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Cycling: Constant motion
Indoor cycling has become a mainstay of health clubs and studios. Manufacturers tell Steph Eaves about the innovations keeping people pedalling
We’ve made a commitment to lead the sustainability agenda in indoor cycling manufacture, and have just launched our second sustainable bike: Body Bike Smart+ Forest Green.
Manufactured using 25 per cent recycled ABS plastic, Forest Green is the sister bike to our highly popular Body Bike Smart+ OceanIX, launched in 2019 and manufactured using recycled plastic fishing nets.
In both cases, we’ve created sustainable bikes without any compromise in the ride experience or product quality and durability. Meanwhile, every Body Bike – across all our models – uses reclaimed, recycled iron for all cast iron parts: the crank shaft, pedal arms and flywheel. That’s a total of 35kg of recycled iron per Body Bike.
Body Bike Smart+ OceanIX and Forest Green are just the beginning for us. Within the next two years, our goal is to bring all existing models of Body Bike in line with these sustainability standards, incorporating a minimum of 25 per cent recycled ABS in the manufacture of every model and every one of our 10 case colours.
Sustainable bikes cost more to manufacture, but we price them the same as our other bikes – we don’t want to put any obstacles in the way of people making sustainable decisions – and we will keep going further in our search for sustainable materials that also support our quality standards. We’re also enhancing our customisation options, including launching fully coloured Body Bikes to match gym colour schemes and an in-house design studio to create branding and designs for our customers’ bikes.
BasicFit (pan-Europe), Fitness World (Denmark), SATS (Scandinavia), Nordic Wellness (Sweden), Evolution Wellness (APAC), World Gym (Australia), Fernwood (Australia), EasyGym (France), STC (Sweden) and Fitness X (Denmark).
More: www.body-bike.com
We launched an all-new cycle platform in 2022 with the Schwinn X and Z Bikes. Since the launch we’ve stayed busy, expanding customer experience options across the line by adding accessories such as dumbbell holders, magnetic bike numbering tags, add-on power metres and different types of display.
Our new Zone Console, available on the Z Bike, allows instructors and riders to adjust their coaching bike to match the experience they’re trying to create. Rhythm riding, HR-based training and power-based training modes can all be accessed with a single button press. The full-colour display and capacitive touch buttons create a premium feel, no matter which mode you choose. Plus, it’s the first group cycle display to offer tap-to-pair connectivity with Apple and Samsung watches.
In 2023 we’re launching a new virtual bike platform. It marries the group cycle bike from Schwinn with a 21” touchscreen. We’ve partnered with Intelligent Cycling to create a variety of experiences we believe are deeper than anything we’ve seen in the commercial market so far.
Our OpenHub philosophy is to build tools that allow us to partner with experts to create world class solutions. Our ecosystem is built on an open platform that can connect with a variety of partner platforms. This allows our customers to create the precise experience they want.
Schwinn bikes are utilised by every type of fitness facility globally. Every studio with Schwinn bikes is a valued member of our family.
More: www.corehandf.com
We have three training cycles to accommodate different programming approaches and budgets. The CXC training cycle is a good fit for fitness-for-fun riders and more budget-conscious customers. The CXM training cycle allows facilities to bring core metrics into programming with an easy-to-read interface. The CXP target training cycle features a capacitive touchscreen which guides effort with an LED colour wrap. It lights up with three intuitive colours to express effort relative to personalised metrics. This brings accountability to every ride and enables instructors to tap into different motivations.
We’ve integrated protocols like ANT+ and BLE FTMS into our CXM and CXP training cycles, enabling users to broadcast data from our bikes and connect with popular training apps or leaderboards like Intelligent cycling, Zwift, MyZone and Spivi.
YMCAs, Crunch Fitness, PureGym, The Gym Group, JD Sports and numerous other commercial facilities across the globe.
More: www.matrixfitness.com/uk/eng
We’ve recently rolled out a new version of the Keiser M Series App, with updated features and tools based on direct feedback from our audience. The Keiser M Series app is a powerful tool for collecting data, allowing users to quickly connect to equipment and begin training. It features real-time graphs for power, cadence range dials, FTP zones, and W/Kg ratios.
Users can choose to free ride, perform an FTP test, or follow one of the guided sessions designed by Keiser master trainers. Riders can also see power zones during their rides, and save their ride data. It’s free to use, and simple to connect and use.
We’ll shortly be launching The Ride Studio: a virtual streaming platform designed for club owners and operators. It’s a 24/7 indoor cycling studio solution, providing the best in virtual workouts so cycling studios don’t have to sit idle.
The Ride Studio includes a variety of instructor-led classes including HIIT-designed Ride Rush, beat-based Ride Rhythm, metric-focused Ride Race and goal-based Ride Series. All classes are designed and taught by Keiser instructors to ensure that the quality of member experience remains high.
We’re proud to work with Everyone Active, and have recently partnered with Fiit as their exclusive bike supplier.
More: www.keiseruk.com
We recently announced our integration with Samsung Galaxy watches. The Galaxy Watch5 and Watch4 will be able to connect to the Peloton Bike, Bike+, Tread, Row and Guide, through the Peloton App, enabling members to see their heart rate on screen during workouts and have more control and visibility over their workout by tracking their fitness goals in real-time.
We’ve relaunched the Peloton brand to appeal to all ages, levels and walks of life. Our colour palette has changed to evoke the energy of a great workout, with powerful imagery of real members. The campaign will roll out in the UK later this year.
Peloton has also just launched its app tiering structure; five distinct membership tiers, including three new levels. Across all tiers, members have access to expert instruction and the ability to track workouts with the Just Work Out music library.
Peloton has millions of members worldwide; at home, in clubs, leisure centres and university gyms, as well as multi-family residential settings. We also partner with hotels worldwide.
Peloton subsidiary, Precor, has announced a distribition deal with Stages Cycling. More at www.hcmmag.com/PS
More: www.commercial.onepeloton.co.uk
Wattbike has launched Hub+, a premium subscription version of its app that promotes greater personalisation for a more customised workout experience, seamless integration with third-party apps and new, exclusive training content curated by leading athletes and sports scientists.
From a commercial perspective, Hub+ subscriptions can be packaged for operators, independent gyms, studios, coaches and personal trainers in order to provide members with bespoke club workouts, extra training content, challenges and individualised member sessions at just the touch of a button. It’s designed to help clubs to personalise content effectively to meet differing goals and abilities.
The app tracks all historical performance; everything you’ve ever done on the Wattbike. In a commercial setting, using the app means you are always in control of your own data. You can get on any Wattbike, at home or in the gym, and by connecting your app you’re getting training consistency.
Hub+ introduces an industry-first functionality in its ‘Workout Builder’ feature, a powerful tool designed with a ‘drag-and-drop’ option in which users, coaches or PTs can configure workouts in seconds by selecting from a range of segment blocks in-app.
One of the most innovative features in Hub+ is the ability to share custom workouts with other Hub+ users. Workouts can be shared via the user’s preferred channel, allowing increased connectivity between users, coaches, personal trainers or members. A workout export feature then provides users the flexibility to complete their custom workouts via other third-party apps or a bike computer outdoors.
In the latest update of Hub+, we’ve added a quick-start template to the Workout Builder start screen so that users can get riding even more quickly. They can also import workout files or structured sessions from other training apps, allowing them to ride their favourite workouts in-app without having to build them from scratch. We try to take a platform agnostic position; a policy to connect with as many third-party apps as possible.
Third Space, DLL, Virgin Active, Nuffield Health, Fitness First, Everyone Active, Bupa, British Army, UK Sport/EIS.
More: www.wattbike.com
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