The future of fitness at Barry Leisure Centre!
In January 2009, exciting new fitness equipment was added to
the LifeStyle gym and two new suites were opened. Here are
some further details on what is now available...
Trixter bike suite
The Vale of Glamorgan Council has become the first local
authority in Wales to install the revolutionary ‘Trixter’ bikes in
one of its leisure
centres, bringing the excitement, feeling and sights of outdoor
cycling inside four walls.
The new Trixter bike suite contains ten x-bikes which will be
used for lively 'extreme cycling’ classes for both
adults and teenagers.
With music pumping out, and an experienced instructor leading
the way, riders will imagine they are following the thrilling ride
being taken by a virtual cyclist on a large video screen at the
front of the suite. The videos will include street scenes, such as
weaving your way through New York's traffic!
Class members will move as the virtual cyclist does, being
part of the action-packed scenes while getting a beneficial workout
at the same time.
All of the bikes also
feel just like the real thing as their handlebars pivot and sway
from side to side as you sprint, climb and turn. This has an added
bonus as it gives you a full body workout for your core and upper
body muscles, rather than just your legs.
This makes them a step above other stationary bikes and by
riding them for just half an hour you can burn over 500 calories –
the equivalent to a large cheeseburger or Cornish pasty.
Half-hour Trixter bike classes are held at the
Leisure Centre seven days a week for adults and after school, five
days a week for teenagers.
The Easyline suite
The
Easyline room boasts hydraulic machines, steps and stretching
stations that provide a whole body workout. Users workout on
each piece of apparatus in turn.
The Easyline machines are designed to allow people to
exercise, regardless of their physical strength or abilities. What
you get out of these resistance machines depends on what you put in
– they are not necessarily a soft option, but are kinder on your
joints.
The Easyline room is for women only during the day while men can
use it via the exercise referral scheme. New instructor-led sessions are also starting
this summer.
Extra new equipment
In addition to the two new suites, the LifeStyle gym
extension has also seen the addition of extra Technogym
treadmills, waves, steppers and other high-tech equipment including
six Trixter ‘dream bikes’.
The dream
bikes have individual video screens (pictured
right) attached to them so that you can banish the winter
blues to cycle on the simulator over mountains, or through city
streets, parkland and deserts, all within the comfort of the
leisure centre. You can also compete against a partner or
friend through the networked technology.
A LifeStyle health and fitness membership allows
you to use all four of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s main leisure
centres in Barry, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major and Penarth, giving you
access to a total of four fitness studios, three health suites,
three pools and over 60 fitness classes each week.
Memberships start
from only £23.50 per month and further details can be found at
www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/leisurecentres or
by calling 01446 732457.