Lucy works for a professional accountancy firm, and also owns a part-time, 7 bike, spinning studio in Queenstown - Eastern Cape.  This is Lucy's story:

I run 3 classes a day with 2 friends and myself instructing.  I am fairly new to the spinning game, but now as my own small business, it's great fun catering for a manageable group of enthusiasts, especially in the cold and dark winters.

Last year when I found out about the Chasek real time videos, I decided to try a virtual reality session. The group just loved it!  I just love it!
Now we run standard virtual reality sessions on a Friday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon.  

It has given a whole new dimension to training and with loud background music, the group really get going.  I have found them to be great as a team building effort because no-one gets left behind on a route.  This is great for morale especially for the weaker and not-so-fit guys.
I come from a running background and I always found that people were under pressure to perform.  This concept allows each person to conquer their own goals, without the pressure of trying to keep up.
Going down a virtual downhill, we have a "look ma - no hands"  thing that we do. 

As one of South Africa’s top ex-professionals cyclists, for many years, as well as short campaign in Europe, I can vouch for the neccesity of using an indoor trainer for certain aspects of training and maintaining the fitness levels needed for this extremely challenging sport.

Although currently retired, I have maintained a fitness program to stay in shape.  This has taken the form of uncompetitive running as well as a bit of mountain biking. 

South Africa has been the host of the extremely popular EPIC mountain bike stage race, for the last 2 years.

I have never lost the competitive edge and decided to make a concerted challenge in the 2005 event, with the aim of a possible win.  My training consisted of intense 4-6hr road rides and then on alternate days using an indoor trainer for recovery as well as honing certain techniques so crucial to being a winner.

Unfortunately a bad cycling accident, 2 weeks prior to this event, meant I was forced to withdraw. The accident left me with a broken collar bone, 6 broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Any top cyclist will confirm the psychological and physiological blow one experiences, when you have reached peak fitness for an event, only to have to sit back because of injury.

It is also fact that recovery is aided by being able to maintain some sort of physical program.  I continued this recovery using a spinning bike in my home.  Watching a variety of movies on a compact DVD player resting on the handlebars, enabled me to get through these painful recovery sessions.

Charlie called on my shop about 3 weeks after the accident, and gave me one of the DVD’s to use, during these recovery sessions.  It was awesome.  A normal 1 hour session went by without me realising it.  2 days later, I ordered the other 10 routes. My rehabilitation sessions became a pleasure.

Needless to say, the Chasek DVD's are now one of the successful product lines I carry in my bike shop, Willie Engelbrecht Cycles, in Durbanville - Capetown

I endorse these Chasek Indoor Trainer Route DVD’s as an excellent training aid, when the use of an indoor trainer, becomes an option for the road, for whatever reason.

Willie Engelbrecht

5 times winner Argus Cycle Tour.

3 times winner Rapport Tour of South Africa.

Profile:
Cycling Years - 27
National Colours in Road and Mountain Bike cycling
Stage winner in the Rapport Tour
Competed in World Cup Cross Country and Marathon races in Europe
2nd in the mixed team category(with Anke Erlank) in the 2006 Cape Epic

I am presently training for the 2007 Cape Epic and I have found the CHASEK DVD concept an invaluable tool in my training program for 2 main reasons:

1. I do one extremely intensive training session in an eight day cycle.  This is useful in that I can compare the data of those weekly sessions.  CHASEK allows me to create my own constant environment, which is essential if you do a comparative analysis of your training sessions.
Take the ARGUS route for example, which runs for 1h45m. If I ride at a constant 80% of maximum effort for the duration of the route, I can see the following statistics at the end of the session(depending on your trainer - I use the TACX FLOW).

• Distance
• Calories used
• Average watts
• Average cadence
• Average heart rate(For this I use a Polar)

The data can be analysed, by simply reading it off of the FLOW computer head and entering it into the relevant slots within the POLAR software.

Consequently, if I do the same route for my next session and there is an increase in the distance and drop in calories, I have become more effective on the bike.

Because the conditions(TIME) remain constant, you can design your own program within the CHASEK DVD. eg Intervals on hills or a time trial over X amount of minutes, etc.
At the end of the session you can record the data and use it as a comparison of your form and fitness, the next time you decide to ride the same route.

2. Having spent the entire 27 years of my cycling life in Stellenbosch, the Cape winters sometimes get the better of me. Although I need to train in the rain at times, CHASEK allows for a safer training environment and with the extensive range of routes to choose from, the traditional boredom relating to indoor training, has now made way for an exciting session.

Hi Guys,

The Chasek DVD's have changed my classes from ordinary to extra ordinary.  They have helped me achieve the title of Virgin Actives top spinning instructor in the gyms that I teach in.  And now my classes are always in great demand - Thanks Charlie

Jonny

Hi Charlie,

The Bloubergstrand DVD is very impressive and what a great workout, together with tons of scenery.

I will use the ARGUS dvd for some hill work until I have improved enough to try the full 1h45m training ride

Thanks for a great idea
Best regards

Tony

Every year(of many) that I have taken part in the Argus, I have struggled with the first of the major climbs, namely Smitswinkel.  A simple mental block that I have never been able to overcome.  I knew the only way to get over it was to try and ride it as often as I could, but as you know, time is a issue and it's 2hr ride just to get there. 

For years that block would stress me out way before the climb.  By the time the short final section of the climb started my legs would be numb from fear of being dropped from the group.

This year I used the Argus DVD to see if I could get past that mental block.  By focusing on Smitswinkel I realised it was actually not as tough as I thought. Apart from the bite at the end of the climb the whole ride from Simonstown is quite a pleasant and scenic ride.

This year, thanks to the DVD, I had it all worked out.  I had no problem at all during the climb. 
Even though my fitness level was not as it has been in previous years, I had a comfortable ride with my group, over the top of the climb.

There is no doubt that the Argus DVD got me through my mental block for Smitswinkel.

Thanks - Johan

“Thanks for the demo last night, it was good fun. I think that it may really work and give you an awesome work out on your trainer.  I think that training on a trainer is really beneficial if you can stomach the boredom. I think that it makes you super strong and if you have something to occupy your mind like a dvd it may really help to "ease the pain".  My problem is that I strain my neck to look up the whole time, I  have got into a habit of looking down most of the time when I train either on my indoor trainer or at gym, so even that little bit last night started to hurt, but for those normal people who can look ahead of them I would say its brilliant!!

I think that it may be a good idea to do the session in the shop, it’s a nice atmosphere and may really promote the brand.”

“Thanks for the evening; it is such a good idea as one has to use a trainer these days what with work commitments and traffic problems.

The DVD just helps you to focus and keep good intervals; I am going to try a full ride tonight and see.

I would like to use my DVD a bit more and then let you know, I did have a look at the off road DVD and I was wondering what effect the shaking of the video would have.

I might make a suggestion that you run a few more demo rides so that more people get to experience the effect.