The Indoor Cycling Association is the premier online site for education, motivation and inspiration for indoor cycling instructors. Founded by Jennifer Sage, with over 20 years experience educating and inspiring instructors (since 1996), ICA will take your teaching and coaching experience to the next level.
It has been my goal to assemble the most powerful group of instructors and master trainers to provide our members with the best advice available in the industry. When you look at our amazing contributors, the numbers are going to astound you. Between us, we have been formally educating instructors since the early 1990s. This is our combined impact we have had on the indoor cycling world:
- 140+ combined years of teaching Spinning® and indoor cycling classes
- 75+ years of certifying instructors and providing continuing education
- 50+ conferences as master presenters
- Over 15,000 instructors trained, including certifications, continuing ed workshops, master classes, and conferences
No other online educational resource comes anywhere close to that kind of impact on the training and education of indoor cycling instructors.
You will find that in addition to our focus on the science behind the cycling, we dive deeply into the coaching and the mental aspects of training. Mental training expert Dr. Haley Perlus adds her insight to this powerful combination of educators. To help with the music we have six instructors that are extremely passionate about their music and who are so excited to share it with you.
But none of that matters if your classes aren’t also fun. We teach you how to balance the fun with the science and the technique. What more could you want?
We have two PhDs who have contributed content, plus three former longtime master Spinning® instructors and two current master instructors from various programs, and almost every team member is an avid outdoor cyclist in addition to being a passionate indoor cycling coach. You can read more about our fabulous contributors and their varied and extensive backgrounds below.
In addition to these contributors, we constantly seek out the best of the best to be guest contributors, from all areas of fitness and from as many indoor cycling programs as possible. I know you will not be disappointed with the quality of the content here at the Indoor Cycling Association.
Jennifer Sage, CPT, ICA Master Instructor and Founder of the Indoor Cycling Association Jennifer has been in the fitness industry since the early 1980’s, teaching just about everything from high-impact aerobics, step, and body-sculpting to ski-conditioning and core training. The day she got certified as a Spinning instructor back in 1996, she dropped every other group fitness format, having found her deepest passion for teaching . . . keep reading |
Karyn Silenzi, Educational Contributor For nearly 28 years Karyn Silenzi canfitpro PRO TRAINER FIS has been active in the health and fitness industries. A Canadian provincial team athlete in rowing and a national team athlete in long distance triathlons, Karyn has worked with and trained alongside Olympic and nationally ranked athletes and coaches. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education . . . keep reading |
Leslie Mueller, Educational Contributor After 30 years of fitness consulting, Leslie Mueller was recently awarded the Best Personal Trainer in Marin County, CA, largely due to the effective alignment work she does with her clients. Her professional career began when she started personal training in 1990 while she was still in college earning a BS in Kinesiology. Her athletic career was set in motion years earlier when she joined her first track team at the age of eleven. . . . keep reading |
Bill Pierce, Music and Educational Contributor Bill Pierce got into indoor cycling in a slightly unconventional manner; he came to it from running. He started taking a Spinning® class as a way to cross-train for running during the cold winter months in the Midwest. After a while, he thought that his athletic experience would provide a solid background to become an instructor, so he took the Spinning certification. . . . keep reading |
Bill Roach, Educational Contributor Bill Roach is the lead indoor cycling instructor (Spinning Star 3 and Keiser) and a personal trainer (NASM-CPT, CES) for the Des Moines, Iowa YMCA. As a national staff trainer, he teaches wellness and group exercise science to Y employees. He has also initiated a highly regarded mentorship program for new indoor cycling instructors . . . keep reading |
Cori Parks, Educational Contributor Cori Parks is a Spinning® master instructor with a huge passion in the fitness industry. She is also an American Heart Association first aid/CPR/AED instructor and an author. She brings to ICA a global experience in coaching, cross-cultural communication and community building as a technique for sustained fitness pursuits. Her book “Willing to Tri – Anything to Stay Fit After 40” is due out June 2015 . . . keep reading |
Tom Scotto, Director of Education and Technology
 One never knows what Tom is going to bring to his indoor cycling classes, workshops, presentations, or clinics. With his background and experience, it is sure to be cycling specific, motivational, educational, and entertaining . . .keep reading |
Jennifer Klau, PhD, Educational Contributor We are so excited to have Dr. Jennifer Klau as a part-time contributor on the ICA Team. She brings with her so much wisdom as well as humor. Jennifer is skilled in all aspects of teaching and coaching, but we will especially rely on her for the science behind the sport . . . keep reading |
Haley Perlus, PhD, Our Mental Training Expert Dr. Haley writes articles on how to keep yourself motivated and how to empower your students. With a PhD in sport and exercise psychology, Dr. Haley is an adjunct professor, seminar leader, and consultant to national team and Division I athletes. You might have attended a session with her on mental training at numerous international fitness conferences, including Can Fit Pro, WSSC and IHRSA. . . keep reading |
Dixie Douville, Educational Contributor Dixie Douville has been a registered nurse for over 35 years specializing in sports and cardiovascular medicine. She is the Owner of Pursuit of Wellness, LLC a health and wellness consulting company and the Founder of Girlfriends in Training. As a certified fitness professional for more than two decades Dixie has been recognized for her knowledge in the areas of heart rate training, female athletics, running, cycling and special populations. She is a former member of the Spinning master instructor team . . . keep reading |
Christine Nielsen, Educational Contributor Christine Nielsen lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she worked for many years as a university research administrator. With access to the ocean, she discovered rowing and became a competitive athlete and a certified coach. She eventually stepped away from academia to pursue other interests including dog training. During that period she had the great fortune to study with Bob and Marion Bailey, two of the best applied behaviorists in the world. Her experience with them gave her unique insights into the science of learning . . . keep reading |
Kala Markel, Instructor and Mainstream Music contributor I’d been watching Kala for many years on one of the online indoor cycling forums and her passion for teaching has always been evident. I noticed she has something I don’t have—the ability to find mainstream music that is fun and exciting that will meet the desires of her market, while still matching the message of her profile. . . . keep reading |
Carole Harrell, Music Contributor Carole Harrell has been instructing indoor cycling classes for over 20 years. She has been teaching ever since becoming certified in the spring of 1996. Since that time she has also become certified in Precision Cycling, Keiser M3, and Krankcycling. She believes that ongoing training is a key element to her success . . . keep reading |
Sara Zalesky, Educational Contributor Sara Zalesky has been an indoor cycling instructor for over 15 years, with certifications from Spinning, Keiser, and Cycling Fusion. Jennifer Sage’s early Tour de France profiles were Sara’s first introduction into the European peloton. Watching the excitement unfold during the races ignited a passion that continues with each new season. . . . keep reading |
Bryon Black, Music Contributor, Guest Columnist, Profile Creator Bryon Black is a Star 3 Spinning instructor with over two decades of teaching experience. Bryon believes that music is the easiest way to create powerful connections with the souls that attend our training classes. We all hear and feel beats and rhythms and that gives us a universal language that connects and binds together. Bryon is also a master at enhancing the mind-body connection. . . . keep reading |
Who keeps ICA running?
Karen Cruz, Content Manager and Music Contributor Karen Cruz graduated with a marketing degree from the University of Pittsburgh and then hopscotched around the East Coast, finally settling down in Maryland. For the past 18 years she has worked as online marketing expert specializing in search marketing, SEO, social media, display marketing . . . keep reading |
John Chappell, Director of Operations John Chappell graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and entered the field of broadcasting in 1976. For 11 years he worked as an on air talent, a production director, a music director, and a program manager. In 1987 John shifted gears and careers when he decided to go into business as a fitness center owner in Atlanta, Georgia,. . . . keep reading |
where is your headquarters out of?
I personally live in Colorado, but I have contributors, editors and assistants around the country, and even in other countries. It’s a global business .I don’t have a “storefront.”
Hi All.
ICA is a great source of reliable, exercise physiology -based rides. Thank you.
I have had several members on different occasions who are pregnant. Aside from the the normal considerations (doctor approval, postural changes, exertion rate) are there any specific guidelines as to bike set-up? (I realise that this may change as pregnancy progresses) Most of the information I’ve found is vague.
Thanks.