I use Class Builder App by Cycling Fusion to build my indoor cycling or Spinning® class profiles.
So first, let me tell you – I don’t enter every single cue into the Class Builder™. Most of the time I don’t enter every single move for my students to make either – and you’ll notice that when you look at my class profiles.
That also makes those heart rate zones (and even cadence ranges sometimes) pretty “conditional”.
Example: you will see the cues marked on the cue sheet telling me when I want my riders to transition from seated to standing position, but you won’t see the cues for them to get down most of the time. That’s just my laziness of entering an extra cue. 🙂 Once I see the “Up” cue on my screen during class, I take a note of time and get them back in the saddle when I need to on that day and that particular star alignment. You have to keep safety in mind. Use your best judgment and the guidelines of your certification type to decide how long your riders should stay out of the saddle.
So, here’s my own glossary to “decode” my cues:
Add – add resistance. I number my resistance increases and here’s why. This is what your screen looks like in class if the adds are not numbered:
You can see that you have 31 seconds until the next resistance increase, but if you miss that “cue changing” point on the screen, you mess up because you don’t know which increase you’re on. Here’s what it looks like if you number them:
So, I see that I just told them to take an add #1, and they have 26 seconds until add #2. If I miss to cue them on add #2 for some reason, I will see that it moved to the top line, and I missed it. In this case (depending on the time left until the next resistance increase (which will be in the bottom line)) I will either cue them to take add #2 or skip #2 all together 🙂 Does that make sense? I hope it does.
Add hill – this cue is usually used in the beginning of a climb to ask the riders to transition from the flat road to very moderate resistance, the so called “base of the hill”.
Attack – transition to HP3 and increase speed.
Cadence check/C-check – I use this cue when I give my riders the task to choose and maintain a constant cadence of their choice (within the defined range) for the drill. I use this cue to remind them to glance at their bike monitors to make sure their cadence is still where it should be.
Down – transitioning from standing to seated position (back in the saddle).
Down and faster – return to the saddle from standing position and increase cadence/speed.
Faster – well, it is what is sounds like – increase speed/cadence. In this case I just decided not to give them any numbers in RPM’s to go by – just accelerate a little. Most of the time I’ll give the class a top acceleration threshold (e.g. accelerate by not more than 10 RPM from your current cadence and make sure you stay within the cadence guidelines for this drill – 60-80 RPM for climbs, 80-110 for flats).
Flat – flat road, very light resistance simulating riding on a flat road with no elevation. “Back to flat” is the cue I usually use to have my riders take off the resistance after a climb, or some resistance increases.
HP2/3 – hand position 2 or 3. This is either or, not up to them to choose. 🙂 I will use either HP2 or HP3 as a cue.
+5, +10 – cadence increase from what is currently on their screens. The number is the amount in RPM’s we’re increasing by.
Run – transition from seated to standing, Hand Position 2.
Up – transition from seated to standing position out of the saddle. This may mean both Hand Position 2 (runs on a flat or running with resistance), and Hand Position 3 (climbing).
Hi Lena, I was wondering how I can find your profiles on the class builder app. I’m preparing to teach my first class and working to get things organized. Thanks, Dawn
Hi Dawn. I don’t think there is a way to actually “find” me on Class Builder. I do share the .pdf downloads of my profile in each post with a ride a publish here: https://leanlena.com/cycling/indoor-cycling-class-profiles/
I’d also love for you to consider my Mentorship program for new instructors if you need help creating that first class profile. Here’s the link to more information: https://leanlena.com/cycling/mentorship-for-new-indoor-cycling-instructors/
Good luck to you and let me know if I can be of help!
Thk U for all ur insights!
You’re very welcome, Sheri!
Hi Lena, do you still use the Class Builder App? The reviews don’t look very favorable for this version…
Hi Holly. Yes, I still use it and absolutely love it!
Hi Lena, Is your RPE based on 1-10 and 10 be maximal/absolute effort?
Hi Brit! I rarely use RPE as a scale when cuing – I prefer more descriptive cues (flat road, riding through mud, headwind, etc.). When creating profiles in Class Builder, I apply their 5 zones just to help myself visualize the effort level.
First and foremost, thank you for sharing all of your hard work. I know creating profiles can be difficult and time consuming at times.
I was reviewing some profiles and on your Rock and Roll profile you have two songs that you perform “time trials.” Can you please explain what these are and how you perform them appropriately?
Thank you again!
Hi Nicole! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! Time Trial is a drill where participants “race” for a certain period of time bringing their best pace with challenging resistance. Challenging resistance doesn’t mean they’re climbing a hill rather the combination of cadence and resistance should be challenging them. Hope that helps. Thanks again for stopping by!
Lena this is so great! I am just getting started as an instructor and your site is a godsend! THANK YOU!!!!
It is my pleasure, Becky! So excited for your new adventure! Best of luck.
Lena – In one of your descriptions (Three Mountains) you mention ‘Jump’ what is meant by that?
Thanks for the profile, Hills n Sprints! I haven’t taught it yet, but am planning on teaching it tonight. Looks easy to follow. I have been teaching indoor cycling for over a year now and am Spinning certified, and I am a personal trainer. (NSCA-CPT). But teaching a group fitness class was challenging to me. Coming up with music has been a time consuming venture too. But, I have put together about 20 some class profiles. I have never used the class builder app-I saw some bad reviews of it, so I am skeptical about trying it. It sounds like you use it without any trouble. Maybe that would be something if I did a mentorship with you for an hour-to go over using it and creating profiles? If I am going to pay for the app, I would like to make sure I can get everything I want out of it. My classes will be getting fuller again with the weather changing and post holiday boom at the gym in January. I want to be ready with some interesting rides to keep people coming.
Hi Joyce! I’d love to help you understand how CB works. It’s been my go to app since day 1 – I keep all my classes in it and never had any problem with the app.
Whenever you’re ready to do Mentorship Program, you can purchase a slot through the blog and respond to the confirmation email you receive to set up a time for us to talk.
Thank you for stopping by and I hope to talk to you soon!
Hi Lena – I was wondering if Class Builder side by side Spotify or if you add your playlist directly on the CB app?
Thank you
I have an android phone. Can you recommend a class builder app?
Hi Wendy. Schwinn’s Class Timer is a good app. Pretty sure they have an android version.
Couldn’t find anything but will keep looking. Thanks so much for responding 🙂
Hi Lena,
Thanks for sharing!
Onze questionnaires, what are you going to do when iOS hits versies 11, ClassBuilder is said not to support this. As I understand it won’t work anymore.
Kind Refards
Hi! I’m going to teach my classes without it. Simple as that. 😃
Hi Lena,
Sorry for the spelling mistakes, look a bit stupid/dump. Sorry for that.
So you will stop using ClassBuiler when ios 11 is there? Don’t you have a similair replacement app? All the effort gone…. it’s a shame, don’t you agree?
No problem with spelling, Marc!
I don’t feel like it’s a lost effort/time. It helped me “feel” the music I use better and is really no longer a big deal to do without.
If the app stops working with iOS 11, I’ll be just using index cards to write out class plans.
Hi Lena, Is there an app you use now that (it seems to me) the Class Builder App is no longer working? Thanks in advance!
Hi Lena,
What do your zones short hand refer to: i.e. Zone L1, Zone 1, Zone H1, Zone L2, Zone H3 etc?
Thanks,
Paul