Do you talk non-stop when you are teaching your classes? Do you feel uncomfortable when you see your students looking up at you with big eyes, and imagine they are looking for direction? Becoming comfortable with silence is a huge step in becoming an enlightened coach, and to helping yourRead more…
In Parts 1 and 2, we have discussed most of the necessary elements of building an engaging endurance ride, but there are two more elements, ACTION and YOU. This final edition of this series on teaching endurance or mind-body style classes helps you put it all together and understand howRead more…
Part two of this endurance coaching series focuses on using your voice and on your cueing, dialogue, and music as tools to engage your students and help facilitate their connection to their bike and to their breath. These coaching tips are not just for coaching an “endurance” ride, but anyRead more…
ICA members are in for a phenomenal coaching treat. Bryon Black is a master of an instructor (not an MI, but he should be!) who excels at endurance rides and engaging his students. He shares with you some amazing ways to keep your students focused and how to connect withRead more…
When one of your riders sits up a lot during class it could be for a plethora of reasons: discomfort, poor set-up, disinterested, or that they are just being lazy. How should you address it? The technique for confronting this student issue can be employed for almost anything you haveRead more…
To a cyclist, climbing represents baring one’s soul, enduring and overcoming suffering, and realizing accomplishments beyond what you’ve ever done in the past–all rolled into one. Climbing is the Zen of cycling. Bring some of these motivational visualizations and encouragements into your own coaching and empower your students like neverRead more…
I have a student who has taught me the importance of keeping it simple. I love creative cueing, and 99% of my students are inspired by it. By I bet you have a student like mine…one who may not get your creative cues! Remember to pay attention to those student’sRead more…
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…
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…
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…