Throwback Thursday: Have you ever had a rider pedal way too slowly with too much resistance, yet she didn’t respond to your cues? It may be time to offer a little physiology lesson. You have to be careful not to go over their heads and have their eyes glaze over, so here is a short, interesting, and easy-to-understand way to explain why they might want to increase their cadence. Read more…
“Is there a way to cue a rider—in layman’s terms—so that they are not just using or mostly using their quads?” This is a great question and the answer is yes…and no.Read more…
Jean asked what to do about her new rider’s discomfort he feels in his triceps. The advice provided is not just for new riders, but is a great review for all instructors to know how to coach hand placement to minimize discomfort or arm fatigue for all riders.Read more…
You may have noticed how some people seem to bounce in the saddle on an indoor bike. But do you know why this happens and what you can do about it?Read more…
Suppose you hired a personal trainer. At your first session, your trainer, Jack, hands you 1 lb weights. You look at him doubtfully, but he smiles and says, “Trust me!” So you do dozens of biceps curls and shoulder presses and a few other exercises until your shoulder muscles areRead more…
A well-written article that sheds light on knee pain and injuries, while demonstrating the level of knowledge indoor cycling instructors need to balance out the focus on fun, community, and music.Read more…
This is a question from a fairly new instructor about understanding rpm and its relationship to bpm. I originally posted this in 2012, but I am reposting it with an updated response. This question came up recently in the ICA Member Facebook group, so I thought I’d resurrect this post.Read more…
Ever notice how standing affects your heart rate? How long does it take to return to where it was prior to standing (if cadence and resistance/power are the same)? Many riders might not notice the effect on their heart rate, so this eye-opening climbing drill brings it to their attention and teaches them the tricks to bring it back down.Read more…
There is rarely enough time to work with brand-new students in your regular classes. If you have the luxury of scheduling beginner classes at your studio or club, here is a list of what you should include in these first-timer classes that will help them master the movements and feel less intimidated about venturing into regular classes. This is one of the best ways to provide a continuous flow of new riders to your classes.Read more…
Today I received an e-mail from ICA member Shayne who sent me an example of his club’s Group Fitness Class Conduct Guide for Spinning. It gave me an idea to get others to submit their facility’s instructor guidelines or a sample of what it contains. Or, if you don’t have one, let me know in the comments what you wish your club/studio would do to keep your team teaching a similar approach while still encouraging different styles. Next week, I’ll post these samples along with Shayne’s, so you can use them as a template to create your own or suggest to your group fitness director to create one.Read more…