Welcome to the Indoor Cycling Association
Keeping it Fun while Keeping it Real
Cycling coach and indoor cycling instructor Mark Bedel and I have been trading notes on how to Keep it Real indoors while also keeping it fun. Mark took it to the next step and wrote it down! Here is some great advice if you are struggling with knowing you’re andRead more…
Mind over Misery—when was the last time you allowed yourself to “suffer”?
This is a reflection on a very challenging ride I did two weeks ago, and a challenge to you as an instructor: go out and do something you didn’t think you could do, something that makes you dig in deep to overcome the difficulty! Then take what you learned and teach it to your students. In this article, I give you some tips on how to do that.Read more…
Audio Master Class: Crossing the Threshold
This challenging and fun interval profile is multipurpose: it is a powerful fitness booster for your fitness enthusiasts, and a very effective performance enhancer for your cyclists.This high intensity interval profile consists of 5 sets of 6 minutes each. You will criss-cross from just below lactate threshold to just aboveRead more…
Spotify – the newest online music streaming service
Spotify music service comes to the US after successful experience in Europe. Will it be of benefit to indoor cycling instructors? Thanks to the handful of ICA members who emailed me with information about Spotify! It certainly is something we need to keep our eyes on as a potential timeRead more…
Coaching Resistance, Part 3: Creative cueing
Tired of saying “turn it up” or “add more resistance” all the time? Liven up your coaching for resistance increases with these cues. The best way to cue resistance is to teach your students about the relationship between cadence, resistance, and their effect on intensity. You use the equation CRead more…
Coaching Resistance, Part 2: How to inspire students to select the resistance to reach the objective you set
Part 1 of this series on cueing resistance described how to establish a baseline resistance for your warm-up so that your riders always begin with some resistance on their bikes, even though it is an easier effort. By establishing this baseline, you instill in your students the understanding that thereRead more…
Coaching Resistance, Part 1: Establishing a baseline resistance
We’ve all heard the instructor who calls out to the class, “Gimme a full turn!” This article explains why this is an unwise method of cueing resistance and how to guide students to establish a baseline warm-up flat road that has resistance. Read more…
How much do pro cyclists eat during the Tour de France
People are always asking how many calories a pro cyclists burns in a Tour stage and how many calories they need to eat in order to replace that energy. I’ve got a couple of sources for the answer to those questions. Andy Schleck tweeted this photo yesterday after the stage.Read more…
The “How-To” Guide for Hovers. Wait…What??
Want to learn how to hover in your indoor cycling class? Google it and learn how! JUST KIDDING!!! Wouldn’t you ask an expert? The problem is that too many don’t know how to distinguish true “experts” anymore. I was floored when I discovered this “How-to” guide for doing a “hover” inRead more…
Quote of the Week July 10 2011
Ben Franklin never ceases to inspire! You’ll love this quote!Read more…