by John | Oct 25, 2019 | Correcting Form, Instructor Training, Master Instructor Blog
Myth: Rider Setup / Bike Fit should be done before class.
Common sense says that the best time to help someone with their bike setup would be before class. After all, this new student has just walked in and they have 45 – 60 minutes in the saddle ahead of them.
So pre-class would be the best time, right?
Well… no, it probably isn't. And when you think about it for a few minutes, I'll bet you'll agree.
I got this myth from our local bike fit guru Chris Balser, who's actually known as The Bike Fit Guru.
Professional Bike Fit Myths
4. Saddle Height is not static. To demonstrate, bend forward and try to touch the floor. Do it again. Try repeating the exercise when it is cold, hot, at the end of a hard ride, before an easy ride, etc. It will never be identical because our activities and climate are always changing. Remember this when prescribed the “magic number”.
The point I think Chris is making here is that there are a bunch of external factors that can influence setting a rider's saddle height properly… the most important being the temperature.
Living here in the “Frozen North” we face the issue of “shrinkage” when we're cold – no, not that shrinkage silly 🙂 I'm talking about how your muscles and connective tend to shorten/tighten when they are cold. One of the worst feelings imaginable is how your back tenses up after climbing into a car, when it's been cooling all day in a 10° parking lot. You're forced bolt upright, with your back muscles near spasm and you can't bend forward to save to save your soul. Thank heavens for heated seats!
The opposite occurs when we are warm. We relax. Our muscles loosen and can extent completely. Is this beginning to make sense to you?
It's only after a thorough warm-up can a leg (or legs) comfortably extend. And proper saddle height can only be set with full extension.
So wouldn't it make more sense to check/adjust participants at the end of class?
When I rode with the top level cycling team here in Minneapolis, it wasn't uncommon for one to the club leaders to ride by and offer; “You need to raise your saddle 2 millimeters”. So I would. Except I can remember thinking the next morning when I went off on a training ride; “that can't be right… my seat is too high”, as I would feel the pulling in the back of my knee with each revolution. But then it would go away, or I forgot about it. Either way, once I was warm and could fully extend, my saddle height was exactly where it belonged.
Outdoor riding tip in cool/cold weather: If you leave home and don't feel slightly chilled for the first mile or two (or a slight pull in the back of your knee), you're wearing too many clothes – or your saddle's too low… or both.
But what about a new person to class?
I say get them close, but don't forget about them at the end of class. You could discuss this during your into/warm-up and then remind everyone during the transition/cool-down that you will be available post class to assess everyone's warm position.
I'm guessing you'll get more than a few takers – because I can guarantee that they've never heard this before.
Originally posted 2012-12-19 17:52:42.
by John | Oct 17, 2019 | Best Practices, Instructor Tech Help
In this previous post I encouraged you to change your email password. Many of you must have followed my suggestion as I'm getting far fewer emails from hacked accounts. I continue to get them, but not the normal; “I've hacked your account and now I'll send a SPAM email to everyone in your contact list – which alerts your email provider. No. Now the bastards are getting sneaky…
Many of us use the “Out of office” / “I'm on vacation” auto response feature… and so are the hackers. They're only sending SPAM emails from a hacked account, after someone first sends you an email.
We're emailing ~ 10,000 Instructors every week. It's not uncommon for me to receive a few dozen responses; “Sorry but I'm off this week…” But now those responses include a link that is 100% SPAM.
Asking pleading with you here: Go in and change your password now if you haven't. If you are alerted that your account is sending a SPAM auto response go in and check to see if your vacation response has been mysteriously turned 🙁
And yes, I'm seeing this as another “Best Practice” of a Professional Indoor Cycling Instructor.
Originally posted 2012-10-11 07:54:11.
by John | Oct 11, 2019 | Engage Your Students, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Promote and Build Your Class, Your Fitness Business
Would a few of these recumbents make your class more inclusive?
Would you agree that Indoor Cycles are a poor method/modality of exercise – for some populations?
There's a long list of people who would never consider participating in our classes, or even riding an indoor cycle alone at home. There's a bunch of reasons:
- Physical limitations
- Obese/overweight
- Existing injury
- Just plain afraid of that skinny, little, bicycle saddle 🙁
So, would it make sense to add a few recumbent cycles to your studio?
The reason I'm asking is because I met a great guy at this past IHRSA convention. John Kennedy's company, Cascade Health and Fitness, manufactures that recumbent cycle pictured above. He shared his idea to incorporate recumbent indoor cycles, into a traditional indoor cycling class, to accommodate people who won't or can't ride a conventional Indoor Cycle. I'll admit, at first it sounded like a crazy idea to me. But the more I thought about the potential to make our classes more accessible I got excited.
That would mean more butts-in-seats = people exercising. I'm all for that!
The first place I can see recumbents making a positive impact is in Parkinson's Cycling Classes. Parkinson's Cycling Coach Kathy Helmuth has taught me that many people suffering with PD have physical limitations.
The symptomatic relief that comes from cycling isn't available to someone who can't ride a typical cycle. A recumbent is completely different; a big comfy seat that sits low and a step-through frame that anyone who can stand should be able to mount. I think this could be a way to make PD cycling classes more inclusive. Awesome!
What about your run-of-the-mill cycling class? Would a recumbent work there too?
I've got no idea, so let's find out!
We're conducting an experiment
We're looking for two studios to participate in a trial to see what happens when you add a few recumbents to a cycling studio. John has offered two of their recumbents at no cost + you'll keep them in the end.
In exchange they're asking that you:
- Install the recumbents in your studio and make them available in as many classes as possible.
- Experiment with different class formats, profiles, cuing, etc. You'll be charting new territory here and I'm happy to help you as much as possible.
- Actively promote this new accommodation to your customers – running the trial to see what happens for two months.
- At the end of the trial you will be interviewed by me on my podcast We will explore what worked and what didn't, your ideas for improvements, etc…
- You'll provide a few short video interviews, where you discuss these classes with your actual participants.
Is this something you'd consider?
Then contact me and we'll discuss next steps.
Originally posted 2015-04-13 15:44:38.
by John | Oct 9, 2019 | Member Spotlight
When I was at the IDEA conference last summer I met the representatives from Demand Media. They create unique content for websites like Livestrong.com and ehow.com. The person from Demand Media told me that they were at IDEA recruiting Fitness Professionals who could contribute written and / or video content. When I returned I contacted a number of people who I thought would be interested. One of them was Leslie Mueller.
She just emailed me the link to her series of 15 videos on ehow.com that focus on pain prevention and stretching for different populations.
They look fantastic and I'm very proud of her! Feel free to contact me for additional information john@indoorcycleinstructor.com
A Speedy Post-Ride Recovery For Beginner Cyclists — powered by eHow.com
If you feel you have the talent to create content for publication at LiveStrong.com, ehow.com or one of their other sites you can apply here.
Originally posted 2011-02-13 13:27:41.
by John | Oct 9, 2019 | Featured Studios, Instructor Training, Member Spotlight
Joe Ducosin in the middle of Biggest Loser contestants O'Neil Hampton, Pete Thomas, Sunshine Hampton and Jessie Atkins.
ICI/PRO member Joe Ducosin invited Amy and me to a special event at Cycle Quest Indoor Cycling Studio, Joe's new studio in Eden Prairie, MN.
The event was a kick off for the Minnesota Tour de Cure, a fundraising ride for the American Diabetes Association. It featured Biggest Loser contestants O'Neil Hampton, Pete Thomas, Sunshine Hampton and Jessie Atkins.
All four are very inspirational and Amy and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and riding with them.
During the break between the two classes held that evening, I had the chance to talk with Biggest Loser season 2 at home winner Pete Thomas and convince him to be a guest on a future episode of the Indoor Cycle Instructor Podcast.
Amy's interview with Pete is below and includes some footage from the class lead by these incredible Losers 🙂
Originally posted 2011-06-05 04:26:51.
