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In: Communication and Presentation Skills, Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth, Teaching With Video
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Many of the instructors I know give a ton back to our community. In addition to going above and beyond preparing our regular classes (even though the pay we receive often does not come close to compensating us for our effort), hundreds of instructors participate in charity rides and events to help organizations with their mission. Like many, I’ve had the honor of leading and participating in indoor cycling benefit rides. Although the cause and mission is serious, these events are some of the most fun and inspiring times I’ve spent on an indoor bike.Read more…

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In: Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth
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Have you ever dreamed of becoming a master instructor for an indoor cycling program (or any fitness program)? I believe that the steps to becoming an MI are similar to the steps of simply being be the best indoor cycling coach possible. In other words, even if you don’t care to present at conferences or train other instructors, if you take many of the steps outlined in this post, you cannot help but grow into an exceptional kick-butt coach and trainer!Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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In my e-book “Ten Ways to Stay Motivated as an Indoor Cycling Instructor,” one of the things I discuss is to always be prepared. In doing so, you reduce your potential stress level because you are confident that should something happen, you have a way to address the problem and not skip a beat in your instruction of your class. In this post, I give you a Plan B so you can avoid the challenge I dealt with!Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth
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It is not uncommon for riders to play favorites when it comes to which indoor cycling classes they will take. As instructors, we see our regulars every week. They often go out of their way to tell us how good of a job we are doing and how much they loved the whooping we just planted on them. The indoor cycling world spins happily on it’s axis week to week, and all is well until…we need to find someone to substitute our class. Chaos. Struggle. Picketing. Riots. Panic.Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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Some instructors motivate their students to reach the top of that hill because of the way it will make them feel, for the confidence it will build in them, for the realization that if they can do that, they can do anything they set their minds to. Others yell at riders to push to the top of the mountain so they can fit into a certain dress for the summer, or because they’ll look good when they go out at night. Which one are you?Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE
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As requested, here is the full version of the chart I referenced in the article on aerobic capacity. A similar version was created when developing the curriculum for Cycling Fusion’s Level 2 Heart Zones Certification workshop. I have since modified the chart to overlay the zones and indicate the thresholds’ aliases. Read more…

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In: Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth, Keep it Real & eBooks, New Instructors
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Have you encountered a challenge when trying to respond to people’s comments, critiques, or attacks about cycling-specific techniques or the Keep it Real philosophy? Would you like a template to answer the naysayers using non-confrontational, heart-centered means of responding, without putting down the individual? Then help me compile the most challenging questions, and I’ll create a template for you!Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE
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Regardless of whether you are an indoor cycling instructor, the director of a large fitness chain, or an indoor cycling studio owner, the goal is always to attract clients. To date, the indoor cycling industry has yet to attract the outdoor cycling masses. I’m going to use the example of HIIT (high-intensity interval training) to illustrate the challenge we face in attracting cyclists in addition to making programs more enticing and effective.Read more…