ICI/PRO member & Cycle Quest Studio owner Joe Ducosin hosted Olympic Gold Medalist Dara Torres at his studio last week – and the results were a bunch of free local media that promoted his studio.
Dara was in town to promote the new women's specific FitClips headphones she helped design for KOSS Headphones. They also seem to work just fine for men – the pair Dara gave me fit really well, that is after she showed me how to insert them properly.
What was really unique about this promotion was how they used Joe's studio as the place to demonstrate the FitClip headphones to members of the media that included; multiple on-air personalities + a half dozen local bloggers. Each Keiser M3 was wired so each rider could experience the class through their headphones, instead of the studio's sound system.*
I met with Dara in the morning and recorded this short interview.
Then in the afternoon Dara and Joe lead a fun class for all the media folks and a number of Cycle Quest Instructors.
Cycle Quest Instructors with Dara Torres
I waited a few days, before posting this, in order to see how much promotion resulted for KOSS and Cycle Quest. Here's what I've found so far – with a few more stories not yet published.
Would something like this work for your studio? It wouldn't have to feature Dara Torres, I'll bet there's a celebrity who lives near to your studio and they're likely to be connected to some product or service that you could help them promote 🙂
I'm not sure where else KOSS and Dara plan to hold these events (they've done a few already), but I have their contact information and could forward your info on to them if you'd like to be considered. Just leave a comment below.
*This actually reminded me of the very early days of Spinning classes, at the Flagship Athletic Club where Amy taught back around 1995ish. The 25 or so Schwinn built JohnnyG Spinners were set up in a corner, but not a closed room, so music from the class would be disruptive to the other areas of the club. So instead of speakers, we all wore headsets connected to a Walkman /portable radio that was tuned in to an FM station to hear the music and Instructor's cuing. At times this was a real hassle, but riders rarely talked during class and there was something special about having the Instructor's voice right in your head 🙂
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!
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.
“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)
Congratulations! You have decided to take the leap and open an Indoor Cycling studio…you're not alone.
Dedicated Indoor Cycling studios are growing in popularity and numbers. Owning an Indoor Cycling studio is FUN and like any other new small business adventure, not without obstacles.
Let’s assume that you've done all your research, found the perfect location, pulled permits, hired an architect, created a logo, chosen your bikes, learned new software, stayed true to your vision and spend 3X your budget. You are fully prepared to greet the new generation of Indoor Cyclists armed with state of the art equipment, and a team of instructors eager to show it all off.
Are you really ready?
Do you have what it takes to navigate “old school” customer service firedrills like a clogged toilet with a smile, as well as modern day stereo/microphone issues, also with a smile?
Are you prepared for the technology based firedrills of tomorrow that accompany power measurement, real time leader-boards, data tracking, and wireless internet? Indoor Cycling Technology(ICT) issues are common in a brand new studio. It's not a matter of if they are going to pop up. It's a matter of when.
My name is Karen and I am the self proclaimed spokesperson for Keeping It FUN Indoor Cycling. I'm excited to share my Keeping It FUN approach to ICT firefighting while never losing sight of the customer and of course, always having FUN.
1. View every issue as a challenge … never a problem.
Each issue that crosses your path is nothing more than a “First World Problem,” for which you are grateful. and therefore, not a real problem at all. challenge is an opportunity for you to learn and grow. You have the power, as a studio owner, to turn any negative into a positive by how you choose to fight the fire. You also have the ability to turn a frustrated, perhaps angry customer into a lifetime customer.
2. Never let them see you sweat in a world of sweat…
In the event of a fire, customers are more likely to remember how you handled the situation and how you made them feel rather than the problem itself. View every customer complaint as an opportunity to EARN a rider's business. Upset customers need to be listened to and often become your most loyal clients.
3. In the event of a customer complaint, stick with… Keeping It FUN's 10 Commandments Of Customer Care…
Apologize
Say “Thank You” for bringing up the concern
Ask the customer to explain the issue in their own words
Listen to the customer through their eyes
Empathize…”I completely understand why you feel this way.”
Acknowledge the concern (big or small) as a legitimate concern
Explain how the issue will be resolved/handled
Assume full responsibility for the issue
Apologize (again) with sincerity
Thank the customer (again)
4. Recognize that the power may be in the palm of someone else's hand…
Be prepared for ICT issues, software glitches, and unsolved mysteries that you have no control over. Accept the fact that you are at the mercy of someone else's schedule.
5. Document, document, document…
When something breaks…document it every time.
6. Treat your ICT PowerPartners as part of your team…because they are…
It is what it is. ICT issues are likely to require third party involvement. In order to find the quickest resolution, you must be allies with your ICT PowerPartners. Provide the team with as much detailed information as possible regarding your issue. Be prepared to help them troubleshoot and provide them with well documented information. Show them respect and gratitude.
7. Adopt the Keeping it FUN Worry Scale of 1-10
Starting with 10 rate all real or hypothetical issues/problems on a scale of 1-10.
Below is an example:
10. Catastrophic loss of multiple family members
9. Loss of a child
8. Loss of spouse/family member
7. A life altering accident
6. Fill In
5. Your
4. Own
3. Blanks
2. ICT Firedrills
1. Which lululemon Pace Setter skirt will I wear, today?
The Keeping It FUN Worry Scale is fool proof and guaranteed to help you catch any ICT curveball that gets thrown your way!
I had the honor and privilege of working for, training under, and calling friend Mad Dogg Master Instructor_____________. In 2002, she taught me the power of words.
SB, from my heart to yours,
Thank you for sometimes telling me I had to do it your
way and supporting when I wanted to do things my way.
But, most of all, Thank You for teaching me to choose the
Word “resistance” over tension. Because of you, I may
Cue a Steep hill something like this…
“I invite you to let all your tension go.
Tension, weighs us down, holds us back, and makes it harder to breathe.
Resistance, both in life and on this hill makes us stronger. Close your eyes.
Relax your shoulders. Heart center forward and climb. Without changing
cadence, add reistance that makes you push back and fight harder.”
Today, 12 years later and 1500 miles away, her voice is heard in the words I choose when I teach. It’s a powerful lesson that extends beyond Indoor Cycling. The words we choose are more powerful than any ICT malfunction.
There will always be resistance, but you don’t have to have tension. Your customer’s response mirrors your response. If you smile and have FUN going over new studio speed bumps, they will too.
Here's an fun and educational drill to try with your riders and three killer songs to kick it up a notch! It's important that your riders get a feel for what different rpm's feel like and that they have some time to play with the resistance at each rpm, especially if you are using bikes with no readout. Here's a drill that I use often in my classes: We ride three consecutive songs and each song has a different bpm/rpm. This time, it was 80, 90 and 100. You could also begin with 100 and go down-whatever works for you and your current profile. Each of these are in the saddle efforts, but feel free to give your riders time in between each song to stand and stretch their legs out if they feel like they need it. Here are three songs to get you started with this drill, but any songs that fit the rpm range would do, so change it up when you can!
ICI/PRO member & Cycle Quest Studio owner Joe Ducosin hosted Olympic Gold Medalist Dara Torres at his studio last week – and the results were a bunch of free local media that promoted his studio.
