Every Monday at 11:50am, I would grab my bike shoes, tie my hair up high and head for the 60 min. spinning class at my local gym. Although I’ve been doing this class for over 6 years, every class was different each time.
Scotty, my spinning instructor, would bring music he collected from traveling all over the world as an avid adventurer. Tribal, dance, Spanish music… to name a few. Each song had a rhythm we’d ride to on all kinds of terrain. The music definitely played a role in people’s drive to work harder, but it wasn’t the most important role. It was Scotty’s coaching… and quirky sense of humor.
After so many years of being a participant, I decided to learn how to teach spinning. I mean, why not? I can keep up, I can push myself harder, and I think I can lead a class. So I asked my spinning instructor whom he learned from. He highly recommended Schwinn.
The one-day course was held on a Saturday at a Toronto Club. Outside the spinning room was filled with eager people waiting for the Schwinn instructor to begin.
We each sat on the floor next to a Johnny G’s spinning bike and got settled in. As an icebreaker, we all introduced ourselves and said what we did for a living. As we went around the room, I noticed the class was a huge range of different occupants. There was a banker, elementary teacher, retired professional dancer, software designer, a grandfather, university students and to no surprise, personal trainers. The most surprising thing of all was 8 of 20 in the class has never tried a spin class before! Now that’s what I call nose-diving into the unknown.
We each received a manual and started off with the bike set up and adjustments. We found partners and practiced fitting each other on the bike.
Next, were riding techniques. I found it interesting when a spinning instructor tells the class to “put your hips back” could be perceived in many different ways. People were demonstrating the position and everyone was doing it differently. What does it mean anyway? It’s funny how important communication is.
After three hours of reviewing parts of the bike and the technical aspect of how to ride, my butt was hurting from sitting on the hard floor. I was hoping we’d either grab lunch or start riding. Thankfully, it was time to ride.
Lights were dimmed, you hear the sound of bike shoes clicking into the pedal and people taking small sips water as the instructor does a sound check on his mic. The music starts and everyone begins to pedal to the beat. Right away, the instructor sets the cadence and says, “we’re starting off at 60RPM, go to the beat of the music or try to pedal the same as me…. 1, 2, 1, 2”. About a minute later, I can see in the mirror everyone’s legs were moving close to the same time. At that point, the instructor went on and said we’d be riding three flat roads with three combo hills, and the whole time we should be feeling uncomfortable and challenging but we can maintain it.
As I’m concentrating and focusing on my breathing, the instructor starts to question our strength, endurance and willpower. “Can you push a littler harder and still maintain the same speed? Are you really trying your best? Are you sure you can’t go any harder, faster or more intense?”
As he is asking these questions, I start to second guess myself and think that I’m not working as hard. I was hot, sweaty, breathing heavily through my mouth, my legs were burning and I felt like I was pushing Zone 4. But I still questioned my willpower. So what did I do? Turned the dial up a whole notch and focused on my pedaling as it went in sync with the music. Four minutes passed, then another four and next thing you know, the last song of the ride ended.
I did it. I increased the intensity to a level I didn’t think I could do and finished with everything I had. I didn’t think I could do it, but I tried it and I did it. It was a great ride.
After a short 30-minute lunch break we were back to the manual. As the instructor goes through the anatomy and pedaling force, people’s postures start to change, some leaning against the wall, chin resting on hands and eyelids feeling heavy. Five hours of listening & practicing, riding, and lunch, we were all tired. Perhaps they should’ve made it a two-day course.
Understanding how to fit a student properly on a bike, and using proper riding technique is extremely important to ensure safe and effective workout. However, that’s not what’s going to keep people coming back week after week. Schwinn created a cycling coach pyramid, which is a system for instructors to follow. There are four level components and when they are used together in a specific order it can motivate, inspire and educate the students. I thought this made complete sense. When I’m on a bike, all I want to know is my goal, time, and intensity. That’s it. It needs to be clear and short for it to set in my mind fast. Where I need help most is the incentive to ride, a challenge, and a reason to be there. And that’s what the pyramid was all about.
We had 15 minutes to ride again before the day was over. This time, I paid close attention to the instructor’s style of coaching. I was able to identify how he used the coaching pyramid yet, adding his own flair to call it his own. The best thing is that people respond to it through riding. It’s a successful technique and I look forward to using it.
I’m proud of my 8 x 10 indoor cycling training course certificate. Although it should’ve been a two-day course, it was educational, inspiring and rewarding. It’s not about your endurance or how fast you can spin that enables you to teach spinning. It’s how you can get your students to challenge their strength of mind, body and soul, using your unique personality, inspiration and motivation.*
Heidi Ricafort
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