Part 2 of knowing whether your class is too hard or too easy means digging in deeper into what “hard” really means and how to convey it to your riders. I link to seven articles to help ensure you fully understand this level of effort. This includes 23 cues to empower your riders to give everything they have to reach the level of effort to actually realize the HIT benefits. Otherwise, they’re awash in mediocrity.Read more…

If you are one of those instructors who loves to bring the experience of riding outdoors to your indoor riders, now is the time to get them excited. Give them a taste of the Tour de France (TDF) and introduce them to some of the fun we enjoy during one of the greatest sporting events of all time. Here are some recommendations for leaning TDF lingo, visualizing the terrain and intensity, and connecting the experience of outdoor cycling to your indoor riders.Read more…

Bill arrives at the studio to teach his class, but there is a construction team at the front of the room, just minutes before class starts. What does he do? Learn from Bill’s experience in effectively managing a challenging situation, and apply it to others that you might encounter. Your response will have an effect on how your riders respond!Read more…

Alisha Shulter is an indoor cycling instructor who recently taught her first class off the bike. But, she hadn’t planned on doing it that way. The results, however, were magical and taught her a lot about herself and her students. She wrote this blog post about it and gave me permission to share it with you here at ICA.Read more…

We are not taking away training or barricading treadmills and indoor bikes; instead we are offering them a much needed change in how they work out. Honestly, the efforts are not easier, just different. In part 2, we will discuss one of the keys to getting your riders salivating over a reset—knowing what you are selling.Read more…

Christine Nielsen was recently diagnosed with cancer. She is graciously writing a series of articles as she goes through her treatments and has an uncanny way of drawing parallels from life to what we do as indoor cycling instructors. This article on being a “newbie” cancer patient might inspire you to contemplate a little more deeply about the challenges our brand-new students face.Read more…

Do you talk too much when you are teaching your classes? Do you have this internal dialogue when you see your students looking back at you after you’ve given them a cue? “They’re staring at me. I better say something! I know they’re bored, I can tell! Look, someone just stood up…Oh no! They hate me!”
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In an single indoor cycling class we can have a combination of beginners, cycling enthusiasts, competitive athletes, the fit, and the unfit. We have those who are just interested in some cardio fitness, some with a focus on weight loss, and others desiring cycling-specific training. There are the young, the old, and everyone in between. So with all of these different interests, expectations, and age groups, how do we determine who we are talking to when we lead our classes?Read more…