Radish_legs

I'm talking about a group class with smart trainers, structured intervals, highly qualified instructor, known FTP. Class lasts 60 minutes, not including warm-up.

Are you interested at all? If so, what would be the price point per session that would seem fair?

hogger453

Cycling outdoors is free.

Seattle Forrest

What does "known FTP" mean? Of the instructor? I don't care what his FTP is but if he's leading a class he'd (or she'd) better know that. Do you mean people have to know their own to participate? Smart trainers won't be terribly useful without that, although if you do one-off sessions it might be a good way for somebody to get a feel for power while they're deciding whether to buy a PM or not.

I wouldn't go, because a bike is an excuse to have fun outdoors for me. It's also exercise but that's secondary. In bad weather I'll go hiking or skiing or for a run. That said, if I were looking to do something like this I wouldn't expect it to be free with high quality equipment and competent instruction.

rms13

Cycling on a trainer is like being a hamster in a wheel and nothing I would pay for. The whole point of cycling is being outdoors to me. And my club is $50/year and provides several rides per week with coaches and racers if I need or want it

velociraptor

Looks like your big business idea has gone bust before it even started.

At least you saved time & money on the investment.

PepeM

The place that does this kind of stuff nearby charges $30 per class. I've never been.

memebag

Is that a "spin class"? I might be interested when it's really cold outside, but I can't see paying more than $10 for it.

rms13

My gym has spin classes included free with membership and I still would never go

indyfabz

How much "does" it cost is what I think you mean.


There is one place in Philly that charges $350 for a twelve-week session. Each session consists of two 1 hr. classes/week.


Another place charges $190 for two classes each week during an 8-week session. If you buy a monthly package it's $90 for two classes each week.

indyfabz

No. What he's talking about uses your own bike attached to a computerized trainer that measures all sorts of stats.

silversx80

Why load up my bike in a car, to drive somewhere I can stay indoors that's not a velodrome? Smart trainers are getting cheaper and cheaper, and you can add a service like Zwift for $10/mo, or CycleOps Virtual Trainer for $60/year. Both have built-in workout programs, along with customizable ones.

Nachoman

To me it's more about the program you're following, rather than the instructor.
A group of about ten of us do the Arnie Baker's High Intensity Training every winter.
And when our regular instructor is absent, someone else fills in, and it's a non issue.
I could just as easily do it at home alone.
So someone like me probably wouldn't pay anything.

ThermionicScott 

I'm convinced that some people are straight-up allergic to money.

memebag

So it's going to chew up my tires? No thanks.

indyfabz

And I am convinced that some people are straight-up allergic to how others decide to spend their money.


I know a few people who have gone to both places, including an ex-GF. The classes are pretty darn popular. One guy I know goes because he's old and has some balance problems. His doc said the next fall could be his last so he decided to give up outdoor cycling.

indyfabz

Probably no more than the street. Also, you can a "trainer tire" for your rear wheel. For some, it beats not riding due to bad weather and/or road conditions. And the instructors do offer training advice, etc.

kc0bbq

I think we pay $8 per 90 minute winter session, but most of us bring our own trainers. The coach has a half dozen extra KKs/CycleOps Fluid2, and a couple others that are a brand that I hadn't heard of but are pretty decent. (no smart trainers, but the coach will track your numbers for you if you want)

I don't think the coach makes much off it, since the fees have to cover the bike shop basement we take over for about 5 months. We start losing space when they start building inventory near the end of the winter, but for most of it we can leave our bikes set up the entire time. He also supplies recovery beer most nights.

Not going to ride outside when it hits -20F, and trainers are extra boring solo.

nycphotography

Yeah they can't be bothered to make enough to spend it how they want, so instead they adopt a bitter jealous self loathing demeanor and snipe at people who don't suffer the same allergy. Fascinating.

LGHT

There is a local shop that has a "clinic" with great trainers, power meters, and coaching. The program is $250 for 6 weeks twice a week and they do an initial evaluation at the first and last class. I think it's a huge plus for guys who have only been into cycling for a year or 2. Gives you real world stats and number on how hard you can and should be pushing. They cover zone training, HIT etc etc. It's great for newbies looking to get to the next level and not sure what to do.

ThermionicScott 

I could afford classes like this if I wanted to go, and I genuinely sympathize with folks like the old guy in @indyfabz' post. Just not seeing the point for normal folks, yet.

CliffordK

There are many "riding clubs", some with mandatory fees. Others with optional fees (with some perks?).

So, a person might pay, say $100 for 50 weekly rides. It isn't a lot, but say you could get 50 or 100 people paying, then you would get a few thousand bucks. The more diversity, and the more income.

Personal trainers?

Also, consider major "events". How many people will show up to ride a "century ride" that could just go out and ride a hundred miles alone?

Perhaps the big bucks come from sponsors not the individuals riding. So, build up a competitive team that wins races, then go to Trek, Specialized, Shimano, Campagnolo, etc, and get them to pay for the team support including training.

indyfabz

Wut does this have to do with what the OP asked about?

CliffordK

The OP asked about a group cycling class with "trainers".

Is that necessarily indoors? I interpreted it as taking a group of riders out and say doing intervals on hills or something with an instructor/trainer that knew his stuff.

Personally, I would have zero interest in hopping on my bike, riding a half hour or an hour to get to a gym. Riding in the gym for another hour, then hopping back on my bike and riding an hour back home.

indyfabz

He asked about "smart trainers," which are computerized trainers, and "qualified instructors," who are humans.


What he's asking about is something like this:


breakawaybikes

dalava

$25 is pretty standard, I think, for a indoor training session led by someone who knows what they are doing and they have the set up to capture and monitor all the data. During the winter months, heck even during the season, there is no better training than these HIIT indoor sessions if you care to improve as a cyclist.

For those who confuse this with "spinning" or think "outdoor is free so why should I pay for tortured indoor trainer rides", I would recommend you doing one of these and then form your opinion. A knowledgeable instructor can probably guess your FTP within the first a couple of sessions, and from there on out, you can really work on your LT based on heart rate and FTP. There are no better way to train, IMHO. Enjoyable? Maybe not. Does it improve you as cyclist? Absolutely.