Welcome to the Indoor Cycling Association
Teaching Intimidating Students
Many instructors can be paralyzed by the presence of an intimidating student—that student who seems to own the gym or has an air about them that makes them seem unapproachable. You can learn how to better understand and teach them.
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Quick Profile: Lather, Rinse, Repeat (3-Minute Intervals)
At first glance, this profile may seem “basic,” but it’s anything but “easy.” When intervals are distilled down to their basic format of hard followed by easy, they are simple to create, (fairly) simple to put music to, and simple to coach. Bonus: They may end up being some of the physically hardest classes you teach!Read more…
What Does John Steinbeck Have to Do with Mindfulness in Indoor Cycling?
A “glory” is a concept described by John Steinbeck in his famous book East of Eden. I believe a glory can be found in any aspect of our life—including on an indoor bicycle. Can you find mindfulness in indoor cycling? Can you help your students find that magical place where the world drops away and only the glory remains?
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How to Educate Your Riders, Part 4: Using Storytelling and Non-Cycling Examples
Continuing our series on Educating Your Students, Christine gives some suggestions about how to use non-cycling examples to help students understand cycling technique and what they should be feeling while pedaling. She does this primarily through storytelling in her profiles, although that’s not a prerequisite of the method. Christine is an expert at this technique and has been extremely successful educating her students.Read more…
Class Profile: Something About Us, A Valentine’s Day Profile
While Valentine’s Day may be a sensitive holiday for those not head-over-heels in love with someone, it’s definitely my favorite theme to curate. This playlist celebrates breakups, makeups, and everything in between. The music is eclectic, or as I like to call it, all over the place. I promise you, there’s something for everyone! Sound like fun? Great—grab your water and pour your heart and soul into this ride!Read more…
Quick Profile: Legends, 2018 PyeongChang Olympics
This profile from Billy Coburn celebrates the XXIII Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. The ride consists of four blocks. The first three build upon determination, courage, and motivation and are each moderate in intensity. The fourth block—going for the gold—is a maximal 4-minute drill patterned after the work of Japanese exercise physiologist Izumi Tabata.Read more…
My Cycling Class Today: Finding Light from Your Blind Spot
One of my students told me he thought another rider’s seat was too low. He was right. As a bonus, the correct setup helped her increase her wattage. On one hand, I wondered how I missed this; on the other, I was so grateful he felt comfortable enough to tell me. Here are a few of my reflections on this incident. Read more…
Wednesday Timeless Classics: A Disco Legacy Transformed for the Ride of Your Life
This 2000 club remix, originally a disco track from a 1978 movie soundtrack, carries an uneasy, emotional energy—the feeling of being chased. Use it to fuel a high-intensity race, creating a sense of urgency as riders push to escape the pursuit. Perfect for a Tour de France climbing stage or a story of relentless pursuit, where every pedal stroke brings them closer to the finish.Read more…
How to Educate Your Riders, Part 3: How to Teach Without Being “Teachy”
Indoor cycling instructors have to wear different hats at different times. How many hats do you have in your skills closet? And do you know the right time to wear each one? Here are some best practices to employ when trying to educate your students, and links to five additional articles on how to teach your students outside of class time.Read more…
Olympic-Themed Profile: Faster, Higher, Stronger!
Christine has done it again, this time with a profile based on the Olympic theme Citius Altius Fortius, which is Latin for Faster, Higher, Stronger. And while it is certainly relevant right now, it is also a profile to pull out again and again when you want to remind your students of their amazing potential. As you cue this ride, you will empower your students to come up with their own motivational phrase that inspires them, and you may be amazed at the results. Read more…