So I decided to lead my first virtual ride this past week. In my true style, I didn”™t just try it in one of my classes but at all 5 clubs. I like to just throw myself into things so I can learn and experience while the iron is hot. For those not familiar with a “virtual ride”, this is when the class rides to a video. In most cases the video is designed to simulate the road the riders are on to provide a more realistic “visualization” and experience. I”™ve seen this attempted in the past but never with much success. I contributed the lack of success to a number of things:
(1) The screen or TV was too small to allow riders to feel like they were “there”. Even large screen LCD TVs will not cut it.
(2) The video was not stimulating enough and/or the camera angles were not realistic.
(3) The instructor either said nothing and just let the riders roll along to the music OR gave not-so-exciting (and obvious) dialog to accompany the video like “OK, now we are climbing so let”™s add some resistance.......now we are going downhill so let”™s take some of the resistance off".
The Equipment
I decided that if I was going to do a virtually ride, I wanted to give it a fair shake. Besides the video or DVD, I needed to have good equipment. But it needed to meet a couple of criteria if I was going to start incorporating these rides on a regular basis. First, everything needed to by uber-portable. I don”™t want to be lugging in a mini production crew to pull this off. Second, I need to be able to setup in less than 30 minutes with minimal disruption to the room and finally, the picture quality needs to be captivating. Here is what I put together:
- HD Projector with Tripod mount
- Tripod
- 25”™ Electrical Extension Cable
- 25”™ iPod Audio Extension Cable
- HDMI Cable/Adapter from Laptop to Projector
- Laptop (with DVD Player)
- White Queen-size Cotton Bed Sheet
- 2” wide Black Duct/Gaffers Tape
I was able to successfully setup everything 20 minutes. This included having to shift a few bikes to make room for the projector and tripod and in 2 cases, move the bike and rolling stereo cabinet off the instructor platform. The cycling studios I teach at all have mirrors so I was not able to project on the wall. This is where the white sheet and tape came in. I simply taped the sheet to the mirror and it worked great. By my fifth class on Friday, I clocked the setup at 14 minutes. Taking everything down only took 10 minutes.
Hey Mikey, I Think They Liked it!
It was an absolute hit across all clubs (each with a very different demographic) and at different timeslots from morning to evening. With no big surprise, I performed my virgin virtual ride experience with one of Global Ride Productions”™ France DVDs which included the ascent up the Col de la Columbiere. There was some added excitement with this particular choice since we had just come off the heels of 3 weeks of indoor Tour de France rides with riders left in a post-TDF depression.
Before I led the ride, I watched the DVD and wrote a script of how I was going to approach the class. I incorporated early warm-up drills, climbing intervals and some attacks with grueling muscular strength efforts. In addition to great (multiple) camera angles, the video included riders on the road which we (the class) intermingled with along the way. I led the same class all week. Yes, the researcher in me wanted to compare apples to apples with each class.
The virtual ride received rave reviews. Riders felt it was the best experience they had ever had and one of the hardest workouts. As an instructor, I found it very easy to lead. The Global Ride DVDs are divided into consecutive sections that make sense as a single ride and there is a timer at the bottom right of the screen so it is hard to get lost. I decided to use the music provided (Whoa....I know) just to see how it would fly right out of the package per se. Needless to say I had a ton of fun last week and got some great “energizing” feedback.
ZONE 5 ALERT: As many of you know, I tend to fake it through many of these classes. Basically, I don”™t work as hard as my riders in order to coach them on and off the bike. I found these virtual rides hard to fake. My heart rate ran into zone 5 (capacity) with my riders as we hit the summit of the Col de la Columbiere.
If you”™ve done virtual rides in your classes, add some comments below and share your experiences and what you”™ve learned. I spoke to ICI/Pro member/instructor Shirin Beckett (CA) last week who has a lot of experience with virtual rides. I”™m hoping she will add some gems to this topic as well. I”™m also including a link to the cue sheet I created for DVD 3 “TDF Climbing in FRANCE” so you can how I organized and approached the ride - Download Cue Sheet
Give it a try! But be careful, you may just get addicted to indoor cycling all over again!
Originally posted 2011-08-23 05:00:26.
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Tom,
I’ve been watching carefully with this idea in mind as well. I half expected Gino to write this but not surprised to find you leading us. I have some questions. Hope the answers help other ICI’s.
PC or Mac? Cabling is very different for each.
Let’s assume we all have a laptop to use, what do you estimate the total cost to acquire the rest of the equipment and what manufacturer/s would you recommend?
Based on your rate for teaching a class (we will guess you demand the big bucks), how many classes would you have to teach to break even?
Most virtual ride DVD’s have a ‘voice over’ what did you do about that?
How did you handle the those that ‘don’t like’ the video?
I know it is you but, did management have any issues with this?
Finally, for now, tear down… how long? I teach several classes that are immediately followed by another.
Opps, Finally, finally, can you get us a deal on Virtual Ride DVD’s.
Looking forward to your response.
Hello,
I have been using virtual rides for several years now and find that the classes thoroughly enjoy them. Ocassionally, I will get someone that does not like the movement on the screen but by and large a great success. As far as equipment, I use a projection system, a DVD/VCR player with audio and video cables, a 25 foot extension cord, and audio visual cart. I use my own music and match it to the ride using either IPod or CD. I have used DVD’s from Global, Epic Rides, Robbie Ventura’s Race Day Ride, and Chris Carmichael’s DVD workouts. In addition, I have used footage from the Tour de France and other professional cycling events. As far as the sound, I unplug the audio cable and do my own music and coaching. Set up and take down is usually less than 15-20 minutes. I have also used footage from various cycling movies like Breaking Away and American Flyers. As far as management, they appear to be pleased for the extra effort and what is being provided to the members. Unfortunately, I have footed the costs for all of this but have been to gyms that the equipment was installed as part of the cycling room set up. Hope this helps.
Pat
Great article Tom. You are a true coach, in every way! Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge.
By the way,I love your practical idea of using a white sheet to solve the mirror issue 🙂
I, similar to Pat (above comment), have purchased my own equipment. It is a hefty expense and of course you will not be reimbursed by the facility for it. Most studios are NOT set up with pre-installed equipment, and do not care for the expense of adding them. Tom’s suggestions on equipment are great.Everything seems reasonably portable and easy enough to set up.
I use a bigger version of what Tom has listed. My least favorite burden is lugging the 7x7ft screen and its stand. I use a HD projector,my mac laptop and all the necessary stands and sandbags (to secure the stand) etc. It takes me about 30 minutes to unload and set up. As Tom mentioned, we have to move the bikes around a bit to make space for the projector stand and also to give the riders comfortable viewing of the screen.
Virtual Rides are very cool. I started using them as a way of bringing outdoor cycling to my indoor athletes. It is a pretty big hit at our facility. I offer this once a month and registration closes the same day it opens,with equal number of riders in wait list (this is almost a whole month before each ride)! So you can see the level of enthusiasm is fantastic.
If you are a coach, you will love this tool and can really maximize on its potential. If your teaching style is not interactive, then maybe this will not be as exciting to use in your class. You will have to be completely involved in the ride, otherwise the experience will turn into “watching a really boring movie of some cyclist just going up and down some road”!
I am a firm believer in “keeping it real” indoors. What better way to get my guys to “train” towards a certain ride at the end of the month?! If it is rolling hills, or just a steady steep grind, we use our weekly rides to specifically train to complete the upcoming VR,..exactly what you would do if you were training for an upcoming grueling ride on your road bike:)
I have viewed many different DVDs, but have mainly used epicPlanet rides.However, now I’m dying to try the Paris ride Tom mentioned in the article. He and I talked about how important it is to have great camera shots. The action shots or those shots capturing the riders’ effort level (aka suffering!)do make a huge difference in your team’s ride. I recommend to set this as one of the higher priorities as you choose your DVDs. Yes, pretty scenery is nice, BUT IT PUTS PEOPLE TO SLEEP after a few minutes!
I use iMovie which gives me the ability to voice over the existing music. Tom is brave to have stayed with the standard music of the video:)Since I lack Tom’s skills and his power in mesmerizing any audience, I have to rely on my own energizing music to power the ride.
One thing that helps my virtual rides’ success, is the fact that I make a lot of effort to modify the length of each song, and I match its bpm with the exact cadence of the riders on my screen (don’t even ask HOW LONG that takes me to do!). This way, the visuals,the audio and on top of that my cues guide the riders through each segment.
If you have been thinking about virtual rides for a while, you should really make the jump! You and your riders will be very happy that you did.
Best of luck.
We are lucky in that we have a projector and DVD player installed in the room. Set up is as simple as turning them on and hitting play.
I do have to move the Instructor bike off the platform since the video screen is directly behind the Instructor bike. I find a bike to ride that is located so that all the rides can see me and I can see all of them. It works very well.
I have used the Global Ride DVD for France and for Italy. They are always a big hit with the riders. I have provided my own music and voice, used the music on the DVD with my voice, used both music and voice from the DVD. Feedback from my riders is they prefer my voice but are OK with my music or the DVDs music.
I have used a video for Independene Day. I added my own music and voice. The video is full of fireworks and scenes from all over our country. It is not a training video and the riders usually don’t work very hard because they have switched into what I call “TV watching mode”. It is only once a year, it is fun and folks like it. It makes for a good Endurance or Recovery ride.
Some riders don’t like the movement of the video. The layout of our cycle room allows those riders to grab a bike that is parallel to and very close to the wall with the screen. They really can’t see the video. If the room is full there may be some riders that can’t see the screen but want to. So far folks work it out and it hasn’t been a problem.
Congratulations on your first Virtual Cycling classes Tom! I’m sure there will be many more.
As the producer of the epicRIDES line of virtual cycling DVDs, I’ve seen a significant increase in sales over the last year to instructors and studios in the U.S., Canada and Europe. I believe the 2011-2012 indoor season will be a tipping point where Virtual Cycling classes become a common option in innovative indoor studios worldwide.
We’ve received a lot of great reviews for epicRIDES from instructors and students, which is VERY gratifying. Instructor Shirin Beckett has been one of our most enthusiastic supporters and (with her husband Mark) even suggested and then helped Produce our Epic California – Mt. Baldy DVD.
At this point our biggest problem is we can’t crank out new titles fast enough!
As we go forward, I think more and more clubs will realize that Virtual Cycling classes are great way to differentiate themselves from the competition and re-energize their program. Because of that, clubs (like Willie’s) will start investing in video equipment for their studios. After all, a good projector, screen and DVD player now-days cost about the same as ONE indoor bike!
And finally, to answer Chuck Cali’s last questions as to “Deals” on DVDs, you should all know we have a standing 30% OFF offer for individual DVDs and Downloads with ICI Pro!
The coupon code is: ICIPRO30%
http://epicplanet.tv/catalog
Ride on.
Allen Jones
Hi Allen,
I went to order one of the videos this morning and it told me the coupon code was not valid with my order?
I am excited to try this concept with your video as virtual spinning is new to our gym.
Thanks,
Melissa Hunter
I would echo Allen’s remarks – DVD sales have increased to local health clubs, and I’d like to think we have been a part of that revolution. As the producer of Global Ride DVDs, we did a 10 city tour in 11 days (covering over 15,000 miles – here’s a wrap up video of that crazy road trip: http://bit.ly/nSBsok ) when we launched our first Hawaii series in 2008. At that time, if we hadn’t brought our own screen, projector and DVD player, no one could have hosted us. Now the concept is catching on, and I can often just bring the DVD. But like Power bikes, it will take a good bit of time to see this Titanic of an industry change.
However, not to be one to sit on our laurels, we are thinking that the delivery of digital content without the need for physical DVDs is also going to come quickly on it’s heals, and rather than watch that happen from the sidelines, we’ve spent the last 18 months preparing to be first in that space, and we’ve partnered with Epic to kick off our first year. Stay tuned to this channel, as we will be announcing details about this exciting development soon – as always you will hear it first here at ICI/PRO.
Hey Melissa,
We went in and ‘tweaked” the coupon settings and it seems to work now.
Thanks for your patience!!!
Allen
Our club is considering purchasing some of these DVDs, and I’m excited about the opportunity to use them, especially for our upcoming “Epic Rides” classes, where we’ll be doing 2-2.5 hours of indoor riding in the upcoming months. I was curious about your presentation though. I love that you described the need to add in your own extras and be an active coach through it, but I was wondering from where did you coach it? Did you turn your bike around and ride with everyone else? Did you coach from the back of the room? Did you face them? I’ve been trying to consider what would work best, thinking from the back of the room would be beneficial in terms of making them feel like I was riding along, but allowing me to sort of watch their form and get off the bike as needed. Thoughts?
Alisha, that is an excellent question. I feel weird facing the class during rides like this so I’m definitely going to mingle in the “peloton”. I usually ride near the front of the class but toward the edge. We arrange the bikes theatre-style, so I can still see everyone. Basically, I position my bike where I can access the sound system. I like to have control over the volume of the music/mic to make subtle changes. I rode from the back once and people said they didn’t feel like I was leading the class. They also said they like to see when I’m coming out of the saddle and the level of intensity I’m riding at. I hope that helps.
That sounds like an excellent suggestion, Tom. Thanks! I think I’ll try that.
We spent our summer getting all of the equipment installed in our studio so that we can lead virtual rides as “event rides” in our studio a couple of times each quarter. Our first ride – Epic Planet’s Epic Wine Country is our first to celebrate the harvest season in our own Oregon Wine Country. A local wine shop is donating two Napa Valley Wines and a local winery will send one of their employees to pour those and two Oregon wines after the ride. We’ll also have some cheeses and healthy appetizers to go along with the wine tasting. We are all very excited about it.