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In: Free Articles, General Coaching, Tour de France, Tour de France Package
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If you are one of those instructors who loves to bring the experience of riding outdoors to your indoor riders, now is the time to get them excited. Give them a taste of the Tour de France (TDF) and introduce them to some of the fun we enjoy during one of the greatest sporting events of all time. Here are some recommendations for leaning TDF lingo, visualizing the terrain and intensity, and connecting the experience of outdoor cycling to your indoor riders.Read more…

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In: Ask the Expert, Biomechanics, Cadence, Power
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“I brought my heart rate up to Zones 2, 3, and 4 and then changed cadence from 88 to 75, 70, and 60, adding resistance each time to keep the power the same. I stayed at each cadence for several minutes. My heart rate dropped considerably each time I lowered my cadence while maintaining the same power output. Did my heart rate drop because we use muscle more than cardio at lower cadences or is this an issue with the bike?”Read more…

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In: Charity Events, Instructor Issues & growth
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I’m certain each of us has participated in one or more charity events. We ran, biked, walked, or possibly accomplished something more adventurous in the name of a great cause we believe in. Those of us who had the opportunity to be one of the chosen instructors responsible for motivating these big-hearted participants know the tremendous privilege this is. Being an instructor for a charity ride is also a rush beyond what can be experienced from teaching our everyday indoor cycling classes. All excitement aside, events of this nature can be intimidating for an instructor. Here are some tips and considerations for how to approach the event, how to approach your ride, and how to approach your riders for the best charity ride ever.Read more…

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In: Free Articles, Instructor & Club Spotlight
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[javascript][/javascript] On a recent Southern California expedition, I scheduled time each day to ride at the area’s “hottest cycling clubs.” Each was new, shiny, technologically savvy, and, of course, costly to attend. I only made it to day four. Between Tommy’s tap-backs and Lucy’s figure-8s, my head wanted to explodeRead more…

interval profile

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In: Class Profiles, Theme Ride Thursday
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Here is a fun summer-themed profile from our archives. It consists of eight intervals around threshold intensity or slightly above, alternating slower cadences with faster cadences. You may want to pull this one out again six or eight months from now when you put your winter coats back on and are dreaming of sun, sand, and surf! (For those of you in the southern hemisphere, that’s why you’ll want to use this profile now!)Read more…

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In: Class Profiles, Coaching and Cueing, Outdoor Cycling
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Bryan is a new contributor for ICA, and he starts with a bang-up profile that is sure to get your riders’ adrenaline flowing! It is a simulation of a real race that is held in Pasadena, California, twice a week in summers, nicknamed the Rose Bowl Brawl. This is what Bryan says about this ride: “On Tuesdays and Thursdays a 150+ rider peloton blasts 10 fast laps around the famed Rose Bowl. If you followed the 2015 Amgen Tour of California, it was also host to a nail-biting, down-to-the-millimeters sprint finish.” Yeah. Bring that to your riders now!Read more…

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In: Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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This is a blog post by group fitness instructor Erica Barker (reprinted with permission). She accurately describes what most of us go through as we prepare for our one-hour fitness class, of any format. It’s a LOT more than that one hour, isn’t it? Share this with your peers and even with your students; it’s helpful when they understand how much your passion drives what you do!Read more…