I’ve been teaching this pedal stroke drill for almost as long as I’ve been teaching (20 years). I first introduced it at a conference in my session called The Anatomy of the Pedal Stroke at WSSC in 2002. It’s a fabulous visual to help riders connect with their pedal strokes.Read more…
How can you help riders quiet their form and eliminate bouncing? Jennifer Sage and Tom Scotto discuss why this happens and provide a few solutions.Read more…
In a recent profile, I was asked why I don’t assign a hand position when riders stand. This is a great question that I get often. Let’s talk hand positions seated and standing, and why we go there. Read more…
Do your bikes have consoles? No? You aren’t alone. While the wave of technology certainly is prevalent in many studios and gyms around the world, it’s not yet ubiquitous. But we’ve got great news for you! Introducing the first smartphone app that reads cadence…and it’s very reliable! Read more…
Here is the analysis of the power files I posted a few weeks ago. I had two winners, Karyn and Bill, who posted their suggestions about what was going on with power output, heart rate, and cadence. Posts like these will serve to increase your knowledge, helping you create profiles with purpose. They should also be eye-openers to help expand your coaching, even if you don’t have power!Read more…
Here are the power files from two different riders in an interval class. Can you tell me what the purpose of the class is by looking at the cadence, power, and heart rate? One file is how the effort should look; the other is someone who struggled a bit. Can you guess why? How might this impact your teaching?Read more…
Whether you currently teach with power or not, chances are you’ve heard of FTP. Maybe you even know it’s important information for the more serious outdoor riders in class…but should your everyday, non-cyclist students bother with it? After all, they aren’t coming to improve outdoor cycling performance, they just want to lose weight and get fit! Read on to explore what knowing FTP can do for the non-cyclists!
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When you learn how to read and interpret a workout file it is an amazing tool to aid in putting together profiles. You will better understand the possible impact your choices (cadence, resistance, power, etc.) will have on your riders. By looking at a file from a less fit rider who suffered in the class or was unable to do the prescribed workout, you will understand why some might struggle with your coaching. Or, maybe you might discover that some things you are doing might not be as effective as you thought. Read more…
Many of us have seen professional riders climbing the famed ascents of the Tour de France. One observation is the speed at which they climb. Not just how fast their bikes are going, but how fast their legs are spinning. This faster climbing cadence is often referred to as “climbing at tempo.” For those of us that ride outside, this is not climbing in one’s granny gear (no offense, Mom), but pushing a relatively hard gear at a fast cadence.Read more…
This strategy for strength dips in the world of biomechanics—one of my favorite topics! We can sometimes spend hours working on our pedal stroke seated, but neglect full muscle usage when standing. When proper pedal stroke technique is not emphasized out of the saddle, riders usually resort to simply mashing down on the pedals. This only activates the quadriceps and reduces efficiency, endurance, and power. So let’s throw some hip in there.Read more…