As indoor cycling instructors, we each cop a style. We may be the high energy instructor, drill sergeant, mind-body guru or coach. Generally speaking, whatever style we gravitate toward usually determines how we approach our workouts from week to week.
A few of weeks ago, a couple of riders approached me after class and said “wow, that was different. That was definitely not your usually workout.” I tried not to react and slowly replied “Really? What do you mean? They continued to define my style as the “professional” cycling coach who plans and targets every workout and drill. They quickly, almost interrupting themselves, ensured me that they loved the focus of my workouts and look forward to them (in a sick kinda way).
A couple of weeks later I did another workout called “Classic Climbs”. No, it is not what you think. Many thought for sure it was some famous climbs of the Tour de France, but that was not it. We tackled 3 challenging climbs motivated by some “Classic Rock”. Now I did blur the lines of the genre a bit so the younger crowd wouldn’t stare off in confusion. There was some Styx, Rush, Santana, ZZ Top and Nazareth, as well as some Pearl Jam, Green Day and U2.
My riders continued to comment on how I was “Really Mixin’ it up”. But they were excited. I told them I was in the process of creating Classic Climbs 2 and needed suggestions. The emails are still rolling in.
In the next 2 weeks we start with the Giro, followed by the TDF and then the Vuelta. I have a tradition of using 3 stages from each grand tour during the race weeks.
So, how predictable do your riders think you are? I was taken back a bit, because I assumed that since I never repeated a workout (or music) more than once per 2 months, that I was “versatile”. Apparently, my style predominated my varied selection of music and workouts. I do enjoy going all “mind-body” on them or doing my best race announcer (a la Bob Roll) impersonation. It’s nice to know my riders like the change of pace as well.
