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In: Instructor Issues & growth
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It is not uncommon for riders to play favorites when it comes to which indoor cycling classes they will take. As instructors, we see our regulars every week. They often go out of their way to tell us how good of a job we are doing and how much they loved the whooping we just planted on them. The indoor cycling world spins happily on it’s axis week to week, and all is well until…we need to find someone to substitute our class. Chaos. Struggle. Picketing. Riots. Panic.Read more…

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In: Free Articles
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A month ago I told you about the series of Journey Rides that Charleston Ride studio in South Carolina was hosting this summer. I’ve been following their Facebook page as they post the promotions and follow-ups to these special events. Last week was the ride Into Africa, taught by DanRead more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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Some instructors motivate their students to reach the top of that hill because of the way it will make them feel, for the confidence it will build in them, for the realization that if they can do that, they can do anything they set their minds to. Others yell at riders to push to the top of the mountain so they can fit into a certain dress for the summer, or because they’ll look good when they go out at night. Which one are you?Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE
With: 4 Comments

As requested, here is the full version of the chart I referenced in the article on aerobic capacity. A similar version was created when developing the curriculum for Cycling Fusion’s Level 2 Heart Zones Certification workshop. I have since modified the chart to overlay the zones and indicate the thresholds’ aliases. Read more…

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In: Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth, Keep it Real & eBooks, New Instructors
With: 9 Comments

Have you encountered a challenge when trying to respond to people’s comments, critiques, or attacks about cycling-specific techniques or the Keep it Real philosophy? Would you like a template to answer the naysayers using non-confrontational, heart-centered means of responding, without putting down the individual? Then help me compile the most challenging questions, and I’ll create a template for you!Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE
With: 5 Comments

Regardless of whether you are an indoor cycling instructor, the director of a large fitness chain, or an indoor cycling studio owner, the goal is always to attract clients. To date, the indoor cycling industry has yet to attract the outdoor cycling masses. I’m going to use the example of HIIT (high-intensity interval training) to illustrate the challenge we face in attracting cyclists in addition to making programs more enticing and effective.Read more…

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In: Instructor Issues & growth, Physiology, Heart Rate & RPE, Training
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The questions in response to part 1 are fantastic. They highlight the importance of understanding concepts like aerobic capacity and the difficulty in training at that level. I hope you had the opportunity to try one of the workouts in part 1, preferably before you tortured your subjects. As I mentioned, providing the workout before the background knowledge often sets the stage for better learning. I’m assuming you were bombarded with multiple “whys.” Why is this so difficult? Why is this considered aerobic? Why is everything burning? Why can’t I sustain this? Why can’t I repeat this? Why did I listen to Tom, a known sadist?Read more…