It has taken me a while, but now I understand why many Instructors and Studio/Club owners are resistant to adding Indoor Cycles with power… they don't want a class full of riders, with heads down, totally focused on the what the computer is showing. We all want our participants focused on us…
Many of us take pride in teaching an authentic class that is a close as possible to riding out doors. On the road you had better keep your head up, eyes forward, or you will soon end up in the ditch or plastered over the back of a parked car. Not good.
Don't we want the same behavior from our indoor students? I do. Then doesn't it make sense to give everyone a way to see their performance data somewhere other than on a tiny screen that forces them to look continuously down?
In this previous post I discussed a new system from Performance IQ that takes the wattage, cadence and total energy created and displays it on a big screen or flat panel monitor in the front of the room. Effectively placing it where your student can easily see it (and you at the same time) while maintaining the proper “head up and eyes forward” form we are trying to instill in our classes.
Here is the interview that I promised with Mark Davids and Tae Yoo from Performance IQ where we discuss their new Top Power system. If you teach or own a club with Keiser M3s I would love to know if you feel this would be of value to you and your students.
UPDATE 8/2013: This system now works with any of the ANT+ enabled power consoles found on these Indoor Cycles; Freemotion S11 series, Schwinn AC and the new Spinner Blade ION.
Between sessions last weekend Master Instructor Cameron Chinatti took me aside and told me how impressed she was with the quality of Instructors at the conference. Wanting for you to hear it first hand, I invited Cameron back for a post conference interview for the latest episode of the ICI Podcast.
We also discussed Cameron's BIG RIDE where she had everyone working together as teams of 4 on the new FreeMotion S11.9 Indoor Cycles with Power.
Coming to ICI/PRO Members Oct 10th – Cameron and I recorded a special PRO Podcast where she explains how she uses this format to introduce Power in a fun and inviting setting.
ICI/PRO members will be able to download Cameron's complete PROfile.pdf so you can introduce this class to your club or studio as early as next week.
If you can't join us in Boston September 30th – October 3rd, watching the Indoor Cycle Instructor PRO conference live on your computer will be an excellent option! Gene Nacey from CyclingFusion.com joins me to explain how you can join us remotely and enjoy the conference from your home or office 🙂
ICI/PRO Premium Members! Get your discount codes here – SINGLE SESSION: 10%, DAY PASS: 15%, FULL CONFERENCE: 25%
We added a special FREE broadcast of the Saturday afternoon Big Ride featuring Cameron and Pam from STAGES Indoor Cycling. More info is here.
One Click – PRO/Playlists – a new feature for ICI/PRO Platinum Yearly Members!
Now 25 Audio PROfiles (and growing) include a link for you to add the complete PRO/Playlists to your computer with just one click! If you choose to join Spotify Premium you can have the complete playlist on your portable devise, ready for class, in less than 5 minutes!
Last month I posted requests for an “Expert” with Spotify, the subscription music service that's now available here in the US. ICI/PRO member Marc Schlosberg contacted me and while not an expert, Marc's an experienced Instructor who's passionate about music. He was as fascinated with Spotify as I was. We traded a bunch of emails as we independently explored Spotify. We both saw the potential for leveraging this service to save busy Instructors a massive amount of time every month.
If you are not yet an ICI/PRO Yearly Member this is a good time to join or upgrade.
Mark and I realized that we had additional questions that only a true expert could answer and we found one in Jer White. Jer runs Pansentient League which is a UK based Blog all about Spotify. Jer joins Marc and me on this Podcast. We discuss many questions you may have about this service and how it can help you become an even better instructor.
NOTE: PRO/Playlists will not be for everyone. Spotify plays from your computer or iPhone/iPod/Droid the same way a playlist from iTunes plays; with gaps between the songs. So if you are someone who prefers to mix their music with MixMeister this may not work for you… except I would suggest you give the free service a try 🙂Â
Spotify needs a wireless or 3g connection, so it doesn’t work with regular iPods — but it does on an iPod Touch + most smart phones. Here’s the list http://www.spotify.com/us/mobile/overview/
PRO/Playlists will work anywhere Spotify is available; the UK, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
NOTE: The PRO/Playlists are private and can't be found in Spotify. Visit each Audio PROfile post for the link to download each PRO/Playlist.
Listen to the Podcast below for more understanding of PRO/Playlists and Spotify. Let me know your questions and I will do my best to find answers for you 🙂
Have you ever considered taking a Cycling Vacation to Europe? Maybe to France or Italy where you could experience the roads and climbs you have seen at the Tour de France or Giro d'Italia.
Amy and I have dreamed about a trip like that… but then quickly dismissed it as fantasy as soon as we start thinking about the costs and details.
But the dream remains for us 🙂
You maybe aware that Amy and I travel to the Caribbean every year on what's called a working fitness vacation. We trade our services (teaching fitness classes) in exchange for an All -Inclusive vacation at some very nice resorts in Jamaica or Mexico.
I've always wondered if there would be a way to create a similar program for Indoor Cycling Instructors wanting to take a Cycling Vacation. Most of us have large networks of friends and students, many who are cyclists…
After watching the video Tom Scotto and Gene Nacey made on their trip to Spain I decided to pursue this further. I contacted Lauren Hefferon with Ciclismo Classico, the tour operator that coordinated Gene and Tom's trip. Lauren was very open to the idea of an Instructor program, but then she started asking me a lot of questions I couldn't answer. She suggested that I conduct a survey of listeners and readers to see if this would be of interest to you.
So here is our question:
With the proper incentives and resources, could you recruit a group of cyclists, train them this winter and then ride with them on a cycling vacation in Europe next Spring?
Please listen to the Podcast interview below and then
Soon to be “Dr.” Melissa Marotta joins me to discuss the findings of a study she created:
Are There Psychological Effects of Heart Rate Monitor Use During Exercise?
Background
Biofeedback, the process through which individuals learn to direct their physiological responses by being presented with precise, rapid measurements of heart rate, body temperature, and even neural and muscle firing patterns and being taught to link these changes with their thoughts, emotions and behavior, is consistently supported in the medical literature for the treatment of anxiety, depression, migraine, cognitive and attention disorders, sleep disorders, and other conditions. Through biofeedback, people are taught that they can control their physiological states via diaphragmatic breathing and other mechanisms, and learn how to do so through self-correction.
This is the same concept that coaches and trainers use to teach athletes to direct their heart rates during training.
It stands to reason, therefore, that use of a heart rate monitor during exercise may achieve similar results to the heart rate component of biofeedback.
The present study seeks to explore:
1 ) Are there psychological effects of heart rate training — both that relate to exercise, and that apply to non-exercise(specifically relating to self-concept, self-confidence, and coping mechanisms)?
2 ) Are there specific ways that coaches and trainers can incorporate cuing language to reflect the potential psychological benefits of heart rate training?
I feel this information will be be of value to anyone wanting to improve the percentage of Heart Rate monitor usage in their classes.
