Instructor's Blog — indoor cycling teaching ideas

Is there a right way and a wrong way to place bikes in a cycling studio? Of course not, but there are benefits that can go unseen if you are simply following what everyone else is doing. Traditionally, cycling studios have their bike formations in rows, often cramming as many bikes in one studio as possible - which makes sense if your priority is increasing revenue. From a financial perspective, you can fit quite a few bikes into a space of only 1000 - 1500 square feet. However, from a teaching or coaching perspective, does this jeopardize your rider's safety?...

Music in a cycling class can make or break a class because the root of group fitness is music. This is why group fitness is referred to as “exercise to music.” Indoor Cycling has gone through a wave of trends from high intensity music to yoga cycling to DJ’s in the Studios and back to the top 40’s playlist consumed with Pitbull and Flo Rida. Is there one right or wrong way to use music in a class? I believe the answer is yes there is a right way to create a playlist. The key to music is to captivate...

If you are old school like me, there were no power metres when we first started teaching. We had to learn to cue power through inviting riders to push their tension while increasing their speed.  Power has been the never ending battle for cycling instructors. It seems like every class we teach, someone is floating their tension on a speed drill, which I am more convinced the bike is riding the cyclists versus the cyclist is riding the bike.  The reason instructors get so frustrated is because of what I call "ghost riding." If I were to crank the pedals...

I love choreographing drills.

In fact, I love it so much, I have created 4 ebooks full of choreographed cycling drills (don't worry, there are lots of timer drills too!). 

Now, a lot of people think choreographed drills do not belong in a cycling class, but I am here to say they absolutely do. 

They way I see it, group fitness is set to music, no different than a step aerobics class. You use the music to guide the workout and the same can be done with indoor cycling.

This doesn't mean I am saying perform a dance routine with sexy hips on a bike, what I am saying is, you can choreograph a song to match a drill while keeping a class safe and using the fundamentals of indoor cycling.

As Instructors, we have a deep understanding for the power of music in any style of group fitness class, especially indoor cycling or spinning classes. Music creates a vibe and energy which builds motivation through a workout, but have you ever thought about how it can connect you to your participants? Think about a song that makes you smile? What about a song you play when you need to blow off steam (Metallica is my go to). Or how about a time in your life you fondly remember thanks to the music in that time period? It is so easy...