Teaching to a Variety of Different Abilities in One Class, Part 1: Five Categories of Riders
The very simplicity of indoor cycling means that classes are often filled with participants who have a wide variety of fitness levels, skill levels, experience, and goals. This presents challenges for instructors who strive to be both attentive to each, yet mindful of all. Instructors may wonder if they’re able to give equal attention to all of the riders, or if that is even necessary. Subbing a class or teaching a regular class with an influx of new riders (typical in the new year) is a balancing act. Fortunately, these challenges come with opportunities for all instructors to up their game in coaching to varied abilities.
Read More...Ask the Expert: How to Work with an Obese or Very Unfit Rider?
This email I received brings up an immensely important issue—how to work with obese and/or very unfit students. There are many things you can do to make these students more comfortable and increase the chances they will return, but it takes some hand-holding. Are you willing to do what it takes?
Read More...My Cycling Class Today: A Locker Room Conversation that Helped a Rider Avoid Knee Pain in Indoor Cycling Class
Sara overheard a woman in the locker room complaining about knee pain after cycling class and saying she might quit riding. Sara knew she had to intervene in order to help give this woman the best chance of experiencing the joys of cycling.
Read More...Moving From Apprehensive to Inspirational
This is a story about a woman who had no idea what she could accomplish. A woman who reluctantly attended her very first cycling class with me six months ago on the advice of her personal trainer. A woman who feared the bike and was one of the most hesitant riders I’ve ever seen. She is now one of the strongest female riders I have ever had the pleasure to work with.
Read More...How to Incorporate Long Intervals, Part 4: Music for Longer Intervals
Longer intervals can present a musical challenge for instructors. We have the tips you need to succeed! Here are four playlists with 180 songs of all different genres to use in your longer intervals. I’ve broken them down by genre and tempo (bpm) and provided tips on how to use them. I also give advice on other resources for finding longer tracks.
Read More...My Cycling Class Today: One Rider’s First Experience Riding with Power Completely Changed Her Perspective
When you teach riders who are new to power consoles about riding with metrics and power, it will surely benefit their fitness journey. But when they experience an educational moment firsthand, it is particularly powerful and will stay with them forever.
Read More...Stop the Glorification of Workouts That Almost Kill People!
“I sure hope my cycling class today is EFFECTIVE!”…said no participant, ever. Time to ask yourself this question: how effective are your classes?
Read More...Managers Wondered Why I Always Had a Full Cycle Class…and Others Didn’t
Last week one of the club managers came to take my class to do some reconnaissance in order to figure out my secret for filling my classes. Here are 15 things I do for every class that few of the other instructors do—these are likely the reasons why I have a waiting list and they don’t.
Read More...How to Educate Your Riders, Part 4: Using Storytelling and Non-Cycling Examples
Continuing our series on Educating Your Students, Christine gives some suggestions about how to use non-cycling examples to help students understand cycling technique and what they should be feeling while pedaling. She does this primarily through storytelling in her profiles, although that’s not a prerequisite of the method. Christine is an expert at this technique and has been extremely successful educating her students.
Read More...My Cycling Class Today: Finding Light from Your Blind Spot
One of my students told me he thought another rider’s seat was too low. He was right. As a bonus, the correct setup helped her increase her wattage. On one hand, I wondered how I missed this; on the other, I was so grateful he felt comfortable enough to tell me. Here are a few of my reflections on this incident.
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