ON YOUR BIKE

Client: Lee Valley Leisure Trust
Supplier: Wattbike

Lee Valley VeloPark is a world-class cycling facility developed for the London 2012 Olympic Games, which now supports cyclists from a grassroots participation level right through to elite performance.

Since opening to the public in March 2014, local residents have been able to use the facilities for track cycling, BMX and mountain biking. In addition, with the venue hosting a wide range of elite events, members of the public have enjoyed the spectacle of top-class elite cycling on their doorstep.

New for 2015 is the VeloStudio, developed at Lee Valley VeloPark to offer participants the latest in indoor cycling. Twelve Wattbikes fitted with the latest Bluetooth monitors have been installed in the studio, which will offer Capitalise Power Cycling, 1-2-1 fitness testing, pedalling technique analysis, race nights and Sufferfest sessions – where riders can be virtually transported to the heart of the world’s greatest races, from the mountains of the Tour de France to the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix.

Originally developed in partnership with British Cycling, and now chosen by the UCI World Cycling Centre, Wattbike offers robust testing and accurate, reliable, repeatable data. This gives people the chance to train in both their power and heart rate zones, ensuring the training in any session is much more efficient. And for athletes, the Wattbike offers transferable training as well as the ability to reach specific power outputs that can’t be easily created on the track or on the road.

Wattbike’s commercial director Richard Baker says: “The VeloPark is synonymous with cycling. It’s dedicated to providing opportunities for people to experience all variants of the sport – so we knew Wattbike was the perfect fit.

“We’re looking forward to providing ongoing support to Lee Valley Leisure Trust, helping it to develop its indoor cycling offer and educating users in the benefits and versatility of the Wattbike.”

Details: www.wattbike.com

The VeloStudio at Lee Valley VeloPark now offers 12 hi-tech Wattbikes, all fitted with the latest Bluetooth monitors

Wattbike enables people to train in both their power and heart rate zones

A COMMITMENT TO EXCEL

Client: Edinburgh University
Supplier: Precor

As one of the top universities in the world, the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Sport and Exercise (CSE) continues to excel and ensure its members and guests have access to the most technologically advanced fitness equipment. The centre recently benefited from one of the largest single site installations in Europe, with 102 pieces of Precor’s top of the range 885 series cardiovascular equipment being installed, bringing the total number of Precor CV machines to 145 across its Cardio, myGym and Circuit Gym facilities.

Edinburgh is the first university in Europe to offer the recently launched Precor Next-Generation Experience Series treadmills, with 45 units, as well as seven new Adaptive Motion Trainers (AMTs) to add to the 30 already on offer.

In keeping with a strategic pledge and ongoing commitment from the university to ensure members and guests have the ultimate workout experience, all units feature Preva networked fitness, Precor’s cloud-based software platform that incorporates a suite of tools to help both operators and exercisers achieve their set targets. “We continually seek to enhance member experience and provide the highest level of facilities for our members and the community,” says Jim Aitken MBE, director of sport and exercise at the University of Edinburgh. “The refurbishment is core to our health and wellbeing advocacy and central to promoting Precor’s Preva networked fitness software, which helps our students and the lifelong community achieve their goals. It’s a fantastic training aid that monitors, educates and inspires, and everyone loves it.”

He continues: “The increased number of treadmills follows member feedback requesting additional units and demonstrates our belief in acting on their comments. Our installation of the new Precor Next-Generation Experience treadmills is one of the largest in Europe.”

Additional refurbishment in the Cardio space included new wiring to support network connectivity and a refreshed layout to provide more logical cardio kit clusters and member flow.

To celebrate the refurbished facilities, a launch event was held with an opening ceremony jointly conducted by Aitken, Precor marketing manager Jonathan Griffiths and elite student athlete Rhona Auckland, who recently became European U-23 cross country champion. They were joined by 102 members – reflecting the 102 latest CV pieces installed – who were the first to use the new equipment. Attendees were challenged to walk, run, stride or cycle as many metres as they could, with the aim of achieving 885 km (around 500 miles) between them, in acknowledgement of Precor’s top of the range 885 series. Members were inspired to participate with The Proclaimers’ song – I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) playing in the background.

Details: www.precor.co.uk

Director of sport and exercise Jim Aitken MBE, with elite student athlete Rhona Auckland and Precor’s Jonathan Griffiths

GYM FLOOR SHAKE-UP

Client: LA fitness
Supplier: Physical Company

Although recently acquired by Pure Gym, it’s business as usual for LA fitness while the CMA verdict on the deal is pending. And that means a continued presence for the successful Primal Series gym floor classes, created in partnership by Physical Company and LA fitness.

Since its launch in October 2014, the Primal Series offering – comprising five different 30-minute classes – has kicked into action a new mode of functional training at LA fitness, engaging members in using a wide range of Physical Company products effectively in the gym. There are now over 730 classes a week taking place across all 43 LA fitness sites.

July sees the fourth series of programmes get underway, ensuring the challenges remain fresh and enticing for trainers and members alike.

The Primal Series concept uses a diverse selection of Physical Company training kit including kettlebells, slam balls, Powerbags, Grid foam rollers, BOSU, medicine balls, ladders, dumbbells, Surge and SandRopes.

For Physical Company, the Primal Series is an ideal way to showcase its products and help gym users become familiar with its kit – particularly the more unusual, innovative pieces. Once they’ve done a few Primal Series classes, members are more confident about using the kit in their own workouts, meaning newer items are being understood and widely used.
“The Primal Series is the perfect vehicle to encourage people to try new kit and reap the rewards from mixing up their training,” says John Halls, Physical Company managing director. “As suppliers to the industry, we need to know that clubs buying our products will see their members making the most of the new kit, to justify the investment.”

For LA fitness, Primal Series has reinvigorated functional training on the gym floor: it has created a unique opportunity for members to enjoy free classes with a high level of PT attention.

Participants’ feedback on the classes has been excellent, while use of the kit in individuals’ workouts has increased, thereby driving ROI for LA fitness on these innovative items. Indeed, there’s a tangible knock-on effect – not only from Primal Series participants incorporating the Physical Company kit into their own gym workouts, but also from other members being inspired to try the kit after seeing the classes in action.

“Our partnership with Physical Company has shaken up the gym floor by encouraging people to train in this new way and smash their fitness levels out of the park,” says Sam Theyers, national head of fitness at LA fitness. “Uptake of functional training on the gym floor has increased dramatically.”

Details: www.physicalcompany.co.uk

The partnership with Physical Company has enabled LA fitness members to ‘smash their fitness levels out of the park’

The Primal Series training concept uses kit such as kettlebells, slam balls, Powerbags, ladders and SandRopes