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In: Mental Training, Mind-Body
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Studies prove that when you take twenty athletes of equal ability and give ten of them mental training, they will outperform the ten without it every time. Of all the various mental training techniques used today, visualization is the single most powerful one used to optimize performance. Here are three ways top performers harness the power of visualization to perform at their peak and how you can too.Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Programming and Management
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I really appreciated the comments on my last two-part article, “Where Do We Go From Here?” It is always very encouraging to see how many instructors put a tremendous effort into the planning of their classes. This reflects well on our professionalism and understanding of how to help people reaching their fitness goals. Training plans are not just for personal trainers (no offense). As a follow-up, and per request, I’m going to provide more detail on the various approaches I use when base training fades into the distance.Read more…

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In: Biomechanics, Cadence, Power, eBooks and Videos, ICA Recommends
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With so many Indoor Cycling instructors now beginning to teach on bikes with power, Gene’s focus is on simplifying the jargon and educating the reader from ground zero is more important than ever. The latest iBook features provide an incredible set of tools to make this a much more engaging experience than one would normally find in a book like this.Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth
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What to do when you are the ONLY one at your club that teaches a “real” cycling class.
I’ve received this question quite a bit. “How do you handle teaching a class that is so different than what other instructors offer at your club?” Although we can be really excited to learn something new (or just get reinvigorated), the excitement can wane when we think of how it will be received by our riders or our club as a whole. Those who love our rides are also bombarded by other indoor cycling classes that may have little resemblance to biking or training.Read more…

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In: Class Profiles
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Originally posted in 2014, The Canyon Ride remains one of the most popular profiles in the ICA archives. This simulation offers a delightful blend of vivid visualization and outdoor-inspired coaching, immersing your riders in the experience of cycling through stunning desert landscapes. As with all great outdoor simulations, this profile captures the essence of outdoor riding without alienating those who may not ride outside. Everyone, from seasoned cyclists to indoor enthusiasts, will feel the thrill of this journey.Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Music Resources, New Instructors
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If you’ve been teaching longer than a few years you will have perhaps hundreds of playlists. If you are new at this game (and even if you’re not), here are some simple tips and tricks to help you organize your songs into easy to manage folders so you can find that PERFECT song when you need it. Plus I’ve got an iTunes hack I’ve recently discovered that helps you know more about your song usage. Read more…

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In: Free Articles, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE
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If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m a big proponent of doing field tests to estimate your lactate threshold. I’ve done numerous metabolic tests in the past, but I’ve never had a chance to do a lactate test. Here are my results from my recent lactate test (I NAILED my LTHR!) and an analysis of one of my student’s profound aerobic improvement.Read more…