The Tour of the Training Zones is one of the most important profiles in the ICA library. It’s a very educational profile that requires more talking than most profiles. For that reason, to help you teach it to your own classes, I’ve filmed myself teaching this ride so you can hear my cueing and how I deal with the intensity myself. I also have a summary of the profile cues that you can download and modify.Read more…
We’ve all heard the phrase “Exercise is the best medicine.” However, no medicine is equally good at any dose; too little and the desired effects will not be achieved, too much and negative side effects result. Dosage in the context of exercise means training load: the intensity, duration, and frequency of a given activity. What are the best doses of each level of intensity and how will knowing this help us plan our classes?Read more…
The benefits of utilizing FTP to create individualized training zones for indoor riders are increasingly becoming understood by instructors who teach with power. This, and the tests to determine FTP, have been discussed in other articles on ICA. But is just knowing “how to” put your riders through an FTP test enough? Is there really a need to perform one on yourself in order to teach it?
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Your facility has just gotten new bikes—this time with power meters—but your riders have no idea how to use them. What do you do? Pam Benchley, master trainer for Stages Cycling, gives some tips on how to brief your riders about the bikes and the new technology without blinding them with too much science. Keep it simple!Read more…
This is a story about a woman who had no idea what she could accomplish. A woman who reluctantly attended her very first cycling class with me six months ago on the advice of her personal trainer. A woman who feared the bike and was one of the most hesitant riders I’ve ever seen. She is now one of the strongest female riders I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Read more…
We’ve provide you with a detailed class profile for you to conduct your own MAP (maximal aerobic power) ramp test, including the protocol, the coaching, the music, and a downloadable spreadsheet which will estimate FTP and your riders’ power training zones. This is a viable alternative to the 20-minute FTP test, which requires a solid understanding and ability to pace one’s effort. Pacing isn’t an issue with this test.Read more…
You’ve coached your riders to understand the benefits of establishing a benchmark metric known as functional threshold power, or FTP, a number around which they can set their intensity. You’ve used one of the recommended methods to determine FTP. Now what do you do? How do you provide each rider with their zones?Read more…
In this chapter, I provide a sample time table of six to eight weeks with programming ideas for gradually increasing the length of the intervals and teaching riders to understand pacing. By the final week, your class should be ready for their first FTP test!Read more…
“I sure hope my cycling class today is EFFECTIVE!”…said no participant, ever. Time to ask yourself this question: how effective are your classes?Read more…
While putting the finishing touches on a power profile for ICA, I put myself through the workout so I can experience the entire training session at the desired intensity. The two times I’ve taught it I obviously couldn’t be at that effort and teach it effectively, and I can attest that it’s a good one! I uploaded the training file here and challenge everyone to analyze—or guess—the training objective. Read more…