by John | Mar 1, 2021 | Engage Your Students, Featured Studios, KEEPING IT FUN
Image from Rate your Burn
Saw this posted on Facebook and just had to share it. The author, Victoria, is a triathlete, runner and fashion blogger at alltheshoesfit.com – she's also a raving fan of GRIT Cycle in Costa Mesa, California.
TOP 10 SIGNS YOU’RE ADDICTED TO YOUR SPIN CLASS
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You plan your entire week around the spin class schedule.
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You’ve lost interest in designer clothing and shoes and are suddenly obsessed with seeking out the latest “on trend” spin leggings.
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The mere thought of your favorite instructor switching schedules, going on vacation or (god forbid) leaving, throws you into a tail spin.
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Whenever you hear a new song you immediately categorize it by BPM and if it would be a sprint, climb, or push and tap song.
You'll find the rest of Victoria's 10 signs you are addicted here.
GRIT Cycle was a project of Barbara Hoots from Indoor Cycle Design. One of owners is Marisa Wayne, daughter of The Duke – actor John Wayne. I haven't been there myself, but the place sounds like it incorporates Barbara's usual attention to detail – described here in an earlier post from Victoria:
These guys did it right from the moment of conception to the day they opened the doors and they continue to do it right. Nothing is an afterthought. Every attention to detail has been carefully planned and executed. The saddle room (more about the name later) has wide sliding glass doors that open to a deck with lounge furniture where you can bask in the sun before or after class. You may be temporarily blinded to the fact that you are about to work your ass off and think you are at a resort in Palm Springs, the only thing missing being the pool.
Notice that these are custom painted Schwinn Performance AC Indoor Cycles and the Instructor bike on the stage is a unique color.
Originally posted 2018-02-05 09:00:29.
by John | Feb 23, 2021 | Instructor Training
You're doing it wrong…
Saw an interesting question on Facebook this morning, that's similar to questions I get privately from studio owners;
My studio has conventional Indoor Cycles, without any monitors/computers. Can (or should) I purchase a Display Training system like PIQ or Spivi?
I'll typically ask more questions before responding;
- What is your understand of Display Training systems?
- What are your objectives and/or expectations for the system?
- Do you want to offer Heart Rate Display Training?
- How old are your existing bikes? When are you planning to replace them?
I'll first point the person to this link to 30+ informative articles and multiple class profiles we have here about Display Training.
Next I'll answer the question; can I use a Display Training system with my non-power Indoor Cycles?
The short answer is yes you can…
While there's no option to affordably* add Power/WATTs to an Indoor Cycle, Wahoo Fitness sells a brilliant little cadence sensor that attaches to the crank arm of each of your ICs. Those $50.00 sensors will wirelessly transmit cadence/RPM info to the Display Training systems from either PIQ or Spivi.
Providing a visual representation of each rider's pedal speed, when none existed before, can really enhance your class. So your Instructors can cue; “I want everyone at 90 RPM and then we'll maintain it while adding load” which is very effective.
… but just because you can, doesn't mean you should 🙁
You can get into trouble with only having cadence. People can get competitive and as soon as you start displaying anything, you'll have riders trying to post the biggest number. In this case RPM. Spivi's video game like display of riders will work with just cadence… but do you really want folks at 140+ RPM trying to catch that show-off up front?
What at are your objectives and/or expectations for the system?
* Yes, I suppose you could purchase a set of Polar Keo Power Pedals for each cycle in your studio. But at over $1,500 a set, they're not very affordable and you'd be money ahead just replacing all of your bikes.
Originally posted 2019-02-27 09:04:03.
by John | Feb 23, 2021 | Instructor Training
The Star Trac Spinner® Blade Ion is the latest Indoor Cycle with power to hit the market. The Blade Ion boasts strain-gauge technology and a cool blue light emanating from the flywheel hub that doubles as a battery charger.
There are only of handful of studios riding Ions and we only had responses from 14 Instructors.
I'm sticking with the same format we're using with each of these Indoor Cycle surveys – click here for the list.
- Satisfaction while riding your cycles.
- Using the Power Meter in class.
- Accuracy / consistency in power displayed.
- Would you recommend this Indoor Cycle to others?
First up, how do instructors like riding the Star Trac Spinner® Blade Ion
How about using the power meter?
If your responses are included here, I'd be interested to know more about the Heart Rate strap issues. Is this a difficulty pairing (connecting) the HR strap? Or something different like cross talking or a loss of connection?
Every Instructor I know is interested in the accuracy of wattage displayed and consistency between cycles.
All though this was a very small sample – the lack of accuracy / consistency does square with private conversations I've had with with multiple Instructors and studio owners. I'm aware that Star Trac has been trying to sort this problem and hopefully they will have it corrected soon.
Would they recommend it?
Originally posted 2014-02-22 14:28:45.
by John | Feb 20, 2021 | Best Practices, Engage Your Students, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Learn Leadership Skills
4/1/16 update – not an April Fools joke, rather I'm re-publishing this today to help a friend with this issue.
I heard a very disturbing story this morning, from a regular in my 6:00am class.
What follows is a sad example of what happens when an Instructor isn't the leader in the class and tolerates disruptive behavior by one or more members.
Member: Did you hear what happened yesterday? I'm really curious what will happen tomorrow.
Me: No… what happened, tell me.
Member: It was total anarchy. The guy behind me completely lost it. I guess he couldn't take her non-stop talking anymore and yelled, SHUT THE F*** UP at the women who was riding two places to his right, while she was talking loudly on her phone.
Me: Wait, she was on her phone… in the middle of class?
Member: Yeah, she had on hand covering her ear and was talking really loudly in a conversation that seemed to go on forever. A number of us gave the instructor pleading looks to ask her to do something. She just shrugged her shoulders with a “I can't do anything” look.
Me: That's crazy.
Member: That was only the beginning. What happened next was complete chaos. People started yelling at each other. It's was almost like the people who come to focus and really work hard were empowered by that guy expressing his frustrations with the talkers. They'd also had had enough and many joined in to support him. I couldn't believe all this was happening…
I can believe it. Our riders pay a lot of money to be members. They're also polite people who tend to sit quietly, even though internally they're seething inside, being forced to endure frequent (in some classes constant) disruptions, when all they want is to listen to the music and work hard. I've been told by members, on multiple occasions, that they appreciate how I try to keep disruptions to a minimum.
I can also understand how, for some Instructors, it is difficult to be the leader and impose order on his/her class. Indoor Cycling classes are supposed to be a fun experience – not a contentious time when we need to act more like a strict parent, than a personable, fitness Instructor.
Thinking back, I don't remember “Leadership Skills” being included in any of the certification programs I've taken. Which I feel is a mistake. It's my belief that learning to be the leader in your class is the most important role you have in your studio – especially for new Instructors and a critical skill for anyone teaching in a Big Box studio with a large & diverse membership.
Understanding that many Instructors aren't natural “leaders” I have written a bunch of articles that I hope will explain; WHY your class needs you to be the leader, signs that some in class don't accept and/or respect your leadership, and what you can do to assert your proper role – even if you haven't in the past.
Stop the Talkers — Step One… Identify The Real Issue
There’s a recurring issue that keeps popping up on Facebook and Pedal-On forum:
Does anyone have a suggestion about to do about the consistent talkers in my classes? They’re really disruptive, but I don’t what to offend anyone. What should I do?
Stop the Talkers — Step Two… It’s an issue of disrespect, but why?
So if in one instance people are disrespecting you and the other’s in your class by talking, but in a different situation they wouldn’t, the obvious question to ask is WHY? Why do people act disrespectfully?
The whole concept of why people do what they do is fascinating to me. Back in 2011 I introduced you to the concept of Start with WHY and that it’s important to understand WHY you are doing what you do… and WHY some of your participants do what they do.
Stop the Talkers — Step Three… Let’s Fix This Today!
Your class participants and manager/owner are expecting you to be the leader of your class.
So let’s end these Talker problems today!
You'll find additional suggestions on developing as the leader of your class (or outdoors as a ride leader) here.
Originally posted 2016-04-01 01:33:59.
by John | Feb 20, 2021 | Instructor Training
Demonstrated by ICG's official foot model, Mike Michels.
File this in the; “why didn't I think of that?” folder. Stretching is a part of every class we teach. Many of us try to perform a calf stretch by placing each foot on the cycle's support frame, with varying success. It works OK with fitness shoes, but many road cycling shoes (with exposed cleats) tend to slide off the smooth, painted surface.
ICG's new IC7 Indoor Cycle features an addition to the support cross frame that's specifically designed for you and your athletes to place their feet. Special cutout catches a SPD cleat = a safe, effective stretch.
Originally posted 2014-03-15 10:10:27.
