Review: Motion Traxx’s Cycle Coach

Wouldn’t it be cool to have your very own Cycle Coach? Your own private Spin class, where a master trainer tells you exactly what to do to get a killer workout? Well, say hello to the Motion Traxx CD/download Cycle Coach. Part rockin’ workout music and part coaching, this little CD delivers a sweaty hour of intense cycling with Rachel Buschert Vaziralli, a Schwinn Master Trainer with more than ten years experience teaching fitness. And girlfriend delivers!

We’ve long know that many of Motion Traxx’s products rock, but this new workout is a great one for intermediate and advanced exercisers who are looking to really put the pedal to the metal. Interval by interval—some standing, some seated—Rachel cues you to not just give the workout your all, but also to really see how your body feels and learn where your limits are. Or aren’t, for that matter.

Unlike a Spin class where an instructor might just tell you what to do, Rachel really coaches you through finding the right pace and speed for you. She’s upbeat and encouraging, but not overly perky and although she demands a lot from you, you want to do it. She knows what she’s doing, and you want to do it for her and for you. The music in this one is fabulous, too. High-energy but not cheesy or overly techno (we like techno, but it’s nice to not always have that sound during workouts), it works in tandem with the intervals, helping to guide your pacing and give you that little extra energy burst when the going gets tough (or the pedaling gets harder).

So, really, we got nothing but love for this workout. At just $8.99, it’s a heck of a good deal if you’re looking to get stronger on the bike. So grab your bike trainer or a Spin bike at the gym, fire it up on your iPod and get to it!

Do you love audio-guided workouts like this? Ever tried one before? —Jenn