Report on "Group Cycle"

[Jen]

I agaree, the music isn't so hot. It is more European. The last release was excellent. I just got the new release in the mail. Horrible. I feel so let down. As with anything, there are good and motivating instructors and there are not so good instructors. I like it because it goes non stop for 50 min, you burn a min. of 600+ calories but probably more if you worked your resistance, and then you are done and out of there.

[Brandy]

I guess I should clarify that when I said both hands off of the handlebars, I meant while he was standing!

[Jen]

I saw the guy do the same thing. It was kinda funny lookin. I guess they drummed up that move for the quarterly presentation. The guy that designs the program is Dan McDonogh. He has a very impressive background cycling. I check it oun, typed in his name in Google.

[VenusdeVelo]

*Sigh*...hands off handlebars while standing, that's just not correct form. Enough said, I won't harp on it !!

Re: music though, I feel like we are genericizing these group fitness classes so anyone can teach them with little to no experience/training/style (ie, pre-programmed CDs and choreography). It's frustrating as I believe a good instructor is like a choreographer -- they know how to create music which suits the moves and they make it exciting, interesting and fun.

My 2 cents

[Jen]

I have 3 cycle certs and found RPM to be the toughest and most complete course I took. Madd Dog was good Greg LeMond was the worst. Madd Dog and Greg LeMond don't teach you how to teach. Everyone in the room walks away with a certification no matter what. With RPM you have to present a video of yourself teaching a class and have 3 months to get it in. You are greaded on your choreography, teaching skills and form. you have to get at least a 70% or you are not certified. Not all spin instructors are good at it. I personally put a lot of effort into my classes, my presentation. I ride outdoors and do alot of reading. RPM is safe, fun, and burns alot of calories. I have learned alot from it that I have been able to apply outdoors. You get new information on cycling and technique every quarter and DVD's. It is quite popular at our clubs. There are one or two other instructors that do studio cycle that folks seem to like but most are extremely boring in their presentation and choreography. No one thing is bad, different strokes for different folks.