Software and method for indoor cycling instruction

Abstract

An application software that combines instructional cues with music along with a graphic representation of a workout, such as a cycling workout, for teaching one or more individuals riding stationary bikes, or regular bicycles on stationary trainers, performing other exercises, used for indoor exercise or training. Instructors of indoor cycling or Spinning® classes can use their mobile device to create a class that contains music for the class, their instructional cues by voice or text, and an automatically generated graphic profile of the ride of workout. The climb or graph is represented by harder exercise efforts appearing higher on the graph, with easier efforts appearing lower as a function of the target heart zone or percent of max heart rate. Colors can be associated with specific cardiovascular or power zones of physical difficulty or intensity. By having the music, instructional cues, and graphics related to the class all in the same mobile device, the instructor no longer has to try and work with multiple items or devices while riding a stationary bike.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, written as a programmable code, stored on a computer readable medium, and adapted to create, store and execute an exercise class, the method comprising:
 providing a class creation module, the class creation module permitting a user to create the exercise class and store the exercise class on a computing device;   providing a class edit module, the class edit module permitting the user to provide audio for the exercise class, the audio being divided into class segments, the class edit module permitting the user to add instructional cues at various points in one or more class segments, the class edit module allowing the user to set heart zone intensity settings for each class segment; and   providing a class ride module, the class ride module permitting the user to execute the exercise class stored on the computing device, the class ride module providing a video output to be viewed by participants in the class, the video output including a graphical representation of the heart zone intensity settings in each class segment and an indicator to show a real time indicator of the exercise class as it progresses, the class ride module permitting the user to control various aspects of the exercise class via the computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising playing pre-class and post-class music before and after the exercise class. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the instructional cues on the computing device of the user during the exercise class. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying training parameters for each class segment along with the instructional cue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing multiple exercise classes on the computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise class involves cycling. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video output further includes one or more exercise class parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video output further includes one or more videos or pictures. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the class edit module allows the user to set one or more parameters for each segment, the parameters selected form the group consisting of a segment name, a training category, a skill, a text or verbal cueing instruction, a time for cue delivery, a target cadence, the heart zone intensity, a rate of perceived exertion and power. 
     
     
         10 . A method of teaching an exercise class comprising:
 running an application on a computing device, the application having a class creation module, a class edit module and a class ride module, the class creation module permitting a user to create the exercise class and store the exercise class on the computing device prior to the class, wherein:   the class edit module permits the user to provide audio for the exercise class, the audio being divided into class segments, the class edit module further permits the user to add instructional cues at various points in one or more class segments, the class edit module allowing the user to set heart zone intensity settings for each class segment; and   the class ride module permits the user to execute the exercise class stored on the computing device, the class ride module providing a video output to be viewed by participants in the class, the video output including a graphical representation of the heart zone intensity settings in each class segment and an indicator to show a real time indicator of the exercise class as it progresses, the class ride module permitting the user to control various aspects of the exercise class via the computing device.