At Global Ride we believe that there is a big difference between “exercise” and “training”.  That difference is having a goal or objective that you can measure and continue to track its progress.  To that end, training with a heart rate monitor is an absolute must, and this class will give you the foundation and practice that will make every class at Global Ride more beneficial and enjoyable! 

Threshold Heart Rate Testing       

Threshold heart rate is the cross-over point between aerobic and anaerobic (non-aerobic) metabolism, measured at a specific heart rate, in beats per minute (BPM).  Threshold heart rate is important because you can design effective training plans that incorporate training load and response to that load.  Threshold heart rate is dynamic - it changes as fitness levels change, positive or negative.  Threshold heart rate is trainable - you can influence it based on the quality of your training.  Threshold heart rate is one of the strongest predictors of athletic performance.  As such, competitive athletes will want to test this on a regular basis; at least two times per year.  Once you do the workshop, you can perform the field test on your own whenever you like.

This workshop is 2 hours, where we spend 30 minutes in the class room learning about the fundamentals of Heart Zones, an hour is spent on the bike doing a field test, and then we return to the classroom to discuss the results for another 30 minutes.  A heart rate monitor is required for this class; bring what you have, or we have a couple models for sale in the proshop.

Intro to Road Riding

This workshop is specifically designed for those who are only interested in "exploring" riding, and aren't quite sure it is their "cup of tea". This class will not go into the detail of our "Standard Outdoor Riding I" class, as it is geared towards those less confident and less experienced. While always putting SAFETY first, this workshop will focus on bike handling, shifting, and the rudiments of climbing. We will not ride as many miles as our "Standard" intro workshop, as this could be considered the "preparation phase" for that class. Most riding will be flat, and most climbing will be small "rolling hills" and partial climbs are returns until the class gets stronger. At the conclusion of these 5 classes however, you will have the knowledge and confidence to continue with riding on your own, or better yet, to take our standard Introduction to Road Riding I class. Package price is for this series of classes only, and does not impact your current bank of "normal" classes.

Outdoor Road Riding I

This workshop is specifically designed for those wanting to ride outdoors on road bikes, over more than just flat rail trail type terrain. This means the back, less traveled paved roads. If you've never ridden outside, or have previously only ridden on trails closed to traffic, there are important safety practices to learn, and riding techniques to explore. This class will be conducted with 30 minutes of INSIDE education (along with simplified handouts), and about 1 hour of OUTSIDE riding. At the conclusion of these 5 classes, you will have the knowledge and confidence to ride safely and skillfully on the road - with others or by yourself. This is the perfect "tune up" also, if you've been away from riding for a while and want to get reacquainted with good form and proven riding techniques. Package price is for this series of classes only, and does not impact your current bank of "normal" classes.

Lactate Threshold Testing

  Using a Lactate Meter, we measure the lactate in your blood (using a tiny drop every couple of minutes, or every 5 heart beats).  The results are then plotted on a graph to produce your Lactate Performance Curve, the shape of which has implications for training, racing and overall performance at high output levels.  This requires both an instructor and a tester for every 2 or 3 riders, and therefore unless included in a “Team Promotion” or package of some kind, this is considered an “extra charge” service.   This should confirm the accuracy of your “non-invasive” Foster Threshold Test, and add a greater depth to the information provided.