I'm not embarrassed to say that I like country music. Country is a genre that many indoor cycling instructor avoid, but I embrace it. I get more complements about playing country music than any other genre. Country music IS popular and has a HUGE following. I live in Denver and a few weeks ago U2 was playing the Pepsi Center, a 20,000 seat venue and Luke Bryan was playing Mile High Stadium, a 75,000 seat venue, on the same night. Luke Bryan sold out U2 did not!
This week I mixed together 3 new country songs:
Homegrown by Zac Brown Band
Play It Again by Luke Bryan
John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 by Keith Urban
All 3 songs are about 3 minutes and 30 seconds long. I like to use this music mix for three 3 minute intervals with 30-40 seconds recovery after each. Since the energy and tempo “feel” lower and slower I like to ride at a cadence of 60-80 rpm for this set. Listen below to how I used this set in class.
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']If you use video I also mixed together the videos of these three songs.
3 song harmonically mixed track, to download Right Click > Save As / Save Target As to download. Open in iTunes and then you'll see this in your Spotify Local File folder.
Q: “I've been on a beta-blocker (atenolol) for my high blood pressure. Lately I find that I can't keep up with the profiles my instructor presents in the Spinning classes I take. When I push to the target energy zones, I feel like I am overexerting myself. I'm exhausted. Can you help me understand how this medication might be affecting my heart rate?”
– J.T.
Melissa writes:
An excellent question indeed. I'm glad you've noticed that something isn't quite as you expect, and that you've empowered yourself to get to the ‘heart' of what's going on. (Bad joke…)
Beta-blockers are one kind of well over 15 types of different medications used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), some of which you may also have heard of: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium-channel blockers, diuretics, and many more. Each class of drugs works on different receptors in different locations (heart, blood vessels, lungs, skeletal muscles, etc.), and thus has different effects. I will limit my discussion here to Beta-blockers, and defer the others for a later article. (more…)
Here's the video to go along with DJ Joe Talbert's 16 minute mix.
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Download Linked File As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library
To download the above media on a PC:
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Save Link As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library Click here to watch a video on how to download media files from ICI/Pro.
Click image to join our Facebook Group – everyone encouraged to join!
You’re passionate about fitness, you love indoor cycling and you may even be an outstanding instructor yourself. You recognize the amazing energy in a great class, and you’ve also seen a lot of poor or mediocre classes that frustrate you. Maybe you’ve wondered if a dedicated studio can make money?
Should you start your own studio? Great questions.
While not nearly as common as yoga studios, there are in fact a good many successful, dedicated cycling studios (and Spin® studios) around the country. We have worked extensively with a number of them, and in the right community, with the right model, these can be tremendous small businesses.
There is nothing more thrilling than waking every day knowing your decisions and actions are building a business, developing a community, making people healthy…….and generating a stream of profits!
Here is the first question we ALWAYS get asked. There is plenty of indoor cycling and Spinning® at gyms and health clubs in my area — why would people go to a new dedicated
studio?
4 reasons cycling studios are successful! – Free Registration Required – Click Here. Opens in a new tab.
[wlm_ismember]
Dedication.For the same reason there are thousands of successful Yoga studios, despite ample yoga classes at gyms and health clubs — a dedicated studio focuses
on one thing. It pays attention to the details and delivers a more consistently excellent product.
Atmosphere.
Many people, for a variety of reasons, prefer a small intimate studio
to the feeling of a big gym or health club. As evidence, look at the vast number of Yoga, Pilates and personal training studios — despite the availability of those services at gyms.
Pricing flexibility.
Studios typically offer a variety of programs including “unlimited classes” or “pay-per-visit”. This variety and flexibility appeals to a broad range of potential clients. This service makes it easy to set up online payments.
Community.
There is a community spirit in a small studio attended by dedicated cyclists with a common passion.
The notion of a successful, dedicated cycling studio is not just a concept — it is a reality in dozens of instances around the country. That being said, the number is miniscule compared to the opportunity, and there is very likely a need near you.
This is a video of my all time favorite Tour de France Stage and it includes my all time favorite indoor cycling song, O'Fortuna.
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Download Linked File As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library
To download the above media on a PC:
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Save Link As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library Click here to watch a video on how to download media files from ICI/Pro.
Below, Premium Members can read a detailed description of this Class Profile, download a printable Class Profile that can be used in class, read a detailed description of the Power Based Training Zones and download a printable Power Postcard.
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
#18 minute interval slightly above “maximum sustainable intensity” or threshold or Orange Zone
First and Last 3 minutes above threshold or Red Zone
1 minute recovery
4 X 3 minute interval at a slightly higher intensity or average wattage than the #18 minute interval or Orange Zone
30 second surge to Red Zone at the beginning and end of each 3 minute interval
1 minute of “recovery” only a few watts or heart beats below the 3 minute intensity after each interval
1 x 2 minute interval at a slightly higher intensity or average wattage than the #18 minute interval or Red Zone
1 minute recovery this is real recovery
3 x 1 minute close to maximum intensity
1 minute recovery after each interval
3 X 30 second interval done at absolute maximum intensity
30 seconds recovery after each interval
Workout Goal:
Can you respect the ORANGE and stay in your Threshold zone for all intervals before we max out at the end.
4 minute warm up
Soft pedal for the first 2 minutes. Get comfortable on bike. Discuss fit and console.
Slowly and steadily increase HR and/or Average Wattage each minute, for 2 minutes, keep intensity below threshold.
1 minute recovery.
3 minute “Benchmark” or Stages IQ FTP Test goals and specifics:
Ride for 3 minutes at a maximum sustainable intensity.
If you have the capability to capture average wattage use the average wattage as your “Benchmark”. If you are limited to RPE to determine intensity use your cueing to make sure participants remember how this 3 minute interval “feels”. All intervals sets in this profile will use this wattage number or RPE as a starting point.
If you are instructing with a Group Display System like Stages IQ, this is when you will have your class perform their initial FTP or Threshold test.
Ride Seated with a cadence of 80-110 RPM
1 minute recovery.
#18 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride the first 3 minutes at an intensity, wattage or heart rate that is higher than the benchmark intensity found above or in the Red Zone
Ride for 12 minutes at the benchmark intensity, wattage or heart rate or in the Orange Zone
If you are instructing with a Group Display System like Stages IQ, this is when you will have your class perform their initial FTP or Threshold test.
This is a long effort so switch it up as you ride.
Ride the last 3 minutes at an intensity, wattage or heart rate that is higher than the benchmark intensity or in the Red Zone
1 minute recovery in Zone 1 or in the Blue Zone
3 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride the first 30 seconds at an intensity, wattage or heart rate that is higher than the benchmark intensity or in the Red Zone
Ride for 2 minutes at the Benchmark intensity
Ride seated with a cadence of 80-110 RPM.
If using Stages IQ ride in the Orange zone.
Surge for the last 30 seconds in the Red zone.
1 minute “recovery” just below Threshold or in the Yellow zone.
3 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride the first 30 seconds at an intensity, wattage or heart rate that is higher than the benchmark intensity or in the Red Zone
Ride for 2 minutes at the Benchmark intensity
Miller Time Interval seated with a cadence of 58 RPM.
If using Stages IQ ride in the Orange zone.
Surge for the last 30 seconds in the Red Zone
1 minute “recovery” just below Threshold or in the Yellow zone.
3 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride the first 30 seconds at an intensity, wattage or heart rate that is higher than the benchmark intensity or in the Red Zone
Ride for 2 minutes at the Benchmark intensity
Another Miller Time Interval with a cadence of 58 RPM.
Alternate between seated and standing riding for 30 seconds.
If using Stages IQ ride in the Orange zone.
Surge for the last 30 seconds in the Red Zone
1 minute “recovery” just below Threshold or in the Yellow zone
3 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride the first 30 seconds at an intensity, wattage or heart rate that is higher than the benchmark intensity or in the Red Zone
Ride for 2 minutes at the Benchmark intensity
Another Miller Time Interval with a cadence of 58 RPM.
Ride standing with a cadence between 60-80 RPM
If using Stages IQ ride in the Orange zone.
Surge for the last 30 seconds in the Red Zone
1 minute “recovery” just below Threshold or in the Yellow zone
2 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride for 2 minutes at a higher intensity, RPE or average wattage than benchmark
Ride at your choice of RPM and position
If using Stages IQ ride in the Red Zone.
1 minute recovery, easy, in the Blue Zone.
3 x 1 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride for 1 minute at a higher intensity, RPE or average wattage than the previous 2 minute interval.
Ride at your choice of RPM and position.
If using Stages IQ ride in the DARK RED zone.
1 min recovery after the interval 1 and 2
1 minute recovery at the end of the set in Zone 1 or Blue
3 X 30 second interval goals and specifics:
Repeat three 30 seconds at MAX intensity, RPE or wattage.
