Did you see this new Indoor Cycle from Pro-Form during the tour this year? I'm not sure if it will qualify as a potential replacement for the bikes cycles in your club, but it is fascinating… at least it is to me. So I called the company and we are planning a future interview to learn more about it.
The Pro Form Le Tour de France Indoor Cycling Bike uses the same Magnetic resistance found on the Keiser M3, Schwinn AC and the new FreeMotion s11.9. As I've stated here on multiple occasions, I see Magnetic Resistance as superior in every respect as compared to a friction system; quieter, zero maintenance and most importantly the amount of resistance increases with cadence… just like a real bicycle on the road.
So how about adding pitch into our classes? Realryder has students rocking from side to side, but wouldn't it be cool if we could replicate the up and down of a real road as part of our class profiles?
The Pro-Form TDF can adjust the amount of Incline or Decline so you feel like you are actually climbing or descending.
I can envision having a control knob where I could control everyone's cycle; “going up!”
I'm guessing that with a selling price of only $1,300, the Pro Form uses calculated power to arrive at the wattage displayed. That may not be optimal for the hard core Power fanatic, but for the 99% of us who just need a consistant indication of the work we create it's perfect.
Here's the link to the Pro-Form TDF information page.
I now have access to both Schwinn A.C. Performance Indoor Cycles
and FreeMotion S11.9 Indoor Cycles in a super secret location* I'm planning a comprehensive review of both cycles over the next couple of months.
Both the Schwinn AC and FreeMotion have the latest Power Consoles from each manufacture.
I've already had the the chance to teach a class on the FreeMotion S11.9 and feel you will enjoy riding them at the conference this year. I may have discovered one distinct advantage of measured power that we can use to solve one of the biggest challenges we face as Instructors.
This is going to be very interesting 🙂
*OK, it's not so secret… they're at the Life Time Fitness in Chanhassen, MN. If you are near by, connect with me and I'll let you know when I'm teaching there again.
“Where can I get certified as an Indoor Cycling Instructor?” It's a question we get at least 10 times a month. My answer has typically been to check with the club or studio to find out their requirements. Many want a specific certification. Spinning® facilities will tell you that you need a Spinning certification, clubs with Keiser M3 cycles will probably want you to understand teaching with power, etc…
So you follow my advice and meet with the owner of your local studio. You explain that you would like to apply as an Instructor and teach classes there. What do you do when she tells you that you just need a certification, nothing specific, just something saying you are certified?
So you run home and Google: Indoor Cycling Certification and you see this advertised listing in the search results.
First they may want to enhance their spelling skills
Please don't waste you time or money getting this “certification” from the ASFA – American Sport and Fitness Association.
All you have to do is answer 75 questions and pay them $99.00 for your one year “certification”. Add an extra $26.00 and they throw in a Pocket Certification Card – what no secret decoder ring? You can forgo the need for any continuing education by paying a total of $299.00 for Life Time Renewals 🙂
The test took me a whole 5 minutes and includes a bunch on nonsense questions that anyone without a shoe fetish can easily pass.
Once you are certified you should become an ICI/PRO member to supplement your education. The awesome class profiles we publish every month – over 45 profile are available to members today. We offer everything you need to be a rock star instructor 🙂
Here's an interesting story about how the the ASFA is viewed by the Better Business Bureau.
Kim States, BBB President, said it would be one thing if people were simply using the certificates as gag novelties, to show off to friends and family. But an Internet search shows trainers using their ASFA certificates on their public resumes to solicit business. “For people to tell consumers they are ASFA certified is simply misleading,” she said. “An ASFA certificate should have about as much credibility as a three-dollar bill.”
To my knowledge, the Keiser M3 is the only Indoor Cycle that is manufactured in the USA. To promote that fact they have released this video featuring Randy Keiser giving his description of the M3 manufacturing line in their factory. Back on Podcast #47 I interviewed Randy's brother Dennis Keiser. If you are teaching on the M3 and have questions about calibrating the M3s in your studio, I highly recommend listing to this interview.
In an earlier post I alerted you to the new FreeMotion Indoor Cycle with power from Foundation Fitness. I've been doing research about the FreeMotion Indoor Cycle and Foundation Fitness, specifically on their educational programing and when will they be shipping product.
Cameron contacted me after seeing my first post, offering to help me understand what they had planned. After talking to her I got the impression that they really get it. Stages Indoor Cycling is based on the concept of Functional Threshold Power (FTP) with the intent of delivering measurable progress, using data collection tools = Indoor Cycling 2.0 🙂
This is a good example of a completed Fitness Connect profile that you could follow.
Cameron is the Director of Education for Foundation Fitness and lead developer of Stages Indoor Cycling. Concurrently, she serves as CEO of Sounds Fit Solutions Inc; a company dedicated to fitness and audio systems education. As an international presenter/lecturer, Cameron has had the opportunity to educate on numerous topics ranging from indoor cycling to fitness career development. Her recent publishing credits include work for Foundation Fitness, Wexer.com and multiple contributions to the IDEA Fitness Journal and IDEA Fitness Manager. A background in Opera Performance and Vocal Pedagogy has led Cameron to create a specialty niche for fitness professionals wishing to develop the health, clarity and endurance of the human voice- a teacher’s greatest asset. Cameron is currently a Master Trainer for BOSU® by Fitness Quest as well as Gliding by Savvier . She is a continuing education provider for ACE and AFAA and holds specialty certifications through numerous organizations. When not EduTaining in Nashville, TN., Cameron can be found entertaining and singing with Hi-Phi Entertainment based in Boulder, CO.
I have an interview scheduled with Cameron for the 22nd of this month and would be happy to ask her any questions you may have about their cycle or programming.
Second; when will FreeMotion Indoor Cycles be available for delivery? The short answer is they hope to have them available this summer. The long answer I'm guessing is will be; “we'll wait and see.” As other manufactures are finding, developing a reliable monitor/counsel for an Indoor Cycle that functions properly and doesn't cause a bunch of maintenance headaches, is no easy task.
As I learn more you will be the first to know.
4/12 update: I just learned that they have two test studios;
Rally Sport Health and Fitness in Boulder, CO
Sports Academy in Logan, UT
If you are near either one of these locations I would love for you to take a class there and report back to us.
Gene Nacey tipped me off about this new Freemotion S11.0 Indoor Cycle
with power from a company called Foundation Fitness. What's interesting about this Indoor Cycle is that it uses magnetic resistance (the best system in my opinion) and it's wattage readings are based on measured power, through a strain gauge in the left crank. This may prove to be an improvement if it reduces or eliminates the need for frequent calibration. Why is this important? Because some question the accuracy and repeatability (consistency between one bike to the next) from a system based on calculated power; i.e. the Keiser M3 and the Schwinn AC performance.
I'll be digging in further and will report more soon. I find all of these new bikes with power to be simply fascinating. We all have a front row seat to watch Indoor Cycling 2.0 unfold and blossom right before our eyes 🙂
I now have access to both 
