OK, in other parts of the country (the US that is), you are already hitting 80+ degrees and have been cycling for months now (not counting you guys in the always-sunny far south).
Where I am in the Rocky Mountains, it is still ski season (albeit fairly warm). The committed cyclists have been out and about when the temps have reached anywhere above 40 degrees. We've even had some 60+ degree days, but usually very windy.
I have just finished a very successful 12-week periodized Cycling Clinic at one of my clubs, with 12 very committed students. But we are entering what we call the "mud season" around here, and our ski mountain only closes next weekend. It's possible to cycle outside, but still not as cycling friendly as we'd like it.
So I've just extended my cycling clinic for another 5 weeks.
I've got at least 8 students who will continue with me (I'll let you know the actual number tomorrow - it's the first class). They are paying $120 for the next five weeks. They've paid $275 for the past 12-weeks (I had 13 students in that series).
I'm on to something big here. I've had probably the MOST fun I've had teaching in 14+ years. Why? Because I'm working with a committed group of the same students who paid to be there, everyone on the same page, everyone with a heart rate monitor. Not a regular class where you can't really do a serious periodized program because you get new people walking in all the time, or someone who decides to show up only once a month.
The result? I have 13 students who are more prepared for the cycling season than they ever have been. And most are paying to stay on for the next 5 weeks. Me? I've made more $ per class than I ever have in my 15 years of teaching indoor cycling!
Damnit, I deserve it! =)
And so do YOU!
This next five weeks is going to be pretty high intensity, but because most of the students have been with me for the past 12-weeks (and many were my students for the previous 4-5 years), they are well prepared for this level of intensity. The few who were not in my 12-week program I will coach very closely to gauge their intensity very carefully, and to not go as hard.
I've been blabbing about this 12-week program on Facebook since January. If you ONLY knew how many instructors contacted me and said "Teach me how to do this!"!
So that is what I am planning to do. I'm going to create a very comprehensive turn-key program on how to do a periodized 12-week indoor cycling training program in the winter. If you are interested, let me know. You will get 24 profiles, and everything you need to know to do this on your own at your facility. What to teach, how to answer their questions, what to say, what to give your students (handouts, physiology, etc), how to promote it (especially to your local cycling clubs), how to coach beginners, how to price it, etc.
I have been teaching Spinning® and Indoor Cycling for 15 years. I taught this at two separate facilities this winter, and between them both I made 4-6 times what I normally make per class AND I enjoyed it so much more!
You will too!
I won't have this available until next fall, because a periodization program is not as effective until the fall/winter months (at least up here in the northern hemisphere - for my southern hemisphere readers, it will be a year from now). It will take awhile to put this into a turn-key program with all the supporting documentation that you will need, but I guarantee you, YOU WILL LOVE IT!
AND, you will make more money doing what you love.
Now THAT is a great thing!
To stay in contact with me about this periodized cycling clinic, make sure you are on my mailing list (enter your name and email on the top left of this blog). I will be letting you know soon about my new website that will deliver this and many other great indoor cycling products to help you grow as a coach.
PS - as I sit here writing this post, I got a text from one of my cycling clinic students. She wants to bring her dad to tomorrow's class! There goes another one! ;-)
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9 comments:
Hi jennifer,
very interested in the roll out of the 12 program for periodization coming this fall. look forward to hearing and reading more as well as your website info. thanks once again. renee
Now your're talkin. This is the best kind of IDC. I've been riding with a USA cycling coach for a couple of years. Cost/season $275. Increased performance/overall enjoyment on the road, priceless.
These classes are fun. No BS, just good training. The group I ride with consists of a TT, mtn. bike racer, 2 road racers, 6 tri-athletes, and 4 recreational cyclists. In each session, everybody is cranking, because we're all there for a reason.
As far as teaching, I sub occasionally. When I do, I find it challenging to get people to ride like this. There are the couple of people that ride a bike and understand where you're coming from and what you are trying to do. But, most are just gym rats that don't ride or do anything outside. They want to jump up and down, shake their butt in air, change up what they're doing every 30 secs. with the HR bouncing up and down like a yoyo. I absolutely refuse to do this kind of a ride.
I'm looking forward to seeing what your program will be. I would love to begin to show more people how to ride with meaning and do something that will produce some results and benefits. I keep thinking I should do something like this, but the truth is, I don’t think I have the experience, background or knowledge to put together a cohesive program, and I won’t deliver anything that’s second rate.
Mostly, when I ride at the gym, I go into the cycling room on days when there is no early AM class and I often get 1 or 2 people that will follow me in and ride with me. I enjoy this, because I can tell them, you look a little lite, put some road on, or pick up your cadence; and we can just ride.
One thing I'm a little proud of, there's an instructor at our gym that I think is getting better and better as she gains experience. She has come into the cycling room with me a couple of times and got her butt whipped, which woke her up. This instructor also teaches at another gym, and the same things I tell her, she says she hears from the program director at the other gym, which is the same thing I read here, and on PO and ICI/Pro. I told her about this blog and sent her the link for the triple threat ride. I asked her to watch that ride, then she will know where I get my influences and ideas from. Next time I see her I'll see what she thought.
Now your're talkin. This is the best kind of IDC. I've been riding with a USA cycling coach for a couple of years. Cost/season $275. Increased performance/overall enjoyment on the road, priceless.
These classes are fun. No BS, just good training. The group I ride with consists of a TT, mtn. bike racer, 2 road racers, 6 tri-athletes, and 4 recreational cyclists. In each session, everybody is cranking, because we're all there for a reason.
As far as teaching, I sub occasionally. When I do, I find it challenging to get people to ride like this. There are the couple of people that ride a bike and understand where you're coming from and what you are trying to do. But, most are just gym rats that don't ride or do anything outside. They want to jump up and down, shake their butt in air, change up what they're doing every 30 secs. with the HR bouncing up and down like a yoyo. I absolutely refuse to do this kind of a ride.
I'm looking forward to seeing what your program will be. I would love to begin to show more people how to ride with meaning and do something that will produce some results and benefits. I keep thinking I should do something like this, but the truth is, I don’t think I have the experience, background or knowledge to put together a cohesive program, and I won’t deliver anything that’s second rate.
Mostly, when I ride at the gym, I go into the cycling room on days when there is no early AM class and I often get 1 or 2 people that will follow me in and ride with me. I enjoy this, because I can tell them, you look a little lite, put some road on, or pick up your cadence; and we can just ride.
One thing I'm a little proud of, there's an instructor at our gym that I think is getting better and better as she gains experience. She has come into the cycling room with me a couple of times and got her butt whipped, which woke her up. This instructor also teaches at another gym, and the same things I tell her, she says she hears from the program director at the other gym, which is the same thing I read here, and on PO and ICI/Pro. I told her about this blog and sent her the link for the triple threat ride. I asked her to watch that ride, then she will know where I get my influences and ideas from. Next time I see her I'll see what she thought.
Count me as definitely interested. I haven't been able to do a periodized program at my club for all the reasons you mentioned. There's another big factor too—all the good times are filled up with classes. But, I taught a mini-periodization this winter that got everyone interested. It was a series of 6 classes that exemplified periodized training. So, there's always hope.I'm excited to hear more about your new web site too.
Marsha,
yes, that's a potential problem - when all the time slots are filled up, where do you put a program like this? But, for the club, it can be (should be) a no-brainer if this kind of clinic is viewed as a profit center. I truly believe it should be a paid clinic, because it IS professional coaching and it goes way beyond a normal class. Therefore, if the club is correctly approached well in advance of the potential dates with a solid proposal on the benefits of the program, they can consider if they want to make some changes to the schedule come fall and winter, offering a certain time slot or two as a periodized clinic.
Where I teach, there were no classes on T/TH mornings. I already taught at 6 am on W/F, but I gave up that class in order to teach the clinics (didn't want to compete with myself). The two instructors who took them over for the winter are going to happily relinquish that time slot at the end of May (they both are ready to now). And even if they didn't, I'd be perfectly happy knowing I had a little more time to myself over the summer, and that I made way more money teaching this clinic than I ever could have even if I never gave up that class and continued through the summer.
I think I can offer it at this club next year at several time slots, and at several more clubs in this valley (phew, I'm tired just thinking about this. I'm going to have to decide where the best place to offer it will be). I guess that's a good position to be in! :)
I know that is not the situation many instructors face. Finding a club to do this type of program at is part of the process. You've just given me the idea to add to the program some suggested proposals to offer to management to explain the benefits and profitability of doing a clinic like this.
I would le to know how you do it.
I have done a "clinic" coaching 2 years ago during the winter here that is mean Mid November to mid February, with a local cycling team but I was meeting team once a week only ... It was interesting for me they like it but was ready to go back outside.
In one facility I teach I will change my schedule and will teach at the same time Monday,Wednesday and Friday 9:15 perfect for periodization, something that I already apply but it could be better.
Your remark about a special classe with registration is intersting I like the idea, I know my main manager will be for it but my groupie would perhaps not like it ...
For a special classe with registration you need the perfect time and day for this group that can be a real issue.
Jennifer,
This will truly be an amazing resource once it is put together. A great idea that many will be able to benefit from! :)
You go, girl!
I am definitely interested in your program, even just for my own benefits if I don't have the club's permission to teach this program (?)
Look forward to seeing your new website.
You rock!
I'm hoping to give this a "Spin" come January. Starting to lay the groundwork with our club's fitness director now. Can't wait to see your course materials. I know it will be great!
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