By:
On:
In: OCD - Obsessed with Cycling Drills
With: 21 Comments

Riding rolling hills on a bicycle can be a thrill, especially when they are short and continuous. Because of this, they translate beautifully into indoor cycling classes. But teaching rolling hills is more than just alternating a climb with a “downhill.” To coach them in an authentic way, it’s important to understand how a cyclist would approach them, how gravity will affect your speed of ascent, and how cyclists take the descent. Then you need to know how to use the energy of the music to define your ups and downs. They are so much fun that your riders will be asking for them by name!Read more…

By:
On:
In: Class Profiles
With: 5 Comments

Pedaling at lower cadences with higher resistance develops leg strength the same way lifting a heavier weight in the gym increases muscular strength. Today’s profile consists of hill repeats that focus on developing leg strength through strength endurance training. l often use recovery songs that are from one artist and album—I think you’ll enjoy the ones used in this profile.Read more…

By:
On:
In: Class Profiles
With: 8 Comments

This challenging mind-body profile (from my presentation at the 24-hour indoor cycling marathon) includes three long climbs with powerful and motivational cueing. Each climb is devoted to a different focus or emotion that cyclists feel when riding. The first climb is love; the second, soul or spirit; the third, feeling free. Each of the songs used in the climbs reflect these emotions.Read more…

By:
On:
In: Class Profiles
With: 9 Comments

Grimpeur (gram-peurr), or the feminine grimpeuse (gram-peuhz), is a French term, literally translated as “climber.” To be a true grimpeur, one must be strong-willed and physically tough, able to suffer more than the next rider to get to the top first. True heart. In the women’s peloton, American Mara Abbott is the epitome of a grimpeuse. This all-climbing profile was created in honor of this amazing female athlete. If you have concerns about one long climb, rest-assured, we provide modifications and motivations to keep your class engaged. Read more…

By:
On:
In: Class Profiles
With: 7 Comments

This profile is a series of climbs that get progressively longer. Each one is very different from the other, not just in length and cadence, but also personality. This is manifested in the music choice. I took a previous ICA profile and kept the terrain, but completely changed the music and objective to create an entirely new profile.Read more…

By:
On:
In: Free Articles, Tour de France
With: 1 Comment

Did you watch Stage 20 of the Tour? Take this description of what actually happened on this very exciting stage to create a dramatic storyline for your own class. Also, in this post are some resources for articles and videos for you to use in your Tour de France profiles, whether you are creating your own, or using the ICA profiles. Enjoy!Read more…

By:
On:
In: Class Profiles
With: 11 Comments

Last month I was in Seattle and had a chance to take Shari Miranda’s cycling class at the Seattle Athletic Club downtown. It’s a hill repeat profile with a twist. I enjoyed it so much I asked Shari to present it to ICA members. I know you—and your students—will enjoy this one!Read more…

By:
On:
In: Class Profiles
With: 7 Comments

To highlight our summer focus on climbing, we present another amazing profile from Tom Scotto. Join Tom as he takes you through three killer climbs with the help of guitar hero and classic rock. Make sure to pace yourself, that final climb at a tempo pace will demand all you’ve got! Tom’s outdoor cycling experience comes out in his coaching of this profile, and will help turn you into a climbing expert as well!Read more…