Welcome to the Indoor Cycling Association
Managers Wondered Why I Always Had a Full Cycle Class…and Others Didn’t
Last week one of the club managers came to take my class to do some reconnaissance in order to figure out my secret for filling my classes. Here are 15 things I do for every class that few of the other instructors do—these are likely the reasons why I have a waiting list and they don’t.Read more…
Quick Profile: Two Pyramids Plus Two Inverse Pyramids
Bill Pierce does it again with another creative, fun, and challenging profile. This ride consists of climbing two pyramids and two inverse pyramids, each one slightly different. The goal is to develop the attributes used in climbing, and muscular endurance at sub-threshold and threshold levels of power.Read more…
Quick Profile: Lather, Rinse, Repeat, Take 2 (4-Minute Intervals)
Did you like our “Lather, Rinse, Repeat” Quick Profile? In this version, we increase to 4-minute intervals in Zone 5, the VO2 max zone.Read more…
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…