Welcome to the Indoor Cycling Association
Sub-Versive
I was headed to the gym for a workout, and upon reaching the entrance, bumped into a friend of mine who looked as if she had just been run over by a bus. Knowing the unlikelihood of large motor vehicles operating in the club, I decided to ask her what happened.Read more…
Audio Master Class: Progressive Hill Repeats to Pretend You Have Power!
If you’ve ever been frustrated about riders who seem to cheat about the amount of work they are doing, or how to coach your riders to add enough resistance to do appreciable work (and get the results they want)…then this is your profile! The audio for this profile is a veritable continuing education session, so get ready to learn a lot!Read more…
An Inspirational Song Everyone Should Have
This is not one of our weekly music suggestions, but a song that I think every instructor around the world should have. Not only is it beautiful, but the message is so powerful. Thanks to Jeanne Sims of Long Island who posted it on Facebook this morning… I immediately bought it and put it in my inspirational playlists to use at a later date.Read more…
Sub Standards, Part 2: The Riders, NOT the Instructor
In part 1, we discussed the difficulty of using a substitute instructor your riders like (or won’t stone), the challenge when other instructors do not “keep it real,” and teaching your class to respect your subs. Part 2 will focus on moving past a potential negative impression of your class, valuing the riders’ workout, and how to prep your sub for success.Read more…
The Magic of Mentoring New Instructors, Part 1
Mentoring new instructors is a valuable tool in helping them navigate the often overwhelming flood of information they receive in their certification and the weeks that follow. Listen to this audio interview with Melinda Massie of Lexington, KY, as she describes how she loves to take new instructors under her wing. If you’ve ever thought about mentoring (or if you’re a facility looking to develop a mentoring program) don’t miss this interview!Read more…
More Than a Ride
Many of the instructors I know give a ton back to our community. In addition to going above and beyond preparing our regular classes (even though the pay we receive often does not come close to compensating us for our effort), hundreds of instructors participate in charity rides and events to help organizations with their mission. Like many, I’ve had the honor of leading and participating in indoor cycling benefit rides. Although the cause and mission is serious, these events are some of the most fun and inspiring times I’ve spent on an indoor bike.Read more…
3 Ways to Get Your Riders to Commit (No Matter What)
There’s a funny fable about a chicken and a pig who wanted to make a bacon-and-egg sandwich for the farmer they liked so much. The chicken said, “I could provide some eggs.” The pig replied, “that’s fine, but while you’re making a contribution, I’m making a real commitment!”Read more…
So You Want to Be a “Master Instructor”? (Or Just a Kick-Butt Instructor!?)
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a master instructor for an indoor cycling program (or any fitness program)? I believe that the steps to becoming an MI are similar to the steps of simply being be the best indoor cycling coach possible. In other words, even if you don’t care to present at conferences or train other instructors, if you take many of the steps outlined in this post, you cannot help but grow into an exceptional kick-butt coach and trainer!Read more…
Exuding Passion as a Spinning® Instructor!
Davide Camerini, a longtime ICA member and Spinning® instructor from Italy who I originally met at WSSC, has a blog titled La Passione Per L’Indoor Cycling. Check out his level of passion in his blog!Read more…
Fire Up Your Field Tests With the Right Music
Tom Scotto and I get asked a lot for high-energy music suggestions for field tests and time trials from 85 to 100 bpm. We’ve put our heads together to come up with 72 songs, ranging from downtempo and electronic, to rock, alternative, and hip-hop. What they all have in common is consistent rhythm and high energy. Some require more intrinsic coaching (downtempo), some work just fine on their own!Read more…