FIT is happy to welcome, what FIT founder Thom Downing says is, “the most dynamic, functional and smart piece of metabolic conditioning equipment to come onto the fitness scene since the Concept2 rower in 1976”, the WattBike.
FIT will be offering a free clinic on the WattBike, featuring FIT’s in-house Pro cyclist, Taylor Tolleson on June 2nd from 630-8pm at FIT. Free spin scans will be given so come prepared to ride!
The WattBike was developed over 7 years and is the world’s first affordable indoor bike that accurately measures power (Watts). It has a unique, patented measurement system and ground-breaking software.
Launched in 2008, the machine was signed off by the English Institute of Sport as being accurate, and is now fully integrated into British Cycling’s Whole Sport Plan at all levels from performance through to participation. It is the first indoor bike that has ever been endorsed by British Cycling and it is now used as their frontline Talent ID screening tool.
Key features that make the machine stand out from others include the fact that it feels like ‘real’ cycling – on the flat and climbing – and it delivers accurate, repeatable and comparable results. The bike can be used for rehabilitation, general fitness, high level training, scientific testing, cross-training and competition.
It features a unique ‘polar display’ that provides immediate feedback on the cyclist’s technique and all bikes are factory calibrated identically, allowing them to be linked together for accurate racing. It delivers a new level of depth and accuracy of data all of which can be viewed in real time and saved for later analysis.
At one extreme, it is an exercise bike, and at the other, it’s a highly sophisticated sports science analysis bike, making it suitable for everyone from recreational cyclists through to Olympic champions.
The Wattbike provides safe, 24/7 gym use and can be used for regular exercise, group exercise or competitions in gyms across the UK. It is also available to buy for the home and offers a great alternative to a turbo trainer or an upright bike.
Beyond cycling, the Wattbike has broader appeal. It is a superb cross-training and talent ID tool for a wide range of sports that want a high quality training alternative, delivering objective data. It is currently being used as an initial screening tool for Girls4Gold and Pitch2Podium – UK Sport’s Talent ID programmes for girls and released football players. British Cycling also see the Wattbike as becoming a fundamental feature within secondary schools as a gateway activity to the sport of cycling, and as part of the solution to the lack of physically active lifestyles in society today.
FIT’s Head Cycling instructor Taylor Tolleson got his start racing in triathlon at the early age of 14. In 2005 after 4 years of racing in the ITU, Xterra and National circuit attending 3 triathlon world championships and 3 duathalon world championships he decided to pursue a profession in road racing. After only a few months he got picked up on the US National team where he raced and lived in Europe. Shortly thereafter he received his first professional contract to start in 2006. While racing on prestigious professional teams such as BMC and Garmin-Chipotle, Taylor was able to work very closely with the best coaches in training and power analysis, Max Testa and Alan Lim. After a tragic hit and run accident in 2009 he has decided to focus on coaching and wattage training.
Career Highlights:
(2008) 1st Tour de Leelanau
(2007) 1st Stage #6 International Tour de Toona
(2006) 2nd Best Young Rider Competition Tour of California 2-Time X-Terra World Champion
2009
2nd Merco Cycling Classic Road Race
2008
1st Tour de Leelanau
4th Stage #2 Ronde Van Brisbane
8th Stage #7 Tour de Georgia
1ST copperopolis
2007
1st Stage #6 International Tour de Toona
2nd Stage #3 Tour of Elk Grove
2nd Red Trolley Classic Criterium
5th Under-23 National Criterium Championship
10th Under-23 National Road Race Championship
18th Stage #6 Amgen Tour of California
19th prologue Amgen Tour of California
2006
2nd Best Young Rider Competition Tour of California
16th Prologue Tour de Normandie
2005
1st Collegiate National Mountain Bike Short Track Championship
1st NCAA National Team Time Trial Championship
1st Stage #5 Cascade Classic (Bend, OR)
3rd Stage #6 Cascade Classic (Bend, OR)
6th MIPS Technologies Mt. Hamilton Road Race
6th NCC Road Race National Championship
7th Copperopolis Road Race (Milton, CA)
2004
1st X-Terra World Championship
1st X-Terra U.S Championship
1st Collegiate National Mountain Bike Short Track Championship
3rd Trek Bikes Collegiate National Criterium Championship
3rd Trek Bikes Collegiate National Team Time Trial Championship
About FIT
The F.I.T. experience is unique from the level of coaching, to the attention to your individual needs, to the support that is palpable as soon as you walk through our doors. Located in the heart of Los Altos, California, F.I.T. is a school of fitness, focused on all factors of health, with the intention of living a longer and better life. Through a variety of services we offer, ranging from personal training to group CrossFit classes, we focus on functional training through optimization of the physical competencies in each of the 10 recognized fitness domains:
Cardio-respiratory endurance, Stamina, Strength, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, Balance and Accuracy.
The F.I.T. coaches adapt to the fitness level of their students while providing instruction, guidance, and support. Our student body is extremely diverse ranging from ages 10 to 93, in experience from novice to elite, and in life, from executives to stay-at-home moms to children to athletes of many varieties.