
Master Instructor Blog

Intervals
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Interval: n., the amount of time between two specified instants or events. You teach indoor cycling, so you know intervals. If you asked another instructor for the workout he/she used in class that morning, odds are you”™d get a response something like, “The main climbing set was 4 X 5/1:30 min at 85%,” indicating four five-minute climbs at 85% max effort, with 90 seconds of recovery between efforts. Intervals are standard practice in indoor cycling and all types of CV training because of how effective they are. Interval training dates back to the 1930s, when German coach Dr. Woldemar Gerschler pioneered training methods based on sound physiological principles. He teamed up with cardiologist Dr. Herbert Reindel to develop a training protocol...
ElliptiGO – could this be the next Big Indoor Cycling Thing?
Gary Hawkins from Ride Fit contacted me last week about a new virtual cycling training video he had produced. Except this video doesn't feature typical cyclists - it's designed for people who train indoors on an ElliptiGO. If you've never heard of an ElliptiGO you can...
Indoor Cycling Power Research #7: Good News, Bad News
Different Methods Same Skewed Results Let”™s start with the good news. I”™m sorry, I was completely pulling your leg. I really don”™t have any good news. I know, that”™s terrible — you can throw pencils and small farm animals at me next...
The Weekly Ride – 04/30/18 Get Springy
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion No more hunting for new music or counting out cues to develop your ride profile. Here is your ready to ride profile for a fully choreographed ride, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards...
Showtime, ain't no time to be trying something new!
I started to share this over at pedal-on.com and quickly realized that this is another Best Practice for Indoor Cycling Instructors. Suggestion to anyone reading this who is planning to use Spotify in class. A cycling coach / friend of mine taught me that race day is...
Keeping It FUN … A Year Later
"Hello... My name is Karen and I stepped out of the box last year. I am also the self proclaimed spokesperson for KEEPING IT FUNâ„¢ Indoor Cycling. I”™m committed to helping other indoor cycling instructors who aren't afraid to approach indoor...
Blog Post #10 Baseline & Performance Testing
Study Controls One of the next most important aspect of executing your research is having a way to accurately and consistently conduct the prescribed drills and record their results. This is the proverbial “before and after”; also commonly referred to as “baseline”...
Making Connections with Your Audience: AKA your Riders
Was it just me, or did that last Instructor never make eye contact with you, either? Amy and I were both participating at a teach-back assessment a few months ago, for Life Time's new Evolution Signature Indoor Cycling format. There was a handful of Instructors trying...
If I Hear Tabata Training One More Time!!!!!
As an athletic coach, nothing bothers me….OK, “ticks me off” more than when legitimate methods of training are misused. It blatantly demonstrates a lack of knowledge and professionalism. Unfortunately, this tendency is rampant in the fitness industry, which has thus...
It is NOT Just Cardio!
Indoor cycling has had a reputation of being a good cardiovascular workout. And that is absolutely true. However, when an aspect of any activity is touted vigorously, the reputation that is created can become definition. Even a recent indoor cycling certification...
Formatting Live Classes with Video
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Video impacts Indoor Cycling more than any other form of Group Fitness. With the advent of Forward-Motion Video (FMV), the indoor cycling instructor can integrate the video into the ride profile for the day”™s class....
Spotify Refresh Tips + How full is my iPhone?
ICI/PRO member Dr. Marc Schlosberg is one of those Early Adopters you've no doubt heard discussed in the media. This group is quick to experiment with and embrace new technology. Marc was one of the first Instructors to use Spotify in his classes and he joined me on...
The Weekly Ride – 032519 Queen Ride
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
Go Hollywood Baby!
Take out the lights, put on some make-up and setup the cameras. You are about to be the star of your next class. Since joining Cycling Fusion, I”™ve been thrust into the world of video and spend more time in front of a camera than I like. Between our digital classes,...
Three steps to coping with inconsistent power meter readings on Indoor Cycles
It's a fact of life for all of us teaching power based classes; inconsistency in the watts readings between cycles. Some brands seem to be better than others. Certain bikes seem to be always right, while others are never even close. Calibration is done more frequently...
1-Legged Drills
We know it is safe to keep both feet attached to the pedals and simply focus on one leg at a time, but is it safe, and should we unclip one foot to perform pedal stroke drills in our indoor cycling classes? To stay on point I’m not going to discuss if and why 1-legged...
Constructing a Hypothesis
[plulz_social_like width="350" send="false" font="arial" action="like" layout="standard" faces="false" ] Not sure how you”™d construct an experiment on this one If you”™ll recall from Blog post #5, we are doing our best to stick to “The Scientific Method” as we...
The Weekly Ride – Week 10
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion: No more hunting for new music or counting out cues. Here is your ready to ride document, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to...
Power, Part 1: What About the Watt?
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas - The Watt. Ten Newton Meters. Ten times the force necessary to raise 1 kg 1 meter vertical in 1 second. Clean. Absolute. The cyclist”™s preferred training statistic. Whether it”™s power-to-heart rate ratio, sustainable watts...
How Low is Low?
It's a beautiful sunny Minnesota summer day here and I was enjoying it out on my old mountain bike. One of the reasons Minneapolis is as such a bicycle friendly city are the trails running everywhere. I really enjoy these smooth gravel paths because I can spend a...
Did an overemphasis on “contraindications” > give rise to SoulCycle?
What caused the SoulCycle phenomenon? Why are their riders so passionate, loyal and willing to spend $34 dollars a class, when clubs and studios had been offering Indoor Cycling classes for 10 or more years - long before SoulCycle's launch in 2007? The research done...
Performance Cycle – FTP Assessment Class
Here's the profile I used a while ago in our Performance Cycle FTP assessment. [wlm_private 'PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28...
Final Exams!
Some may say I”™m all work and no fun. Oh, come on! What can be more fun than final exams? Although this time of year is loaded with holiday parties and a time to take a well-deserved break from training structure, it is also a great time to determine our conditioning...
Remove Resistance to Build a Larger Following
by Team ICG® Master Trainer Chuck Cali As I prepared to support ICG at IHRSA 2013, I considered the ICG tenet that learning is about removing resistance. I had just gotten back from a bit of Vegas shopping. A nice saleslady asked me what I was doing in Vegas and told...
The Weekly Ride – 120218 HIIT Class – Karyn Silenzi
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
Stomps: High-Resistance, High-Intensity Intervals for Indoor Cycling (Very Cool)
If you”™ve done stomps in your cycling workouts, you may think I”™m crazy when I say this, but I”™ve always liked them. They”™re extremely tough but appeal to that twisted part of me that enjoys hard training. (I know: you”™ve got...
Are you teaching to the squeaky wheels?
Howdy Fit Folk! John Macgowan has so graciously invited me to contribute to the vast wealth of knowledge that is the ICI/PRO community-- woohoo!! Lucky me. 🙂 To those of you that I had the great pleasure of meeting at the 2011 ICI/PRO conference, hello again! To...
Training Formats for Class Design, Part 2
By ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Last week”™s post covered variations in intervals and ladders. This week”™s covers variations in pyramids and steady-state workouts. PYRAMIDS A pyramid is a training technique that is essentially two ladders back to back, one...
Should you be deemphasizing outdoor cycling?
Can an argument be made for deemphasizing "Outdoor Cycling" in your Indoor Cycling class? Or asked differently; would it ever make sense to remove many (if not all) of the references, imagery and cuing related to riding outdoors? Life Time Fitness thinks we should...
The Weekly Ride – 022519 Aerobic Challenger – Karyn Silenzi
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
The Effects of Cadence (Part 1) Extremes and Limitations
The cadence or speed at which we pedal has a large impact on the type of workout we will receive. Maybe larger than we think. Often times, the only thing that separates one workout from another is leg speed. This 4 part series will explore different ways cadence...
Recovery Required!
In my last article entitle “Make Recovery Work” we looked at how we as instructors can efficiently use recovery time to our advantage. Two of the main points were to use recovery as a time to provide instruction to prepare our riders for what is ahead and as a way to...
Subbing: Is There a Better Way?
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Every day, countless products, services, and people provide us with positive or negative experiences. Not long ago, one of my students confronted me to let me know that she was annoyed and frustrated with a substitute instructor...
People lie to you…
It's true. People lie to you. Now I'm not talking about lying to you in a malicious/manipulative way, I have this awesome bridge in Brooklyn I can sell you really cheap - or - she's a real peach, only driven to church and back by the gentlest 80 year old grandmother...
Staying Open
By ICG® Master Trainer Vanessa Wilkins Cycling instructors are a special breed, and all a little different. There are those who coach, those who teach choreography, those who talk heart rate and RPM, and those who teach meditation on the bike. I always strive to...
Understanding ANT+ and Heart Rate Monitors on Indoor Cycles
PRO member Kay asked a very good question about ANT+ ... I'm also wondering about Heart Rate. If the bikes are ANT+, will they only pick up ANT+ Heart Rate Monitors? I noticed that the new Schwinn did not pick up my Polar HRM Thank you for your comments! Kay...
The Weekly Ride – 04/16/18 Speed and Muscular Endurance
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion No more hunting for new music or counting out cues to develop your ride profile. Here is your ready to ride profile for a fully choreographed ride, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards...
Change in Technology Has Me Re-Thinking Single Leg Pedaling Drills
During a class I attending yesterday, the Instructor had everyone doing one-legged pedaling drills... one legged as in pedaling with one foot un-clipped and held out to the side or rested on the frame. That's wrong/contraindicated... isn't it? My initial reaction was...
Are you using this feature correctly… or at all?
Did you know that all of the Indoor Cycles that use magnetic resistance (FreeMotion S11.9, Keiser M3i and Schwinn AC) have a built in feature that will help your riders get stronger, create more power and burn more calories if you recognise and cue to it properly? The...
Myth #5 of Indoor Cycle Rider Setup / Bike Fit
Myth: Rider Setup / Bike Fit should be done before class. Common sense says that the best time to help someone with their bike setup would be before class. After all, this new student has just walked in and they have 45 - 60 minutes in the saddle ahead of them. So...
Pulling back the curtain on SoulCycle
Which do you teach – Movement or Intensity Based Classes?
This question from a prospective ICI/PRO member got me thinking today, while out on my early AM training ride... I'm interested in signing up for your programs, but I have a few questions about the information that is received. When you receive the classes, are...
Training Formats for Class Design, Part 1
By ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Building a class profile can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of teaching Indoor Cycling. Instructors sometimes find it stressful because they feel they”™re “out of ideas.” There are many approaches to class design. A...
The Weekly Ride – 12/18/2017 Holiday Ride
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion: No more hunting for new music or counting out cues. Here is your ready to ride document, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to...
Coaching students during their “Golden Hour”
I suppose I should start this by answering your question; "what exactly is their Golden Hour, John?" It's my description of the 60 minutes, that follows the first 30 minutes, of aerobic activity. For you, me and many (if not most) of the students in your class, we all...
Crazy Climbs and Hip Openers?
By Team ICG® Trainer Elliott Bringman Growing up cycling and swimming, I never knew that without a flexibility regimen, the muscles would tighten more and more and, cumulatively, end up rigid. Rigidity, in the long run, decreases range of motion, which is detrimental...
Make it Real. Make it Last
(A PEP TALK — because we all need some empowerment from time to time) Although I thought I would be preaching to the choir on this topic, I believe we need to stay inspired as much as anyone. We are the ones using all of our energies to change the face of indoor...
The Weekly Ride – 08/06/18 Boombayah Ride
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
Making your classes about more than just exercise
"Because that's where the money is..." was famous American bank robber Willie Sutton's reported answer to the question; "Willie why do you rob banks?" I can imagine a similar conversation with an upscale restaurant owner; "so why do you cater to business people?"...
The Weekly Ride – 020419 January Ride – Amy Smith
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
The Weekly Ride – 01/08/18 Speed Work
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion: No more hunting for new music or counting out cues. Here is your ready to ride document, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to make your...
The Power of 3 – Keep it Simple and Progress – Profile (Sept 2015 Week 1.1 @ Threshold) Do You FTP?
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy. Over the last 2 years I've been performing a FTP (Functional Threshold Power) test on the first Thursday and Friday of every month in every facility I teach in that has bikes with power. I have yet to have anyone complain or comment...
Flow
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas - The experience of flow remains one of the least-understood phenomena in training. Yet it”™s one of the richest, most memorable experiences we can help deliver to our students. Creating the circumstances though which...
Tom and Gene in Spain
The look on Tom Scotto's face says everything! That's real mountain climbing, at Threshold, in Spain. Tom was in Spain last week with Gene Nacey to film another in the series of Global Ride Indoor Cycling DVDs If you have a few minutes I encourage you to watch the...
Teach Cycle-and-Row Like a Pro
If you”™re about to start teaching a class that includes both cycling and rowing, here are a few tips. Stay off the bike. To handle all the variables in a cycling/rowing class, you”™ll need to be on your feet, moving around the room. Will you warm up?...
Performance Cycle – Pinning Down Two Numbers Class Profile
I hate math, especially when I'm forced to do quick calculations in my head. Figuring (forgive the pun) that many other people dislike math, I won't ask anyone to do any calculations in my classes. For example, I would never cue something to the effect of; now I need...
The Weekly Ride – 123118 Power Climbs – Karyn Silenzi
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
Performance Cycle – FTP Assessment or 2 + 1 = a straight line
Better late than never they say. It certainly applies to this season's Performance Cycle classes - now we're in full swing after some initial confusion that came from a sudden change on GFDH's. We kicked off this past Sunday with an assessment to find the wattage...
The Weekly Ride – 02/10/20 Your 10X Stronger Than You Think
This class is meant to see if you can't surprise yourself and go just that little bit harder. We will increase our resistance (by gear or watts or HR) 10 times once we warm up. Because both power and heart rate are not linear, but are more exponential, the final 4 increases are half the others.
Take Them On a Ride
My approach to indoor cycling has always been to bring the qualities of cycling outdoors into the indoor cycling studio. On one hand, there are the general qualities of fitness and condition that everyone enjoys, cyclist or not. However, there are definitely...
Power, Part 3: Control and Power
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Using power/watts conventionally in indoor cycling improves students”™ fitness. But it”™s the tip of the iceberg, a small projection of the immense power below the surface. Consider, instead, introducing the...
The Weekly Ride – 07/09/18 Strength
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Ok, this is the week that I have been working towards, this is our new era of The Weekly Ride. This week and moving forward you will get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride...
The purpose of openers
ICI/PRO member question from ICI/PRO Podcast #203 Cycle Strong Audio PROfile What exactly should the "openers" in the warm-up consist of? In Tom's "Getting Started with Intervals" audio profile, he described them as 30 seconds of maximum effort followed by 30 seconds...
The Weekly Ride – 02/26/18 February Race Day!
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion: No more hunting for new music or counting out cues. Here is your ready to ride document, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to make your...
“Your Class Was Great But Your Music Sucks!”
Last week I was asked to sub a couple of classes for another instructor and friend. It was at a club that I used to teach at and where I still knew a number of the members. I always like teaching at this particular club because the riders throw out some good energy...
Tech Tuesday – Shazam Encore is worth $5.00 to me
I'm a big Shazamer (not sure if that's a real word) cause I'm constantly Shazaming music I hear throughout my day. Watching TV, in the car, during other Instructor's class - pretty much anywhere. I've even looked into finding a way to create a "hot button" on my...
Why Do I Have To Hurt?
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas We”™re not wired to seek out pain. Human evolution developed and adapted a neurological system and sensory perception for reducing pain and seeking pleasure. Easy-to-moderate cardio conditioning is of a manageable...
Got my two week notice
That sucks! You thought you are doing everything right. You feel you've been a model employee for over 8 years. You're always punctual and prepared to teach a great class. The members seem to enjoy you and you've had consistently good attendance numbers. Other...
The Over-Zealous Sub
As I hit the streets after teaching at one of my downtown clubs, I bumped into a friend of mine who appear to have been run over by a car. She had a large gym bag clawing at her shoulder with cycling shoes peeking out of the end pocket. The bag apparently weighs...
The Weekly Ride – 04/23/18 Let The Season Begin
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion No more hunting for new music or counting out cues to develop your ride profile. Here is your ready to ride profile for a fully choreographed ride, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards...
The Power of 3 (Video) – The Triple Crown
After 37 years of waiting we finally have another Triple Crown Winner. I love horse racing, the beauty, the grace and the power of these animals is intoxicating. Over the last 37 years there have been many horses that have won 2 of the 3 Triple Crown races, but they...
“Virtually” Riding
So I decided to lead my first virtual ride this past week. In my true style, I didn”™t just try it in one of my classes but at all 5 clubs. I like to just throw myself into things so I can learn and experience while the iron is hot. For those not familiar...
Non-Authentic Indoor Cycling
Update from John: This post was originally published in June of last year, shortly before we lost Jim. I thought Jim's wisdom could add to our current conversation about SoulCycle, so I'm re-publishing this today. By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Why would...
Video Done Right
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Two things prompted this post. One was John”™s post showing video as one more distraction in a distraction-filled studio (see “Virtual Engagement or Virtual Distraction?”, 7/22/12). The other was my concern about what...
The Weekly Ride – 10/29/18 Amy's Mixed Ride
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
What stinks?
You didn't notice it getting dressed and it wasn't there early in class, it just kind of snuck up on you. One minute you're JRA (Just Riding Along) and the next you begin to catch little whiffs of an odor, not pleasant, that makes you appreciate your position up front...
The Weekly Ride – 05/28/18 Mixed Ride
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion No more hunting for new music or counting out cues to develop your ride profile. Here is your ready to ride profile for a fully choreographed ride, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards...
Give 'em Some TDF
If you are one of those instructors who loves to bring the experience of riding outdoors to your indoor riders, now is the time to get them excited. Give them a taste of the Tour de France and introduce them to some of the fun we enjoy during this special time of...
Something Good
The posts with more than a couple of comments always catch my attention. It shows a hit on a subject that interests people enough to share their thoughts. I have always considered this forum's primary objective to do just that. Light a fire so-to-speak. That said, the...
You're making exactly the same power standing – as you are seated
"Why do I make less power (fewer watts) standing, then when I'm seated?" This a a great question that we get often. I loved John's answer, and so I have done a few edits and present it here..... Joey A great questions from one of the riders in a Performance Cycle...
Putting HIIT In Perspective
Working off of the buzz of last week”™s tirade on Tabata training in indoor cycling, I thought I”™d touch on a related cousin that also carries some confusion and thus misuse — High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). The main contributor to misuse in...
You're an engine… act like it. Part 1
"For all intents and purposes, your body works exactly like the engine in the car that brought you to the studio today." I like to use that line, especially when I sense I have a bunch of gear heads in the class. First to get their attention by saying...
10 Myths of Indoor Cycle Rider Setup / Bike Fit
NOTE: I'll be publishing what I believe are the 10 Myths of Indoor Cycle Rider Setup / Bike Fit on Wednesdays each week, starting today with: Myth #1 - It's proper, for you the instructor, to cue people to draw in their knees. I cringe whenever I hear; "OK...
The Weekly Ride – 12/16/19 Last Years Holiday Ride
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/2018-holiday-ride/pl.u-1Bj1tABz9LEWelcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist This weeks ride is the 2018 Holiday ride...
Differentiation: ICG® Academy Opens in San Francisco
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas My thanks to everyone for the numerous responses to my post last week on the Commoditization of Indoor Cycling. As captured by those responses (Chuck”™s in particular), differentiation is the strategy necessary for...
The Weekly Ride – 02/12/18 Strength Ride
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion: No more hunting for new music or counting out cues. Here is your ready to ride document, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to make your...
The Weekly Ride – 03/12/18 Is It Spring Yet?
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion: No more hunting for new music or counting out cues. Here is your ready to ride document, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to make your...
The Weekly Ride – 121718 The 2018 Holiday Ride
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion Welcome to our new era of The Weekly Ride, you get: Full Ride PDF Apple Music Playlist Spotify Playlist File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming) The Ride will be available for purchase...
Salt’s Okay? Sweet!
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Joan Kent It”™s possible, even likely, that you have cycling class members with hypertension. It”™s possible that they”™ve been told by their doctors to cut back on salt in their diets. If not, it”™s still...
You Da Coach: Are You In My Black Book?
We talk a lot about becoming more than just instructors in our indoor cycling classes. We want to be coaches. We are coaches! I”™ve spent the last 20 years coaching riders and teams on the road and half that indoors. Anyone who has taken one of my classes...
Comparing Spinning's® Friction to Stages – Keiser or Schwinn Magnetic Resistance
NOTE: this was a previous review from 2013 that continues to remain accurate when applied to any of the magnetic friction Indoor Cycles available today. Many Indoor Cycle manufacturers claim a connection with cycling outdoors: 100% Authentic - Spinning is authentic....
How do you communicate pedal technique… USA or EU?
Many (if not most of us) were taught some variation of; "scrape gum off the bottom of your shoe" and "try to push over the top" as the "proper" way to describe how to pedal like a "real" cyclist. But is that correct? If we really want our participants to pedal like a...
Demystifying power for the runners in your classes
John, I'm still confused by this power stuff... where should I be riding? How many watts should I be seeing on my monitor, because I'm no where close to my body weight? I get questions similar to this frequently from members. My answers has evolved over time: I used...
An Emotional Litmus Test
Ok, we simply need to mention the word “test” and all kinds of things tighten up. Relax. For week 3 of instructor self improvement month, let”™s look at how we are doing mentally and emotionally....”sit back on my couch and close your eyes”. Before you jump to...
Putting Heart Rate Monitors to Use, Part 1
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Now that more of your students wear heart-rate monitors (HRM) (see previous post “How To Get Your Students To Wear a HRM”), you must teach them how to use one. An important first step is sometimes lost when introducing...
Video Is JUST Video
By Team ICG® Master Trainer Jim Karanas Video is taking over the world. Over 4 billion hours of video are viewed each month, and YouTube is the most-used search engine, after Google. Video is also changing indoor cycling classes everywhere. Like music, video engages...
Myth #9 of Indoor Cycle Rider Setup / Bike Fit
Myth #9 - Handlebar height isn't really very critical on an Indoor Cycle. An alternative of this myth is; handlebar height should always be set to where it's most comfortable. When the enemy is the wind... the drops are your friend 🙂 Every cyclist in your class...
How Hard Should We Be Working When Teaching
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...
Ride indoors with a Pro Cyclist and he'll have you doing high cadence standing climbs
This is cool! Professional cyclist Alex Howes taught a class at the Peloton Cycle studio in Manhattan. This article explains how Alex taught what was only his second Indoor Cycling class. My guess is that he doesn't have a IC cert - not that it matters.[wlm_private...
Aerobic Training Adaptations
By Team ICG® Master Trainers Joan Kent and Jim Karanas The training adaptations that derive from indoor cycling are well documented and ubiquitous. Still, when we speak with new instructors, they seem to appreciate hearing the information. Also, everyone describes the...
Tabata = Effective? ACE says YES!
I just read a press release and accompanying article from the ACE - The American Console on Exercise PRO SOURCE magazine about their study to gauge the effectiveness of High Intensity Training (HIT). Is Tabata All It's Cracked Up To Be? “It seems like everything...