Any Ideas from you Profile Pros

[sandy]

So this is my question...and I don't even know how if I can get this point across.. You know when you ride outside and you have to be so alert to the road, where your sense of sight and your focus of what the rider is doing in front of you and how you read the driver of the car pulling out of a side road, while avoiding the pothole or branch or glass to the right of you. You have to be so in the moment, so spot on, alert and aware to all kinds of different things at once. That is one of the things about riding outside I love so much. Is this something I can instruct within a profile? If so ,how would you do it? I would love to teach a class that rather than have riders relax and ride unconsciencly, ride fully conscience. Rather than lull them into a predictable ride, put them on full "heads up"

[Pink]

Sandy, I know exactly what you mean and I have called on those feelings inside. I've tried to talk riders through it but I don't know how effective I've been if they don't have any experience to fall back on.

I've used it more like a mind game. Telling them to focus on a spot ahead of them -- or a goal -- and to allow everything else to fall away, while keeping tight concentration.

Sometimes I've asked for that then have given them an example. Once I used a newly chip & sealed road that was pretty hairy. If I didn't keep all my senses on hyper-alert, I was going to fall. Or I've talked about pacelining and if you allow your cadence to slip, you could take out the guy behind you, etc. I don't describe the road per se, just the function of riding it.

I don't know if I'm making sense.

[kszspin]

Well, I think I'm understanding what you are trying to do...a ride that allows them to have a heightened awareness, right?

I would go in the direction of "internal" awareness of what is happening while they ride, a single minded focus. Pretty much riding in the moment. Have them focus on each breath they take, one at a time, each pedal stroke, one at a time, every seperate heart beat.

Maybe more autogenic training cues (self regulating cues). Having them focus on the feelings and sensations in order to regulate breathing and HR. Riding in the moment is not zoning out, actually the opposite, you are equally aware of your surroundings but not distracted by them. You are what they say...."in the FLOW". :wink:

I'm not comfortable creating or presenting a visualization that uses the external stuff taken from the outside into the classroom (once in a while for a special stage race, to create the "atmosphere", but not often).

Is this the direction you were thinking of? :?

[kszspin]

Love it Pink! :wink:

[sandy]

Yes, Yes, and yes. Both of you are absolutely with me on that. Love it, Kelly, opposite of zoning out! I want them to ride fully conscience, fully present. Besides giving cueing, what kind of profile would you do? I know I can speak of being in the moment, but what kind of ride do I take them on?

[kszspin]

Well, for me that type cuing works good with a strength ride or endurance. Intervals, if they are longer like aero intervals (6-8 min work). But short stuff, lots of changes, don't allow me and them enough time to get into it.

[megale3]

Work with partners vs. teams vs. individuals with in the class room. i.e...
Partner up: trade off a Zone 3 effort by describing to them that the effort will be diminished if you try and hang on longer than the other rider. The smarter thing to do is work until you feel the uncomfortable feeling then let the other person take over by pointing, nodding a head or yelling the other persons name to go. Great for building community in your class and keeps them aware of their efforts at the same time.
Individuals :some times the best representation of cadence and a kudos for the ones that really try and succeed . break up a room into sections and have everyone in that section keep with the cadence/position of a single person another awareness opportunity happens - one leads many in a hard effort where the one knows they're being watched and the ones watching are focused on him/her and are trying to immolate that effort.
Teams: keeping up with other teams. Challenging a team to work as hard as the last team but not try and beat it is another awareness activity that builds community with in groups. This is when teams realize that the competition is with in a team to do their part and make that team succeed in the goals.
Best Meg

[sandy]

Meg, those are some really good ideas. I will have to really put some thought into how I break them up into groups. Sometimes the strong riders don't sit up front and I would have to designate the bikes without having an upset. The way our room is set up its almost like a fan shape with 4 rows going from say 6 bikes to 12 in the back row. We have to keep parimeter clear for fire codes, so we really can't play with the setup too much. But I like the idea of awareness drills.

[megale3]

Sometimes the nots so strong riders have their day in the light too. I would not worry about it as time goes on they will realize that they need to be up front to show case their skills. you can always move bikes into double pace lines and such to get this individual activity going with one vs the group. Try having them partner up first I find they love that one on one feeling
M

[RaffCycles]

I use my road experiences to help coach and give my class ideas of what to think of. Ultimately, each person needs to identify their own personal road. Here are a few things I usually say to help my class visualize their own road.

Today you are on your own road. Is your road the one less traveled because it is difficult? Is your road crowded because everyone took the easy route today? Only you can answer this question. But it doesn't matter because it is your road and you know how you will ride it.

Close your eyes and imagine the road you are riding today. Search for the moment when you need to attack that road and know when to back off. Feel yourself conquring the road.

Keep moving forward and imagine your pedal strokes. Feel the intensity of your efforts transfering the energy from your legs to your pedals. Let that energy keep you moving.

We are approaching a hill, decide how steep that hill is and have the confidence in yourself to ascend as fast as you wish. Feel yourself commit to the hill. Relax your upper body and focus on being efficient.

You can use the music as your guide if you choose. Choose how you are going to ride this portion of your road.

Hope these help.

[Pink]

This is great stuff!

[kszspin]

I'm not comfortable creating or presenting a visualization that uses the external stuff taken from the outside into the classroom (once in a while for a special stage race, to create the "atmosphere", but not often).


I'm quoting myself here in order to clarify my statement a little. Let me say that I like the type cuing that Raff has offered here, I often use that type language because I feel it really allows for a rider to look inward and to pull out something special they may not have thought they could achieve in class. This really turns the control over to them and empowers them to reach their goals.

I have found after working in fitness for almost 18 yrs now, that those people who you can teach to develop an inner motivation, will succeed in their goals and stay active longer. People who constantly seek outside motivation and help, those who haven't learned to rely or trust themselves (they need others always) to achieve fitness goals, will not hang in there. They drop out and then a yr later try to "get motivated" again.

The clarification I want to make to my statement that I wasn't comfortable using stuff from the outside, is that I'm really not comfortable with the "travelogue" type cuing, that's all.

[sandy]

No, I don't think I misinterpeted what you were saying at all, and I know what you mean about presenting a travelogue. I remember the very first class I ever took that was in a small spin studio nearby. The instructors or should I say instructor would use alot of imagery while present our ride. She would say things like imagine yourself bicycling throught the south of france along a seaside route...... you get the idea. In my head I'm going, I've never been to the south of france and I'd rather just focus on what I'm doing here, not make believe stuff. So, I don't want to do that, its not my thing. I'd rather bring the tools you use when outside, inside.

[RaffCycles]

those people who you can teach to develop an inner motivation, will succeed in their goals and stay active longer. People who constantly seek outside motivation and help, those who haven't learned to rely or trust themselves (they need others always) to achieve fitness goals, will not hang in there. They drop out and then a yr later try to "get motivated" again.

Kelly, great point. You have pointed out the battle between the intrinsic vs extrinsic value systems that exists in all of us to some extent. There is no way we can motivate someone to do anything, but we can help remove the obsticles that hinder them and allow them to find what their own intrinsic motivations.

[megale3]

This is why adherence to the work out is the largest chapter with in the ACE manual. There are 17 reasons that a person will fall out of their fitness regiment.
M

[RaffCycles]

This is why adherence to the work out is the largest chapter with in the ACE manual. There are 17 reasons that a person will fall out of their fitness regiment.
M

Haven't got that far yet. But soon my friend, very soon :lol:

[megale3]

This is why adherence to the work out is the largest chapter with in the ACE manual. There are 17 reasons that a person will fall out of their fitness regiment.
M

Haven't got that far yet. But soon my friend, very soon :lol:
Raff I am so glad you desided to take the ACE exam. Its harder but some much more comprehensive.
M

[RaffCycles]

This is why adherence to the work out is the largest chapter with in the ACE manual. There are 17 reasons that a person will fall out of their fitness regiment.
M

Haven't got that far yet. But soon my friend, very soon :lol:
Raff I am so glad you desided to take the ACE exam. Its harder but some much more comprehensive.
M

I've always wanted to get this certification. The hard part was trying to find the right time to take it. Mostly because I've been bogged down with 40 hour work weeks and 10 hours of classes since August of last year. I finish my class two weeks before my scheduled exam and can finish cramming then.

[Julibird]

I use my road experiences to help coach and give my class ideas of what to think of. Ultimately, each person needs to identify their own personal road. Here are a few things I usually say to help my class visualize their own road.

Today you are on your own road. Is your road the one less traveled because it is difficult? Is your road crowded because everyone took the easy route today? Only you can answer this question. But it doesn't matter because it is your road and you know how you will ride it.

Close your eyes and imagine the road you are riding today. Search for the moment when you need to attack that road and know when to back off. Feel yourself conquring the road.

Keep moving forward and imagine your pedal strokes. Feel the intensity of your efforts transfering the energy from your legs to your pedals. Let that energy keep you moving.

We are approaching a hill, decide how steep that hill is and have the confidence in yourself to ascend as fast as you wish. Feel yourself commit to the hill. Relax your upper body and focus on being efficient.

You can use the music as your guide if you choose. Choose how you are going to ride this portion of your road.

Hope these help.

So delicious!