Indoor cycling is changing. Last month, we looked at how a variety of trends, including training like an athlete, classes led by rock-star instructors and gamification, have raised gym-goers' expectations for indoor bikes. So how can operators not only meet these expectations but continue to exceed them?

"We’re seeing more gyms moving away from traditional classes and expanding their offering to focus on the overall experience," says Doyle Armstrong from Life Fitness. "Gone are the days when operators could just fill a room with bikes and expect members to react in the same way. Studio design is fast becoming a USP and we’re seeing investment in interactive elements – music, lighting, virtual technology, etc. – to deliver a holistic experience that, crucially, still achieves results."

Staying on track
And results are all important, explains Stages Cycling's Elena Lapetra. "There are two very distinct pelotons in indoor cycling. The performance gang and the rhythm one. You may think that the rhythm guys will be all about the beats and a themed ride, but reality is that the super-connected generation wants to have fun, for sure, but also wants to have a workout that counts."

She continues: "Tracking what riders are doing is so popular now that even well-known and established rhythm-only cycle brands are investing in allowing their riders to take their data away, even if it's not being mentioned to members at all during the classes.

"Thirty per cent of millennials regularly use trackers, with a predicted growth of 15 per cent per year from 2016 to 2020."

Age before beauty
But millennials are not the only ones driving the evolution of indoor cycling. "We have an ever increasing over-60s market," says Tracy Morrell, director of React Fitness. "People are living longer, they may simply want to stay well and pain free. Studies show that exercise is the best prevention against age-related disease, and indoor cycling is one of the safest ways to exercise."

"The industry must look for additional market segments and kill the lazy, one-size-fits-all timetable," agrees Lapetra. "We can do this with classes and technology that allow everyone to train at their own levels, while still feeling part of the group."

Morell sums it up: "Incorporating trends such as HIIT training, gamification, virtual reality, progress tracking and small group training, in a way that's easily accessible for all ages and levels must surely be a priority for indoor cycling.”