A ready-to-use policy for studios, gyms, and operators setting expectations for indoor cycling instructors
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Status: ICI best-practice policy resource
Audience: studios, gyms, leisure operators, employers, managers, and organisations delivering indoor cycling
Purpose: To provide a ready-to-use instructor standards policy for studios setting expectations for indoor cycling instructors
Audience: studios, gyms, leisure operators, employers, managers, and organisations delivering indoor cycling
Purpose: To provide a ready-to-use instructor standards policy for studios setting expectations for indoor cycling instructors
This policy is provided by the Indoor Cycling Institute as a practical resource for studios, gyms, and operators setting expectations for indoor cycling instructors.
It may be used as written or adapted to reflect the studio’s own bikes, booking process, class formats, staffing model, late-arrival policy, emergency procedures, reporting systems, employment arrangements, and insurance requirements (please see text within [...] especially for modification).
It is not intended to replace legal advice, employment contracts, insurance conditions, health and safety policies, safeguarding policies, or venue-specific procedures.
Studios may use this policy for employed instructors, freelance instructors, cover instructors, trainees, or instructors delivering indoor cycling as part of a wider group exercise timetable.
It may be used as written or adapted to reflect the studio’s own bikes, booking process, class formats, staffing model, late-arrival policy, emergency procedures, reporting systems, employment arrangements, and insurance requirements (please see text within [...] especially for modification).
It is not intended to replace legal advice, employment contracts, insurance conditions, health and safety policies, safeguarding policies, or venue-specific procedures.
Studios may use this policy for employed instructors, freelance instructors, cover instructors, trainees, or instructors delivering indoor cycling as part of a wider group exercise timetable.
Indoor Cycling Instructor Standards
Studio / operator name:
Venue / location:
Version date:
Review date:
Person responsible for this document:
Studio / operator name:
Venue / location:
Version date:
Review date:
Person responsible for this document:
1. Purpose of this document
This document sets out the standards expected of indoor cycling instructors delivering sessions at this studio.
The purpose is to support safe, effective, consistent, and professional indoor cycling instruction. It is intended to clarify expectations around session delivery, rider care, bike set-up, cadence, intensity, new riders, late arrivals, equipment faults, incident reporting, and professional conduct.
All instructors delivering indoor cycling sessions at this studio are expected to read, understand, and work in line with this document, alongside any other relevant studio policies and procedures.
The purpose is to support safe, effective, consistent, and professional indoor cycling instruction. It is intended to clarify expectations around session delivery, rider care, bike set-up, cadence, intensity, new riders, late arrivals, equipment faults, incident reporting, and professional conduct.
All instructors delivering indoor cycling sessions at this studio are expected to read, understand, and work in line with this document, alongside any other relevant studio policies and procedures.
2. Instructor competence and role
Indoor cycling instructors should hold suitable training or certification for the sessions they deliver.
Instructors are expected to:
Instructors are expected to:
- work within their training, qualification, competence, and insurance;
- understand the role and boundaries of the indoor cycling instructor;
- plan and deliver safe, purposeful, and appropriate sessions;
- give clear instruction on bike use, cadence, resistance, intensity, and rider control;
- monitor riders during the session;
- intervene where a rider appears unsafe, unwell, unstable, confused, or out of control;
- follow studio procedures;
- raise concerns where safe delivery is affected.
3. Session planning and delivery
Indoor cycling sessions should be planned and delivered with a clear purpose.
Instructors are expected to provide:
Instructors are expected to provide:
- a clear session structure;
- a suitable warm-up;
- appropriate work phases;
- suitable recovery;
- clear cadence guidance;
- clear intensity guidance;
- appropriate use of resistance;
- safe seated and standing work;
- a suitable cool-down;
- a controlled finish.
4. Cadence standards
Instructors should coach cadence or foot speed clearly.
This studio expects instructors to work within the following ICI recommended cadence ranges for general indoor cycling instruction:
Seated riding: 60–110 RPM
Standing or out-of-saddle riding: 60–85 RPM
Cadences outside these ranges should not be used as routine class programming. Where an instructor chooses to work outside these ranges, there should be a clear, defensible reason, and rider control must remain the priority.
Where bikes do not display cadence, instructors should still coach foot speed using clear cues, music tempo, demonstration, descriptive language, or the instructor’s own cadence awareness.
Riders should not be left to guess how fast they should be pedalling.
This studio expects instructors to work within the following ICI recommended cadence ranges for general indoor cycling instruction:
Seated riding: 60–110 RPM
Standing or out-of-saddle riding: 60–85 RPM
Cadences outside these ranges should not be used as routine class programming. Where an instructor chooses to work outside these ranges, there should be a clear, defensible reason, and rider control must remain the priority.
Where bikes do not display cadence, instructors should still coach foot speed using clear cues, music tempo, demonstration, descriptive language, or the instructor’s own cadence awareness.
Riders should not be left to guess how fast they should be pedalling.
5. Intensity and resistance standards
Instructors should coach intensity clearly throughout the session, particularly before and during intervals, climbs, recoveries, and changes of effort.
Effective intensity guidance may include:
Resistance should be coached as both a training variable and a safety variable. Riders should be guided to use enough resistance to remain stable, connected to the pedals, and in control.
Instructors should not encourage riders to ride with insufficient resistance, especially at higher cadences or when riding out of the saddle.
Effective intensity guidance may include:
- rate of perceived exertion;
- heart-rate guidance;
- power or FTP-based zones, where available;
- talk-test guidance;
- clear descriptive cues;
- interval duration and recovery information;
- cadence and resistance guidance.
Resistance should be coached as both a training variable and a safety variable. Riders should be guided to use enough resistance to remain stable, connected to the pedals, and in control.
Instructors should not encourage riders to ride with insufficient resistance, especially at higher cadences or when riding out of the saddle.
6. Bike set-up
Instructors are expected to support safe bike set-up.
This includes giving clear guidance on:
Where a bike cannot be adjusted safely for a rider, the rider should not be encouraged to continue on an unsuitable set-up.
This includes giving clear guidance on:
- saddle height;
- saddle position, where adjustable;
- handlebar height;
- handlebar reach, where adjustable;
- safe use of pedals, straps, cages, or cleats;
- bike stability;
- basic rider comfort and control.
Where a bike cannot be adjusted safely for a rider, the rider should not be encouraged to continue on an unsuitable set-up.
7. Brake and emergency stop
Instructors should ensure riders understand how to slow down and stop safely.
New riders, late riders, and riders using unfamiliar bikes should be shown or reminded how to use the brake or emergency stop mechanism before joining the main class effort.
Instructors should make clear that riders should not try to dismount while the pedals are still moving and should seek help if they feel out of control.
New riders, late riders, and riders using unfamiliar bikes should be shown or reminded how to use the brake or emergency stop mechanism before joining the main class effort.
Instructors should make clear that riders should not try to dismount while the pedals are still moving and should seek help if they feel out of control.
8. New rider procedure
New riders should not be assumed to understand indoor cycling, even if they have attended classes elsewhere.
Instructors should identify and support new riders wherever possible. The studio should support this by making instructors aware of new riders before the class begins.
New rider onboarding should include:
Instructors should identify and support new riders wherever possible. The studio should support this by making instructors aware of new riders before the class begins.
New rider onboarding should include:
- checking whether the rider considers themselves fit and ready to take part;
- asking whether they are new to indoor cycling, the studio, the bike type, or the instructor;
- giving clear bike set-up guidance;
- explaining the brake or emergency stop;
- explaining resistance control;
- explaining cadence or foot speed;
- explaining how to stop safely;
- explaining that they should remain in control;
- explaining that they should not try to keep up at the expense of safety;
- explaining that they may remain seated, reduce intensity, take recovery, or stop if needed.
9. Late-arrival policy
Studio late-arrival policy:
Late arrivals are:
Allowed / Not allowed / Allowed only at instructor or manager discretion
Studio-specific rule:
[Insert studio late-arrival policy]
Where late arrivals are not allowed, instructors and staff should apply the policy consistently.
Where late arrivals are allowed, the rider must still be safely briefed, set up, and warmed up before joining the main class effort.
A late rider should not simply be waved onto a bike and expected to join the class at the current intensity.
If a late rider cannot be safely onboarded, warmed up, and integrated into the session, they should not join that class.
Late arrivals are:
Allowed / Not allowed / Allowed only at instructor or manager discretion
Studio-specific rule:
[Insert studio late-arrival policy]
Where late arrivals are not allowed, instructors and staff should apply the policy consistently.
Where late arrivals are allowed, the rider must still be safely briefed, set up, and warmed up before joining the main class effort.
A late rider should not simply be waved onto a bike and expected to join the class at the current intensity.
If a late rider cannot be safely onboarded, warmed up, and integrated into the session, they should not join that class.
10. Rider monitoring and intervention
Instructors are expected to monitor riders throughout the session.
They should watch for:
Monitoring riders is part of instruction. It should not be treated as optional.
They should watch for:
- loss of control;
- bouncing in the saddle;
- insufficient resistance;
- unsafe cadence;
- unstable standing work;
- confusion about instructions;
- signs of feeling unwell;
- poor bike set-up;
- difficulty slowing down;
- riders unable to follow the session safely;
- intensity that appears inappropriate for the rider.
Monitoring riders is part of instruction. It should not be treated as optional.
11. Riding practices and choreography
Instructors should not programme, demonstrate, or encourage movements or riding practices that compromise control, stability, effective resistance, safe cadence, or the rider’s ability to maintain proper contact with the bike.
Practices requiring particular caution include:
Riders should always be given permission to return to simple, controlled riding.
Practices requiring particular caution include:
- high-speed standing work;
- riding with no hands or unnecessarily reduced hand contact;
- bike press-ups or upper-body exercises while pedalling;
- tap-backs;
- isolations;
- choreography that interferes with cycling control;
- movements that encourage insufficient resistance;
- movements that make it harder to stop safely.
Riders should always be given permission to return to simple, controlled riding.
12. Rider choice and modification
Instructors should give riders permission to modify where appropriate.
This may include:
However, rider choice should not be used as the main safety strategy for unsuitable programming. Instructors should programme safely in the first place.
This may include:
- remaining seated;
- reducing intensity;
- taking recovery;
- using a lower cadence;
- choosing not to ride out of the saddle;
- avoiding choreography;
- stopping if needed.
However, rider choice should not be used as the main safety strategy for unsuitable programming. Instructors should programme safely in the first place.
13. Equipment faults
Instructors should check for obvious equipment problems and report any faults according to studio procedure.
Equipment concerns may include:
Studio fault reporting process:
[Insert reporting process]
Equipment concerns may include:
- loose saddles;
- loose handlebars;
- faulty adjustment mechanisms;
- faulty brakes or emergency stops;
- faulty resistance controls;
- damaged pedals, straps, cages, or cleats;
- unstable bikes;
- unusual noises or movement;
- bike displays not working;
- settings that do not hold securely.
Studio fault reporting process:
[Insert reporting process]
14. Incidents and near-misses
Instructors should report incidents, near-misses, equipment faults, and rider safety concerns according to studio procedure.
This includes:
Studio incident and near-miss reporting process:
[Insert reporting process]
This includes:
- a rider being injured;
- a rider feeling faint, dizzy, unwell, or unable to continue;
- a rider falling or nearly falling;
- a rider losing control of the pedals;
- a foot coming out of a strap, cage, pedal, or cleat;
- a bike fault during class;
- a new rider being unable to take part safely;
- a late rider being unable to join safely;
- repeated unsafe riding patterns;
- rider concerns about pain, set-up, safety, or control.
Studio incident and near-miss reporting process:
[Insert reporting process]
15. Emergency procedures
Instructors should understand and follow the studio’s emergency procedures.
This includes knowing:
[Insert procedure]
This includes knowing:
- how to summon help;
- where first aid support is located;
- what to do if a rider feels unwell;
- what to do if a rider falls or loses control;
- how to respond to a bike fault during class;
- how to pause or stop a class if needed;
- how to evacuate the studio;
- how to report an incident;
- who to notify after a concern.
[Insert procedure]
16. Virtual and on-demand sessions
Where instructors are involved in virtual or on-demand indoor cycling sessions, they should follow the studio’s procedure for rider safety, supervision, bike set-up, and reporting.
Showing a video is not a substitute for rider care.
Where riders are using studio bikes in a facility, the studio should ensure riders know how to set up the bike, use the brake, select appropriate resistance, warm up properly, control intensity, and stop safely.
Supervision should be provided by someone competent to recognise and respond to obvious safety issues.
Studio virtual/on-demand session procedure:
[Insert procedure]
Showing a video is not a substitute for rider care.
Where riders are using studio bikes in a facility, the studio should ensure riders know how to set up the bike, use the brake, select appropriate resistance, warm up properly, control intensity, and stop safely.
Supervision should be provided by someone competent to recognise and respond to obvious safety issues.
Studio virtual/on-demand session procedure:
[Insert procedure]
17. Professional conduct
Where an instructor holds ICI membership, recognition, endorsement, or tutor status, serious or persistent breaches of this Code may be considered in relation to that status.
This may include review, suspension, withdrawal, or termination of membership or instructor status, recognition, endorsement, or tutor status where appropriate.
Any action taken by ICI relates only to its own membership, recognition, endorsement, education, or tutor arrangements. This Code does not replace legal processes, employer procedures, statutory obligations, safeguarding procedures, or insurance requirements.
This may include review, suspension, withdrawal, or termination of membership or instructor status, recognition, endorsement, or tutor status where appropriate.
Any action taken by ICI relates only to its own membership, recognition, endorsement, education, or tutor arrangements. This Code does not replace legal processes, employer procedures, statutory obligations, safeguarding procedures, or insurance requirements.
18. Continuing development
Instructors are expected to maintain and develop their knowledge over time.
This may include:
This may include:
- indoor cycling CPD;
- studio-specific training;
- professional standards updates;
- peer observation;
- class review;
- feedback;
- training on cadence, intensity, and rider safety;
- updates on new bikes or systems;
- incident and near-miss learning.
19. Concerns and escalation
Instructors should raise concerns where studio practice, equipment, class design, rider behaviour, or management procedure may compromise safety.
Concerns may include:
Studio concern/escalation process:
[Insert process]
Concerns may include:
- faulty equipment;
- unsafe class formats;
- lack of new rider onboarding;
- late arrivals being admitted unsafely;
- unsafe rider behaviour;
- pressure to teach outside competence;
- unclear emergency procedures;
- unsupervised virtual sessions;
- inability to monitor riders properly.
Studio concern/escalation process:
[Insert process]
20. Instructor acknowledgement
I confirm that I have read and understood this Indoor Cycling Instructor Standards document.
I understand the standards expected when delivering indoor cycling sessions at this studio.
I agree to follow studio procedures and to raise any concerns that may affect safe or professional delivery.
Instructor name:
Signature:
Date:
Studio/manager name:
Signature:
Date:
Related ICI guidance
Studios may wish to refer instructors to the following ICI guidance documents:
Indoor Cycling Instructor Scope of Practice
ICI Code of Professional Conduct
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
ICI Cadence and Intensity Guidance
ICI New Rider Onboarding Standard
ICI Incident and Near-Miss Reporting Guidance
Professional Standards, Certification and Recognition
ICI Guidance for Studios and Operators
I understand the standards expected when delivering indoor cycling sessions at this studio.
I agree to follow studio procedures and to raise any concerns that may affect safe or professional delivery.
Instructor name:
Signature:
Date:
Studio/manager name:
Signature:
Date:
Related ICI guidance
Studios may wish to refer instructors to the following ICI guidance documents:
Indoor Cycling Instructor Scope of Practice
ICI Code of Professional Conduct
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
ICI Cadence and Intensity Guidance
ICI New Rider Onboarding Standard
ICI Incident and Near-Miss Reporting Guidance
Professional Standards, Certification and Recognition
ICI Guidance for Studios and Operators
