Boutique studios have transformed how consumers approach fitness, offering a destination for exercise that’s motivational, cathartic and inspiring; all the benefits that come from working in a group setting.
For some standalone studios this has been extremely successful, but for some larger operators, studios with the latest equipment, technology and design, can be found empty outside of scheduled class times.
Wattbike has been working closely with both operators and independent studios to combat this issue and find the best fit for each, by helping them bring Wattbike ‘Zones’ and their small group training out of the studio and onto the gym floor, or individualising their bespoke boutique space.
As early adopters of the Wattbike, David Lloyd Leisure has been using the bikes across its portfolio in a number of ways, experimenting to find the best fit in each facility. Last June it opened its first Wattbike Zone at the Southampton club, which includes six Wattbikes with a separate screen that visually offers power training workshops, introduction sessions, Wattbike testing and virtual Sufferfest classes.
Michelle Dand, group health & fitness manager at David Lloyd, comments: “All of our Wattbikes are on the gym floor, some have their own Zones and some have been mixed in with other equipment to form ‘Performance Zone’ areas as part of our gym innovation programme.”
“We run live workshops in these Zones that create a great atmosphere on the gym floor, and this works to increase the interest from other members observing. Outside of these sessions there are always people using the bikes. From the cycle enthusiasts to the triathletes, to just normal men, women and teenagers; the beauty of the Wattbike is that it can be used for all ages and abilities.”
Branded Studio
Over the past 18 months, Active Nation’s Green Bank Leisure Centre has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment. This included 14 Wattbikes in a bespoke studio and two on the gym floor. Stuart Martin, managing director at Active Nation, adds: “The Green Bank Leisure Centre has had a dramatic transformation to update and refresh almost every part of the building.
"We selected Wattbikes because of the benefits they bring; accuracy and calibration, real-ride feel and the ability to monitor and regulate everything.
"The studio and gym floor bikes are very popular with people that are into their sports, particularly cycling, triathlon, rugby and football as well as attracting people that want just general fitness improvement.”
The new Wattbike studio has been created to mirror the bikes colours and branding. “We decided to completely design the studio based on the bikes because it created an exciting, professional atmosphere for our supporters.” Martin explains. “The feedback we’ve had is that users feel like they’re in a specialised training centre. It brings the studio to life, and transforms the room into more than just an indoor cycling space.”
Ben Keenan, founder of Suffershire, a Cheltenham-based bespoke Wattbike studio which opened in May 2015 with world class coaches and workout videos from The Sufferfest, has maximised the use of Wattbikes by transforming the space in a way that was geared around the bikes.
Keenan explains: “When we were researching indoor bikes we kept coming back to Wattbike. The build quality, the sports science and the amount of data and feedback for the riders is phenomenal. When we planned the studio, we knew that we would be catering for a lot of cyclists, from beginners through to professionals. It therefore made sense to transform the space to reflect Wattbike, because it is such a well-known, and respected brand within the sport and the industry.
“We have all abilities filling our sessions, from ladies in their 60s who cycle with friends for fun through to an ex professional racer. Even our two-hour hill climbing session late on a Friday night is full.”
Keenan continues: “The fact we only have 10 bikes means there’s a real social aspect, it’s not a large room of faceless people, its small group training designed to motivate and encourage, while the Power Cycling software allows me to keep an eye on people’s performance as individuals.”
Njinga Cycling opened in January 2015 to support cyclists new to road cycling or for intermediate level riders who want to improve their efficiency, confidence and overall fitness. Its Wattbike performance lab, which includes 14 bikes and a large data screen, is used for 1-1 coaching, group classes and programmes, pedal technique sessions and physiological testing.
Togo Keynes, Njinga co-founder and CEO, comments: “We were looking for an array of data, a real-ride feel, and a way to monitor pedalling technique and for all indoor bikes to be calibrated the same.
“Our training sessions are devised by a British Cycling coach and a Wattbike Performance Instructor. Using the bikes to develop the space has really produced a specialised, performance based zone.
"On top of this, each training session has a clear objective and training zones hence each rider can work to their own abilities, whilst working on pedal technique to improve rider efficiency and power output.
"That’s why the Wattbike sessions are such a great alternative to spinning classes.”
Right Intensity
On the rise of popularity of Wattbike Zones and bespoke studios, Rich Baker, commercial director at Wattbike, adds: “It’s important to us to work with operators and studios in order for them to best utilise the bikes. There’s a lot more understanding, and demand for power training and an alternative to indoor group cycling that provides workshops geared to a purpose.
“It’s been fantastic to see so many people in the industry begin to use the Wattbikes to transform areas on the gym floor, bringing the studio atmosphere to an open space where it can motivate all the members and encourage them to try something new, if they haven’t already.”
Wattbike small group training sessions ensure that everyone is training at the right intensity, whilst the Power Cycling software displays all individual data from the Wattbikes on the big screen.
Class instructors or personal trainers can work on pedalling technique using the Wattbike Polar View and monitor individual riders much more closely.
Sessions can be tailored to specific goals, or sports through high quality, individualised training that still remains in a motivating group environment.
