It's just pedalling and talking, right?

A good instructor will make it look effortless (except for the sweat), but what makes a good instructor, and how can you be one?

What makes a great indoor cycling instructor
All instructors should be able to deliver safe and effective classes, which means they should understand and be able to apply principles of anatomy, physiology and sports science to help riders get the most out of their sessions. This knowledge is essential to avoid injury - but effective workouts don't just happen.

'Immersive' fitness is becoming more of a thing. Most people are familiar with the traditional studio setup where there is a group of bikes in a studio space and riders follow directions from an instructor. The immersive element is the addition of more tech.

Some studios now have large screens which may feature CGI rides or cinematic rides and the class follows along - often with an instructor as well, but not always. Much progress has been made to make indoor cycling more effective and so modern studio bikes tend to be better equipped and have metrics such as heartrate and power on them, and by using a heartrate strap you can track the intensity of your ride.

You'll be pleased to know that you don't need any!

Why?

Personal preference
Although some studios will provide these shoes, it's not common practice (for good reason, as you'll see) - and there's a risk there's that 'bowling alley' experience where actually sliding your feet into some secondhand already-sweated-in shoes is just what you don't need after a tough day at the office when you're ready to unwind (and sweat). OK it's not as bad as borrowing someone's toothbrush (sorry), but it's not far off.

New riders
When new riders arrive, they're frequently low in confidence, and it might be years since they were last on a bike (if at all) and probably they've heard horror stories of indoor cycling (they're as prevalent as childbirth horror stories, due to low quality instruction).