This Audio PROfile from Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas may completely change how you teach... but only if you're open to the challenge to adding some movement to your class.
If you are a straight-up indoor-cycling instructor, and/or a roadie, you are likely never going to attempt to teach a Mountain Rider class. However, if you enjoy the trail as much, or even more than, the road, then I hope these ideas will help you bring the trail to your students.
I recently offered Mountain Rider for the first time in North America at Can Fit Pro in Toronto. I was amazed at how many instructors attended class because (a) they ride off-road, and (b) they wanted the experience of riding off-road. Some were roadies who were actually concerned about their lack of off-road skills — as if I was going to ask them to bunny-hop a log.
Some basic class suggestions will set the stage:
1. Tell your class participants that, for today, they must forget much of what you”™ve previously taught them about indoor cycling.
2. Mountain biking does work with energy zones, power, intervals and threshold, but pure, senseless fun needs to be a major part of the class design.
3. Simulation begins with education. Teach them about the trail. Are we on a fire trail or single track? What”™s the surface? What are the conditions? In mountain biking, the trail surface and conditions change the experience completely. This needs to be part of your cueing.
4. Introduce and use off-road terminology: fire roads, single track, rollers, washboards, high-side/low-side.
Download the complete Mountain Rider presentation PDF here.
NOTE: To access the videos referenced by Jim - please create a FREE account at http://www.ic-pro.org/en Then, once you are logged in, you can click the link to view the videos - links to each is in the PDF.
Mountain Rider PRO/Playlist
Mountain Rider Deezer PRO/Playlist
Many respondents to the ICI/PRO member survey asked that these Audio PROfiles have additional detail. Let me know if Jim's PROfile has what you were asking for [wlm_firstname].
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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Unfortunately playlists as such are not much for those us in countries where Spotify is not operating… 🙁 Can we also have other format?
Kevin where are you located and what music streaming services do you have there i.e. Napster, Rhapsody, etc…
In the past we have tried to provide iTunes links to each song – but had a similar problem. iTunes US links didn’t work if you were an iTunes UK or AU user.
We will continue to list the complete playlist at the end of the PROfile PDF as we always do.
GOLLY……..IAM SO SORRY …I HAVE JUST PICKED UP YOUR REPLIES NOW…MISSED THEM SOME HOW!!I AM BASED IN SOUTH AFRICA AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE ACCESS TO NAPSTER /SPOTIFY ETC..RECENTLY A GERMAN CROWD HAS OPENED CALLED SIMFYAFRICA BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW GOOD IT IS.I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK WHEN HUNTING..GUESS IT IS BACK TO THE OLD LONG HAND SEARCHING FROM THE PDF LIST VIA SOME OF THOSE “UNNAMED!!” SITES!!
Kevin my turn to be sorry – we are now including a one click PRO/Playlist for the Deezer music service, along with Spotify.