If you talked to any of my frequent participants and asked; “how would you characterize John's class?” the reply would probably be something like; “add load”, “we're going up!”
So you can understand why I loved teaching to (and my class loved riding to) this new Indoor Cycling DVD from Epic Planet – Epic Austin. Thanks for sending me a promotional copy Allen. It is the first video that I have seen that matches my style of class with a series of climb intervals that come one after the other and depict the actual grade of the road.
ICI/PRO members can get their 30% discount code using this link to the Member Discounts page.
BPM control for all of you who teach to tempo and use an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Here's the newClass Builder iPhone App for Spinning Instructors. Tempo Magic Pro is a new iPhone app that allows you to change the BPM of your music on your iPhone, while it's playing. You old Group Fitness instructors all know what that slider is for on the CD player. Looking to add a little more intensity to a song? Adding a few additional BPM may be just what you need.
I saw Tempo Magic Pro at IDEA last month being promoted by Petra Kolber and Yes! Fitness Music. They didn't have a working demo at the time and I just got their announcement that it is now available. I downloaded (purchased $4.95) the app and am giving it a try. I hope to have more about this as I play with it.
Here's what I do know so far:
It sounds great! Changes to the BPM seem to have very little effect on the pitch. No chipmunks in your class 🙂
It takes a while for the App to analyze the music in your playlist. But then it appears to work without delay.
The change in BPM is gradual, without a sudden change that would disrupt the flow of your class.
It only works with unprotected files (AAC or MP3), not with protected AAC files – which is no different than MixMeister or any other music software
You can add individual songs or a complete playlist. You can control the BPM of each song as it's being played or set it to match all the songs at the same BPM.
You lose the “now playing screen” that shows time elapsed and you will need to use the volume control on the side of your iPhone.
You can move ahead or back from one song.
Tempo Magic Pro iPhone App is another toy for you to play with and for 5 bucks it is something you will want to try in a class. As I type this I am thinking of all sorts of ways I can use this… Strangle Hold (my favorite climbing song) is at 148 BPM so it has you pedaling at 74 RPM. What would happen if I slowly increased the tempo at the half way point? Or started it a little slower so they really add on the load?
Here, in the hill country west of Austin TX, is where Lance Armstrong learned how to ride and developed his incredibly climbing abilities.
These training videos from Epic Planet keep getting better and include more options that help an Indoor Cycling Instructor. Epic Texas Hill Country now has a “Just the ride.” option that skips the intro slides and goes right to the ride. This DVD is 125 minutes long but you can choose to play just 45 minutes or select different segments of the ride to play. I personally like this feature. Being able to start the video in different places keeps it fresh for my students – John
They made this DVD just for me!
OK, not really. But it is exactly what I have asked for; a long climb without a bunch of distractions. I need to thank Allen Jones from Epic Planet for sending me a sample of this DVD – a small perk of this job 🙂
If you asked a frequent participant of my Indoor Cycling Class, “what is a typical class of John's like?” They would tell you “endurance training with long efforts with lots of load (resistance).” In other words, long climbs! This new Indoor Cycling DVD, Epic Tucson, from Epic Planet is perfect for this type of class. It starts with a short warmup and then up, up, up! The whole climb is over an hour. I used it today (I subbed for Amy so she could sleep in). Because we were not at the top by the end of the official class, I asked “who wants to stay to see the top?” More than half stayed and we finished it. I'm doing it again tomorrow if you would like to come.
Here is the Trailer. You can get your own copy Here
Update: Allen Jones just emailed me with a $10.00 discount off Epic Tucson if you use the coupon code ICI at checkout. Good until Dec 24th 2009
