This is very exciting, we have ICI/PRO members from around the world – on every continent, except Antarctica.
Not sure if there is even a club there… if you know of one please send me an email.
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Scroll down to get your membership started today!
Here is an FAQ that should answer many of your questions.
What do you mean by “membership site”?
Maybe Subscription Service is a better way to describe it. Similar to subscribing to a magazine, Member’s pay a small monthly or annual fee to have exclusive content delivered to them via iTunes and access to password protected sections of indoorcycleinstructor.com over the duration of their subscription. I will be explaining some of what's included below.
Why are you doing this?
If you have listened to my Podcast you have noticed that we are passionate about Indoor Cycling, love to give of ourselves, enjoy teaching and hope to make a positive contribution to the Indoor Cycling Community.
We both reached the point where we can’t give anymore. We have run out of personal time and resources and yet see this enormous hunger from readers and listeners for more and better information that compels us to want to continue. Our idea is simply this; we have listeners and readers that number in the thousands. If each of them pays a very small subscription fee, we would have the resources needed to deliver more and better content that isn’t available from anywhere else.
Will there still be a free Podcast? How about blog posts and articles? Yes & yes. One of the reasons for bringing on additional content providers was to ensure that there would be a continuous flow of new information on indoorcycleinstructor.com. The free Podcasts will continue, but at a reduced number.
How will I benefit as an ICI/PRO Member? If you are looking for a fresh perspective you can bring to your class you will want to be an ICI/PRO member. Twice a month we will be releasing a new Audio PROfile .mp3 and companion profile printout. Audio PROfiles are a special Podcast where a Master Instructor talks you though teaching each class profile, including not just the movements and intensities, but the coaching and cueing as well. It's like attending a Master's Class without the travel, time or expense. – Here's a sample Audio PROfile. You can listen to an Audio PROfile on your way to teach and have it fresh in your mind when you get to your club. Each companion profile printout includes a “Cliff Notes” version you can print out and bring to class with you. Each Audio PROfile also includes a suggested music playlist or you can use your own.
Expand your knowledge of coaching and presenting by listening to exclusive ICI/PRO Podcasts each month. These new ICI/PRO Podcasts will be focused on relevant topics of interest. No fluff or BS, just lots of actionable content that you can use to improve your class tomorrow.
In a funk? Struggling to stay motivated? Articles from Dr. Shannon on personal motivation will help you stand in the front of your class with energy and confidence!
Jennifer and I wanted to get you this initial information about our new indoorcycleinstructor.com/PRO membership site.
What do you mean by “membership site”?
Maybe Subscription Service is a better word to describe it. Similar to subscribing to a magazine, Member’s pay a small monthly fee to have new exclusive content delivered to them via iTunes and access to a password protected section of indoorcycleinstructor.com over the length of their subscription. I will be explaining exactly what below.
Why are you doing this?
If you have read Jennifer’s blog or listened to my Podcast you have noticed that we are passionate about Indoor Cycling, like to give of ourselves, enjoy teaching and hope to make a positive contribution to the Indoor Cycling Community.
We both reached to point where we can’t give anymore. We have run out of personal time and resources and yet see this enormous hunger from readers and listeners for more and better information that compels us to want to continue.
Our idea is simple; we have listeners and readers that number in the thousands. If we could get a percentage of them to pay a small monthly subscription fee, we would have the resources to deliver more and better content that isn’t available anywhere else.
What changes would I expect as an ICI/PRO Member?
1st – I am determined to bring you a better sounding Jennifer Sage!
When you talk to Jennifer in person she has a very sweet sounding voice that listener’s have never heard. The audio equipment necessary to have her sounding like a late night DJ is first on our list for improvements.
After that you can look forward to instructor-training videos, Audio PROfiles & ICI/PRO Podcasts, all with very specific content that you can use to improve the next class you teach.
How will I benefit as an ICI/PRO Member?
Looking for a fresh perspective you can bring to your class? Every other week we will be releasing a new Audio PROfile .mp3 and companion profile printout. Audio PROfiles are a special Podcast where Jennifer (or a special guest Master Instructor) talks you though teaching each class profile. It's like attending a Masters Class without the time or expense. You can listen to an Audio PROfile on your way to teach and have it fresh in your mind when you get to your club. Each companion profile printout includes a “Cliff Notes” version you can bring up on the bike with you. Each Audio PROfile also includes a suggested music playlist or you can use your own.
Learn her secrets by reading Jennifer Sage's incredibly helpful and entertaining blog. She will be posting a minimum of twice a week, but people who know her, know it will be lots more! Jennifer's blog is available exclusively to ICI/PRO Monthly and Platinum members only.
Expand your knowledge of coaching and presenting by listening to exclusive ICI/PRO Podcasts each month. These new ICI/PRO Podcasts will be focused on relevant topics of interest and full of actionable content that you can use to improve your class tomorrow.
Get your questions answered by an Expert! Monthly “Ask an Expert” Tele-seminars featuring Jennifer Sage or Gino, one of our regular contributors or a special guest Instructor where you can get personal help in improving your class.
In a funk? Not motivated anymore? Monthly articles from Dr. Haley Perlus on mental toughness and personal motivation will help you stand in the front of your class with energy and confidence!
Lucky enough to have bikes with power but not quite sure how to teach a class on them? Gene Nacey's weekly column of “Power Climbing with Gino” on Training with Power will soon have you coaching like a Pro.
What are the difference ICI/PRO subscription levels?
 ICI/PRO – Monthly – $12.97 per month, *limited content, cancel anytime or upgrade anytime
 ICI/PRO – Gold (Without Jennifer Sage) $8.33 per month billed annually
 ICI/PRO – Platinum (You get everything) $9.99 per month billed annually
Please explain the different subscription levels
 *ICI/PRO – Monthly, Month to month subscription includes only what we publish the month of your subscription and the previous month.
 ICI/PRO – Gold, (Without Jennifer Sage) includes almost everything we publish – BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE – Jennifer's blog. We decided that there are some people who are not interested in Jennifer's very informative articles, so we created a reduced cost option especially for them.
 ICI/PRO – Platinum, All Inclusive access to everything we publish. You really do want it all!
Your Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed, for the length of your subscription.
You will be continuously pleased with your ICI/PRO subscription or we will issue you a 100% refund, no questions asked.
Jennifer and I are committed to delivering the information you need to become the best Indoor Cycling Instructor possible. We are confident that you and your class will enjoy and benefit from the; by-weekly Audio PROfiles, ICI/PRO Podcasts, Motivating & Educating Articles and monthly Tele-seminars available exclusively to ICI/PRO Members. If at any time during your subscription period we fail to deliver as promised or not meet your expectations, just ask and we will refund your entire current subscription cost.
UPDATED 9/14 – We are no longer recommending the company involved in this podcast. When we renewed this month we were told we could no longer add an “additional insured” to Amy's policy unless we paid an extra $155.00. This is totally ridiculous in our eyes and we have gone back to Markel Insurance for Amy's liability insurance.
Indoor Cycling is experiencing a boom, with new bouquet studios popping up pretty much everywhere. This is great because all these new studios = more places for us to teach. But there's a small catch. Many of these new studios hire Fitness Instructors as independent contractors, not as true employees, but it shouldn't scare you away from teaching there.
There are multiple advantages for teaching as a self-employed contractor (you may be able to expense your fitness clothes and mileage) and a few disadvantages. The biggest being there's a very good chance the studio's general liability insurance won't protect you if someone gets hurt and sues you personally for millions of dollars 🙁
Professional Liability Insurance is designed to protect Instructors (you) and your family's financial assets, in the event that you're sued by a client. Many fitness businesses require contractors to have their own policy.
In a previous post; Low Cost Fitness Instructor Professional Liability Insurance I explain where I found a great deal (saved us $58.00) on an annual policy for Amy. I contacted the company for someone to interview and they provided Coleen Kelly, their Vice President Program Management for Aon Affinity and HPSO — Healthcare Providers Service Organization where we purchased Amy's insurance. This is no longer the case 🙁
Listen to my interview below (sound quality is low as we couldn't use Skype) and if you have additional questions you can call HPSO's info line 1.800.982.9491
When I was back in Canada last month, my sister, known to all just you guys as GymSis, could not wait to take me to her gym. And since I had inspired her with the posts here, here, here and here, she felt compelled to drag her younger sister to her spin class. Oh joy.
People say we look like twins, but I don't see it.
She was kind enough to bring me a water bottle (courtesy of ChatterNephew). Oh hey, can we talk about this water bottle for a minute? I struggle with these in general. I avoid wide-mouth bottles when I can because I end up looking like I have a drinking problem.
No, like a physical problem.
I tend to do best with the adult sippy cup, a.k.a. the CamelBak water bottle. You just bite… and sip! (Anyone else hearing the “Bend and Snap”?)
I think we could all agree that I would be Paulette in this scenario.
Don't get me wrong, the *bite and sip* is awesome. But it did not prepare me for the fancy Contigo bottle. You have to push a button under the lip of the bottle that retracts the top so you can drink. There is a timing issue that GymSis had to explain to me after I may or may not have spilled everywhere: you let go of the button before you take it away from your mouth.
Well when you explain it that way…
Ok, back to the class. We chose our bikes and hopped on; GymSis found one with a fancy, sparkly red seat.
The bikes were on the older side, so the tension knobs were a little off. I would turn and turn and turn, spinning tension-free. Then suddenly I would just jerk to a halt.
Once the class started, the teacher (her name was Natalie) always had lovely motivational phrases, such as:
And:
Start?? Really, Natalie? I think that happened when I sat on the bike. I was definitely a level beyond ‘slightly breathless'.
I got to try something new in this class: jumps. Natalie was once again very um, uh, motivating.
Side note: While talking about this later with my mom, she couldn't understand how we performed that maneuvre without hurting ourselves.
After surviving the ride, GymSis took me downstairs to meet our mom for a nice, relaxing BodyFlow class.
Imagine my surprise when I saw the instructor.
(That white scarf did not fool me.)
The class involved some tai chi,
some pilates,
and some yoga.
GymSis' bendiness is so impressive!
Hmm? What's that? Where's *my* yoga pose, you ask?
DON'T FORGET, you can go to my Zazzle store to buy your favourite TRI-ING TO BE ATHLETIC picture on a shirt, tote, mug, bumper sticker, or tech decal! There are lots of shirt styles and colours so look around. Let me know if you have any questions or requests 😀
Seven minutes of climbing is just what your class needs this week and LCD Soundsystem's newest track will help you and your riders make the most of it. After getting back together, the band has come out with two new releases. Many of their songs are on the longer side, so they work well for steady climbs or flat roads. I'll be using this one as a seated climb:
If you are a data-geek, you’ve stumbled onto the right blog. If you love learning about the science behind your training, you should find these posts pretty interesting. If you’re the type who likes to not only know what, but has to know WHY training is prescribed in one way rather than another, your “show me” approach to training should be appeased in our Evidence Based Cycling.
However, if you just like to ride, and not worry about heart rate, not care about your power to weight ratios, could care less about threshold & VO2, then you might not get much out of Evidence Based Cycling.
Being patterned after the practice of evidence-based medicine, we (Cycling Fusionâ„¢) are defining Evidence Based Cycling in the following way:
The practice of Evidence Based Cycling is a process of life-long, self-directed learning in which caring for our own riders creates the need for cycling relevant information about diagnosis, prognosis, training methodologies, and other cycling and health issues that we can measure and improve.
Training protocols and methods used by Indoor Cycling Instructors and Outdoor Cycling Coaches that ascribe to Evidence Based Cycling are based on the following:
Integrating individual expertise with the best available external evidence from systematic research, but neither expertise nor external evidence alone is enough.
By individual expertise we mean the proficiency and judgment that we individual instructors and/or coaches acquire through relevant experience and practice.
This expertise is also reflected in thoughtful identification and compassionate use of individual rider life situations, rights, and preferences in making decisions about their training.
By best available external evidence we mean cycling relevant research, often from the basic sciences of training, but especially from rider centered research into the accuracy and precision of diagnostic tests.
External evidence can confirm previous theories or studies, but sometimes it can invalidate previously accepted methods and understanding. In these instances, it replaces them with new ones that are more powerful, more accurate, more efficacious, and safer.
Without cycling expertise, students risk becoming tyrannized by external evidence, for even excellent external evidence may be inapplicable to or inappropriate for an individual rider.
Without current best external evidence, training methods may become rapidly out of date, sometimes to the detriment of riders.
Evidence Based Cycling converts information needs into answerable questions:
Track down, with maximum efficiency, the best evidence with which to answer them.
From the first hand accounts of coaches, instructors and riders the diagnostic laboratory from research evidence, or other sources.
Critically appraise that evidence for its validity (closeness to the truth) and usefulness (cycling specific applicability).
Integrate this appraisal with our personal cycling expertise and apply it in practice.
Evaluate our performance.
Report back and record the results for others to benefit from.
No doubt, this definition and outline will be refined and/or expanded over time, as we continue to build a practice of Evidence Based Cycling. With the last 3 posts amounting to essentially a foundation or background for why we believe this is something worth writing about and implementing, the next post will be an example of how anyone can implement their own Evidence Based Cycling program.
I promised myself I would update this site's theme. It may look like a “work in progress” for a few days while I fight through making all the changes.
