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…

The Thanksgiving Song Playlist has been updated with 60 new songs, for a total of 155 songs! A wide variety of genres to chose from with themes from gratitude to food to Black Friday… Sprinkle these throughout your Thanksgiving playlist for an entertaining ride!Read more…

gratitude ride

Next week is Thanksgiving in the US, but nations from all over the world share in the need for and the desire to express gratitude. Previously we’ve posted a 90-minute Gratitude Ride, and we’re reposting it here. Still the same great songs and dedication to gratitude, but updated with a few new cues. Enjoy this profile with your students!Read more…

Epic Ride’s latest virtual ride is Epic Aspen. Allen asked me to get a group of cycling girlfriends to be a part of this ride up two of Colorado’s beautiful climbs outside of Aspen. Epic Planet is offering a limited 20% discount to everyone, and remember, ICA members get a 30% discount on all Epic Planet virtual rides!Read more…

We’ve got some very exciting projects in the works at ICA, including a new website, planned educational series, videos, new contributors, an app, and more. To help us prioritize what you need the most, we would really love your input–whether you are a member or not. Let us know what are the most important topics that concern you as an instructor. Will you take a quick survey? It might take you one minute!Read more…

Tara asks, “How would you describe how you should be feeling at 75%, 80%, 85%, and 90% of maximum heart rate?” This may possibly be the best question of the year! When you can help your students hone in to what various intensities should feel like, you can help them not only understand how their bodies respond at various intensities, but also where their threshold likely lies. This article tells you how you can make sense of MHR zones, and is the beginning of another wonderfully educational series on heart rate and perceived exertion!Read more…

While searching for a Halloween song I saw suggested on Twitter, I hit pay dirt. I unearthed a slew of eerily awesome songs that work perfectly for cycling classes. Yes, they actually have a great beat, not just shrieks and screams. You can now say to your students (as I did in my Halloween newsletter), “I promise not to play Monster Mash and Thriller this year!”Read more…