Wattbike, the specialist indoor cycle trainer, has launched its group cycling class into Virgin Active’s flagship Central London Classic Club at 200 Aldersgate. With a training suite of eight Wattbikes set up in a dedicated zone, UK gym and healthclub operator Virgin Active is able to offer its members ‘the premier indoor group cycling experience.’
Wattbike enables each participant to train at the optimal level for their own personal fitness and within a motivating group training environment. Classes are performed around key performance parameters including power, heart rate and cadence, with data drawn from the on-board Wattbike Performance Computer displayed on a large screen to assess performance and communicate feedback to members.
Richard Baker, Sales Manager at Wattbike said “It’s fantastic to see Wattbike taking pride of place in Virgin Active’s brand new Central London flagship Classic Club. Virgin Active chose Wattbike because of the quality of ride, detailed feedback and its versatility in different training scenarios, from high-intensity group sessions to an individual member simply being able to jump on and ride.”
With accurate fitness data, the feel of riding a real bike and its unique pedal technique analysis, Wattbike brings a new level of structured training to Virgin Active’s Aldersgate members. Virgin Active has timetabled ‘How to Wattbike’ and ‘Wattbike Fast Classes’, alongside 1-2-1 sessions with Wattbike-trained instructors and a range of specialised training and testing programs for cyclists and triathletes.
Alan Holl, Head of Fitness, Virgin Active said “Health club users have become more sophisticated trainers in recent years. They push themselves harder, are more technically knowledgeable and demand the best available equipment. Wattbike’s pedigree as a training device for elite athletes makes it a natural choice for use by our members and personal trainers. The Wattbike’s graphical display of accurate real time data makes for precision training sessions and a great member experience.”
Wattbike is currently available at Virgin Active Classic Aldersgate and Virgin Active Twickenham and will play a key role in helping members to train for the upcoming Virgin Active London Triathlon.
Wattbike is the indoor cycle trainer of choice for elite athletes, the health and fitness sector and the home fitness market. The founders of Wattbike originally approached British Cycling with the idea to create an indoor cycle trainer that accurately measures a range of high-performance parameters. Six years later the national governing body was satisfied that the Wattbike met their criteria and today the Wattbike remains the first and only indoor cycle trainer to be endorsed by British Cycling.
Wattbike’s on-board computer enables the accurate measurement of 39 performance parameters, including power, heart rate, cadence and speed. Combined with a fully customisable ride setup and the feel of riding a real bike, it provides the user with a highly effective and efficient power-based training solution.
Wattbike also features the Polar View, a unique real-time pedal technique analysis which helps to identify and correct deficiencies in pedal stroke, bringing performance gains to every rider.
Today, Wattbike is used by some of the world’s top cycling federations including Great Britain, Australia, the United States and France, as well as professional teams and elite athletes in all cycling and triathlon disciplines. Other sports have also adopted Wattbike as a cross-training tool and is used by many Premiership football clubs, England Rugby Union, Rugby Football League, Formula One drivers, England Hockey, GB Rowing, Sailing, English Institute of Sport and UK Sport.
