Tag Archives: Spinning

Pair a Bluetooth Low Energy Cadence Sensor

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Troubleshooting Your Sensors

Android Support for Cadence Sensors now Released!!

Fitdigits apps iCardio, iRunner, iWalker and iBiker are compatible with the Wahoo RPM Cadence Sensor and other Bluetooth Low Energy compatible cadence sensors like Bryton, Polar, CycleOps and more. Now you can use the sensor to accurately track your Spinning / Indoor Cycling cadence, or use the sensor to track a bike ride while using GPS to track speed and distance. You must have a Bluetooth Smart compatible device to pair.

    1. Install your Cadence Sensor on your bike or Spinning Bike
    2. Push the pedals in order to activate the sensor
    3. Open the Fitdigits app and go to Menu > Sensors
    4. Scroll down to “Cadence” hit the + button
    5. The app should scan and find the active cadence sensor. Tap OK to pair

You are now paired! Begin a Spinning or Bike workout to get real time cadence. Check out DC Rainmaker’s post on “How to get and record cadence information on a spin or gym bike” for tips on how to utilize the RPM Cadence Sensor on a bike – pretty cool stuff.

Stronger and Smarter Workouts With Fitdigits

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Susan has been Spinning® with Fitdigits Ambassador and Spinning Instructor Giovanni Masi for over a year.

Since Gio has started to help her in her running training using Fitdigits to track Heart Rate, Susan has recorded Personal Bests on runs on a near weekly basis! She never thought she could break the 12 min mile mark, but with the help of her trainer, the Fitdigits app and a Heart Rate Monitor, she has left that time in the dust. Also gathering dust is her old Garmin Watch.

Suffice to say, Susan thinks Fitdigits is pretty splendid:

“I have so far logged 88 running and Spinning workouts with Fitdigits. Fitdigits’s visual displays allow me to compare one workout to another, which has facilitated improvement in performance, recovery and endurance. Over the past four months Fitdigits has taught me to control my heart rate in such a way as to become more efficient in both running and Spinning®. For example, the first run I logged on Fitdigits was October 10, 2012 with a pace average of 12:04, which was pretty much the norm for me. Later on a similar run I logged a pace average of 10:34, which is a time I never thought I would see! This is a remarkable feat and attributable to the skills learned from using Fitdigits and Giovanni’s training advices/plans on a regular basis. Taking more than 1.5 minutes off my pace has inspired me to keep trying to run faster and stronger.

During spinning classes, Fitdigits has taught me to control my heart rate with resistance and breath. It has truly empowered me with the confidence and strength with which to challenge myself to become a stronger and smarter rider. It appears as though the strength gained from using Fitdigits regularly has spilled over into general fitness classes and personal training at the Y and at L.A. Fitness. Now, using Fitdigits in those classes will help me to improve my performance there as well.

Overall, I would say that the gains from using Fitdigits have been great. Just by monitoring my heart rate and learning how to control it, my level of fitness has improved remarkably. Since I spend an average of nine hours a week engaged in physical activity, this is a big deal. Thank you Fitdigits!”

Now that Susan has made such great gains, the next step is taking a Fitness Assessment so she can truly see her gains in her fitness level.

From Couch Potato to Spartan with Fitdigits

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Shawn has been working out with Fitdigits Ambassador and Spinning Instructor Giovanni Masi for 2 years now. Shawn attends Giovanni’s weekly Saturday Boot camp at the South Dade YMCA Family center and lifts weights with a friend. Occasionally, he fits in cardio cardio exercise in here and there to supplement his workouts.

Just over a year ago, Shawn decided to do personal training with Giovanni 2x a week. In this time, Shawn has made some wonderful changes. He is now down 3 pants sizes and had to purchase a new business wardrobe and formal wear!

When Shawn started to run, he was using a Timex Ironman GPR Hear rate Monitor. Two months ago, Shawn ditched the watch and instead began tracking heart rate using Fitdigits on his iPhone.

So far Shawn has been thrilled with Fitdigits:

“I am old, fat and slow. I need to get Fitdigits to tell me when I’ve had too many Capt’n Morgans and diet cocktails!

I like the real time reporting during the workout so I have a double check if I am really pushing myself or not. I have this tool with me during personal training with Giovanni, while taking his HIIT/TABATA class or out for my daily runs.

The results and reporting is a nice feature, whether you are running and want mile by mile split times, heart rate, or just in the gym and want to see how many calories you burned. I don’t workout without Fitdigits! Fitdigits makes it easy to share workouts with Giovanni for analysis or tease my friends on Facebook.”

Shawn competed this past weekend in the Florida Spartan Race, placing 47 out of 290 racers in his age division! It’s the furthest Shawn has run/raced at just over 9 miles and 22 obstacles during the challenge.

Shawn just finished his first Spartan race with the help of Fitdigits!

Spinning®: 5 Expert Tips for Newbies

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If you’ve ever contemplated taking a Spinning class but were too scared to try, you aren’t alone. Many newcomers are intimidated by the loud music, the instructor’s barking orders and the unfamiliar terms. Part of getting fit, however, is leaving your comfort zone and trying something new. Once you have the basics down though, an indoor-cycling session can be one of the most beneficial cardiovascular exercises that delivers tons of dopamine for that post-workout bliss so many of us crave.

Check out these tips from Fitdigits Resident Spinning Instructor and Trainer, Giovanni Massi.

Seek recommendations
Each indoor cycling instructor has a different teaching style and music choice, which can make or break your Spinning® experience. I always say that group fitness instructors are like restaurants: the food may be great, but if it doesn’t tickle your taste buds you won’t go back! That’s why it’s important to find one whose coaching technique keeps you motivated and playlist inspires you. For help picking your first cycling class, ask friends, fellow gym goers and staff members which instructors they like and why. Otherwise, peek in on a class that’s already in session to get a sense of the overall vibe. After your first session, test out various classes to figure out whose instruction keeps you moving.

Know what to bring to class
One of the most important items to bring with you is water. Indoor cycling classes are typically held in small rooms where there’s less air flow which is needed to help your body cool down. Drinking plenty of water throughout class will stabilize your core temperature and pump blood to muscles. A towel to wipe sweat from your face, a pair of padded shorts and sweat-wicking clothing will keep you comfortable throughout the session. Heart-rate monitors are also recommended to ensure you reach optimal performance and stay within safe heart-rate zones. Fitdigits’s iCardio App not only measures your heart rate, but also tracks other keep fitness data like caloric burn.

Arrive to class early
Getting to class early gives you a chance to speak with the instructor who can make you feel at ease about your first session. The instructor will help you set up the bike properly, explain safety measures and proper form, plus provide an overview of how the class will flow. He or she may also watch you a little more closely during class and give you special instructions to help perfect your form.

Ride at your own pace
One of my favorite things about indoor cycling is that it is each person’s own ride. Unlike other group fitness classes, it isn’t obvious if you can’t keep up or if you miss a step. Though instructors guide speed, cadence and heart rate, the individual controls the overall level of intensity–so you can make the ride as easy or as hard as you want.

Don’t give up
Indoor cycling can be hard work especially for first timers. Many newbies become fatigued early on in the session and may consider quitting in the middle of class because they feel it’s too hard to finish. If this happens to you, don’t give up. Slow down your heart rate by lowering your pedal speed, removing any weight off the wheel, breathing deeply and drinking plenty of H2O. This will give you a chance to recover and give you energy needed to finish the class. Don’t be hard on yourself though, it’s natural to feel this way during the first session. Stay committed to finish and know that with each class you will continue building endurance and cardiovascular strength.

Giovanni Masi is a certified Spnning® instructor with over 22 years of experience. As a Fitdigits ambassador and resident Spinning Instructor and Trainer, Giovanni wants to hear from you. Follow Giovanni on Twitter: GioFitness or email: giofitness @fitdigits.com.

I lost 17 pounds with Fitdigits by Bruce J.

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Testimonial from Fitdigits User – Bruce J.

I have been using Fitdigits with a Garmin heart rate monitor on my iPhone for about 6 months now. I’ve lost about 17lbs and I owe it to how Fitdigits guides me thru my workouts.

I am a 53 year old father of three. I’m in fairly good shape, no credit to trying… Before the beginning of this year I hadn’t exercised for a very long time, in fact I was about 17 lbs from where I should have been.

At the beginning of the year I joined a gym near work and tried a spin class. It seemed real hard so I dragged out an old heart monitor and watch. I found I was approaching my maximum heart rate so I figured I needed to temper it a bit, so I didn’t have a heart attack during class.

I thought it would be real cool if I could chart my heart rate during the workouts and see exactly what my heart was doing. So after I did my research I got the Fitdigits app with a Garmin heart rate strap. That in itself helped me to see exactly what my heart was doing while I was working out. After a while I was starting to get into better shape and felt disappointed that I was not losing any weight no matter how hard I was working out.

With the aid of Fitdigits I realized I was working out too intensely so during my days off I started riding a stationary bike I had at home but kept my heart rate in Zone 2: Fitness (Fat Burn) on the Fitdigits. When my heart rate started to go up I eased off a bit and when my heart rate started to drop too far I peddled harder. My workout time flew by and the lbs just started melting away.

I’m now almost to the weight I was when I got married over 25 years ago. In addition to the weight I’m almost at 2 belt notches on my waist, so it’s visible. Not only have I not changed my diet very much, but I don’t seem to be rebounding weight wise when I miss a class or two. It’s now looking like I might need new clothes, not a bad price to pay.

I’m now building a road bike and will be getting the speed and cadence sensor to use with my Fitdigits app. I’m looking to make this a lifestyle change and now only workout with my Fitdigits.

Pedal to Run Fast

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By Doug Katona, Spinning Master Instructor

Me run? Are you nuts? I am a cyclist—cyclists pedal. Runners run. It’s that simple—at least that’s what I used to think several years ago. But now that I have taken up running, I think to myself, “how can I get my 5K time under 18 minutes?” The cross-training benefits from cycling to running are great and the Spinning program has been the “X factor” in reducing my run times. If you’re a runner, you may even benefit more from the Spinning program than might a cyclist. Want to run faster? Spinning classes will do the trick.

There are more similarities than differences between running and the Spinning program. Cadences are similar. The training approach is mirrored. Power output is a major indicator of performance. And both are extremely functional in their fitness application.

“There is no question the Spinning program makes you stronger without the impact,” says Thomas Miller, multi-sport coach and nine-time Ironman competitor. “I did three TransRockies (a sort of Tour de France on foot) with 30 percent less mileage than the other top-level competitors and I was still climbing with the best of them. The Spinning program has been my secret weapon.”
Recent studies have shown that cycling can improve 10K race times by nine percent and 5K times by three percent. Do the math. That’s often the difference in securing podium placement or not (kind of like cycling).

And what about injuries? Injuries seem to limit runners’ performance potential much more than cyclists. Studies show that for every 1,000 hours of each sport, cycling sees about half the amount of injuries compared to running. Fewer injuries leads to a longer career.

One of the most significant points is the functional component that the Spinning program provides the pavement pounder. Just like in Spinning classes, the more resistance you can handle, the stronger you are. When you run at higher volumes or higher intensities, it often means more impact or more recovery needed. The Spinning program provides structured interval training to increase training loads with shorter recovery windows. Plus, Spinning classes will strengthen muscles needed for running without the compression impact of running.

I wrote a blog on the Spinning Community site in March and talked about the effect cadence has in relationship to foot strikes. The more efficient you are with pedal cadence, the more powerful you will be in cycling. Running is very similar. The less time your feet spend on the ground, the better. Studies have shown a correlation between pedaling at a high cadence and running at a high cadence. The results show that the shorter your contact time with the ground, the less chance you have for injury.

Spinning classes also provide additional base-building opportunities for runners. You can ride for 45–60 minutes while maintaining a stable heart rate without the obstacles of outdoor terrain change, climate or other non-stabilizing forces. Just like cyclists, runners benefit from time trial efforts and Spinning classes give the runner a stable, consistent training environment.

One of the most undervalued benefits might be the fact that you can improve as a runner without running! You get to enjoy some music, see some different faces and still get a heck of a training session.

Spinning classes just may be the key to unlocking the secret of running faster without running—5K anyone?

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