Flywheel's Torq Board - screen shot from youtube video
Updated: 11/23
Flywheel Sports is a chain of Indoor Cycling studios who started in New York city. They have had tremendous results and growth, now with 12 locations in three states; New York, Florida and Illinois. A big part of their success has come from a proprietary retro-fit system they have engineered to measure each rider's power and then display the real-time results on a screen. From their website:
... Additionally, for those who thrive on competition, Flywheel has developed the TorqBoard— an in-studio display that provides riders with the option to compare their performance against the rest of the class in real time.
The reason many students come to your class is for the community. Sure you maybe a great Instructor and include a lot of specific training into each profile you teach, but I'm convinced that the added element of friendly completion Flywheel's Torq Board brings is a big part of their success. Participants who are not achieving their personal fitness goals - read weight management goals - have a tendency to stop coming. We all understand that working harder (when appropriate) in class will increase fitness and burn additional calories. That's why so many of us are excited about power; for the first time our students can truly see what "working harder" feels like. Throw in the friendly completion part and you have the recipe for a fabulous sold out class
Beyond competition between riders, I see a remote display system like Flywheel's TorqBoard as solving multiple problems I'm hearing and seeing at clubs who have (or are considering) adding power based classes to their schedules:
- Students have their heads down, completely focused on the display console - not on the instructor. With everyone riding with eyes forward they stay connected with you, the Instructor.
- I can't see the display in a darkened class. A quick scan of your class will probably reveal an average participant age of 45-55 years old. Many of us (including me) have limited eyesight due to our age and when you dim the lights I'm nearly blind 🙁
- Let's just add a constant back light to the console. Great idea until you realize that you will be replacing batteries at an even quicker rate than you do now.
- Too many potential "computers" to fail. Henry Ford was famous for saying, "parts left off cause no service problems". What if there was a system that eliminated the "computer" on each bike? Instead use a common system and eliminate some of the cost and maintenance concerns.
So let's say you think Flywheel's TorqBoard looks like something you would like to have in your studio... you can't have it. It's not for sale unless you are ready to become a franchised Flywheel Sports studio.
Enter Performance IQ and their new Top Power remote display system for studios using any of the Indoor Cycles with Power, including; FreeMotion S11.9, Keiser M3i, Schwinn AC or Spinner Blade Ion. Watch the shot video below to see this plug and play system at work at their second Beta site, Cycle Quest studio where I'm teaching. While it doesn't remove the existing "computer" on each cycle, it does solve the first three concerns I have listed above 🙂
To fully take advantage of Performance IQ's wonderful features, studios will want to offer a Bike Reservation system and data collection system that sends out those wonderful emails to each participant, showing them how many calories they burned in class.
Originally posted 2011-11-09 12:47:31.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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While I think this “friendly” competition is a nifty way to have “challenges” at a gym……where folk who know what they’re in for can see how they stack up against everyone else (a bit like the Concept folk have on their website)….I reckon it’d throw a wrench in the works for someone like me.
I try to emphasize competition with yourself and being the best you can be without regard to what you think the guy (or ga) next to you is pretending to do. A good many of my members, I’m sure, would stop coming if their efforts were advertised in this way.
FWIW, if my gym expressed interest in this system I’d voice strong opposition unless it was an add on to be used by the few who’re interested. I’d be an interested party personally……but I’m not at all like the majority of my class members
Vivienne
There might be some sort of “fun” factor for those who’re already competitive and fit and strong enough to “compete” I’ve always found it a bit counterproductive with my demographic when I’ve encouraged this sort of focus.
I’m with you Vivienne, competion is not what I want im my classes nor does any studio owner here want it. In my opinion IDC is a group program that is about training without competition. Competitive athletes (which I also have in my classes) go on their own with powertap or other accurate power measurement tools to evaluate their performance changes.
Well our Studio (The Studios at Montecito Heights) are 3 months into using this technology. As Performance IQ and Keiser will attest to, I have been on their backs to make sure everything is working perfectly (not an easy task with all the components that need to work together) because our students are obsessed with the system! And if there are discrepancies, they get really, really irritated! They deserve to have accurate numbers and this has not always been the case. We may be very close and the folks at PIQ have been awesome!
For an instructor the real key is to hide the Performance board through most of the sets and then show it occasionally. Otherwise, your students will not listen to you and just spin as hard as they can to “win”!
With all that said, those who get it and are not egomaniacs, love it and love how they work harder and get their performance data emailed to them immediately after class.
Stay tuned…