(A PEP TALK — because we all need some empowerment from time to time)
Although I thought I would be preaching to the choir on this topic, I believe we need to stay inspired as much as anyone. We are the ones using all of our energies to change the face of indoor cycling. We want to change the image of indoor cycling from a fad, not based on training science nor cycling, into a well-respected and fun way of obtaining real fitness — fitness that can be taken on the road (sorry, just had to throw in the ol”™ Stage5 Cycling tagline).
Let”™s gleam some insight from...well...cycling. Since the (chain-driven) bike was invented and the first documented bike race in the late 1800”™s, the sport has continued to evolve and has taken many shapes to fit into our lives. The first Tour de France was held 18 years after the bike”™s invention and has continued to thrive and grow every year. More and more bike manufacturers have come on the scene creating bikes for every style of riding from recreational to BMX to triathlon to mountain to road. Advances in bike technology have escalated in the last 20 years with new designs, materials, computers and power meters. Considering the momentum and excitement around cycling, this trend will continue with no end in sight.
I know we all LOVE indoor cycling, but let”™s take an honest look at our industry. Indoor cycling is roughly 20 years old and compared to the outdoor cycling industry, has not advanced at the same rate. The bikes haven”™t changed much, with still only a few manufacturers and less than a handful that have incorporated technology. Now this next “opinion” may be hard to believe or except because those of you reading this are the exception and the ones who still draw large groups of people to your classes. However, from what I”™ve seen, this is not the case industry-wide. I”™ve gotten to travel a bit teaching cycling workshops and clinics over the last 8 years and have seen the popularity of indoor cycling decrease. Classes that used to be almost impossible to get into are now seeing only half of the bikes being filled on a regular basis. I”™ve noticed the size of the cycling studios themselves getting smaller. Tom, this is depressing. Please stop before I cancel my gym membership, delete my cycling music and put my indoor bike on the curb. Don”™t panic - we are on the cusp of a revolution! Revolutions don”™t start because someone gets mildly irritated. They also don”™t start because we “wish” things would be different. Revolutions start because we have a conviction that “Things MUST Change in order to SURVIVE!”
People aren”™t motivated to ride bikes outside because the equipment is cool. The Tour de France isn”™t a mob scene every year because people come to see the latest equipment and technology. No, it is about the fun and adventure as we explore both the outside world and our physical ability and limits from the seat of a bike — a bike we control. OK Tom, bring it home. Where are you going with this?
If we want indoor cycling to be more than just a fad or a modality of fitness in our clubs, we need to Make it REAL to Make it LAST. Think about this: who is the hardest group of people to get into an indoor cycling class? The answer: CYCLISTS. What da?!?! Holy......! How can that be? They are blood of our blood. Our kindred spirits. Why? Because outdoor cyclists still view indoor cycling as non-cycling movements taught by people who know little about training and don”™t ride outdoors. Remember, I”™m not taking about you. Regardless of who is to blame, this is our profession and passion and we must start and fuel the revolution if we want to save it.
My motto “Real Cycling. Real Training. Real Life.”
Take your riders beyond the walls of the indoor studio. Introduce real training concepts in every class. Provide real challenges and goals. If you”™re not an outdoor rider, change that today. Buy a bike, dust off a bike or borrow a bike and get out on the road and bring your experience and adventure back to your class. Then, get out and ride with your people. They”™ll talk about it. They”™ll tell their friends. You will be their hero, motivator and coach. And it will be FUN because, when I ride outside, I”™m having fun. So if you aren”™t having fun riding indoors — it ain”™t really cycling. Then it will cease to be called “Indoor Cycling” but rather “Cycling Indoors”. Our brothers and sisters out on the roads and trails will flock to the clubs. Our industry will be a fad no more. We will have saved it. This is why I joined Stage5 Cycling with Cycling Fusion. To build a bigger and stronger army. To start a revolution! So do what YOU need to do. Make it Real. Make it Last. Make it Happen.
Ok, can someone get me a glass of water?
Originally posted 2011-08-31 05:00:30.
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John recently did a survey. John, did your survey help to answer the reason for diminishing class size or why studio’s are reluctant to step up to better technology or how much influence instructors have on overall programming?
I’m with Tom on this and have worn the Scarlet letter of brigand daring to introduce power/heart rate training to a management only concerned with numbers. STill, they turned a deaf ear to the possibilities of a revenue generating cycle studio and maintain that the only real indoor cycling classes started with a S……®.
I beg to differ and continue through my classes to educate, entertain and make it real.
Go Tom, Go Indoor cycling 2.0.
Chuck, you are the man! I certainly know we’ve got each other’s backs.
Tom, this is brilliant! Thank you for voicing our concerns, and for encouraging those of us who continue to fight so hard to “keep it real”.
Do I have your permission to use one of your terms from this article? I love the sound of “cycling indoors” vs. indoor cycling. It says it all!
Shirin
Shirin, absolutely! I like saying things in plain English (or Brooklynese when I tired). The simpler we present things, the less confusion.
Shirin/Tom/All,
This seems as good a place to post this as any. I cannot do this in 140 characters.
First, let me set the stage. September 1, 2011. It is 6:30am at a high tech company here in Silicon Valley. This is a group committed to cycling indoors. So committed that the first one there brings ALL 24 bikes into the studio. This way everyone can set up, hop on and go when I push the button on Class Builder. This not my regular class but I have subbed this class before.
Today however, it turns out most of the riders are in Vegas for a tech show. In an ironic twist of fate, when I asked my standard question, ‘who is wearing a heart rate monitor?” all those that made it to class raised their hands. So I asked about zones and guess what, they had either been field or metabolic tested and knew their zones. A dream come true.
I explained todays class was a steady state climb with a big finish. They were told to expect their heart rates to be mid zone 3 (based on five zones) half way into the class and that the last four or five minutes would take them to threshold (T2) and above. Moreover, I told them getting them to these places was my job, please let me do it.
Suffice it to say I was stoked. I knew the ride well and managed to bring my A game. At the end of class everyone was amazed that their heart rates did not spike early and indeed responded to my cues just as predicted. They let it happen and it did.
My point, with some education (introducing some simple heart rate training) and slight changes to the instruction, your riders will get a great and meaningful workout. The more people sitting on bikes that have such expectations, the more those there for ‘mindless exercise’ will take note.
Who knows, class numbers might start climbing.
You are right on, Tom, as always. I’d add one more point. We need to be more concerned and more involved with what our students do off the bikes. Years of cycling, indoors or out, add up to repetitive motion problems/injuries almost inevitably, especially with older students. They often stop riding because of their aching backs, hips, and on down the kinetic chain. We need to encourage them strongly to seek balance in their training, to take Pilates or Yoga, incorporate lateral movement into their workouts, and generally cross-train. I teach Pilates to my cycling students. I’ve incorporated some of Leslie Mueller’s pain prevention techniques and some other things just for cyclists. It makes a huge difference in their resistance to injury, but they still need to walk, take Boot Camp, or even a (horrors) Zumba class now and then to keep from becoming hunched and inflexible. Educating our students about total body health helps to keep them in our classes!
So true Marsha. For our Stage5 coaching clients we have a performance team that includes everyone from Physical therapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, yoga & pilates instructors, strength training coaches etc.
I have fallen into the trap of not taking a more holistic approach to MY health after a knee surgery a couple of years ago. My leg is very strong for all cycling movements and articulations, but particularly weak laterally. I’m now trying to correct a muscle imbalance and strengthen the “other” muscles surrounding my knee (and body) so I don’t get injured when I do something “other” than cycling. Back to the gym for me!