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In: Biomechanics, Cadence, Power, Free Articles
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Unfortunately, many instructors and participants are intimidated by power at first because they think it’s too technical, too complicated, or only useful for “serious” cyclists. But once you understand the basics, it’s actually a very straightforward tool, and a great way to challenge and engage participants, regardless of whether they ride outside or not. Here are five ways teaching with power will be a game changer in your teaching.Read more…

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In: Class Profiles, Theme Ride Thursday
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This creative and fun profile explores the sensations that go along with the “He loves me, he loves me not” game—where you pull petals off a daisy and the last petal is the one that applies to your current crush. The music reflects these two alternatives, which should have your riders alternating between pain and pleasure. Read more…

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In: Communication and Presentation Skills, Free Articles, Guest blogger, Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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Guest contributor and ICA member Izabela Ruprik has been collecting indoor cycling certifications over the past few years (about to take her 7th cert)! She attended a class the other day and came away frustrated so she wrote about her experience. She wanted to share this very important message with all instructors from every program: Always share what the purpose of your workout is with your riders!Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Communication and Presentation Skills
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Do you like to be yelled at or do you like to be listened to? Will you perform better for someone yelling in your ear, or with gentle encouragement from someone you trust? I ask you to consider the idea of “gentle coaching” as you develop your own unique coaching style. Even if your natural style is more authoritative, you may find some ideas here that will help you personalize and expand your appeal to your students.Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Communication and Presentation Skills, Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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New instructors are often unsure how much they should be talking or what they should be saying in their classes. One of the litmus tests to discover if you are talking too much is to simply ask yourself, “Why am I talking?” The answer may surprise you. Caesar provides tips on examining the purpose of your cues and making sure your riders aren’t confused by what you say. Read more…

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In: Biomechanics, Cadence, Power, General Fitness, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE
With: 10 Comments

With the New Year upon us, you will be getting a LOT of questions about calories burned in your cycling class. How much do you know about the calorie estimates you see on your heart rate monitor, computer console, or power meter? Are these estimates accurate? Here is everything you need to understand how the wrong information—or faulty understanding of the data—can lead you or your riders to believe they did more work than they actually did. Read more…