Sweat dripped off the bikers’ noses as they pedaled to the beat of Ricky Martin’s music, imagining themselves climbing a steep hill.

They were participating in Precision Cycling, a new group fitness class offered at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center.

“It’s a good workout,” said Beth Brei, senior in statistics. “I like how you can go at your own pace.”

She attends the class about once a week on weeknights. She said most of the 14 stationary bikes are usually full.

Brei said the class instructors provide encouragement and motivation. She prefers cycling in the class to biking alone, because her classmates push her.

Precision Cycling instructor Sarah Schulz said the motivation enhances the class workout.

“This class gets people pushing themselves harder,” said Schulz, senior in exercise and sport science.

She has taught aerobics classes at the Rec since May of 2000.

“It’s different,” Schulz said. “It’s not like choreography.”

The Precision Cycling class builds and utilizes physical strength rather than depending on choreographed moves, she said.

It increases lower body strength while building cardiovascular fitness, targeting the calves, hamstrings and quadriceps. Participants also use their upper body strength to stabilize themselves, Schulz said.

Students at all fitness levels can participate in this class.

“You can make it as hard or easy as you want,” Brei said.

Bikers can control their effort by adjusting the bike’s resistance as they pedal to the cadences of popular music.

Instructors add variety by changing the pace and leading the group in a few sets of 10-second sprints, Schulz said. They also spice up the workouts by having participants stand up occasionally while pedaling, she said.

As the bikers pedal, instructors encourage them to picture themselves cruising along flat roads or conquering steep hills, Schulz said.

“Of all the classes I’ve tried, I like this a lot,” Brei said.

Lynn Spivey, the Recreation Center’s fitness program coordinator, said the total cost for the Precision Cycling program and equipment was about $15,000.

She said the staff strives to keep up with current fitness trends. Many Recreation Center users aren’t interested in traditional aerobics classes, Spivey said, and group cycling classes have been popular in outside gyms for several years.

Last spring, Recreation Center staff conducted a survey in fitness classes to see what types of classes users want. The participants indicated a high interest in group cycling and yoga classes.

Spivey said she hopes to add yoga classes in the spring.

To take part in the group cycling classes, participants must have a group fitness card, which is available at the Recreation Services office in State Gym. They should also sign up at the Recreation Center’s front desk 20 minutes prior to the class to reserve a bike.

Participants are encouraged to bring water bottles and towels.

Precision Cycling classes are at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays. The sessions last about 40 minutes.