Bike class bliss: Survey showcases Cycle Society's success, and we got the recipe!

At Cycle Society, members are motivated to give their all. In a recent survey measuring member satisfaction, members stated that Intelligent Cycling makes time fly and helps them work out to their fullest potential. Cycle Society founder Steve Jones details how indoor cycling software has enhanced the studio's bike classes, both online and in person.

Tell us about Cycle Society.

Cycle Society was set up in January 2020, initially taking over the premises that had been occupied by a studio run by a Schwinn Master Trainer. The business had a very loyal following, with many people attending on a daily basis. The instructor team, including myself, are all Schwinn trained. Within ten weeks of being established, COVID hit, and we found ourselves having to move the business online. We took every opportunity to acquire bikes and, at one point, had 120 bikes out to rent. Our online classes were a huge success, and we took every opportunity to optimise connection with our clients, being an early adopter of MyZone remote. We've continued live streaming all our cycling classes.

How did you get started with Intelligent Cycling?

Once the business started to find stability in 2022, we looked at how we might move our product offering forward. Initially, we looked into introducing Intelligent Cycling as a way of getting the most out of our Schwinn AC Power bikes that we had upgraded to. We initially introduced "POWER//RIDER" classes to add gamification and introduce power-based training. However, we quickly realised that the benefits of the software were far greater than this.

How did it add value to your online classes?

We realised that using "ticket to ride" and sharing this with at-home users was a great way to drive connectivity and aid instruction. Those riding with us at home don't have visual cues from the instructor and other participants. As someone said to us once, "If I don't hear the instruction right at home, I can just look at the app." Introducing this connectivity has hugely enhanced our at-home offering and added that extra level of connectivity.

Has it been mostly an at-home success?

Initially, we thought our main focus would be using TEAM PLAYER as a different way of riding. We've now discovered that using THE PLAYER in our classes is popular with studio riders too. The feedback we've had is that knowing the length of each phase of the ride allows people to add the relevant workload. This is no surprise; making participants aware of time throughout a ride is emphasised in Schwinn Bronze instructor training. The foundation of the Schwinn Training is adding clarity to content. Having the ride plan and timings on the screen allows us to add complete clarity to content for everyone. Regardless of whether they respond better to visual or verbal cues, it's just there to refer to at any time.

What has the feedback been like?

In a recent survey, riders in our studio were asked whether using Intelligent Cycling made time go quicker and whether it made them work harder. 79% agreed it made time go quicker, and 85% agreed it made them work harder. The feedback we've had is that working in sections and focusing only on that particular part of the ride makes it go quicker, and knowing what's coming allows people to work at the right level. Interestingly, there was very little disagreement with these statements, with most of those not agreeing being indifferent.

Currently, around 70% of our classes use Intelligent Cycling in some form, yet 50% of respondents said they'd like more classes to use it, and again most of those not agreeing were indifferent.

We've also used The Journey for more sustained effort/steady-state riding. If you're asking riders to come in and work at a continuous effort for a long time (sometimes up to 100 minutes), adding this visual element has been positively received.

Riders also like the fact that it's flexible. They can choose to connect their bike and match the required power or decide not to.

What's been the biggest advantage for you as an instructor?

The training I've done with Schwinn has built my understanding of good instruction to be based on a foundation of content: What the rides are made up of (time, intensity, ride position and speed), adding clarity to this, and then layering on coaching, motivation, establishing the right mindset – all paired with the right music. For me, using Intelligent Cycling means clarity and content are taken care of: No more written notes, memorising or trying to remember what's coming next. This means I'm freed up to really focus on coaching, motivating, creating the right mindset and letting the music do the work. In a world where it's easy to access quality workouts online, taking away the need to add clarity to the content allows the instructing to add real value to participants, something that following an online workout plan can't do. Intelligent Cycling has allowed me to move from being an instructor to truly being a coach. Our instructors like it as it means they don't have to learn or remember rides, putting rides together is much quicker, and by using TSS, you can gauge how challenging a ride may be without practising it.

What's your biggest takeaway from introducing cycling software to live classes?

At first, I saw Intelligent Cycling as bringing something new to the studio, yet the biggest benefit has been using it to enhance what we already do. Be that by adding clarity to content in rides with a lot of variety, the connection it gives remote riders or the visual entertainment in steady-state rides, this has all benefitted things we already offer.

Do you have any advice for studios wanting to get started with indoor cycling software?

My main advice would be to try it! And keep it simple, don't change how you teach but look at how it can enhance your current teaching.