Stages Master Educators Dunte Hector and Cameron Chinatti leading the morning ride at IHRSA
IHRSA 2015 was the first public appearance of the Stages Cycling SC3 Indoor Cycle. This was a total surprise to me and I have no idea how Stages Master Educator Dennis Mellon was able to keep his mouth shut for so long. We talk weekly and it must have been killing him not to be able to tell me about their latest project đ
Going forward, I feel it's important to disclosure that Stages Cycling sponsored (paid) my and Amy's travel to, and lodging in, Los Angeles to take part in the launch of their new Stages SC3 at IHRSA 2015.Â
If parts of the Stage SC3 look familiar, there's a good reason. The engineers who designed this Indoor Cycle have a long and storied history of product development with indoor cycles and power consoles. It was explained to me that the design criteria for the SC3 was; take all of the engineering team's collective experience and build the ultimate, commercial Indoor Cycle. Did they succeed? Let's find out…
The Basics
Frame – Aluminum… and lots of it. This is a very solid/substantial IC > perfect for studios with big, powerful riders – or – those offering unconventional classes with a lot of movement.
Drive – CarbonGlydeâ⢠drive system. Yes, this is the same Gates belt as other manufacturers are using, but there are fundamental differences with the other components of the drive train, that give the SC3 a very different feel. Because they don't run the belt under tension (there's a tiny bit of slack you can feel as you move the pedals back and forth) the SC3 is noticeably quieter than the Schwinn AC and it's tensioned Gates belt. It also retains a slight, chain-like vibration, but doesn't buzz like the AC. Stages is so confident in their drive system that they offer a 10 year warranty on the CarbonGlydeâ⢠belt. Correction: Stairmaster's engineer Travis Vaughan alerted me to my error describing the Schwinn AC's Gates belt as “tensioned” – which it's not. I didn't intend to infer that they used a tensioner like what's used with Poly “V” belts. Instead I should have described the differences as; the AC runs it's belt taut (zero slack) vs. the SC3 which, when properly tensioned, has a very small amount of slack.  Â
Resistance – Magnetic > surrounding an aluminum flywheel. Screw style adjustment and includes the new Stages SprintShiftâ⢠three position lever . More on that below. Â
Handlebars – Road Bike Style Drop Bars – there's a reason that handlebars on road bikes haven't changed over the last 100 years > these fit us (humans) the best. Please don't ask me; “but where is position #3 John?” It's standing, with your hands surrounding the brake hoods, exactly where your hands belong when you're out of the saddle đ It's here where you have the most leverage to power through a steep climb and it eliminates the temptation to “over reach” while seated.
Saddle – nice. Not too narrow… and not to wide/fat. Forgive me for saying it this way, it's very close to (might be exactly the same as) the saddle on the Schwinn AC > we have one on the back of our Trek Tandem. Amy loves this saddle and it's been comfortable for her for thousands of miles. Trust me on this one… I'd have heard all about an uncomfortable saddle.
The Power Meter
Good enough for TDF winning Team Sky Professional Racing Team
The heart of an Indoor Cycle that features power measurement is, of course, the power meter. The new SC3 is using the same technology used by Team Sky – winners of two Tour de France bicycle races and they're going to continue to use these power meters in 2015.
I could devote an entire article on just this topic and will have more as part of the ride portion of this review. In the interest of time I'll give you the important bits:
2,000 hours of battery life using two AA's – yes the display console is self-charging.
Same hardware, design, and accuracy found in the Stage PowerÂŽ meter, which is used by professional cyclistsââŹâ˘ and used in the worldââŹâ˘s most famous cycling races, including the Tour de France.
ANT+â⢠and Bluetooth – so it will connect with your iPhone or Android without any adapters.
Supposedly accurate to +/- 2.5%. I say “supposedly” because I have no way to verify their claims – but I bet Team Sky does đ
 Display Console
It's important to separate the power meter, from the display console. Although most studios will choose to purchase their new SC3's with the new Stages EcoSCRNâ⢠console, you don't have to. The Stages power meter will work with any Bluetooth or Ant+ device, like an iPhone or Garmin. You could also choose to wirelessly connect the Stages power meter directly to Display Training systems from Performance IQ or Spivi.
Here's a short video showing it in action during one of the 60 sec challenges.
The EcoSCRNâ⢠console is self-powered = no batteries to replace ever… that's the Eco part đ
No exposed wires > I was told they've very neatly packaged the cable that connects the flywheel generator to the console = a long life of raising the handlebars up and down.
Constant backlight if you choose đ
Stage button to record intervals > there's also a nice feature that your averages remain displayed for 5 seconds after you end a stage.
Stages SprintShiftâ⢠is a three position “shifter”, that provides course adjustments quickly. I want to describe it as a sort of cruise control, where you flick your finger and instantly resume your previous speed/resistance level.
Think of doing a repeating series of intervals. We cue everyone to add load, ride the segment and then recover. Now repeat it again. With SprintShift you can set your initial load with the lever full right. Move it left for recovery and then return back to the exact resistance instantly, by moving the lever all the way to the right.
There's some interesting physics at work here. If you use the SprintShift at lower resistance levels, the amount of change between each level remains relative & realistic. But start with a big gear and the changes are incrementally larger.
There are multiple ways you could incorporate this in your class and we'll find more over time. I'll describe a relay race we did in the ride part of the review where it was very helpful > we won! I'm sure Cameron and Co. will have some fun suggestions for using SprintShift when I interview her in the next few weeks.
If you've ever fought over a stubborn screw type seatpost of handlebar adjuster, you'll enjoy these new FitLoc cam style adjusters. Watch the video and you will see how quick and easy they are to operate. Also, they've kept the weight of the bars low, so it takes very little strength to raise them, using only one hand.
Drop bars like a real road bike! No batteries đ
I'm here with Amy at IHRSA 2015 and need to thank Stages Cycling for sponsoring our attendance this year đ
We'll be riding these brand new SC3 Indoor Cycles later today (they're still packed in a semi) and will be communicating my initial reactions tomorrow.
For immediate release, March 11, 2015, Boulder, COâ Stages CyclingÂŽ extends its brand with the launch of Stages Indoor Cycling and the new SC Seriesâa line of commercial and high-end retail indoor cycling bikes, which bring an array of breakthrough features to redefine the category of indoor cycling.
The SC Series launches with two models: the flagship, SC3, with many innovations, including the Stages PowerÂŽ meterâthe same power measurement system that reshaped the outdoor cycling power meter category. A second model, the SC2, is the same in all respects but does not include the Stages Power meter.
The SC Series bikes share two never before seen concepts, which have patents pending: SprintShiftâ⢠and FitLocââ¢. SprintShift is a dual-action resistance adjustment, which pairs a traditional micro-adjust dial with a three-position macro-adjust lever. The SprintShift lever allows large, consistent jumps in resistance for intervals and rest. FitLoc replaces the standard twist-to-lock pop-pin height adjustments with a new cam operated pop-pin, making fit adjustments for height lightning fast.
These new innovations are paired with the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of the pro-peloton-proven Stages Power meter on the SC3 model, which sports Stages new rider-powered EcoSCRNâ⢠console. EcoSCRN uses a hub dynamometer, rather than batteries, to make it the ultimate bike for a data driven studio or cyclist. The Stages Power measurement system provides unprecedented accuracy in power measurement, enabling studios the ability to now train their clients âindoors and outdoorsââŹâ˘ with the same technology.
âThe SC Series has the potential to be a benchmark,â said Pat Warner, the product director for Stages Cycling, who spent 20 years working on indoor cycling bikes in the Fitness industry prior to Stages. âWeââŹâ˘ve addressed every major issue weââŹâ˘ve ever seen with an indoor bike. SC3 is certainly worthy of our âflagshipââŹâ˘ status, with features like Stages Power, SprintShift, FitLoc, and our RoadBarââ¢. But weââŹâ˘ve also nailed the basics on these bikes, and weââŹâ˘re confident that the ride feel, lack of maintenance, and reliability of the bike will be the features that actually set the benchmark for both the facility owner and the instructor.â
Both of Stages CyclingââŹâ˘s flagship SC3 and SC2 bikes utilize the new CarbonGlydeâ⢠drive system. CarbonGlyde builds on the unparalleled reliability and lack of maintenance offered by GatesÂŽ Carbon Driveâ⢠carbon fiber belt, with a 5:1 gear ratio and high-inertia flywheel to provide for one of the smoothest, most realistic rides available indoors.
âStages Indoor Cycling is a new company and new brand,â said Jim Liggett, the general manager of Stages Cycling. âWe will be attractive to club and studio customers who are seeking to expand their base business within their Indoor Cycling group exercise offering. Our success with Stages Power has passed the test of professional cycling and we offer this, tested, Stages Power meter to indoor athletes. We feel the combination of a completely new bike with uniquely new features, and our Stages Power meter, allows facilities to offer their members the next category breakthrough. Stages Cycling is a company rooted in cycling. Our goal is to help create indoor cycling athletes who can achieve their dreams in fitness or in cycling.â
âWe also realize thatâwhile we know and do power better than anyone in the Fitness industryâsome cycling studios have a different focus. So weââŹâ˘re bringing the SC series to market with two flagship bikes, one with the Stages Power meter, and one without, so that weââŹâ˘re prepared to meet every indoor rider, and every indoor facility on their own preferred terms.â
Stages Cycling will show the SC Series bike line for the first time publicly in Los Angeles, at the Los Angeles Convention center on March 12 and 13 at Booth 2735 in IHRSA 2015 International Convention and Trade show.
The Stages SC Series bikes will be available both commercially and at retail for home use. For sales information contact:
For North America / Canada Sales inquiries, please contact: Les Wiehe 435-659-9114 lwiehe@stagescycling.com
For International Sales inquiries, please contact: Paddy Murray 781-206-4376 pmurray@stagescycling.com
For Stages Cycling University / Instructor Training, please contact: Cameron Chinatti 615-499-6029 cchinatti@stagescycling.com
For further press and product information, please contact: Laurel Mylin 503-866-8157 lmylin@stagescycling.com
–end–
Stages CyclingÂŽ LLC, based in Boulder, CO, with staff having well over 100 years of combined experience in the Commercial Fitness and cycling industries, launched the Stages PowerÂŽ meter at Interbike in September 2012. The Stages Power meter immediately made waves in the power measurement category. Stages Indoor Cycling delivers the metric that works for every rider, every instructor, every athletic club and every cycling program.
I got this email last week – but I can't divulge who it's from for reasons you'll understand.Â
Here's one for you, John:
We've got a new instructor here who has been teaching for decades elsewhere, but is now only at our club. I get complaint after complaint about her from participants the days I teach. I have encouraged members to share their feedback with management, submit comment cards, etc.
However, I wonder, is it ok for me to also share the feedback I've been hearing with management? It's a situation where I don't know if I should wait and let numbers speak for themselves or say something.
Sent from my iPhone
Dear Sent from my iPhone,
I'm big on teammates respecting and supporting each other. So my short answer would be along the lines of the Golden Rule:
Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you
> leaving you with two possible choices:
Say nothing to management
Speak to the Instructor privately after taking her class and express your observations
I happen to know Sent from my iPhone personally. She teaches at a very upscale club, whose members are professionals. I'm sure they have high expectations for Instructors = their concerns/complaints are probably valid*.
*I say probably valid, but you can never be sure. I'll never forget years ago I had female members tell me about a “horrible” new instructor. So I went and took her 9:30am class > which was filled with housewives. It took me exactly 3 minutes to figure out what was driving all the complaints. The new Instructor was; young, thin, attractive and had a very “perky” personality. There wasn't anything wrong with her class, except that she had the misfortune of replacing a very good looking male Instructor đ
IMO Saying nothing is always best
Staying out/away from situations like this is the best tactic you can take as a professional. It will also demonstrate your character as a solid human being. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who live for the drama and attempt to drag you into what would amount to throwing your teammate under the bus.
I don't feel what another Instructor does, or doesn't, do is any of my business. I hear stuff about other Instructors and classes all of the time. I try to keep my responses limited to, “I'm glad that you enjoy my class”.
Flip this around. How would you feel if another Instructor was “reporting” on you, based on comments from others?
Hearsay is inadmissible in courts for a reason
Hearsay, which literally means; “I heard him say…” is a form of gossip. Gossip that is often destructive to others and deadly to a small team of Instructors, or co-workers of any type.
If I was an owner or manager and another Instructor came to me with “concerns” they've heard from members, I wouldn't listen to them and my opinion of this person as a fitness professional would go down. Then I'd probably begin to wonder what he/she is saying about me, when I'm not around đ
We all need to be able to trust and depend on each other. Amy and I travel frequently = we needs subs. We are totally dependent on the comradery of our team to cover classes. If I heard that another Instructor was trash-talking me, or another on our team, I sure won't go out of my way to help them.
Why are you telling me this?
A good question to ask yourself, am I doing something to cause these comments?
I'm always curious when I hear that person “A” felt it necessary to report to person “B”, about person “C”. I don't feel that's normal. Something is causing person “A” (your reporting member) to come to you about one of your co-instructors. Any idea what it could be?
For example > are you telling riders during class, “I'll never tell you to do _______________ Â in class because its; dumb/unsafe/contraindicated/will cause your hair to fall out/etc…?
If you are, what's the purpose of saying it?
If you feel you need to get involved… get involved
There's nothing wrong with acting on the concerns you're hearing, to decide if they're legitimate. But you need to experience them first hand… as in go and take the class yourself.
After hearing for years about the untrained Instructors and dangerous classes being taught at SoulCycle, from people who have never set foot in a SoulCycle studio, I spent the money, took two classes, and reported on what I experienced in this series of articles. NOTE: There's a reason that studio fills nearly all of their 60 weekly classes (with 60 bikes) in a city that's 80 and sunny nearly every single day > Santa Monica, CA.
Stay incognito and keep an open mind
If you came to take my class, (and I don't know you) I would prefer that you acted like any other member. Please don't tell me, “Hi. I'm one of the Instructors here at XYZ Fitness!” Most of us will feel/act different when we know one of our peers is watching us.
Jump on a bike in the middle of the studio and do your best to be one with the class. If everyone is doing rhythm presses, except you, you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Worse if you just sit there motionless, with a defiant look on your face.
Take a few mental notes… some positive and some you felt were negative.
Then before you approach the Instructor, you need to do some honest soul searching.
Is it really my place to critique this Instructor?
What was really so bad about the class?
Did the participants enjoy the class?
What positive result will come from expressing my unsolicited opinions?
If you can get beyond all of that and still feel you need to pursue this with the Instructor, I can't help you.
My instinct is to stick with and support my teammates.
“Hello… My name is Karen and I stepped out of the box last year. I am also the self proclaimed spokesperson for KEEPING IT FUNâ⢠Indoor Cycling. IââŹâ˘m committed to helping other indoor cycling instructors who aren't afraid to approach indoor cycling differently.”
I wrote it a little over a year ago.
I wrote it after making the commitment to add variety into my own studio's Indoor Cycling program.
I wrote it because in order for me to continue to transform lives through Indoor Cycling I recognized that my program needed to evolve.
If you are an Indoor Cycling studio owner/manager the brutal truth is… maintaining the integrity of the road may be the demise of your studio/program.
Soon after I opened my studio in November of 2012, I realized this NOT SO FUN fact.
So, I took an honest inventory of what our studio offers, what our customer wants, and what future projections were for the Indoor Cycling industry. I listened to our customers. I observed what classes they gravitated to and away from. I asked them what they found FUN.
I took into account my personal evolution as a GroupEx instructor, my observations of the Indoor Cycling industry, as well as input from other instructors and studio owners. And then … I charted my Indoor Cycling course and set sail by following my heart. I stayed true to my WHY. I honored both my vision and our Mission Statement of creating the ultimate Indoor Cycling customer experience. I added variety to our schedule.
In addition to traditional Indoor Cycling classes, our studio also offers
CB2 Rhythm
CB2 TotalBody
CB2 Performance IQ
CB2 Rhythm & TotalBody and
CB2 Revelation Revolution Christian Indoor Cycling … all of which we did not offer when we opened. It wasn't easy … but we did it … and it was worth it!
Is offering variety the key to success for future Indoor Cycling studios? ABSOLUTELY NOT
The key is recognizing that the Indoor Cycling industry is evolving and will continue to evolve.
Only you can figure out where you and your studio/program fit in. I suggest you start by revisiting your WHY.
Make decisions that maintain the integrity of your brand mission (which I hope you have) and honor your brand vision (which I also hope you have). Talk to your customers and look at it through their eyes. Look at it through the eyes of customers that ARE NOT customers. Talk to your peers. Ask for help.
Regardless of the path you choose… BELIEVE in it and be ALL IN
Words of Wisdom From An Outdoor & Indoor Cyclist “People need to realize clients have different goals, something your team is exceptionally respectful of. Those who say dance has no room in spin* need to check why they are in the business in my opinion. I love cycling, fitness and helping people improve and grow. I know that may violate an ideal that orbits the bottom line comes first mindset, but it is how I feel. If you want to have limited appeal to a small clientele offer nothing but high powered, intimidating classes that serve Tour de France, Ironman Kona specialists, otherwise open your mind and look at he every day folks that are interested in mixing it up and developing fitness via different methodologies.
I'm admittedly novice in your world and likely idealistic to a fault, but I have trouble dealing with folks that are close minded, dismissive and risk averse. Try things live and learn!” Phil
* “spin” has not been identified as SpinÂŽ to maintain the integrity of the customer's own words.
Click below to see (clearly amateur) video of Phil riding in a CB2 class taught for the purpose of media photos. The testimonial after class is unplanned and a beautiful testament to different being a good thing. How do you feel about Phil's testimonial?
As a training tool – running a PTP test/assessment is invaluable!
We had some excellent questions from Studio Owners this past weekend during our Full Psycle/PRO PIQ workshop. Paul Harmeling addressed these two related questions during the Q&A – I wanted to offer my thoughts on it here:
When, or how often, should we be using using the PTP (Personal Threshold Power) mode screen? Â
What exactly should we have our riders doing, during the PTPÂ (Calc) test/assessment?
First, for those currently not using a Display System in your studio, let me explain what we're talking about. NOTE: I'll focus on Performance IQ because I know it much better – all of this has similar application with Spivi.
On a related note, I learned a little known trick that could potentially save a new studio enough money to pay for PIQ or Spivi – contact me if you're interested in learning more.
The PTP (Personal Threshold Power) mode screen in PIQ offers a quick (just three minutes) and simple tool to give your riders an approximate understanding of their maximum sustainable power wattage. Then through the wonders of technology, PIQ creates 5 power zones and displays them as different colors. The system calculates PTP as 90% of the highest sustainable power each rider can sustain for the length of the three minute test.
Is PTP as accurate as a 20 Threshold assessment? It doesn't matter to ~98.5% of your riders. What is important is that PTP answers the question that I've heard over and over the past 3 years I've been teaching with power: how hard should I be working… when you ask me to work hard?Â
So on to the questions:
When, or how often, should we be using using the PTP (Personal Threshold Power) mode screen? Â
Paul and I are in agreement here – we both feel you should be including PTP in most, if not all classes. There are of course exceptions. You may have a teams challenge scheduled or focus on a class that's directed toward handicapping everyone based on watts/pound.
What exactly should we have our riders doing, during the PTPÂ (Calc) test/assessment?
Here's where Paul and I diverge in our thinking. I see this as a time for a focused effort in the saddle with a consistent cadence, where Paul was saying (and he demonstrated during the Master Class) that he's open to varying position and/or cadence. So who's right? I feel we both are đ
You see we each teach very different classes. Mine are typically focused efforts in the saddle = how I would run my PTP tests. Paul's classes are much more frenetic, with frequent changes = that's how he conducts his PTP segments.
Here's mine:
Running a PTP test isn't any different from the Best Effort intervals we suggest you use in a power class that doesn't have a Display Training system. Here's one I included in a recent Performance Cycle class.
Track #2 â the first PTP track is important. Weâ⏙ll use this average wattage for each of the four PTP efforts to follow. Everyone seemed to enjoy Billy Idol â Rebel Yell â 1999 â Remaster â maybe suffered a bit as well. At 4:47 thereâ⏙s plenty of time to explore PTP.
We use the Stage button to reset the averages at the beginning of what I describe as; Your Best Sustainable Effort. Itâ⏙s normal for riders to miss-judge where they should be, so Iâ⏙ll often have everyone make needed adjustments and hit the Stage button again to reset the averages. Â
My experience is that everyone will benefit from from a few mini (30-60 secs) PTP efforts to figure out where you should be. On any of the magnetic bikes I like to have find a reasonably challenging climb at around 65 RPMÂ and then have riders accelerate to over 80RPM and observe what it feels like (RPE) and the wattage.
Two or three of these short intervals should give your peeps a watts window they can shoot for during the actual 3 minute PTP test.
I ask everyone to stand and walk, without touching the resistance, for a minute recovery.
To start the PTP test, I'll cue up a track like 83RPM Billy Idol â Rebel Yell and cue finding the cadence. Ten seconds to get everyone there and I will click Calc PTP. Encourage everyone to do whatever it takes to complete the assessment and let the technology work it's magic, figuring everyone's training zones.
As a nutritionist who coaches many clients with sugar addiction, I find myself talking about willpower frequently and thinking about it a lot.
I used to take a hard line against willpower â or rather, against peopleââŹâ˘s view of it. On behalf of my clients, I resented those who smirked when the clients reacted to sugary temptations with vulnerability and conflict. âYou donââŹâ˘t have to eat it,â they would smirk. IââŹâ˘m not a fan of smirking.
Time and again, I remind my clients of how misguided that smirking view of willpower is.
Would we tell a smoker whoââŹâ˘s trying to quit to carry a pack of cigarettes in her purse, and place a pack in the car, in the office and in every room of the house, just to prove she has willpower?
Would we tell someone whoââŹâ˘s trying to stop drinking to get a job in a bar or hang out with his drinking buddies while they party, just to prove he has willpower?
So why do we expect someone going for weight loss to sit in a room full of brownies and jellybeans and not take a bite?
If your goal is to lose weight, the only thing you have to do is lose weight. You donââŹâ˘t have to show youââŹâ˘re a tower of strength. Keep tempting foods out of the house so they donââŹâ˘t challenge your willpower.
The tower-of-strength willpower view is misguided at best. It typically comes from people who donââŹâ˘t understand sugar addiction or why someone may have trouble resisting sugar thatââŹâ˘s readily available.
But have you noticed a shift lately in the attitude toward willpower?
I remember motivating slogans. Things like, âWillpower is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.â Things like, âWhere thereââŹâ˘s a will, thereââŹâ˘s a wonââŹâ˘t.â
The slogans seem inspiring â but they can make someone feel like a failure for not exerting willpower in certain situations.
Willpower 2015[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']
The new view of willpower is that itââŹâ˘s finite, and actually in short supply. ItââŹâ˘s now considered a conscious state thatââŹâ˘s strong early in the day but diminishes as the day wears on. Apparently, itââŹâ˘s not a muscle that strengthens with use. It runs out because of something called Decision-Making Fatigue.
The more decisions we have to make over the course of the day â choosing between a donut or egg whites for breakfast, skipping a muffin at the morning meeting, avoiding dessert at lunch, ignoring the tray of cookies in the snack room at 3:30 p.m. â the more difficult it becomes to say ânoâ when we get home at night.
So is willpower a lifestyle habit that can be developed and strengthened? Or is it a limited resource that has to be meted out and saved for the moments it really counts?
And I wonder whether the limited-willpower viewpoint reflects rising obesity rates. Is it an attempt to explain them?
IââŹâ˘ll boldly go where no one seems to be going. Could this new Law of Diminishing Daily Willpower have anything to do with the fact that sugar is everywhere, and in everything?
Because sugar is everywhere, itââŹâ˘s an external trigger, making us want the goodies we see or smell. Cinnabon, anyone?
Because sugarââŹâ˘s hidden in everything, itââŹâ˘s an internal trigger, changing brain chemistry and priming us to eat more.
If sugar didnââŹâ˘t run our food industry, maybe weââŹâ˘d have stuck with the old view of willpower. It was around for a long time. I recall hearing those âinspiringâ sayings before the obesity epidemic.
Maybe sugar is the reason for diminishing willpower â and the change in viewpoint about it.
Maybe. But I still say you donââŹâ˘t have to prove youââŹâ˘re a tower of willpower to get your nutrition goals. Set things up so you can win and just get them.[/wlm_private]
