Boston Balance - Josh's Ride review

[amybatt]

If I may, allow me to gush for a minute or two... on Josh’s Original Journey.

I’ve never had the opportunity to attend one of these all weekend conference things (and alas, due to upcoming vacation, I’m only doing 2/3 of this one!) But last night was Josh’s Original Journey ride and I quickly came to regret that I’m not back there this morning.

I’m sure many of you have done this ride once, twice, three times. But remember what it was like for the first time. How re-bitten you were by this bug called Spinning.

Bear in mind that I’ve had a miserable couple of weeks teaching my classes, for various, but not un-common reasons (equipment failure, late students, talkers, late NEW students, grouchy directors). I’ve even started thinking about giving it up because I felt the same things I hear many in our positions have felt over the years. I've just gotten fed up.

So what I needed was to find the spark again and remember why I did this, why I still do this. So I'm doing this and starting out with Josh's ride. Two hours later, it was back. It amazed me that we changed position maybe four times the entire ride. It amazed me that I don’t remember a single song he played. It amazed me that 10 minutes in, I threw the little notebook on the floor (I had intended to write things down as I heard them) and said “to hell with that, this is about ME.” It amazed me that I rode for two hours, just riding the wave in that class, feeling the energy and finding the fire inside again. And I didn’t feel the least bit tired but just super-energized and ready to take on the world. I’m still standing today (and even at my desk early) and not sore, fatigued or worn down. I just want to get back on the bike. And that’s a feeling I haven’t had in months. (To be honest when it was over I felt like I should roll over and light a cigarette...anyone else get that feeling??? :p)

So if that’s what Josh’s intention was (and I told him after that I’d “found it again”) he was successful. It was $65 well spent.

Now for less profound commentary….I learned by watching that it doesn’t matter if the mic dies, the music doesn’t please or the profile isn’t perfect. I’d been lost in all that lately. What matters is that you deliver the feeling. Josh had all those things happen last night and he just shrugged it off and delivered anyway (we rode about 9 minutes in complete silence, and without any speaking at all for the last 20 or so…a very intense 30 minutes, if you ask me). He also reminded us that the “average” student isn’t there to work the power meter, calculate watts or perfect pedal stroke. They’re there for a safe, effective ride. If you get them to use HRMs or RPE and they are riding more safely, then walk away with that as your success.

I’m kicking myself for not being there today and tomorrow, but I’ll be there Sunday, playing the role of sponge and soaking it all up. I’ll report back then. :grin:

Thanks for listening....I've got no one here to download to about this!

[Pink]

:D:D:D:D

[like2bike]

Wow Amy. Thank you for your words and for sharing how you were inspired. From reading what you wrote, I can honestly say I will someday aim to get to one of these rides with Josh. He brought the magic back for you. I can only imagine how that must feel. You have captured your feelings and communicated them beautifully here.

I love this part: "He also reminded us that the “average” student isn’t there to work the power meter, calculate watts or perfect pedal stroke. They’re there for a safe, effective ride. If you get them to use HRMs or RPE and they are riding more safely, then walk away with that as your success."

Some of our wonderful forumites here have made the same statement in the past, many times. It's good to have it reiterated by a respected M.I. Again, I thank you for sharing your thoughts and your experience. You've given me something today that I also needed to hear.

[AC]

We can always find a ride with Josh well spent either from a time or money aspect. I have always left a ride with him using something immediately, or years later. There is no one better at being an instructor's instructor.

[joyofspin]

We can always find a ride with Josh well spent either from a time or money aspect. I have always left a ride with him using something immediately, or years later. There is no one better at being an instructor's instructor.

Can't agree more - from the genuine smile, love for the bike, the words, the effort - a total package

[Todd S]

I love this part: "He also reminded us that the “average” student isn’t there to work the power meter, calculate watts or perfect pedal stroke. They’re there for a safe, effective ride. If you get them to use HRMs or RPE and they are riding more safely, then walk away with that as your success."

Some of our wonderful forumites here have made the same statement in the past, many times. It's good to have it reiterated by a respected M.I. Again, I thank you for sharing your thoughts and your experience. You've given me something today that I also needed to hear.

J--- F----- R---. A very effective way to train for most of the folks who come to our classes.

[midnight rider]

Todd,

The more you teach the more you realize that those 3 words pretty much say it all.

[like2bike]

Imagine the looks on their faces if you said it that way, over the mic. :D

[cfoam4me]

J--- F----- R---. A very effective way to train for most of the folks who come to our classes.

So very true and think of all the money we would have saved over the years in cont ed! :p

[AC]

Of course, if that's all you brought to the room every time you'd probably get by with that for a couple of months before everyone wondered what they were going to do, but after that you'd be fired and be onto the next gig before they cared.

Or, if you're Josh, on to the next conference.:wink:

Just so you don't kid yourselves, the majority of people actually do want to know how they're doing. But the feel good point of just letting everyone ride is a wonderful cliche.

[cfoam4me]

Just so you don't kid yourselves, the majority of people actually do want to know how they're doing. But the feel good point of just letting everyone ride is a wonderful cliche.
Not so sure it's a cliche, I think it's probably a lot harder to profile a good class and really sit back and let them ride it with appropriate coaching than just an instructor feel good.:cool:

[tracik]

Amy...sounds like an awesome experience! You guys have all sold me on it. I see that Josh is doing this ride the night before DCAC. I think I'll have to put it on the calendar!

[Todd S]

Just so you don't kid yourselves, the majority of people actually do want to know how they're doing. But the feel good point of just letting everyone ride is a wonderful cliche.

99% of participants in indoor cycling have absolutely no clue with respect to 'how they're doing'. Yet they still come back and they still get fit.

Another prime example of how the law of diminishing returns or the 80/20 rule applies. If you can get an individual to ride at challenging intensities for an hour 4 to 5 times per week consistantly over an extended period, they're going to realize most of their endurance fitness potential. To the extent creative profiles, inspiring music, performance measuring devices, or whatever serve to keep folks motivated and interested that's all the better. Tweeking that last bit of performance out of an individual's potential is the hard part, but in reality that's beyond what you can realistically do in a group fitness environment.

[AC]

[QUOTE=Todd S;87108]99% of participants in indoor cycling have absolutely no clue with respect to 'how they're doing'. Yet they still come back and they still get fit.QUOTE]

In that vein, 100% of those who don't know, have no clue. But your anecdote is logical. I just don't believe it having the opportunity to watch the other way for about a year now.