A new instructor, Robert, commented on my article on being comfortable with silence that he admitted to his students he was doing something that was really hard for him. This got me thinking about other scenarios when it’s more helpful to just simply be up-front with your students about your own challenges and admit your humanness. Here are seven more examples, and I welcome your thoughts as well.Read more…
Honoring musical legends in our cycling classes when they leave this world is a great way to play tribute to amazing artists, while at the same time expanding your own musical repertoire. It gives you an excuse to play tracks you might not normally play—and who knows? You—and your riders—may discover genres you wouldn’t normally ride to! Here are four Allman Brothers songs you won’t want to miss.Read more…
Here is the analysis of the power files I posted a few weeks ago. I had two winners, Karyn and Bill, who posted their suggestions about what was going on with power output, heart rate, and cadence. Posts like these will serve to increase your knowledge, helping you create profiles with purpose. They should also be eye-openers to help expand your coaching, even if you don’t have power!Read more…
Two months ago, I wrote a post about the wisdom (or lack of it) of standing for very long periods out of the saddle. I challenged anyone in the indoor cycling world to perform my standing climb challenge. I still think it’s worth trying, but I recognize it’s not a very effective workout, so I have a much more attainable challenge; one which will also be eye-opening as you compare power, heart rate, and cadence with standing versus seated efforts. Will you do this challenge?Read more…
Here are the power files from two different riders in an interval class. Can you tell me what the purpose of the class is by looking at the cadence, power, and heart rate? One file is how the effort should look; the other is someone who struggled a bit. Can you guess why? How might this impact your teaching?Read more…
While this track’s repetitive nature might seem monotonous, that very quality can become a powerful asset when tackling a challenging climb. Outdoor cyclists are familiar with the relentless rhythm of a long, steady ascent, and this song captures that perfectly. It helps riders embrace the repetitiveness of climbing as a strategy for staying committed to the effort. Read more…
And now the last four tips to complete a well-rounded class introduction: Safety, Form & Technique, Hand Positions, and Cadence.Read more…
Our next three tips to help you master the class intro: The Class Objective, Training Zones (RPE), and encouraging your riders to Work at Their Own Pace.Read more…
This article from our archives points out some of the misuse of high-intensity training in the indoor cycling world (and the fitness world in general) and gives some advice to keep the plethora of information being blasted to the masses in perspective. Remember: Real Training. Real Cycling. Real Results. All beautifully packaged in a fun wrapper.Read more…
New instructors are faced with a dilemma: you cue the music to begin teaching your first indoor cycling class and realize there is so much information to cover within the first few minutes of class. Will you remember it all? Will you explain everything correctly? Will someone remove the butterflies from your stomach? Welcome to part 1 of a 3-part series to master your class intro. Read more…