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Valentine's Day is fast approaching and whether you're making a special playlist to commemorate the occasion or not, I think you'll definitely want to have these songs in your library. In the past, I've created both Valentines and Anti-Valentines playlists which were both well received and lots of fun! Here are a few of my favorites from both collections.
Two of my favorite Anti-Valentines songs are I Don't Like You by Eva Simons and 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by G. Love and Special Sauce.
I Don't Like You makes a great climb at around 64 rpm's:
Most weeks I teach around 12 indoor cycling classes between 4 different clubs. I enjoy the variety of facilities, locations and different types of membership bases. I also like to see how different group exercise programs are run and administered. There is one trend I'm seeing that is starting to really bother me.
My job title in most facilities is Indoor Cycling Instructor and as you would expect my my job description includes all the various points of providing members with the best indoor cycling experience possible. The trend that is disturbing is the addition of excessive cleaning and bike maintenance that has been added to my teaching duties. In some facilities this extra cleaning is optional and, if done, is reimbursed. The cleaning/maintenance rate may be lower than my instructor rate but I appreciate the fact that the administrators at these clubs value my time. In other gyms the extra time spent cleaning is not optional, it's expected, and it's not reimbursed. This is not simply picking up and tidying the room after class it's sweeping the floor, cleaning all the mirrors, taking out the trash or wiping down 10 or more bikes. In most cases it's 15-30 minutes of extra, unreimbursed, work. I know this doesn't sound like much but I don't believe anyone should be asked to work for free and if I was required to do an extra 30 minutes of unreimbursed work after all my classes it could quickly add up to 6 hours of unpaid time per week.
Have you ever done the math? Below is a the breakdown of how all these little tasks can cut into your instructor rate.
I assumed a rate of $30 per class. If you get paid more, these extra tasks are actually more costly to you.
I assumed 30 minutes of prep time. If you spend more time preparing class your actually hourly rate will be even less.
Most facilities and certifications recommend arriving to class 15 minutes early.
Most facilities and certifications recommend being available after class to answer any questions or converse with participants for 15 minutes.
If cleaning is required it takes at least 15 minutes to be done properly, sometimes longer.
Some facilities are requiring a social media presence and want instructors to promote their classes on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. I assume this takes an average of 5 minutes per post.
As you can plainly see, your hourly rate can quickly be whittled away when all these uncompensated tasked are added to your job duties.
I often hear, from owners, managers or in customer service training workshops the importance cleanliness. Administrators will say that cleanliness is their top priority and often their top complaint. E-mail after e-mail will address that member complaints about lack of cleanliness are up and that “We all have to work together to keep the facility cleaner. Take just a few more minutes after each class to make sure the room is spotless.” When something in my life takes top priority I'm willing to invest in it, whether it be money or time. If a facility says that cleanliness is it's TOP PRIORITY then it should also be willing to invest in it and hire more maintenance staff or at the very least pay it's instructors for the time they spend making the room spotless after each class.
Last night I had a dream; a dream that moved me. I dreamt that I was walking down a straight road in the middle of the desert. The road was paved, but everything around me felt dry, baron and without color. I kept walking straight down the middle of the road though as if I was waiting for something to happen; as if this road was going to take me somewhere.
I remember being a combination of lonely yet purposeful. It was as if I had convinced myself that all of this, the road and everything around me, was for a greater good. It was as if I was certain that this was the journey I was meant to take and that the certainty I felt was enough to keep me moving forward; that eventually I would find my way to something extraordinary, and so I kept walking.
Every so often, I would see a little boy standing on the side of the road, beckoning me to follow him. But afraid to stray from my path of “certainty,” I could not get myself to stop walking long enough to approach the little boy on the side of the perfectly paved road. So to the little boy’s dismay I just shook my head as if to say “not now” and walked past him, only to see him later on further down the road.
Finally, about the fifth time I passed him, he realized I was not going to come to him and so he walked up unto the road and met me. He turned forward and walked there beside me, in perfect stride, and we talked. He told me about all of the amazing things that he had seen, and how he wanted to take me to those places. But it would involve me leaving my perfectly paved road. “Leave my road?” I thought to myself. “No Way!!” The little boy realized that I would have no part in it so he changed the subject back towards the amazing things he had seen in his own journey. I found myself feeling like his protector; as if he needed me to look after him while he walked “my path.” And sensed that the little boy felt no fear or anxiety and believed that it was his trust in me and the certainty that I possessed in my Journey that made him feel at ease.. The truth however was that this little boy did not need me or my certainty to feel safe and protected because HE had found equal comfort in “UN-certainty” and this detour he was on with me was in fact strengthening his beliefs that every journey has a purpose even if the scenery isn’t all that great.
I shared with him that I also had a purpose and that this perfectly paved road led to something great. I even told him that it was in his best interest to stay with me and follow the road if he really wanted to discover happiness, success, and greatness. After all, this was the road that “everyone” took and had been paved for this very purpose. It’s the path everyone told me to take and “they” would never lie or steer me wrong. I was so certain of it that eventually, the little boy stopped trying to convince me to stray from the path and go his way. I assumed it was because he believed I was right, but the reality had more to do with the wisdom of this little boy knowing that I would need to find out for myself that “certainty” does not always bring you where you want to go.
After some time, he began to look frustrated and doubtful and so I told him that I had many more years of experience in life and that I knew what was best. Reluctantly, the young boy followed and the longer he did, the sadder he got. He was used to bright colors and vibrant sounds; but this road had neither. I kept telling him to hold on and have faith, it would get better; but it never did. Even with no sign of hope, he stayed committed to my words and seemed to want to believe that I would in fact prove to him what I had been saying was in fact true.
After a couple of hours both of us were exhausted. We had not realized it but we had lowered our heads as we walked and were only seeing the road right in front of us. We stopped for a break and raised our heads to look up ahead and were struck with panic.. The road stretched about 20 more feet and then ended abruptly!! We no longer had the benefit of its direction nor did the end of the road have any grand rewards for our laborious walk. There was no prize for holding onto the certainty as we did for all of the hundreds of miles we walked.
I could not bare to look at him because I knew I had failed us both. He had put faith and trust in me and I had led him to a dead end. I knew that if I looked at him, I would be ashamed of what I had done. but I had no choice, I had to comfort this little boy who had followed me all of this way. I had to console him and convince him that things would be okay.
I turned down to look at him, expecting to see tears, but I saw the opposite. The little boy stood there smiling and rubbing his hands together. What I had seen as a dead end, he saw as an opportunity. Without saying a word, he grabbed my hand and pulled me off the road and into the desert. I fought as hard as I could to not turn around and go back to the safety of the road. I tried hard not to think about the past and where I may have gone wrong or missed a turn. Instead, I trusted in the young boy to lead me, the way he had trusted in me.
Within minutes we were surrounded by trees, plants, flowers, and exotic animals. The sights were amazing, but equally incredible were the sounds that we heard. This was like a fantasy playground for grownups and kids alike. Suddenly an amazing new feeling came over me. I tried to define this new feeling as we walked through the fruit filled trees and mossy green grass but my attention kept getting pulled away
After a short time it hit me and I knew what this feeling was; it was the feeling of “UN-certainty!” Like putting knew batteries into a flashlight I found myself with a glow I had not seen in many years and I was CERTAINY that the UN-certainty was exactly what I needed in this moment. I was lost and found at the same time and it felt perfect
What may have been hours, seemed like minutes. I felt recharged and full of life. I didn’t know where I was heading, but for the moment I was happy. In this moment I was a kid again; and then something amazing happened. The little boy stopped and pointed up ahead. There before my eyes I saw a newly paved road just a straight as the first one I walked for so many miles, but with an obvious difference. This road had trees along the roadside, birds in the trees, and the sound of a gentle wind.
The little boy and I stepped back onto the road and continued to walk with new purpose and vigor. We didn’t say anything, but we both knew what the other was thinking. Our journey continued just as it began; with purpose.
The moral of this story is simple; when you’re walking thru life, do not to stay on the wrong path just because it’s what you’re used to and comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to trust the child that is in all of us; the one who wants you to take chances, play from time to time, and walk new trails. Believe that life is here to serve you and that certainty and UN-certainty work equally in your favor. Keep that balance and life promises to get you where you need to be. Be a grown up and take charge when you have to, but don’t be afraid to play every so often. Be open to these principals and you’ll find a better path, and will stay young forever!!
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.
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Workout Basics:
4 minute warmup
1 minute recovery
3 minute FTP interval
1 minute recovery
#18 minute interval slightly above “maximum sustainable intensity” or threshold or Orange Zone
Last 3 minutes above threshold or Red Zone
1 minute recovery
4 X 2.5 minute interval at a slightly higher intensity or average wattage than the #18 minute interval or Orange Zone
30 second surge to Red Zone
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 of “recovery” only a few watts or heart beats below the 2 minute intensity after each interval
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.
#18 minute “Benchmark” or Stages IQ FTP Test goals and specifics:
Ride for 15 minutes at a VERY challenging intensity or wattage.
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 18 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.
This is a long effort so switch it up as you ride, but keep intensity around threshold for the entire 18 minutes in the Orange Zone.
Ride the last 3 minutes at an above threshold intensity in the Red Zone.
1 minute recovery in Zone 1 or Blue
3 minute interval goals and specifics:
Ride for 2.5 minutes at a higher intensity, RPE or average wattage than the previous #18 minute interval.
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 for 2.5 minutes at a higher intensity, RPE or average wattage than the previous #18 minute interval.
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 for 2.5 minutes at a higher intensity, RPE or average wattage than the previous #18 minute interval.
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 for 2.5 minutes at a higher intensity, RPE or average wattage than the previous #18 minute interval.
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 the previous #18 minute interval.
Ride at your choice of RPM and position
If using Stages IQ ride in the Red zone.
1 minute “recovery” just below Threshold or in the Yellow 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.
Many of our riders remember the 1980's television show Knight Rider. You know, the one where David Hasselhoff (AKA Michael Knight) drives around in an indestructible and highly intelligent car named KITT? This week's favorite track features the theme to the show-in remix form. There are several different mixes to choose from depending on the length you're wanting to use for your particular profile. They're all around 63 RPM's. If you're looking for a song with a good, driving beat and no lyrics this one is great. I even had a few people that recognized it! I hope you enjoy using it in your classes!
