Can an argument be made for deemphasizing “Outdoor Cycling” in your Indoor Cycling class?
Or asked differently; would it ever make sense to remove many (if not all) of the references, imagery and cuing related to riding outdoors?
Life Time Fitness thinks we should and for some class times and populations, I agree with them.
Evolution Cycle is the latest branded cycling class format from Life Time Fitness. As part of the training, we were asked specifically to reduce/limit references to riding outdoors. Why? Because a large percentage of our members do not ride outdoors.
Have you ever had an experience like this?[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']
Do I look like a person who uses coupons?
Have you ever been in a situation where some passionate person is extolling the virtues of an activity, one where you have absolutely no interest? They go on and on, almost to the point of lecturing you, about how they know what's best for you.
I met one of these folks recently… a female cashier at the grocery store:
Her: Do you have any coupons, sir?
Me: Uh, no, no I don't.
Her: They could save you a bunch of money.
Me: I don't have any coupons.
Her: They're easy to find… we have a supplement in each Sunday paper.
Me: (getting annoyed) I don't subscribe to the paper.
Her: We're happy to mail them to your home – big smile – can I get your address?
Me: Can I just pay, so I can go?
Her (sensing my annoyance): I was just trying to help you save some money, sir. I can't understand why you wouldn't be interested in that!
Me: (losing it) I'm sorry, but do I look like a guy who uses coupons? I hate coupons. I have a lot of anxiety whenever someone gives me a coupon for my next visit. Will I remember to bring it? Of course I don't. Then I'll be standing here in line, dreading the inevitable question I know you'll ask, BECAUSE I WILL HAVE FORGOTTEN THE DAMN COUPON AT HOME.
Do you think that just possibly, there are a few participants in your class who are disinterested in outdoor cycling? Maybe they're a bit over weight and intimidated by a fit peer their same age? Or they are afraid to ride outside? Or they don't want to be told they're missing out by not riding on the road?
The change from the previous 60 minute “Studio Cycle” format, to the new 45 minute Evolution format, is based on the competition Life Time is feeling from boutique studios. The goal is to appeal to everyone, cyclist and non-cyclist alike and fill the studio with people. As an Evolution Instructor, I now use slightly different language ad let the music do most of the talking. The class, now shorter, is supposed to be harder (above threshold work) and more energetic/entertaining than the old Studio Cycle classes were.
LTF has also added an official Rhythm/SoulCycle like ride they call Cycle Sculpt at select clubs. I taught one of these classes a year ago and wrote about my experience here (complete with the profile and playlist).
So how can I tell if I'm too much outdoor cycling?
When I consult or talk with Studio Owners I'll ask them this question. Overall, what is your participant split between cyclists and non-cyclists? My observation is that having a high percentage of cyclists – over ~30% across all your classes – is an indication that something is wrong. This high percentage of cyclists tends to correlate with smaller overall participation rates, especially in the summer months when cyclists abandon you for riding outside.
IMO a large percentage of cyclists is an indicator of who's not in the studio. It's my impression that Life Time is seeing and acting to make our classes feel more inclusive.
Please don't get me wrong here. Your studio should have cycling specific classes on the schedule, especially during the winter months. But even with all the cyclists coming inside, your participation levels of non-cyclists should remain healthy throughout the year. If it's not, there are a few things you could consider changing.
What have I done to change?
I started by looking in the mirror just before I started my class. Looking back at me was a fit, 53 years old cyclist, standing there in his coordinated Life Time kit. Then I asked myself a question; am I dressed like the typical participant I have in class? Yes and No were my answers.
Yes – I do look like my Performance Cycle class participants. Then again they are comprised mainly by cyclists, so it would make sense that I continue wearing my kit for these classes.
No – I don't look like most of my morning class. Not for when I participate in, or sub, Amy's Saturday morning class either. This class of Amy's is one of the most popular at the club. It's normally a 50/50 split men/women, but very few are recognisable as cyclists. For these classes and classes that I participate, I wear my pearl izumi bibs and a workout shirt. I miss not having a back pocket for my mic transmitted, but I do feel I fit in better. I look like everyone else 🙂
I'm changing my language. It's been hard, but I'm slowly removing words that have an outdoor cycling connotation. Gone are; climb, flat, mountain, draft, peloton, race and time trial. Now I'm cuing on different “challenges” like strength, speed, stamina, etc.
I'm super excited to announce that ICI/PRO is teaming up with the owners of Full Psycle Indoor Cycling; Paul Harmeling & Shelly Scott. We are hosting our first Full Psycle/PRO Performance IQ Training on February 14th at the Full Psycle Studio in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago, IL.
1/20 update: There's just two open seats remaining.
I've taken over a dozen classes that incorporate PIQ Display Training – at studios across the country. In only one did I feel like the Instructor really understood how to effectively integrated PIQ into the class. That class was Paul Harmeling's and you now have the chance to learn from the person I see as the expert in teaching Display Training Indoor Cycling classes!
Can't make this workshop? If you would like to receive notifications of future events join this email list.
Listen to this short interview with Paul, where we discuss the details of the training we're providing February 14th.
This 6 hour, comprehensive training workshop will include two complete master classes. They'll be taught by Paul Harmeling & Shelly Scott – co-owners of Full Psycle.
To complement the Master Classes, we will be offering the following:
Understanding the basics of PIQ – presented by Tae Yoo
Troubleshooting and Best Practices
Training With Power for Indoor Cycling Classes – presented by Me John Macgowan 🙂
Maximising the functionality of Performance IQ and effectively class presentation using:
Power Screen/Race Mode
Heart Rate Training Screen
PTP (Personal Threshold Power) Screen
Watts/Lb – Weighted/Leveling/Handicapping Mode
Teams Screen
Building Entertaining Display Training Class Profiles
Creating Speciality Classes with PIQ
Get people excited about Display Training with Social Media
Using PIQ data to bring consistency to your Indoor Cycles
We are limiting attendance so we can include multiple opportunities for participants to demonstrate what they've learned. Instructors will need to conduct teach-backs throughout the workshop.
Tae Yoo is taking us all out for dinner Saturday night as the end of a great day of PIQ!
A recently published survey by ACSM about trends in fitness has spawned a number of articles; here, here and here. ACSM's top 20 fitness trends makes no mention of Indoor Cycling – going so far as to suggest its inevitable demise. My review of the survey finds it wanting > no, actually I see it as utter nonsense BS based on both sample size and respondents.
Pilates, indoor cycling, stability ball, and balance training again failed to appear on the list of top 20 trends in the health and fitness industry, which supports the theory that these were fads and not trends. [Really? 20 years of Spinning® is just a fad?]
Some of the survey respondents still argue that the persistent sluggish economy has influenced the results of this survey and that training programs requiring expensive equipment or technical instruction are not supported because of the increased cost. Still others argue that Zumba®, indoor cycling, and Pilates have run their useful course.
Where do I even begin?
The purpose of this survey is to: guide health fitness programming efforts for 2015 – and – developed a systematic way to predict health and fitness trends
During the last 8 years, the editors of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® have disseminated this electronic survey to thousands of professionals worldwide to determine health and fitness trends. The survey in this issue of the Journal helps to guide health fitness programming efforts for 2015. The first survey (1), conducted in 2006 (for predictions in 2007), developed a systematic way to predict health and fitness trends, and surveys have been done annually since that time (2—8) using the same methodology. As this was a survey of trends, respondents were asked to first make the very important distinction between a “fad” and a “trend.”
The potential benefit to commercial health clubs (those that are for-profit) is the establishment (or maybe the justification) of new markets, which could result in a potential for increased and more sustainable revenue. Community-based programs (typically not-for-profit) can use the results to continue to justify an investment in their own markets by providing expanded programs serving families and children. Corporate wellness programs and medical fitness centers may find these results useful through an increased service to their members and to their patients. The health and fitness industry should apply this information to its own unique settings.
OK, So exactly who, and how many did they survey?
Using Survey Monkey ( www.surveymonkey.com), the online survey was sent to 28,426 health fitness professionals….
After 3 weeks and 2 additional notices, 3,403 responses were received, which represents an excellent return rate of 12%, which is very similar to previous surveys.
While 3,400 isn't a small number, I don't know that I would be too proud of a 12% return rate. I get that people are busy. That often means that the people who do respond could have some additional time on their hands.
Here's the breakdown of survey participants. Notice anything strange?
If you thought (as I did); that's a lot of personal trainers (23%) – I wonder if they could have skewed the results to personal trainer-ish activities?
I added the red “X” next to each “trend” that would apply to personal training. Twelve of the twenty “trends” identified are what I would expect a personal trainer to list. Really?
The summary of the survey includes this observation:
Pilates, indoor cycling, balance training, and use of the stability ball continue to exist in the health and fitness industry but with not as much popularity according to the ACSM trends survey.
I'll leave you with this pearl of wisdom from one of ACSM's INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS
Yves Vanlandewijck, Ph.D., professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences and program director of the Education Board of the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Adapted Physical Activity, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
During the last 9 years, the ACSM Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends has been established as the primary mechanism by which the fitness industry has set its standard for the coming year. Around the globe, owners of clubs look forward to the survey to have a better understanding of market direction and emerging trends. That was true in the past, and it continues to be that way today. The survey was sent to thousands of health fitness professions, with 12% responding. That is a remarkable return rate for a survey of this type, demonstrating beyond any doubt that it reflects an accurate picture of the industry. Owners, operators, fitness staff, and sales professionals should pay attention to the results of the survey.
Good Grief… the only thing beyond a doubt is that you're clueless 🙁
No Ms. Vanlandewijck, owners, operators, fitness staff, and sales professionals should pay attention to what the 75 million participant/users of the MyFitnessPal App are doing for exercise.
We were curious to see what fitness trends we could see among the 75 million MyFitnessPal users, so we sat down with our fitness and nutrition experts to take a look at the hot workouts from 2014. The mission: to predict what 2015’s hottest workouts will be.
We took the total number of minutes logged for each of these activities and divided by the number of active users on the app over the period of Jan-Nov of 2013 vs. Jan- Nov 2014. We did have a growth in our database over that time, so we corrected for the number of daily active users.
Here’s what MyFitnessPal’s coaching lead, Glennis Coursey, and our Registered Dietician, Elle Penner, have deemed the workouts to watch in 2015:
Although there are fewer than 40 studios in the US, it’s undeniable that there’s a tremendous buzz around SoulCycle. We anticipate this class (and cycling workouts inspired by it) will be in big demand in 2015. The celeb fave is up 78.3% since 2013.
So to answer ACSM's question; What’s Driving the Market? Participants are, not Personal Trainers.
What would it be like to be losing both your vision and hearing?
Can you even imagine how challenging it would be teach?
I just had to know more about Instructor Rebecca Alexander and then share her very inspiring story with you. Rebecca currently teaches at Equinox in New York City and has taught in the past at New York Sports Club, New York Health and Racquet and SoulCycle.
Rebecca has written the book Not Fade Awayabout her challenges with Usher Syndrome III, a disease that is slowly robbing her of both sight and hearing.
It was a delight for me to interview Rebecca – please enjoy our last podcast of 2014!
After listening to Rebecca's story, I encourage your to purchase and read her book using the link below. You can learn more at her websitewww.rebalexander.com
Also, if your family tithes annually like ours, and you're looking for a place to make a last minute donation, please join Amy and me in contributing to Rebecca's Usher III Initiative. Donation information is here.
Some riders are present to train and give 100% every class. Many, however, are present simply to be…present.
Through The Customer’s Eyes
When was the last time you really looked at the Indoor Cycling experience you offer through the eyes of your customer?
The riders who consistently attend your classes relate to you. But … have you taken the time to consider how a first time rider relates to you and your teaching style. Have you taken the time to
walk in a first time riders’ shoes or ride in their saddle. If you have had new riders in your class who chose to not come back, have you asked yourself…
Am I current and relevant to today’s customer?
Keeping up with our customers’ evolving WHY means accepting the radically different concept that an increasing number of riders don’t care about the workout. It means embracing riders who are more concerned with recovery from daily stress than recovery from working effort. It means delivering a fun, safe, and effective class to riders who train for LIFE alongside riders who TRAIN for the road or for a specific event. It means making them feel safe the moment they walk through the door.
Have you ever considered that the rider on the end in the 3rd row may be…
Overwhelmed by numbers, spreadsheets, and thinking in general
Or … Suffering from an eating disorder and low self esteem
Have you ever considered that the rider in the back row, 2nd bike in may be…
Training for the Special Olympics…grateful for a 2nd chance at life
A parent whose child recently tried to commit suicide
A rider whose spouse committed suicide
An ex college athlete whose body feels older than his years…
who rides for the non impact cardio, weight loss, and because he can escape
A verbally abused housewife who quietly arrives late and leaves early every class…
not wanting to be recognized and grateful to be alone for almost an hour
A recovering addict who rides to get high…and to stay sober
A military wife who misses her deployed husband
A depressed teenager who doesn’t seem to “fit in” anywhere.
A mother battling post partum depression
A parent of a Marine that never came home
A 50 year old father with 100lbs to loose before walking his daughter down the aisle
Or … A veteran who feels lost and unappreciated.
Have you ever considered that the rider directly in front of you …worries about losing their job?
Each one of these riders is real and has a name.
Each one of these riders wants to escape, to check out, and to get lost in the music.
Accept … Don’t Judge WHY
Welcome every rider free of judgment and celebrate that they have a WHY that is different.
Accept that a rider may not want to push outside of their comfort zone. That’s OK!
It doesn’t mean they are “lolly-gagging,” “wasting an hour,” or “need to leave if they aren’t going to make an effort” because they aren’t working as HARD as you are asking them. That’s not WHY they are there. For them, it was HARD WORK, just getting there.
For these riders, the CardioTherapy benefits of Indoor Cycling outweigh any interval or strength training benefit. These riders and countless others stepped out of their comfort zone simply by walking through the door. If we, as instructors are current and relevant to their WHY … these riders have a better chance of returning. Make them feel SAFE and FUN follows. If we are doing our job correctly, EFFECTIVE falls into place and riders see results … mind, body, & spirit.
Accepting and understanding that every rider is not in your class to TRAIN like an athlete is the first step to delivering the ultimate Indoor Cycling experience, to every rider in the room, every time … regardless of their WHY.
