When you fit new riders to Indoor Cycles you tell them their numbers, right? You say; your seat is hole 6, seat slider is X, handle bar height is Y, etc… You may write these settings down on a note card and your riders depend on these setting marks/numbers being accurate, regardless of which bike they ride.
Their expectation is that they'll be able to pull out the 3×5 index card, with the position numbers listed and set themselves up properly – regardless of which bike they choose. Doesn't always work that way…
This past Thursday morning I set up my Instructor bike, jumped on and knew immediately that something was wrong. I felt like I was sitting way forward of my normal position. Jumped off and checked the slider position – It was exactly where I always have it. Jumped back on and still felt like I sitting too far forward… and I just lived with it while I taught my class.
I checked afterward to see what was causing my concern and it was as I suspected – someone must have switched out this bike and this saddle was installed in a different position, all the way to the front of the seat post = although I had adjusted the slider correctly the saddle was still to far forward.
You'll need a wrench to fix this.
Saddle Fore/Aft position of the saddle can be change in two ways:
How you're familiar, using the adjuster knob or pin and sliding position –
Or by loosening the nut that holds the two seat rails to the seat post – slider assembly. Here's where you need a 9/16 or 15mm wrench. Each saddle should have been installed in the same position – operative word here being should, they almost never are. You'll only need to make this adjustment once, preferably when you take each of the box.
Here's a video I made showing Spinner NXT's and how you can check that each saddle is installed correctly. NOTE: every Indoor Cycle and bicycle saddle adjusts on the rails the same way – how you measure the position, in relation to the slider, will be different between the various brands.
While you're at it, I suggest checking that each seat is level. Dead level is typically best for men and women. You're measuring from the high-points (not the center depression) on either side, to the nose of the saddle.
Christian Noni wants to hire you as an Instructor at Revelry Indoor Cycling and Fitness. But there's a catch to his interview process… he's looking for Instructors / coaches who've experienced inspiration from fitness, who have seen the light.. the proof.. (whether it be weight loss, winning a triathlon, or even had a wild twist and that’s how they met their wife or husband) and who lives to share and pass that torch in their classes.
I've been asked multiple times; “John can you help me with a problem I have hiring Instructors?” “I've never hired anyone before, what's the trick to bringing on only great Instructors who will fill the room?”
Great question. One that I really didn't have an answer for, before this interview with Christian Noni. Christian is the Fitness Director at Revelry Indoor Cycling and Fitness. One of his responsibilities to recruit, hire and train the Instructors who will make their studio successful. He has a wonderful way of interviewing potential Instructors… Listen to the interview to learn exactly what he's looking for from and then how they plan to train each new Instructor to bring consistency to all of their classes, regardless of who's teaching.
Christian's mentor is the excellent educator Lawrence Biscontini. If you haven't yet, I would highly suggest that you listen to both episodes of the interview we had with Lawrence:
Good stuff and these two interviews probably rank in the top ten of all the interviews we've ever recorded 🙂
Here's my interview with Christian.[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
I'd love to hear if this helps you to select better Instructors. [/wlm_private]
Courtney Lee has me all fired up about Facebook! It occurred to me that there wasn't anything there for owners and managers of Spinning® / Indoor Cycling studios. So we've created the official Facebook Group for studio owners and soon to be studio owners 🙂
Christian Noni was recruiting Spinning Instructors at WSSC.
His homemade “I'm Hiring” badge got my attention as Christian Noni walked by me at WSSC. As the Executive Fitness Director for Revelry Indoor Cycling and Fitness, Christian has a problem that I heard expressed multiple times this weekend; where do I find quality Instructors in my area? It's not like they're sitting around, waiting for me to launch my new studio 🙁
The options are limited
Let me know if I'm missing any here – I'm thinking there are only two realistic options:
Recruit existing Instructors from other health clubs.
Develop/grow your own… and then take really good care of them so they stay.
The recent brouhaha over Soulcycle banning Instructors from their classes, suggests that many fitness businesses are getting protective of their prized positions – popular Instructors. Rightly so. Despite all the interest and effort being invested in rider metrics, video display systems, fancy studio designs, ect… the life blood of a successful studio is you – the Instructor.
Recruiting may work, depending on where you're located. Most big-boxes that I'm aware of don't require exclusivity agreements (just don't get caught mentioning you also have a class down the road) so a few Instructors may be willing to join your team. Word of a new studio in town tends to travel fast. As soon as you've signed your lease you should have signage up in the windows advertising your needs. Barbara Hoots told me all this was very inexpensive to design and have printed at a local sign shop.
Attractive signage is a must while you're building out your space!
Many of these new studio start-ups are filling an unserved fitness need in a community, so unfortunately not every city has other clubs to draw from. Which leaves… develop/grow your own as the better long term solution.
Barbara Hoots gave a wonderful presentation here at WSSC, where she demonstrated how successful businesses are continuously; NEW, IMPROVED & IMPROVING. She used the example of OREO cookies, which to my surprise, were first introduced in 1912. A 104 year old brand and they are still offering new and/or improved versions of Americas best selling cookie. My take away from Barbara's session was that studio owners need to be continuously developing NEW Instructors and of course IMPROVING those you have in place.
While I was chatting with Christian, he explained how finding prospective Instructors was just step one. He's planning a comprehensive training program for every new hire that he's developed with the help of his friend and mentor Lawrence Biscontini.
In case you missed my pair of very entertaining interviews with Lawrence, you can find part one here. Part two's here.
Christian told me he's open to sharing his Instructor training plans and we're scheduling an interview in the next few weeks.
Now I'm off to find my PST – (Personal Spinning Threshold) with MI Janet Toussaint!
As the fonder of multiple fitness programs for Moms; Stroller Strides®, Body Back® and Fit4Baby® – Lisa Druxman knows all about creating a Tribe of people passionate about a fitness business.
Lisa Druxman created Stroller Strides in 2001 after the birth of her baby. With over 1,300 locations nationwide, it offers moms an opportunity to get in shape, meet other moms and have fun with their baby. Since then, we have released Fit4Baby, our prenatal fitness class and Body Back, our workout for any stage of motherhood. All of our programs give women the “Strength for Motherhood” and together create FIT4MOM.
Helping YOU to make strides in fitness, motherhood, and life! ®
Our Values:
We will help moms achieve their ultimate potential, both physically and emotionally.
We will offer support and education for moms.
We will inspire moms to reach optimal health and well being.
We will inspire children to emulate their moms and make fitness a part of their lives.
During the interview Lisa and I discuss the importance of Starting With Why – it's what your Tribe will connect to, Here's a presentation from author Simon Sinek where he explains the process of finding your Why!
John Manrique from Revolutions Cycling Studio in Jupiter, Florida joins me to explain how his riders have pedaled 200,000 miles. Along the way John and his wife Michelle have really forged a connection with their riders.
Since opening in December 2012, the folks at Revolutions Cycling Studio have been doing one thing: pedaling. A whole lot. As the only studio in Jupiter that exclusively offers indoor cycling (aka “spinning”) classes, Revolutions' founders Michelle and John Manrique estimate that the more than 11,000 individual rides completed over the last eighteen months will reach the 200,000 mile mark in May.
“We started Revolutions based on our shared passion for indoor cycling,” said Michelle, who along with husband John, moved to Jupiter in 2001. “Since there wasn't a ‘cycling only' place in town, we saw an opportunity to open a studio for people like us who like to ride hard and get a great workout in a fun, family environment.”
During our interview, John offers a number of great ideas you can implement to reward your riders – such as the special t-shirts shown above.
For those of you who aren't an “Excel Spreadsheet Geek” like John Manrique, there are simple options for collecting and disseminating rider data collected from these indoor cycles with power; Keiser M3i, FreeMotion S11.9, Schwinn AC and Spinner Blade Ions.
Performance IQ used in conjunction with Station/Bike Reservations and My Stats will connect riders with their data and send out an email at the conclusion of class automatically. Amy's an expert on how these systems intigrate and would love to show you a demo – feel free to call her 320-685-0183 or amy.macgowan@getliveedit.com
