Enhanced Olympic spin experience
The Wales National Velodrome in Newport is one of only five velodromes in the UK recognised by Union Cycliste Internationale, the world representative body for competitive cycling and regulator of official venues and events. In 2016, the Velodrome hosted training camps for Team GB and Paralympics GB ahead of the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, and it continues to be used by cycling clubs, groups and individuals for training and recreation.
The project
A recent overhaul of the Velodrome Spin Studio has given cyclists and non-cyclists alike the chance for effective training away from the heat and rush of the track. It doesn’t matter if riders are athletes in training for the next big tour or curious newbies giving cycling a spin: instructor led or virtual training sessions in the Spin Studio can deliver the experiences they need from their ride.
Newport Live, owners of the Velodrome, approached Hutchison-t on the advice of a UK Olympic venue who had worked with us previously and achieved outstanding results. With our creative insight and technical expertise, we set about designing and installing a spin studio that would do justice to Newport Live’s vision of an enhanced and flexible spin experience.
What we did
We designed a comprehensive system and carefully specified each product to get the very best from the space. A Bose RoomMatch Utility RMU105 small-format sound reinforcement loudspeaker ensures high-quality foreground music, and features a Bose® EMB2 compression driver for mid-to-high frequency voicing. A single Bose MB12 bass module was also added to enhance the beat. Although we could have provided a woofer with full-range audio output, it would have been redundant for the studio dimensions and usage, and an unnecessary expense.
Low-level perimeter LED strips frame the studio space, and a 4m wide fixed-frame projector screen creates a cinematic vibe and inspires a sense of occasion. And what better occasion than a spin class featuring the latest and greatest best-in-class video content and performance metric analytics? The Wales National Velodrome is the first UK venue to invest in ICG® Connect, a revolutionary system designed to motivate and personalise the group cycle experience using individual in-class performance analysis, group competitions, and on-screen challenges that riders take on as a team.
With Hutchison-t’s proprietary iPad control, Velodrome instructors have total and intuitive control over the in-class audio and lights that they want to match with their rides. According to Newport Live’s Commercial Director, Andrea Hall: “Motivation is a big part of maintaining a good fitness regime, and having the ability to select tracks to suit the session is key… we have definitely seen attendance at both live and virtual sessions increase following the installation of the system.”
