by John | Jan 5, 2011 | Instructor Tips and Tricks
When they squeak, it's time for new cleats.
Everyone listened to squeak – squeak – squeak, from one person in the front row, for the entire two hour endurance ride Amy and I taught on New Year's day. I knew exactly what was causing it and it was everything I could do not to go down and ask this person to leave. It was driving me crazy!
The culprit; worn Look cleats 🙁
After class I explained to him that the trouble was his cleats were worn out. I asked that he replace them before the next class. His response was that he thought it was something with the bike. I told him how I have used Look pedals for years and the squeak they make when worn out was unmistakable.
“I'll spray them with something… so they don't make noise.”
While this sounds like a reasonable solution, I advised him against it telling him it's a real safety issue. You never want to spray a lubricant on Look cleats because:
- They release very unpredictably, often with only a small percentage of the twisting force needed when “dry”
- Hardwood floors and slippery shoes don't mix 🙁
- They need to be replaced, so why delay the inevitable?
While I'm on the subject: when was the last time someone tested and adjusted the release tension on the bikes in your studio? SPD cleats, while not having the wear issues of Look cleats, still need to be checked for the proper release tension. I have found that the easiest way to do this is to take a shoe with new cleats and, holding the shoe with your hand, test that they engage and release with a reasonable amount of effort. Try it on a few and you will quickly learn what feels right.
It just may prevent an injury during one of your big sprint finishes!
One last thing … for years clubs using the Schwinn Triple Link pedals (the Red Pedals with the removable shoe baskets) purposely set the release tension very low. This was so Instructors could remove shoe baskets without hurting themselves but in the process created a potential safety hazard. Now that my Red Pedal Tool for Schwinn Triple Link Pedals is available there is no reason not to set these pedals correctly.
I found that SportSmith.com has the best pricing on indoor cycling bike replacement Schwinn Triple link Pedals
by John | Jan 2, 2011 | Instructor Training, Zone based Heart Rate Training
Ask Amy about her biggest teaching challenge while on a working fitness vacation at a Caribbean resort and she will tell you it's accommodating all the different languages of the guests. Jamaica is very popular among Europeans and Asians, so in one class she may have students that speak German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese. Many know some English, but Amy has learned that sign language works the best because everyone understands it. She gets their attention, demonstrates what she wants and then leads them with nothing more than her smile and hand gestures.
I'm not saying we should adopt a form of sign language to communicate Heart Rate Training Zones. I'm not sure that would work… But the signage in your club or studio should simply and accurately show visually, exactly what you are speaking in your class.
No health club is perfect, but I have to hand it to Life Time Fitness. They have done an exceptional job and educating all of their instructors on the concept of Threshold and the ever present Heart Rate Charts (in every studio) serve as visual reinforcement of the language we all use in class. You can download a pdf of the chart here.
Notice step one
I say exceptional job because it's very rare to find a student in my class that doesn't understand the concept of Threshold Heart Rate and in an average class 60% – 80% of the participants are wearing and using monitors. To put that in perspective, LTF has 90 clubs and in excess of 300,000 members that are being educated about the proper uses of Heart Rate Training .
Am I suggesting we adopt Life Time's chart? Not necessarily. We need a “generic” or “open source” version so everyone will be able to use it without cost or limitation.
How does your club compare?
Do your signage and fellow Instructors all speak the same language?
Are you resistant to establishing a standard? If so, then why?
Read this 3 part series on why we feel a 20 minute threshold field test may not be appropriate for your class.
by John | Dec 31, 2010 | Latest News
OK, it may be a bit of a pride thing, but I couldn't help but check our position in iTunes for Podcasts related to “fitness instructor”.
Thanks for all the downloads this year. If you have a minute, I would love it if you would leave us a comment. This link will take you to the Indoor Cycle Instructor Podcast page in iTunes.
by John | Dec 28, 2010 | Latest News
I'm upgrading to a new email system this week. I don't anticipate any problems but you never can tell about the Matrix* The old system we used had some limitations that didn't allow me to separate ICI/PRO Members from everyone else. I'm converting to MailChimp which is very cool and somewhat more user friendly. If you have a small (less than 1,000 subscribers) email list it's completely free to use.
Managing our big list costs us $600.00 a year so I hope you appreciate each and every email we send you 🙂
Speaking of email… we send out an email update every Sunday night. If you aren't receiving it, it's probably in your Spam filter. I can't fix that for you, only you can. Adding john@indoorcycleinstructor.com to your list of contacts should fix that for you.
If you aren't on our list, or for some reason you're not receiving our emails, you can subscribe for free using this link.
*The Matrix is what I call all of the unintended consequences and effects that one seemingly minor change can have on this website.
by John | Dec 20, 2010 | Member Spotlight
Sheryl knows how to bring in the cyclists.
Outdoor cyclists can be very particular about their bike fit and setup. So much so that many won't come to your class because, after hundreds of hours on their own bikes, they don't feel comfortable on the Indoor Cycles in your studio. Then there's the issue of those who train with a Power Tap (or some other power measuring device) on their bike and yours don't have anything.
ICI/PRO Member and USA Certified Cycling Coach Sheryl DeBoer has found the solution: LET THEM BRING THEIR OWN BIKES!
Sheryl said in her email to me;
I had 36 riders the other night and this is December. What will January be like?
I demanded offered to have Sheryl on a future episode of the Indoor Cycle Instructor PRO Podcast so stay tuned for something in January!
This will be an ICI/PRO Members Only Podcast. If you aren't a PRO member yet, a Monthly or Annual subscription would makes a great Christmas present to yourself 🙂
