Thanks for your replies. I agree with both of you that music can make or break a class and for that reason I spend a lot of time (and money) making my own cds and use a variety of music so that, if you don't like what's on now...wait, and you'll probably like what's coming.

As far as what periodization is; it's a training method where you attempt to increase training results via a series of training phases (I usually base it on 3 to four week mesocycles) which focus on weekly variations in volume, intensity and loading. It starts in the fall (when the weather turns bad with a recovery stage, then the base building stage (which for cyclists means lots of saddle time at moderate intensities, with some forays into moderate strength building) I do this in Jan. and Feb. (it's also a great start for beginners), then a significant change into higher intensities where I increase the cadence speed along with the resistance, and the intensity of the climbs. I do this in March and April, with a final increase to TT intensity and/or power (long, strong climbs) in May and June. I schedule active rest of about a week (the equivalent of three classes) to avoid overtraining and also prevent de-training. After this preparation, the competitive or even avid cyclist is ready for their summer of competition, or fun as the case may be. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so this schedule coincides with most of our weather conditions.

However, this also involves having an involved management, and clientel. It's worked in one of my locations, but not the others.