Do you talk too much when you are teaching your classes? Do you have this internal dialogue when you see your students looking back at you after you’ve given them a cue? “They’re staring at me. I better say something! I know they’re bored, I can tell! Look, someone just stood up…Oh no! They hate me!”
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I came up with a unique way to describe effort using a dog on a leash. I wouldn’t use this if you haven’t already set the stage for understanding perceived exertion at each level of intensity. It may confuse students. But once they already can identify the sensations of effort, fun and creative analogies like this add some humor and variety to your coaching.Read more…
This is the money chapter in this e-book on teaching with power! Even though bikes with power are increasing, instructors aren’t receiving the education they need to teach with power properly. Gene gives six “Dos” and six “Don’ts” when teaching with power, and lists numerous tips and tricks to increase your effectiveness when teaching with this amazing tool. (Part 2 of this chapter will post tomorrow)Read more…
The term “Keep it Real” in regards to indoor cycling has gotten a bad rap lately. This subject has been talked about a lot lately on online forums and websites, so it’s time to put the stake in the ground and describe exactly what it means and what it does NOT mean. I wrote the e-book Keep it Real in 2008, and wrote the workshop for Spinning® in 2006 which was based on that concept, so I have skin in this game.Read more…
Two weeks ago Robin Robertson provided an idea for a mini periodization plan in your schedule. During the first week you focus on Form and Foundation drills. Of course, you can do these any time, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a part of a periodized program. Here are six great drills for all new and longtime students, since every one can benefit from reminders about skill improvement. These are also great for new instructors to implement.Read more…
One of my favorite visualizations for endurance rides for fifteen years now has been the image of a cheetah running in slow motion. I’d have my students close their eyes and watch the cheetah in their mind’s eye and then seek to be catlike in their own motion. Well…you won’t believe the stunning video that I discovered!Read more…
As instructors it is important that we monitor the form our those in our class. It is not uncommon to notice riders pedaling with their knees too far apart or tracking outward. This video addresses this needed correction and provides two cues instructors can use to guide participants back to better alignment.Read more…
In Part 1 of this series we provided visual cues for technique and pedal stroke. The visual cues provided in Part 2 focused on intensity, terrain, and duration. For the final edition of this series, we have several hand signals for miscellaneous uses, such as riding formation, focus, breathing, and stretching.Read more…
My post last week about Buddy Macuha’s class at IDEA was especially interesting to ICA contributor Christine Nielsen, because she often coaches her students to change the leading leg. I asked her to write up an explanation of how she uses this as a drill.Read more…
Visual learners are probably the most common amongst our students, yet so many instructors miss out on adding the signals that help them to grasp directives. This series focuses on how to meet the needs of your visual learners so that they will profit from your coaching. Part 2 of this series covers intensity, terrain, and duration with ten different images.Read more…