Don't just float along; keep pedaling!
Amphibious bike "Cyclomer," Paris, 1932. National Archives of the Netherlands.

As an avid cyclist and spinning instructor, I spend a lot of time on a bike. Being outside, fresh air in your face, speed, and putting in the mileage makes outdoor cycling incredibly enjoyable, almost relaxing. That said, I find myself more drawn to the loud pumping music, heat, and sweat of a spin room, black lights, the energy of other riders, and the constant “go” in a spinning class.

I thought about that recently and tried to figure out why I prefer spinning so much more than outdoor cycling. I realized one major difference between outdoor cycling and spinning: in outdoor cycling you coast. An outdoor bike allows you to coast, to stop peddling while the wheels continue to spin, which allows you to rest while continuing forward momentum.

A spin bike, however, is designed in such a way that a rider cannot coast. If the peddles are stopped, the fly-wheel stops, and all work, all momentum stops. A rider can change the tension on the fly-wheel, increasing it to make it feel like a windy road or even a super steep climb, or decrease it to a flat road or even a downhill, but the rider’s legs must keep moving in order to keep the wheels of the bike moving.

After thinking some more I realized that THIS is why I prefer spinning over cycling. I love that I can’t coast, which means I’m always moving, always working. A flat road becomes a climb and goes right into a windy sprint then back to a hill. I do enjoy outdoor cycling for the nature and relaxation, but when I want to workout, when I want to feel like I’m really “doing something,” I always choose to spin.

And then I realized something else…

Really great salespeople are “spinners,” not “outdoor cyclists,” because great salespeople never coast. After a big sale or a verbal promise, or even a signed contract, a great salesperson is still moving. They are putting together a proposal, entering activities or opportunities, sending a thank-you note, or moving on to the next sale. They never put their foot down and expect their “bike” — their business — to continue forward momentum without them putting the energy behind it.

So, the next time you’re either working on a sale or have just completed one, don’t coast — be a “spinner,” always pushing to do more, working harder, and selling more!

By Heather McCormick, Efficio Launch Manager