The city of Redmond is known as the “Bicycle capital of the Northwest.” But the local weather is not always conducive to outdoor pedal power.

That’s where the new Vo2 Performance Center comes in.

The center, located in Overlake on NE 152nd Street adjacent to Microsoft’s campus and the old Group Health building, opened in November. It offers time-effective training for athletes of all levels, from the experienced ironman triathlete to a business professional or stay-at-home mom looking to work off some holiday pounds.

“It’s about inclusion,” said Vo2 founder Ben Bigglestone, who ran a similar business in England before moving to Seattle in 2005. “We want to appeal to all athletes of all abilities — cyclists, runners, swimmers, triathletes, people that are active and want to move to the next level or learn more about themselves.”

COMPUTRAINING TO SUCCESS

The performance center’s main feature is its clients’ access to the newest and best technology on the market.

Called a “Computrainer,” athletes have the ability to hook up and program their bicycles to a machine that can customize a virtual “ride” for them by adding or removing load, as well as give real-time, instant feedback on their speed, power, cadence and heart rate.

“We can offer a variety of rides from low-intensity, general aerobic rides where we can teach the individual and help them develop their cycling technique, to rides that can be particularly intense,” Bigglestone noted. “People can see that on our schedule online, and sign in to a ride that’s appropriate for them.”

Vo2 also offers treadmills, yoga balls and a large selection of free weights for members to get a full-body workout, as well as scheduling outdoor runs — weather permitting — to help triathletes and marathoners prepare for their events.

Bigglestone, who has been participating in triathlons around the world since 1989, has made a name for himself in the industry and has used his connections to hire a highly qualified staff at Vo2.

“We have some of the most experienced cyclist and triathletes in the area leading classes here,” Bigglestone said. “It gives people peace of mind, that what they’re being told to do is proven. They practice what they preach.”

Vo2 also offers a wide variety of drop-in classes in a variety of levels from the beginners’ “Technique and General Aerobic” to the more strenuous “Lactate Threshold” and “Vo2 Development” courses.

Bigglestone invites anyone interested to sign up for a free trial ride, and if membership is attained, the performance center will store and upload all of each member’s ride data to track progress.

“We can report that back to the member, sit down with them, and have a training consult,” Bigglestone explained, adding that members benefit from unlimited rides, complimentary core circuit classes, and free use of any part of the facility during business hours. “Being a coach, I wanted to look after my athletes and ensure that they get the most out of themselves … this environment allows us to do it in a safe, controlled manner.”

A NO-BRAINER

Upon moving to the Seattle area from the U.K. several years ago, the one thing that took Bigglestone aback was the lack of high-level facilities that focus on athletic development.

“The Seattle area in general and the Eastside is very dense with active people,” Bigglestone said. “There is a similar facility in Seattle, but nothing (like this) on the Eastside. There is a demand, so it was a no-brainer really to put this together and get it up and running.”

The Exercise Physiology and Sport Psychology double-major from Leeds Metropolitan University acknowledged that spending an hour in his facility is worth approximately 90 minutes to two hours on the road due to controlled factors.

“You also don’t have to worry about other factors like spending time at stoplights, getting dressed depending on what the weather conditions are, or being worried about poor motorists and cyclists getting hit, which unfortunately is an all-too-common occurrence right now,” explained Bigglestone, who was hit by a car while training for Ironman Week in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho last June. “In here, you’re pedaling all the time, and the intensity is controlled for you. It’s a time-effective way to train for the time-pressured individual.”

Vo2 Performance Center is located at 2795 152nd Ave NE, Building #7, in Redmond. For more information or to schedule a trial ride, visit the Web site at www.vo2performance.com or send Bigglestone an e-mail at ben@vo2performance.com.