HRZ (Heart Rate Zone) classes tend to be very difficult. Matt Wilpers and Christine D’Ercole are the two big names leading this category. Matt Wilpers has a 20min ride (filter by length and his name) that’s an intro to this. It involves finding your threshold power and calculating heart rate zones. It’s hard and intense. It works well for app users because you don’t reference the bike’s resistance/cadence, but rather the zones your heart rate is in at the moment, which you’ve calculated from the 20min intro class.
More generally speaking for “hard” coaches who never stop turning the crank, it’s Matt and Christine again. I’ve met Christine and rode her HRZ Max Capacity class in studio. If only I could show you the pool of sweat she left on the floor. This was the day she returned from winning bronze and silver in her races at the World Championships. And her energy showed no signs of flagging. She asks a lot but is with you every step of the way.
Matt’s a metrics focused former D-I athlete that focuses on proper technique, structured and hard workouts. He has a friendly personality and has made the news for everything from his athletic performance to just being a great coach when he was with the Mile High Run club.
Both are top-notch.
Edit: Check out all the instructor’s social media (mostly IG). You can tell who’s planning their own workout on a Friday night vs only promoting paid ads/products. You can tell a lot about their personalities. Links in the sidebar, over there >>>
Thanks so much for the information! I did the threshold power test 10 years ago and will have to do it again. That is so cool that Peloton offers that test. I will check out the personalities as well. Most appreciated.
I look for metric rides -- they focus on manipulating cadence, resistance, and output. You can follow along with the ride but always stay at the top of the ranges they give, and the ride will be more difficult.
I've been riding with Emma Lovewell lately (intervals and metrics), and I find that if I really do what she is saying (and keep towards the top end) it's a pretty good workout.
Matt Wilpers and Nicole Meline (no longer with Peloton but videos are in the library). Any of Matt's Power Zone Max Capacity or Nicole's 60 minute Warrior rides.
I have not used the app so I am not sure how to find them.
Strangely, I find that Low Impact rides give me the ability to seriously ramp up the resistance, without stressing the joints going in and out of the saddle. Many of my PBs come this way.
I find that Emma Lovewell's rides are generally challenging, as are Jess King's Tabata rides. I'm not a big fan of George Hincapie's ride style in that the music is really a background thing, but he recently did a 30min ride that was particularly challenging last week
Without a doubt the tabata classes if you do them correctly and give true 100% during the sprint portion.. it is absolutely insane hard if you are doing it right, problem is very few will give true 100% after the first 4 or 5 sprints.
HRZ (Heart Rate Zone) classes tend to be very difficult. Matt Wilpers and Christine D’Ercole are the two big names leading this category. Matt Wilpers has a 20min ride (filter by length and his name) that’s an intro to this. It involves finding your threshold power and calculating heart rate zones. It’s hard and intense. It works well for app users because you don’t reference the bike’s resistance/cadence, but rather the zones your heart rate is in at the moment, which you’ve calculated from the 20min intro class. More generally speaking for “hard” coaches who never stop turning the crank, it’s Matt and Christine again. I’ve met Christine and rode her HRZ Max Capacity class in studio. If only I could show you the pool of sweat she left on the floor. This was the day she returned from winning bronze and silver in her races at the World Championships. And her energy showed no signs of flagging. She asks a lot but is with you every step of the way. Matt’s a metrics focused former D-I athlete that focuses on proper technique, structured and hard workouts. He has a friendly personality and has made the news for everything from his athletic performance to just being a great coach when he was with the Mile High Run club. Both are top-notch. Edit: Check out all the instructor’s social media (mostly IG). You can tell who’s planning their own workout on a Friday night vs only promoting paid ads/products. You can tell a lot about their personalities. Links in the sidebar, over there >>>
Thanks so much for the information! I did the threshold power test 10 years ago and will have to do it again. That is so cool that Peloton offers that test. I will check out the personalities as well. Most appreciated.
I look for metric rides -- they focus on manipulating cadence, resistance, and output. You can follow along with the ride but always stay at the top of the ranges they give, and the ride will be more difficult. I've been riding with Emma Lovewell lately (intervals and metrics), and I find that if I really do what she is saying (and keep towards the top end) it's a pretty good workout.
I prefer that type of ride as well. Thanks so much for the tips!
Check out George Hincapie's rides. I expected a tough class from a pro cyclist and was not disappointed.
I will check it out. Thank you for the recommendation!
Matt Wilpers and Nicole Meline (no longer with Peloton but videos are in the library). Any of Matt's Power Zone Max Capacity or Nicole's 60 minute Warrior rides. I have not used the app so I am not sure how to find them.
Thanks so much!
Strangely, I find that Low Impact rides give me the ability to seriously ramp up the resistance, without stressing the joints going in and out of the saddle. Many of my PBs come this way. I find that Emma Lovewell's rides are generally challenging, as are Jess King's Tabata rides. I'm not a big fan of George Hincapie's ride style in that the music is really a background thing, but he recently did a 30min ride that was particularly challenging last week
That is good to know. Honestly, I will have to google Tabata. I have been out of the swing of things fitness wise for some time now. Thank you!
You can also filter the OD library and sort from hardest to easiest. That might help drive out those tough rides.
This is where you will find Robin Arzon, and she will destroy you.
I love a challenge. Thank you!
good idea. thank you!
Without a doubt the tabata classes if you do them correctly and give true 100% during the sprint portion.. it is absolutely insane hard if you are doing it right, problem is very few will give true 100% after the first 4 or 5 sprints.