always a catch; John)  Look for additional details this week on MYLT.com.  Your Group Fitness Department Heads as well as the General Managers of your home club will have sign up and jersey procurement information as well.

Please make sure that you reserve your space for this event AND spread the word!!!! (with 17,000 visitors  a month I’m guessing I’m doing more than my share :)

I will update you when I know more….

I’m curious to know, who exactly are “4 of Life Time’s top spin instructors?” Nobody called me

John’s First Swimming Lesson

While I was nearly drowning swimming today, I wondered if there were any other Indoor Cycling Instructors training for a Triathlon who would like to be “virtual” training partners. If so email me john (at) indoorcycleinstructor.com

I made this video using my new iPod Nano. Very cool little toy.

I’m joining Ben Greenfield’s Triathlon Rock Star Triathlete Academy as I train for my first Triathlon. John