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In: Coaching and Cueing, Free Articles, Tour de France
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Are you teaching stages of the Tour de France in your Spinning/cycling classes? I’ve got some resources for you. If you’ve never done it before, I encourage you to try. Students, even those who don’t follow cycling or ride outside, generally enjoy these classes immensely. Its hard not to—they have everything we love about indoor cycling: high energy, passion, excitement, intensity and the mind-body focus. Throw in some strategy and intrigue and you have a recipe for huge success!Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, New Instructors
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Instructors often wonder whether they should be riding as hard as they are asking of their students. Tom Scotto believes there is no single answer to this question and gives you four considerations when deciding whether you should be riding hard, or holding back. Keep these items in the back of your mind for every class you teach.Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, New Instructors
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Christine’s article on determining a student’s learning style got me thinking of my own way of assimilating information when I’m learning or enhancing a skill. As I read her article, I saw myself in the “frustrated” students she described. I am a very strong kinesthetic learner, but fortunately, I also am also a visual learner. Coaches who are skilled at delivering bodily cues are less common, so I tend to pass the visual information I receive through my own kinesthetic filter. Are you like this? Might some of your students do this? I use my education as a ski instructor as an example in how I did this, and provide you with things to consider when trying to reach your predominantly kinesthetic learners.Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Magic Coaching Minute, Training Videos
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Welcome to the Magic Coaching Minute, a new segment on ICA. We will bring you a coaching suggestion via video once or twice a month. The first Magic Coaching Minute is with Gene Nacey of Cycling Fusion, filmed and produced at the Cycling Fusion Headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. In this video, we analyze a rider’s poor technique as demonstrated by Gene, and try to assess the best way to correct his form. The issue is a very jerky pedal stroke while climbing out of the saddle. The rider often looks like he’s on a pogo stick. How do you fix it?Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Instructor Issues & growth, New Instructors
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This is the final installment on the series by Bryon Black on Top Ten Tricks for Nailing Your Next Audition. This tip deserved its own article because of its impact. Get this one right and not only will you probably knock the socks off those in your audition, but it will establish your foundation as you progress as an indoor cycling coach. Incorporating this suggestion may change you; it will permeate how you create your profiles, how you coach your students, how you help them progress in their fitness, and how you grow as a person.Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Free Articles, New Instructors
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As an indoor cycling instructor, I believe your job is to lead your students to greater fitness, provide motivation and inspiration, educate them, and have fun in the process. In fulfilling these obligations, you want to have a mix of the elements listed in this article in your quiver of classes. These aren’t energy zones or specific types of profiles, rather they could be what is stated as an objective (or sub-objective) for your profile.Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing, Free Articles, Instructor Issues & growth
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After three weeks being out of commission, I’m slowly getting back to teaching my Tues/Thur 6am class, the end of a 12-week periodized program. Since the information and coaching is very specific and is based on what was done in the previous weeks, I had no one who I could trust to sub for me. (Yup, really!) But I do have very understanding and wonderful students who cared more about my recovery than their class! So today was my second day back, teaching off the bike. My husband remarked these past two classes were the best he’s ever seen me teach, because I was focusing so much on my students. Here’s what I said and did, plus my latest field-test playlist, which I loved!Read more…

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In: Coaching and Cueing
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I’ve taught many field tests over the past six years and have assembled what I believe are some excellent coaching tips to inspire my riders to give it their all without overdoing it. Coaching field tests well requires a good understanding of what lactate threshold effort should feel like and how to inspire your riders mentally to hold to that level of intensity for 20 minutes. Here are some coaching tips for before, during, and after your field test.Read more…