Like always, there is no pat answer. It often depends on the instructor”™s teaching style, the type of ride and the class”™s expectation.
Teaching Style
I tend to break down the style categories as Coach, Trainer and Instructor.
The Coach is on the road with you, but is often not working at the same intensity because they are…well….coaching you. They are passing on wisdom, strategy and sports education while riders are pouring their guts out. To a cyclist, and those in the “cycling world”, this is very acceptable IF the “coach” actually knows what they are talking about, puts together a good workout, and can walk (or ride) the talk.
The Trainer is often focused on the here and now — “Let”™s finish this interval…..Come on, you”™ve got 3 more efforts to go….Don”™t stop until you get to the top of that hill!” A trainer”™s energy and motivation is not required from the bike, but from their direction and firm challenge to get the job done. It is acceptable for the trainer to be off the bike a good amount of the time as they instill determination (and fear) to drag every last drop out of their riders. Similar to the coach, the trainer needs to be the real thing. They are often sweating as they infuse energy into everyone within a 20-foot radius. It is tough work.
The Instructor is on the bike with their riders and usually suffering with them as well. They turn every pedal stroke, lead every charge and motivate by sharing in the pain. The instructor is often seen as one of the gang with the motto “we”™ll get there together!” They are dripping in sweat (even the gals) as their breathy encouragement pushes riders to their limit.
So putting them in order of how hard they are working (on the bike), the Trainer is riding the least, the Coach is at a moderate intensity and the Instructor is at equal intensity with the class. All are absolutely acceptable. AND I would say that anyone teaching an indoor cycling class SHOULD embody the qualities of each of these styles and use them appropriately.
Type of Ride
Considering the teaching styles above, there would also be certain types of rides that would require more effort and intensity from the instructor. I may come off the bike during shorter interval-based workouts when riders could benefit from more personal attention such as helping them with technique. On longer steady-state efforts or long climbs, I may wander into coach mode (on the bike) to keep them mentally and physically engaged. On the hand, it would seem odd (at least to me) to be off the bike while teaching a virtual ride. It would be as if I was walking along the road as my class road by (unless of course I imagined I was Johan Bruyneel talking to riders from the team car….).
Class Expectation
In many respects, what the class expects is much a product of the teaching style and ride format you have established. If you want to find out if you are hitting the mark by riding at an intensity that is motivating, don”™t only ask those that regularly attend your class. They are usually there because they like your approach. Ask the new riders what they thought. I would go as far as specifically asking if they prefer more of a Coaching, Trainer or Instructor led class and see how they respond.
Not So Inspiring (to me)
Of course, if you”™ve got the above locked in, you are golden, but I”™ve seen those that do not have the right teaching style for the job or are riding way too hard. The extremes would be the instructor who walks around the room in warm-up sweats holding a clipboard (trying to look like an athletic trainer), but lacks any energy or motivation. My knee-jerk reaction is to reach into my bag in search of my iPod and headphones. On the other end of the spectrum is the instructor that is working so hard that you can”™t understand anything they are saying. They are even breathing hard during the recovery! This is distracting and detracting. I”™m not getting good direction and the instructor appears more concerned with getting their workout than helping the class get where they need to be.
So, in conclusion, mix it up. Ask your class what they like and what inspires them. But above all, be genuine. If you”™re trying to be someone you are not, it will stick out like a sore thumb regardless of whether you”™re riding hard enough.
Originally posted 2019-03-05 07:00:19.
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Thanks, Tom, good points. The ability to shift gears as necessary would seem to be an important quality in any instructor. It’s also critical to avoid the (huge) temptation to stay in “Instructor mode” just to get a workout — especially on a busy day when the class could be the only time to get our own exercise! If shifting gears makes for better instruction/coaching/training that day, then shift we should. Thanks again.
Great post Tom this helps clarify some concepts , thanks
Very good way of breaking it down, Tom. I DO get asked on occasion by a member “how are you able to give a class working like we do?”and my answer is honest. I say I don’t work like you do when we hit the high end stuff because my job is to not take the class but give it without having to either scream or pass out.
I have to say, that photo is funny but I couldn’t wait to get to scroll down to get past it! Yikes!
I am gonna be honest and yes my classes are a big part of my training BUT I do not need and want to go at the level I ask so coaching is always possible.
But althrougth it is part of my training I am switching sometime from one or another style (trainer, coach or instructor) event sometime the 3 styles in 1 one same classe. I would had also to what you said that depending of the part of the classe you could used differents style. For me warm-up is more a trainer style to coach one, “drills” more instructor and warm-up cool down coach one. But I have build a strong base of regular so my focus is different than if I would have a brand new classe.
Today, after 5 minutes I felt that it was a day to be out of the bike 1 brand new to IDC, a few regular, a lot of unconsistant riders and 1 new Kranking woman (I have 2 Kranking device and always have people on it but mostly regular) she is one regular and ride outdoor with me so my focus was just to guide her in her first Kranking “ride”.
Being out of the bike help us be more close the the rider and use other way of stimulation, other coachings style, other vocabularies, … so a way to bring variety too !
Last time I checked this forum was called; indoorcycleINSTRUCTOR.com.
Chuck you are perhaps fortunate enought to have a descent rate, I am paid 19$ per classe in 1 gym and 16$ in the other … I will not make my classe not a PART of my training with that rate. BUT I am working at my maximum to help my riders reach theyr goals with succes. There is not one instructor in my area that deliver what I am delivering, it seems that there are good instructors somewhere personnelly I have met 1 who is not a master trainer and even some master trainer have some lack …
Again instructor be REALLY honest … because if you want to be a coach you HAVE to be out of the bike: collecting data and providing individual coaching to a LIMITED group and your job between the training, classe, is far more important analysing each training … It is what I was doing when I was working with REAL professional athletes but I was paid a LOT more …
Pascal,
Not sure if we are getting our messages mixed up but I’m with you, regardless of rate. FYI, at the YMCA even here in the SF Bay area the rates are under $20/hr and roughly 1/2 of what the major clubs pay. I also work at the Y.
My point is that most of us (I don’t about Tom or maybe for such talent it does not matter) were hired as ‘indoor cycle instructors’. Again, I’m not sure about all places but where I work there is an expectation that the instructor is in the saddle a good portion of class. And if I had $5 for every time I heard a complaint from a member about the instructor dogging it walking around I’d own a new car.
I learn something from the Master instructor posts every time. They add depth to my somewhat shallow expertise, open my mind to other possibilities for my riders as well as my self and give us fruit for thought.
But at the end of the day, we must keep the saddles full and do what works for us. For me that is to GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT WHILE GIVING THEM WHAT THEY NEED.