styles of teaching

[Dogmama]

I used to think that jumps were just for raising heart rates - but I started using them when riding over bumpy stuff on my road bike. I raise up just a few inches and then lower back down while keeping the same cadence. It is nice to keep the same mph while riding in pacelines & this helps me practice it.

[RoxGirl77]

Originally posted by han-grrl
...

How CLOSELY do you follow Mad Dogs guidelines. i'm not talking about contra-indicated movements, just the pure definitions of the types of classes. For instance, for an endurance class, the recommendation is a seated flat. Not only do i think this kind of boring but so do the students, plus any long slow distance ride wouldn't necessarily be on a flat the entire time, especially around here. I don't see a problem with telling the students to maintain that low heart rate, but add in some climbs or even jumps (done very slowly). The key is to use breathing effectively to maintain low heart rate. What do you think, what do the students think? Do they like an hours worth of seated flat?

Thanks!

Have a great day

Han

Hi. I am an avid mountain biker and spin instructor as well! (Seems to be a trend here!) As far as spinning style is concerned, there are so many I've encountered... I guess I created my own!
Are you spinning for cycling training purposes? Are you spinning for a great workout? Are you spinning to have fun? Everyone in the class I'm sure has very different reasons for being in the class and it's hard to accomidate them all as an instructor.

I tend to teach my classes as if we were on an outdoor trail. I mean, really, when do you ever come out of the saddle on single track? ... the downhill section. And are you peddaling at this time?NO. So then why would we spend a whole 5 minute song out of the saddle??? My 2cents.

[Terry]

Roxgirl,
I agree with your question as to why spin classes make a thing out of "pedal fast down hill"... I don't get it either. In mountain biking, as well as road cycling, you don't use granny gears to "go faster" down hill...I also don't get spin lingo used on hill climbs, as in, your supposed to imagine riding in sand...I'd use a granny gear and pedal my legs off to get through the sand, but, my legs do not feel like a climb in sand...it always sounds as if the instructions are backward to the way one would naturally ride.

On another note.........
I'm sort of miffed at the unprofessional Greg Lemond Spin Certification people. I had to contact them SEVERAL times this past spring (e-mail, phone calls) until I finally got a call back second week in June. They held a certification class in Orange County 6/28. If they would have contacted me immediately when I had made prior inquiries, then, I could have made plane/hotel arrangements to be there...not 2 weeks before. I tried to get there, but could not. I also e-mailed their certification instructor asking her to send me future city/dates so that I could make arrangements to certify....you guessed it. No response. Does anyone, out west, know of a spin certification class coming up in late July/August?
Terry

[Irulan]

Originally posted by Terry
Roxgirl,
I agree with your question as to why spin classes make a thing out of "pedal fast down hill"... I don't get it either. In mountain biking, as well as road cycling, you don't use granny gears to "go faster" down hill...I also don't get spin lingo used on hill climbs, as in, your supposed to imagine riding in sand...I'd use a granny gear and pedal my legs off to get through the sand, but, my legs do not feel like a climb in sand...it always sounds as if the instructions are backward to the way one would naturally ride.


Terry

as a participant who is an avid mountain biker... I"ve learned that the lingo and moves in spin classes ( at least the ones I go to) have very little relationship to real world cycling. I confess that part of the time with some instructors, I don't follow along, I so what feels right for me.

I am just so glad to be "real" riding right now...

Irulan

[RoxGirl77]

Originally posted by Irulan
as a participant who is an avid mountain biker... I"ve learned that the lingo and moves in spin classes ( at least the ones I go to) have very little relationship to real world cycling. I confess that part of the time with some instructors, I don't follow along, I so what feels right for me.

I am just so glad to be "real" riding right now...

Irulan

Yes, spinning is a great way to stay in riding shape for the off season!
And it's true, spinning and cycling are two similar but different activities. With spinning, you have no pedestrians to worry about, no sudden stops, no worry about keeping your balance either! So I guess this is why some instructors feel it OK to add movements that you wouldn't "normally" perform (with proper form, of course!) on a road bike on a trail.

[kannmessina]

the majority of participants in aerobics classes (including spinning) are not outdoor bike riders. i have been in the fitness industry for 10 years, besides being a personal trainer, i teach spinning, yoga, and pilates. i teach 5 spinning classes per week, and i also ride a road bike 100-200 miles per week. the average gym member could care less whether techniques used inside will apply to outside. they want to burn calories, sweat, be entertained, and they want it over fast. as an instructor i try to keep the class as fun as possible, and sitting in the saddle for an hour will not cut it. in fact, we stand up most of the class, and to say that a standing climb is not applicable to outdoor riding is ridiculous. has anyone been watching the tour de france? they stand up quite often. just because some outdoor riders don't stand whether it be tandem, or other, doesn't mean standing is not used. anyway, i personally don't like how i have to fluff the class up because i am such an avid rider, but my people love it so i continue to do it. the popularity of my classes speaks for itself. i just stress proper body alignment for riding and we just go. nothing is planned and anything goes. they love it. everyone needs to evaluate their members and teach accordingly. good instructors teach for the members not for themselves.

[Veronica]

Wow this thread sat around for a year and got revived.

I reread what I wrote 18 months ago and it wasn't my intention to advocate that an instructor do an hour long class sitting in the saddle. But I'm glad my instructor recognizes that I may choose to do something different to suit my own fitness goals as a rider.

My riding style has changed in 18 months too. I bought Fluffy, rediscovered mountain biking and now have a personal goal of completing a double century. Yeah I know crazy - 200 miles in one day. And naturally I have to do one that is not "easy". I don't think I'll ever complete Devil Mountain Double with it's 20,000 feet of climb in 205 miles. But Knoxville seems doable. It has just a little more climb (12,000 feet) than what I did in116 miles in the DMD staff ride in April.


Amazing how things change in 18 months. But I still prefer to sit as much as possible. I'm built more like Jan or maybe even a short Magnus Backstedt.

Veronica

Knoxville