Cycling Articles

When it comes to warm-ups, indoor cycling instructors often fall victim to the “oatmeal effect”—good for you, but not very memorable. It’s easy to just jump on a bike and ride. However, with a little creativity and skillful instruction, you can engage participants from the start. Be prepared, connect with riders and add a little ingenuity. Begin with a warm welcome and a short introduction, and then ride into one of the following warm-ups.

Have you noticed that a lot of exercise fanatics work out in the morning? Here’s an indoor cycling class for these dedicated early birds. This ride, adapted from the Schwinn® Cycling continuing education workshop “The Wake-Up Workout,” celebrates early risers with a morning playlist and stage-by-stage escalation. Each stage offers visual imagery, motivational suggestions and intentional social interaction. Wake-Up Workout Detailsnewsletter_teaser: Have you noticed that a lot of exercise fanatics work out in the morning? Here’s an indoor cycling class for dedicated early birds. This ride is adapted from Schwinn® Cycling's “Wake-Up Workout.”

Indoor cycling instructors are part DJ and part coach. The best cycling teachers pair rhythmic coaching cues with powerful tunes that transport riders to an inspirational place. Here are several tested and true ways to take your students on a magical, musical ride. Play Music Before the Ride Beginsnewsletter_teaser: Indoor cycling instructors are part DJ and part coach. The best cycling teachers pair rhythmic coaching cues with powerful tunes that transport riders to an inspirational place. Here are several tested and true ways to take your students on a magical, musical ride.

Why do fitness facility members flock to ride in a group setting? Because a cycling class is much more than a workout: it's an experience. A great cycling class is a confluence of motivation and technique from the instructor and inspiration from the music. Here are 5 tips from top teachers for giving your students the ride of their lives.newsletter_teaser: Why do fitness facility members flock to ride in a group setting? Because a cycling class is much more than a workout: it's an experience. A great cycling class is a confluence of motivation

My former race coach used to encourage our cycling team to “finish the hill,” to ensure we didn’t power down prematurely. As you start your indoor cycling cool-down, that can be a great reminder for both you and participants. Allowing your instruction to relax completely as class winds down can be detrimental; participants may respond by losing interest, leaving, or turning it into a social networking opportunity and ignoring you.

Concerns over car exhaust inhalation and traffic accident risks may seem cause to avoid bicycling in urban areas. However, a recent study suggests that the benefits may outweigh those risks. The report was published ahead of print in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives (doi:10.1289/ehp.0901747).

When people want to explain how simple something is to learn, they often say, “It’s like riding a bike!” But is riding a bike really that simple? If you think so, and you’re an indoor cycling teacher, you may be neglecting crucial form cues that would help students enjoy a more efficient, injury-free ride. This sagittal plane activity isn’t as cut-and-dried as it may seem. There are many opportunities for misalignment, discomfort and poor form. A good way to approach form cues is by addressing the body in four zones, from head to toe.

There’s something special about running a marathon. Why not bring the marathon indoors and give your cycling participants a runner’s high? In this class we’ll ride the Boston Marathon and create a unique and exciting experience from start to finish. Each stage is described in detail, offering rich visual imagery. By using these cues, you’ll help students feel that they are truly “in the race.” Interchange visual imagery with solid technical coaching (see the chart)—this is a proven method for making time fly by.