As instructors it is important that we monitor the form our those in our class. It is not uncommon to notice riders pedaling with their knees too far apart or tracking outward. This video addresses this needed correction and provides two cues instructors can use to guide participants back to better alignment.Read more…
I received a question from a cyclist who said a master instructor told him he should allow movement in his upper body and he disagreed, because he was always taught to keep his upper body still. But there is an important difference between an outdoor bike and an indoor bike, and that has implications in how you should modify your riding indoors.Read more…
You hear people like Tom Scotto and me, as well as many indoor cycling programs and their master instructors, preaching the benefits of “keeping it real” and sticking to authentic cycling techniques when training your students in your classes. This is absolutely true; it is your obligation as the leader of the class to provide a safe and effective workout for everyone in your studio. But is every cycling technique warranted indoors? Tom and I decided it would be a good idea to discuss certain techniques that might be valid training for outdoor cyclists but that are not recommended in the cycling studio, especially on bikes that don’t move. We give you the reasons they are valid outdoors, and the reasons they are contraindicated indoors.Read more…
Here’s a sure-fire way to waste an hour in the studio.Read more…
Renee asked about teaching jumps properly. Jumps can be controversial; some programs obviously love them and they are a big part of their program, and others list them as part of contraindicated moves. If you must teach jumps, I give you 3 things you must never do when coaching jumps, and 4 ways to choose how to present them to your students. Read more…
If you are an ICA member, or have known me for a long time in the Spinning® and indoor cycling community, you would probably know that I’m not a big proponent of standing out of the saddle with the hands on the tops of the handlebars…Read more…
What is the difference between a seated and standing position on a bike in terms of how your body responds? This is a very educational discussion between myself and Dr. Jennifer Klau and Tom Scotto. We discuss everything that has to do with standing up on a bike: the physiological reaction of the body, technique, gearing/resistance, methods of keeping the heart rate under control, power output, and how long should you stand up in a class situation.Read more…
A news report on New York TV suggests that carpal tunnel injuries are on the rise from Spinning classes. I review the video and evaluate potential wrist problems, describing the most effective and comfortable position for the hands while riding indoors. I also look at why instructors too often incorrectly cue to “engage the core” (as they do in the video), believing it will improve riding posture and take the weight off the hands. I also provide 15 detailed cues for guiding your riders to position their hands properly, and how to sit up correctly without over activating the core.Read more…
I had a strange dream about teaching Spinning. It was an instructor’s nightmare, kind of like Groundhog Day—I kept coming back to the same room, same people, same situation, but different things kept going wrong. It was exasperating! However, something very good came from this dream, and I woke at 5 am to write down the lesson I learned: the yin and yang of the pedal stroke. Read more…
As a follow-up to my post last week about high cadences, here are seven tips to increase success for pedaling quickly while standing. This article reiterates that each individual will have their own “threshold” of cadence while standing and reviews when and why this movement is appropriate or not. LastRead more…