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In: Free Articles, Outdoor Cycling
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This is a repost of an article by Robert Baldi from last year on gearing. One of the beauties of indoor cycling is that it inspires many instructors to become cyclists, and some instructors even inspire their students to ride outside (one of my favorite things). But sometimes the world of cycling can be a little intimidating. At ICA, we want to help you discover the world of outdoor riding and help you answer your students’ questions about outdoor riding as well as indoor! Read more…

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In: Biomechanics, Cadence, Power, Free Articles, Outdoor Cycling
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I love drills in my indoor cycling classes. Here at ICA we try to teach you how to do technical drills of all kinds—cadence drills, pedal stroke drills to improve technique, intensity drills, outdoor simulation drills (like pacelines), etc. Last week, I took my indoor drills outdoors. It was really hard to do, but by the end of an hour, the difference we all experienced was substantial. I’ll even tell you how these benefit the non-cyclists amongst your students.Read more…

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Are you a cycling instructor that hasn’t yet discovered the incredible joys of riding outside? Or perhaps you want to convince your students to consider riding outside. Robert gives you some tips on making the decision to become an outdoor rider. Don’t worry about cannibalizing your class numbers; in a sense, you are creating an even more committed client when you introduce them to outdoor cycling!
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In: Form and Technique, Outdoor Cycling
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Despite how much I enjoy ranting about the craziness of our industry, this article focuses on standing. I’ve heard it said far too often that the only time cyclists come out of the saddle is to climb and sprint. There is a bit more to the story. In addition to the brief descriptions below, I’ve compiled a short video at the end to demonstrate application. Like they say, a picture (or video) is worth a thousand words.Read more…

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In: General Coaching, Instructor Issues & growth, Outdoor Cycling
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Although our indoor classes might be populated with many folks who do not ride outdoors, we should also be mindful of what our outdoor riders may be doing or are capable of during a given time of year. This will help us deliver safe, fun, and appropriate classes regardless of the season. Understanding this still has value for the non-outdoor rider. Why?Read more…

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In: Form and Technique, Outdoor Cycling
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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…

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In: Free Articles, Outdoor Cycling
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One of the beauties of indoor cycling is that it inspires many instructors to become cyclists, and some instructors even inspire their students to ride outside (one of my favorite things). But sometimes the world of cycling can be a little intimidating. At ICA, we want to help you discover the world of outdoor riding and help you answer your students’ questions about outdoor riding as well as indoor! Read more…

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In: Class Profiles, Outdoor Cycling
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This mountain bike profile has proven to be one of the most exhilarating rides I think I’ve ever done! Hidden beneath the twisty-turny-uppy-downy terrain are unstructured intervals. This is the kind of “real” ride that your interval training prepares you for. So get ready to show your students what solid interval training can do for them!Read more…