by John | Oct 24, 2017 | Instructor Tech Help, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Your Fitness Business
Wahoo BLE & ANT+ cadence sensor easily attaches to either crank arm and doesn't require any magnet or second sensor.
We talk a lot about the new Indoor Cycles with consoles that display a rider's performance data; Power /watts, RPM, distance, calories. Training with Power is fabulous if your club or studio as invested bikes recently. It's even more fabulous when all of that data is connected to a display training system like what's offered from Performance IQ or Spivi. Either system really adds to the fun factor, while delivering true performance data directly into each participant's email box – an awesome convergence of Keeping It Fun & Indoor Cycling 2.0 🙂
But is there an option to bringing big screen display training to your club or studio using conventional Indoor Cycles?
Absolutely and around 90% of the investment you'll make today will carry over to when you do finally upgrade to Power bikes – assuming you do of course.
My assumption is based on the fact that if you are riding a conventional Indoor Cycle, with no computer/console, there's a good chance you're on Star Trac Spinner® NXT's and Spinner® Pro's. Star Trac owned the market for indoor cycles back in the 2000's and sold thousands of both models. To my knowledge, back then nearly all of the Big Box clubs were riding Star Trac's – the one exception being LA Fitness.
So if your NXT's or Pro's are in relatively good nick and you would like to add technology so everyone knows how fast they're pedalling, you have a couple of options.
NOTE: I haven't seen a studio adapt a bicycle computer successfully and don't recommend wasting your time trying.
The most common solution is to install a Spinning® computer. These consoles will display cadence, distance (wildly inaccurate) time and HR if you're wearing an analog HR strap. A few words of caution:
- The Spinning computer has no option for connection (BLE or ANT+) to a display training system = they won't connect with Performance IQ or Spivi.
- These computers are designed to fit multiple models of Spinners®. There is a setting (you use a magnet to get into the option screen) you need to make to adjust the computer to your model of bike – to have RPM displayed correctly.
- They're pricey at $167.00 each and I'm not aware of any bulk discounts.
The alternative for studios not ready to replace their bikes, but do want to begin offering performance metrics (even RPM & HR can make a huge impression on clients) and possibly a bike reservation system, I recommend the new Wahoo RPM cadence sensor.
The $39.99 Wahoo sensor is about the size of a quarter and attaches easily to one of the crank arms. That's it. There's no second 
magnet or parts needed. The package comes with a number of attachment methods – I'm showing it simply stuck on using some incredibly sticky double sided tape.
Battery life (replaceable coin cell) is supposed to be a year or more with it's auto-on feature. The sensor transmits in both BLE and ANT+ with great range so you could have a large studio with 40 or more NXT's wirelessly connected to Performance IQ or Spivi. Let the fun begin 🙂
The other option would be for participants to bring in their personal portable device; iPhone, iPad or Android phone. There are multiple Apps that will receive the sensor's BLE signal (all phones have BLE) and the free Wahoo Fitness App would be my choice. It's super easy to use and paring is very intuitive.
Yes this sensor will work with the Spinning App – only after you purchase additional sensor options.
Wahoo Fitness App showing RPM and Heart Rate
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by John | Oct 23, 2017 | Best Practices, Class Work-Sets, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Master Instructor Blog, Training With Power
Here's the profile I used a while ago in our Performance Cycle FTP assessment.
[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']
1/25 75 min FTP Class
Klangstrahler Projekt — Extremely Well
At 10:47 Extremely Well is a perfect warm up song. Plenty of quiet early to give you time to announce the class format – followed by a number unique changes that you can use as a personal cues to initiate a change in intensity.
The Cars — Just What I Needed
Time for some openers – everyone knows this song, so load up the resistance @ 62 RPM and have them surge along to different segments. The objective is to have everyone up to threshold once of twice before the last 30 secs that is use as a short recovery.
ZZ Top — La Grange
Let's find your Best Effort! Have everyone find the 80RPM cadence and then add gears during the 30 sec intro. I start the timed three minute Best Effort at the intensity change in the song at 0:34. Stage button and then encourage everyone by asking; “is this really you… at your best? [This is also a great time to be off the bike, working the room.]
The Kooks — Junk of the Heart (Happy)
This happy go lucky track is a fun reset/recovery. No purpose here, just fun 🙂
Moby — Extreme Ways (Bourne's Ultimatum)
We're getting serious now! I use this 100RPMish track to have riders dial in and observe JRAP/Base Watts. Find the cadence and then gradually add load until you feel your HR begin to creep above VT1 (just above chatty) and then recover slightly. I have them repeat this a number of times, always observing the connection between RPE/HR & the watts they're maintaining.
20 Minute Assessment
I remind everyone how they've found two numbers already, now well find the third that will really validate the others. This 20 minute assessment should flow smoothly from the earlier base watts we were in during Extreme Ways.
Black Sabbath – Planet Caravan Remix download this remix to have for this playlist. Right Click > Save As
Planet Caravan is slightly slower @ 94RPM. Establish this cadence and find the watts that you feel will be your Best Effort over twenty minutes. This # will of course be somewhere between the Base watts and the three minute Best Effort.
Ted Nugent — Stranglehold
Slower at 75RPM – request the necessary changes, while staying locked into your average. We've moved more of the work to our legs = breathing will become slightly easier.
Golden Earring — Radar Love
Back to 100RPM to give our legs a break.
The Kooks — Ooh La – another fun reset & recovery
Klangstrahler Projekt — Take A Breath and Safri Duo — Snakefood – 13 minutes of steady JRAP/Base watts (they should all know exactly where to go by now) and I just let them ride – cuing occasional out of the saddle time.
America — Sandman – 5 Minute Best Effort – or – additional JRAP/Base work if they already appear cooked 🙁
This 80 RPM live track has an awesome lead in you can use for a one minute recovery. Have everyone dial in the wattage of their choice and cue your start at the 1:10 [you'll hear it] for this last 5 minutes of hell!
[/wlm_private]
Recover and Cool Down
Selah Sue — This World
Passenger — Let Her Go
Lana Del Rey — West Coast – Rob Orton Mix
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by Christine Hawthorne | Sep 3, 2017 | Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Music
This week's Favorite Track makes a great “finisher”. Clocking in at around 6 minutes, it lends itself really well to 90 second interval sets and will take an already great class over the top! Here's how my class likes to use this one:
30 seconds-easy pedal (this is going to be your recovery as we get into the interval sets)
30 seconds-pick up the intensity (not a sprint, but definitely a working effort)
30 seconds-sprint (all out effort)
*go through this sequence 4 times.
I've used this drill with other 6 minutes songs, and it just wasn't the same. My classes always ask me to come back to this one! I hope you (and your classes) enjoy it!
Insomnia 2.0 iTunes link
by Christine Hawthorne | Aug 26, 2017 | Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Music
This new tune from Thirty Seconds to Mars is their first single in four years and it was definitely worth the wait. The lyrics and beautiful choruses combined will beg your riders to climb straight to the top. This song is quite versatile and I can see using it several different ways:
A seated or standing climb at 70 rpm.
A seated climb bringing it out of the saddle on the chorus.
Rolling hills, adding gear and pushing through on the chorus.
Seated sprints on the chorus.
However you decide to use it, I'm sure you and your riders will love it!
Walk On Water by Thirty Seconds to Mars iTunes link (70 rpm)
by Christine Hawthorne | Aug 18, 2017 | Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Music
This week's favorite track has a tribal/trance sound that will have your riders entranced by the beat. They won't want to give up until the finish line. It's Great Spirit by Armin van Buuren, Vini Vici and it's pretty amazing.
Here's what one online review had to say:
“Great Spirit” opens up with a buildup that progresses with the tribal vocals of Hilight Tribe. The track then transitions to the climatic sequence that features some up-tempo beats and striking chords. Soon after, another breakdown commences and concludes with another electrifying drop.”
I couldn't have said it better myself.
This version is 3:36 in length, but check out the remixes and extended version that I've linked below as well. Enjoy this one, it's a lot of fun!
Great Spirit by Armin van Buuren, Vini Vici (69 rpm)
by Christine Hawthorne | Aug 12, 2017 | Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Music
Your classes will love this climbing song from Indie Rocker Coleman Hell. You can ride seated or standing at around 60 rpm. (bpm 120) and I promise you the tune will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day! I first heard it when I was taking a Pound class and I had to hit up the instructor after class to find out what this cool song was all about. If you like this one, you might also want to check out Devotion and Fireproof. And don't forget to save this one for your upcoming Halloween ride!
2 Heads by Coleman Hell iTunes link (60 rpm)
