Welcome to the Indoor Cycling Association
The Coach: Education and Self-Care for Sustained Inspiration
In part 1 of the Coaching Series, we considered the various uses of the word “coach” in different professions. A common thread through corporate, life, financial, athletic, etc. coaching is an alliance between the coach and coachee for enhanced performance. At the heart of the coaching relationship is an understanding that the person who is being coached is responsible for the bulk of the work. The role of the coach is to clarify, explore options with the client and provide accountability.Read more…
Prepping for a Reset, Part 7: Free Class!
Parts 4, 5, and 6 of Prepping for a Reset provided samples of aerobic conditioning, muscle conditioning, and leg speed class profiles. There are numerous variations, but these three profiles comprise the key foundational elements of cycling fitness. Now it is time for a test…or review.Read more…
You and Your Riders Can Help Santa and Rudolph in This Fun Profile!
Oh no! Santa’s reindeer are sick! So you come to the rescue and ride up to the North Pole to pull his sleigh. It’s a secular concept with less-than-traditional-but-still-holiday music selections, so it is a great way to inject some holiday spirit without offending anyone or boring them with overplayed holiday tunes.Read more…
Social Media Hashtags for Fitness Pros
Have you ever wondered what all the hype was about hashtags, those silly tic-tac-toe–looking things you see on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms? #dotheysometimesgetonyournerves? Watch this 3-minute video by media expert Amanda Vogel to help you understand how to use this strange but ubiquitous feature of social media.Read more…
Ask The Expert: How Often Can a Field Test Be Done?
ICA member Dana asked a question about coaching 20-minute field tests in the comments section of the ICA master profile for field testing. Because it’s a question I get a lot, and I believe all instructors can benefit from the reply, I am posting it here as an Ask the Expert: Is teaching this profile once a month too much?Read more…
From Indoor Cycling Instructor to Coach
This is the first part in a series by ICA contributor, Cori Parks. Indoor cycling began with Johnny G’s inspired quest to train better, both physically and mentally, long before it was ever about incinerating calories or vying for instructor or program popularity. Now that indoor cycling has made its name in the realm of cardio conditioning and proven its ongoing relevance in the fitness industry, the cycling instructor has a unique opportunity to reach a wide spectrum of participants.Read more…
Prepping for a Reset, Part 6: Speed Demon
Many folks mistake speed and pedal-stroke work as only beneficial for those who ride actual bikes outdoors. This is not the case. Although it is a popular understanding that higher leg speeds produce greater power (force X velocity = power), there are also mechanical and neuromuscular benefits for everyone.Read more…
Tabata ON or OFF the Bike?
Every instructor has their own style and preference for when to teach on or off the bike. We’ve published a number of articles to this effect with general guidelines and suggestions for effective approaches. A few members asked specifically about the effectiveness of teaching Tabata, and other high-intensity intervals, on and off the bike. Here is my approach.Read more…
Explosions, Rumblings, and Reinvigoration!
Due to some behind-the-scenes remodeling at ICA, some of our posts may be temporarily unavailable, especially the older ones. Apologies if you encounter one; please know it won’t be for long. Here is a description of the exciting things going on behind the curtain at ICA!Read more…
Unleashing the Power of “Why” in Indoor Cycling: A Simon Sinek Perspective
If you haven’t seen Simon Sinek’s TED Talk yet, it’s a must-watch. Sinek’s central message, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it,” holds profound implications for those of us in the fitness industry. This principle encourages us to reflect on our motivations and infuse our teaching with a deeper purpose.Read more…