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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE, Training
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Two words no one likes to hear regardless of the venue: sustain and pain. Despite the look on your face right now, this is the best definition of an aerobic capacity effort, also referred to as riding at VO2 max. This level of intensity is not for the faint of heart…er…I mean it is not for everyone. Actually both. I just finished watching stage 18 of the Tour de France, which consistently provides a spectacular display of aerobic capacity entertainment. How do they do ride for prolonged times at that intensity? Genetic freakery aside, there are numerous training elements that combine to produce this extreme level of performance.Read more…

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What is a Journey Ride? I like to think of them as rides in which a challenging profile, combined with empowering coaching, compels the rider to look inward and examine his thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations during the ride. Often incorporating visualization, they transcend the physical act of riding an indoor bike and become metaphors for challenges faced outside of the cycling studio. During the course of the ride, the rider develops a much greater sense of self, often leaving with heightened confidence and a desire to take on any challenge the world throws at them. Journey rides are magical! Go experience one for yourself at Charleston Ride!Read more…

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In: Class Profiles
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This profile is inspired by the movie Gladiator (2000) where Maximus (Gladiator), Commander of the Armies of the North, addresses his men before battle, “…Stay with me. If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled; for you are in Elysium…”

Take your riders on a journey up a 31-minute climb to their own personal Elysium.Read more…

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In: Form and Technique, Programming and Management
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Today I received an e-mail from ICA member Shayne who sent me an example of his club’s Group Fitness Class Conduct Guide for Spinning. It gave me an idea to get others to submit their facility’s instructor guidelines or a sample of what it contains. Or, if you don’t have one, let me know in the comments what you wish your club/studio would do to keep your team teaching a similar approach while still encouraging different styles. Next week, I’ll post these samples along with Shayne’s, so you can use them as a template to create your own or suggest to your group fitness director to create one.Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth
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Yes, as indoor cycling instructors, we need to stand up for fun. You know, as in, stand up for having fun in our classes. We also need to stand up, as in, stand up on the bike, for fun. We at ICA approach much of what we do with a mindset of its effectiveness when riding outdoors. This is not a bad thing. But what if we just wanted to do something because it was fun?Read more…

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In: Class Profiles
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In late May of this year, the world lost a very special woman: Maya Angelou. Billy Coburn, a Star 3 Spinning® instructor and longtime ICA member, posted on Facebook about doing a special journey ride devoted to her motivational writing. I asked Billy to send me the ride and I would consider posting it on ICA. I figured that it could potentially be a very inspirational profile…but I was blown away when I read it. I think you will be as well. Get ready to change some lives—maybe even your own!Read more…

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In: Free Articles, Tour de France Package
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Ah, these three weeks in July are probably my favorite of the entire year; few things get me more excited than the Tour de France! Here are a few of the fun TDF resources and trivia I’ve found over the past few days over social media and a few online searches. They can all add to your own TDF classes by helping you make your classes and program more interesting and to spice up your coaching.Read more…

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In: Ask the Expert, Coaching and Cueing, New Instructors
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On one of the Friday Favorite song suggestions for a flat road at 90 rpm, an ICA member was unsure how much to stand and how to invite students to take breaks on long songs like that. He asked, “How do I invite students to take a break while on a flat road? Are we talking about standing breaks? If so, they would need more resistance to stand, right?”
Read more…