by John | Feb 18, 2017 | Latest News
We're employing state-of-the-art- website security
Sorry for the service interruption this morning. We were installing new security software to ensure that any information, sent by our members, is transmitted securely using the latest HTTPS internet protocols.
Now whenever you log on, you'll see the Secure | https://www.indoorcycleinstructor.com/ in your browser URL window. This is your insurance that with any form you fill out, the submitted information is safe from prying Internet eyes 🙂
The shopping cart system we use to collect membership payments has always been secure. Despite times in the past where we were attacked viciously by Hackers, no ICI/PRO member's personal information has ever been compromised. The changes we made were suggested by Google (and others) adding yet another level of protection, to a proven level of security.
So if you had planned to join today, only to see a 404 (page not available) notice, my apologies.
Here are the links to subscribe now.
PRO/Platinum $97.95 = Two Months free!
Both start as a 7 day trial for only $1.00
by John | Dec 11, 2016 | Audio PROfiles, Instructor Training, Latest News
Screenshot from my admin panel @ indoorcycleinstructor.com
It occured to me this morning that I might not do as good a job promoting what we have to offer here at ICI/PRO, as I could/should 🙁
Case in point > If you have asked me yesterday, how many IC class profiles we've published, I would have said; “a lot… but I'm not sure… let me check”. And I did this morning. Turns out that there are over 150 posts tagged as Audio PROfiles – actually 159 to be exact. I'm publishing number 160 (Podcast #365 ft/ Chrispins) later today.
As of today, we've published 2,321 informative articles! Join ICI/PRO today as a PRO/Monthly Member and receive access to all of them.
My original concept for our Audio Class PROfiles was to include an audio description in the form of a Podcast of how to teach a specific class. These were published along with the written profile description/transcript and a complete music playlist.
Over the years we also published dozens of class profiles that include the written profile description and playlist, but don't include an audio description. Many ICI/PRO members have especially enjoyed Dennis Mellon's profiles which include a recording of an actual class that Dennis taught, using his published profile.
To simplify a member's search, for class profiles through our huge catalog, we've tagged them as indoorcycleinstructor.com/category/icipro-instructor-training/audio-profiles/
You can dig in further by searching more specifically;
The tag cloud in the RH sidebar includes helpful links to many different topical searches.
by John | Aug 2, 2016 | Latest News
Our apologies for the disruption yesterday. Despite our best efforts we had a little “glitch” – the technical term is actually SNAFU – that our IT dept fought through last night.
Please let me know if we missed anything!
by John | Jul 28, 2016 | Latest News
ICG, the manufacture of the IC7 Indoor Cycle, Myride+ video system and privately labeled Indoor Cycles, has announced the sale of their company to Life Fitness's parent company Brunswick Corp.
Life Fitness, the global leader in commercial fitness equipment, today announced that its parent company, Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), has signed an agreement to acquire Germany's Indoor Cycling Group (ICG), a leading provider of indoor cycling equipment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review and approval by the German competition authority. The approval is anticipated during the third quarter.
Upon completion of the transaction, ICG will become the latest acquisition to join the Company's leading health, fitness and well-being brand portfolio. The addition of ICG will further diversify the Life Fitness product offering, and further augment the company's diverse group exercise category.
“With ICG's innovative technology, expertise in cycling and talented team, we will be well-positioned to advance in the indoor cycling and group exercise categories,” said Life Fitness President Chris Clawson.
“As the supplier of Life Fitness' existing group cycling bike, we have had a strong relationship with ICG for the past five years. Through this relationship we know that ICG's culture of innovation and customer-focused approach are a great fit for our team. We look forward to having the ICG group join the Life Fitness family,” Clawson added.
Read the rest here.
I've requested additional information and it will be interesting to see what happens to ICG's distribution agreement with Matrix.
by Dennis Mellon | Jun 23, 2016 | Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Latest News, Master Instructor Blog
We're looking for a Performance IQ Rockstar that we can develop into a Master Instructor – joining me to conduct PIQ Instructor trainings.
Are you super experienced at teaching Indoor Cycling classes where Performance IQ Display Training is a focus of the class?
Do you feel you have the passion and personality to enthusiastically transfer your knowledge and experience to other Instructors?
ICI/PRO is planning to develop, and then contract with, a Master Instructor to conduct workshops at North American (and potentially international) club and studio locations, beginning this fall 2016. The successful candidate will partner with me – Master Instructor Dennis Mellon.
If you've wanted to become a Master Instructor, this could be an awesome opportunity for you. My initial exposure here at ICI/PRO really advanced my career and lead to my current Master Instructor position!
Qualifications:
- You’re recognised as a ROCKSTAR instructor, consistently filling your Indoor Cycling classes
- You hold a current ACE/AFAA Group Fitness or Personal Training certification
- You have a current Indoor Cycling certification from one of the established brands
- You teach regularly scheduled Indoor Cycling classes at a club/studio that uses Performance IQ — and this is important — your supervisor is willing to be a reference
- You have a thorough knowledge of zone based Heart Rate and Power training principles + you apply these consistently in your display training classes
- Your classes are an effective mix of conventional and rhythm & movement formats; i.e. cycling specific training meets SoulCycle
- Excellent computer skills — you’re the go-to person whenever there's an issue and who’s helping others learn to use PIQ at your studio
- Written communication comes naturally to you
- You have weekend (Friday — Sunday) travel flexibility
We're tentatively planning our first Performance IQ Display Training workshop for the middle of September at the Greenwood Athletic club in Greenwood Village, Colorado.
This is a contract position and the successful applicant will be compensated per training + travel expenses.
Please email me directly with your resume and a cover page to Dennis Mellon at dennismellon@me.com
by John | Mar 28, 2016 | Big Box Instructor, Instructor Training, Latest News, Your Fitness Business
When I'm at IHRSA (which I was last week) I spend a bunch of time searching for the next “Big Thing” that I can share with you. What I found is a rather small and yet indispensable component of the bikes we ride – Keiser has developed a new Indoor Cycling pedal that looks awesome!
As the major point of contact, Indoor Cycle pedals take a lot of abuse in our classes. They're kicked, torqued, sweated on, rotated millions of times and rarely maintained. I can't say for certain if this is universally true, but I've gotten the impression that the OEM pedals shipped with many bikes are a bit of an afterthought = manufactures don't invest much development into the two sided (SPD/Basket) pedals they supply. They end up failing after a year or two and need to be replace, requiring a reasonably large investment – 50 bikes x ~$80.00 = $4000.00 – way too much and too soon IMO 🙁
Feel free to correct me if there are specific instances where you feel I'm wrong about this.
Clubs and studios in the past would often replace the OEM pedals with the Schwinn Triple Link – I call them Red Pedals – that offered two sided cleat engagement for riders with either SPD or LOOK Delta equipped cycling shoes + the option for plain old tennis shoes. If you are currently using these pedals and don't have one of my Red Pedal Tools to safely and easily remove those $%^& shoe baskets, you can order one from my distributor Sportsmith.
Later Spinning® began manufacturing & selling their version of the Triple Link – the TRIO. FYI: The TRIO is an enormous improvement over the Schwinn pedal. The primary reason being the TRIO has much larger bearings and should offer much longer service life. Unfortunately my Red Pedal tool doesn't work with these, so I recommend purchasing the TRIO QR which includes a clever little red lever to simplify removing the shoe basket.
NOTE #1: The TRIO QR comes in two versions – here's the standard threaded version which fits everything ever made… except if you have newer Star Trac's with the Morse Taper.
NOTE #2: The LOOK Delta cycling shoe cleats found on both the Schwinn Red Pedal and Spinning TRIO pedals are pretty much obsolete – very few cyclists continue to use them. LOOK no longer manufactures pedals using the the Delta cleat – the new version is the KEO. KEO's look similar to Delta's and appear to work, however they do not interchange and attempting to use KEO cleats with either the Schwinn or Spinning pedals creates a real safety issue.
NOTE #3: Hard-soled cycling shoes with exposed cleats of any type are dangerously slippery on smooth/polished floors. I've personally gone down a few times at Life Time on their bamboo floors = they really don't belong in many cycling studios. For that reason I always encourage studios to only offer two sided pedals – SPD on one side and shoe basket/toeclip on the other.
Has Keiser re-invented the Indoor Cycling pedal?
I've gotten to know Keiser's founder Dennis Keiser over the 7 years since I first interviewed him about the then new Keiser M3. Being a real gadget guy, I have have been continuously impressed by his commitment to manufacturing very high quality fitness equipment – the M3 has to be the one of the most reliable Indoor cycles ever built.
It was explained to me that this new double sided pedal was designed from scratch to be the most durable pedal ever made:
- Completely rebuildable – notice the replaceable SPD parts held together with screws, not rivets
- Corrosion resistant cast aluminum body
- Stainless steel axle is specially heat treated
- Quote from Dennis; “the best bearings we could find”
- The small angled tabs on the platform make it easy to slide your show in, but not out = improved safety.
- They even designed the pedal so replacing the strap is easy 🙂
If I had to bet, I'd wager that these replacement pedals will outlast the bike they're installed on. No pricing information yet – I'll be sure to pass it on once a hear.
