If you're one of the 10,000 Instructors who teach at one of the 300 clubs or studios currently using GroupExPRO to manage class subs and Instructor communications, you can skip listening to this Podcast.
If you're not, please read on…
For Instructors who are tired of; sub requests for class formats you don't teach, the endless string of needless Reply to All mass emails that fill your inbox, the difficulty you have simply finding a sub or worst of all (at least for me) not being notified when there's a class you can teach.
Or maybe you manage your club's Instructor team and are completely overwhelmed by Instructors who can't (or won't) find subs for their own classes and expect you to pull a rabbit out of your hat at the last minute to cover their class – or end up teaching the class yourself.
Either way you'll want to take a few moments to listen to this interview with Schwinn Master Trainer Shannon Fable. Shannon is a long time group fitness department manager who, together with her husband, created GroupExPRO to solve the problem of managing the continuous need for fitness class subs.
If you can relate to the frustration I express during this interview Shannon has a simple way for you to forward information about GroupExPRO to the proper person in your organization. Click > indoorcycleinstructor.com/subhelp to be taken to her referral page. Add your info and your manager's – then please add a short note about how you see this improving your club or studio.
As her way to thank you for your efforts, Shannon will be sending you a $50.00 gift card if your recommendation leads to GroupExPRO being implemented in your facility.
What would it be like to open your own Indoor Cycling Studio?
I thought you may be interested to know, so I asked Lorie Bickford to tell us about the process of creating (along with her husband Jeff) JoyRide Indoor Cycling Studio in Salem Oregon. We discuss her initial vision, how she found space, how she decided on Schwinn AC Sport Indoor Cycles, working with her new neighbors and how she is promoting her new business to the local Salem community. Bill Pryor and I have been helping Lorie and Jeff with business planning and online marketing of her Indoor Cycling Studio.
This Free Podcast is provided to you through a sponsorship from CyclingFusion.com
Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using
Charles (Spook) Hilgartner teaching his class at InSync Cycle
It began as the dream of many Instructors – starting your own fitness business. Charles (Spook) Hilgartner made his dream real by opening the first dedicated indoor cycling studio in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. It was very sad to hear that InSync Cycle Studio closed.
On a personal note:
For the past three years, I have enjoyed the challenge of creating and operating InSync. I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting and greeting hundreds of riders and making some special friends.This, I will really miss.
But what happened in the studio, during class was really incredible. We have had the best instructors! Their teaching skills and unique styles, music and personalities created an amazing cycling environment that all of us have enjoyed. I thank them for that.
It’s the combination, of instructors and dedicated riders, that has made InSync Cycle Studio a pretty good place to ride.
Some of Spook's Instructors created this very touching video as a good-by.
http://youtu.be/N54Y-N9gJkg
I've known Spook since before InSync and appreciated his agreement to be interviewed on the Podcast. Our intent is to help other existing (and potential) cycling studio owners. We discuss his thoughts and feelings about what he did right… and what he did wrong.
Two main points surfaced during our conversation:
Spook's experiences reinforced the absolute importance of having quality Instructors + a bench of available substitutes.
He feels he would have benefited by having a partner with complimentary skills to his.
I wasn't previously aware of this regulatory issue > Depending on your studio's pricing model, your state or city may require you to secure bonding to protect customers who purchase ride cards with future expiration dates. Spook explains this need for bonding during the interview.
Looking for a used studio sound system? You can contact Spook 444-722-5433 or Spook@indoorcycleinstructor.com
Last week a SoulCycle Instructor filed a class action suit alleging he and other Instructors were not paid for the extra hours spent in class prep, meetings, marketing, promotion, etc…
Does that sound like anyone you know?
What's proper or legal when it comes work requests, beyond actually teaching your classes, when you're asked by management?
I figured it would be helpful to get an understanding from someone who really understands the law as it applies to wages and pay. So I asked labor and employment Attorney Nick May, who I've worked with in the past, to be a guest on the show to help educate us all.
During the interview Nick raised this point, that I hadn't even considered;
Could the SoulCycle Class Action Lawsuit affect how you are paid in the future as an Indoor Cycling Instructor?
Listen to my interview with Attorney Nick May to learn more.
This Podcast is was originally published on July 4, 2009, I have updated it with our new Podcast host information and I am representing it now. I hope you enjoy it, Joey
Give up your Studio’s Spinning credentials because you want to use a different Indoor Cycling bike?
Blasphemy!
And yet Gene Nacey from Global Ride Studios has done exactly that. Gene is a firm believer in the value of Indoor Cycling 2.0 and wanted his studio to have bikes that include Gear Indication, Cadence and a Power (watts) meter. So he replaced all his Star Trac Spinners with new Keiser M3’s. His contract with Mad Dogg Athletics said to be a certified Spinning facility he needs to use only Star Trac bikes (which I feel is very restrictive and a bit silly). So he terminated his Spinning contract and is now a Indoor Cycling Studio.
Not satisfied with just changing out his bikes, Gene is working on some very interesting programing for teaching and training on the M3 or other Power bike that he will share on his blog.
Mark Dalrymple is a regular Global Ride student and also a professional photographer. He took this cool shot of the new M3 at the Global Ride studio.
Here is the link to the YouTube Video Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes or Zune.
We were saving Kim Moody's profile; “The Gate” until it was closer to Halloween – and here it is!
Kim was one of the winners to the first Ultimate Instructor Class Profile contest as we really appreciated her take on creating a holiday based ride theme.
This profile is based on the urban legend, “The Gate,” in Libertyville, IL. One can find more information about this frightening place by going to www.hauntedusa.org/thegate
For this Halloween mixed ride, I wanted members to visualize the dark and desolate location so I began the class by retelling excerpts from the article to provide some background information and imagery material.
