by John | Mar 15, 2013 | Music
This week's track has a somewhat split personality, a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde if you will… with you in complete control of the personality through the volume you play it.
I found Passenger — Let Her Go while listening to ICI/PRO Member Soigneur Jennifer Lintz's ( j8lintz in Spotify) playlists. I commented about it to her and she explained that she had used this track as a cold down during her last class. Easy to understand – Dr Jekyll.
OK. So I woke up this morning thinking this could make a great Friday track, if I could find a free version to share. I like to play music (especially in the morning) a bit louder than other people. Possibly a throwback from growing up in the 70's and the “Turn it up to 11!” mentality 🙂
Listening to Let Her Go this morning at my normal setting had me thinking; this could be an awesome climb during an endurance class. The speed is perfect at 75 rpm and the simple, repeating lyrics are very powerful when they fill the room. Turn it up Mr Hyde!
Let me know what you think after listening.
Sorry but the free version is no longer available.
by John | Mar 14, 2013 | Leading Group Rides
My new Carbon Fiber VeloVie 300 Vitesse was delivered yesterday! Now if the weather would improve and melt all of this dang snow, I could actually get out and ride it.
I purchased my new Instructor Bike (I give everything a nick-name… our Trek Tandem is called The Bus) through our new ICI/PRO Purchase Program – members get access to heavily discounted pricing from VeloVie – kind of like what they offer to their sponsored Pro Cycling Teams.
My bathroom scale says my new Instructor Bike weighs 14.6 lbs. I'm not sharing what the bathroom scale displayed for the weight of the Instructor…
I took a bunch of pictures while I un-boxed it, to share so you see how it's shipped and how easy it was to assemble using a multi-tool. My next stop will be March 24th @ 4:00 for a 2 hour fitting with Chris Balser – the Bicycle Fit Guru.
Here at last!
Everything was well packaged.
Reynolds Attack Carbon Wheels – they feel like they weigh about half what my old Mavic Carbone wheels did.
First look
FSA Carbon Seat Post / set-back per Chris Balser's instructions. Excited to try this selle italia saddle.
This bag has a few little bits
What's inside
Part of the padding was this t-shirt
All the packing removed
Be sure to save all the packing – You have 12 days to return this for a full refund.
Attach the rear derailleur to the hanger.
Handel bars are next
Then the seat post
Front wheel – the skewer lock goes on the RH side so you can squeeze the front brake lever with your right hand to center the wheel and tighten the skewer with your left hand. Those pretty blue brake pads are specifically for carbon rims 🙂
I installed the rear wheel and found I hadn't attached the rear derailleur correctly. That floating cam holds the derailleur in the proper position.
Add some LOOK pedals and my Instructor Bike is ready for the road… well once I've been fitted properly she'll be ready. If it gets over 35 degrees Saturday, I might just get things adjusted close and go for a short ride around the neighborhood.
14.6 lbs – I'm not sure how accurate my bathroom scale is but it sure feels light.
See the details of the ICI/PRO VeloVie Bicycle Purchase Program.
by John | Mar 9, 2013 | Instructor Training, Latest News, Leading Group Rides
My new “Instructor Bike”
Here's a picture of my new Instructor bike – a VeloVie Vitesse 300 road bike.
Ain't she a beauty?
Showing this stock photo because I don't actually have it home yet. I've ordered it under our new PRO/Purchase Program we've negotiated with the awesome people who own & run VeloVie.com. Mine's coming with Reynolds Attack wheels, not the Assault wheels shown. I am so excited. Can't wait for the snow to melt so I can ride it!
I'm not using the word awesome here lightly – these guys understand how influential you are as an Instructor… a respected leader of people. You're just the type of person VeloVie wants riding their bicycles this summer.
Our partnership with VeloVie is the culmination of nearly 3 years of effort. I've pitched every bicycle manufacture you can think of on the concept that YOU are as valuable a spokesperson as any “sponsored athlete”. You have no idea how good this feels to finally find a company who recognise that many Indoor Cycling Instructors ride outdoors, and we carry our influence with us as we step outside.
VeloVie also understands that many of us aren't wealthy people. I'm very aware of that as well. This PRO/Purchase program extends every penny of available discount to participating ICI/PRO members. There's nothing in this for me beyond the promotional value this program adds to the value of an ICI/PRO subscription.
But it doesn't end with a discount just for you. Participating Instructors (you've purchased a new bike through the program) can offer your students/participants/friends an incredible deal – not quite as good as yours, but still unbeatable anywhere – and you'll be rewarded for your efforts 🙂
Click over to the PRO Purchase Program description page to learn more.
Feel free to contact us with questions.
by John | Mar 8, 2013 | Music
Rule #1 when you're stuck in a music rut – look for someone to help pull you out! And I followed this rule today in my search for inspiration for this weeks track – ICG Master Trainer Vanessa Wilkins is providing our song and she doesn't even know it 🙂
That's the beauty of Spotify. Once we're connected, and I need a fresh perspective, I can check out what music you're using and grab a few tracks for myself.
If you're young you might not be familiar with the Brothers Johnson – they were pretty popular back in the Disco days. Vanessa is using Brothers Johnson — Strawberry Letter 23 in this playlist of her's Memories.
Once I heard it I remembered how I used to think the band Yes had crashed the recording session – give a listen at the complete change of genre at the 2:25 mark. This is a nice 90rpm flat that many of your more “seasoned” participants will enjoy.
by John | Mar 7, 2013 | Leading Group Rides
So they leave off the penny – like that makes it look more affordable 🙁
$12,000.00 for a bicycle?
Could you afford a bike that costs anything approaching 5 figures?
With the partial blessings of the SGFI (Senior Group Fitness Instructor) I've decided that it was time for John to have a new road bike. But this Specialized S-Works bicycle falls into the same unobtainium category as the red Ferrari I saw at the club last week.
With the days getting longer and the sun bringing the mid-day temps above freezing, the young-at-heart start dreaming of riding outdoors. I had some time yesterday and visited a few of our local bike shops to see what's the latest and greatest.
And quickly broke into a cold sweat.
You see… I have a bit of a problem. Other cyclists tend to judge you by the bicycle you ride. If you're a relative unknown, showing up for a scheduled ride, most people wouldn't receive a second look at their mount of choice. But (at least in these parts) I'm far from unknown. After teaching Indoor Cycling for 13 + years, leading or participating in an untold number of group/event road rides, doing a small bit of competitive racing and the simple fact that I'VE LIVED IN THIS ICE BOX FOR OVER 50 YEARS has me somewhat recognizable by other cyclists.
Despite our successes here at ICI/PRO, the meager scraps I/we get from teaching, some consulting projects and Amy's hard work, we aren't wealthy people. Please don't get me wrong. With a beautiful wife and two awesome & healthy kids – life is good. But feeling the need to be riding something that reflects my status as a leader has me a bit concerned petrified at how I will be able to afford a worthy ride and remain happily married 🙁
I took a few snapshots of what I found appealing during my short visits.
My buddy Randy (he's a bike freak – and can afford to be) told me when I asked his advice; “If you can't afford Shimano's Di2 electronic shifters, you want the SRAM Red Groupo.” Thanks for that Randy, but at $6,300.00 I'll pass.
This blacked out Specialized caught my eye – until seeing the price tag and the resulting gag reflex it created. I've always wanted a tough looking bicycle. Then of course there's the need for the legs to propel it…
Now we're getting closer to something I could potentially convince Amy I just have to ride this year – except the “Randy's on the road may not be very impressed. Is there a place to recycle those dumb reflectors? They're off and in the trash as soon as you get home.
This wasn't going very well. Next stop – check out what's available online.
Stay tuned.
