What Does the Indoor Cycling Institute Star System Mean? A Clear Guide for Riders and Instructors

1/12/2025

What Does the Indoor Cycling Institute Star System Mean? A Clear Guide for Riders and Instructors

If you have come across the Indoor Cycling Institute star system on a studio timetable, instructor profile or course description, you might be wondering what it actually tells you.
Is it about how hard a class is?
Is it a popularity score?
Or does it mean something more meaningful?

In this article, we explain exactly what the Indoor Cycling Institute (ICI) star system represents, why it exists, and why it matters for riders, instructors and studios.

What Is the Indoor Cycling Institute Star System?

The Indoor Cycling Institute star system is a professional quality standard for indoor cycling instructors.
It is not a judgement of personality, music choice or how intense a class feels. Instead, it reflects an instructor’s training background, ongoing education and commitment to best practice in indoor cycling session design and delivery.
At its simplest, the star system exists to answer a key question for riders and studios:
How confident can we be that this instructor’s knowledge is current, informed and safe?

Why the Star System Exists

Indoor cycling has developed rapidly, but education standards across the industry have not always kept pace.
Some instructors qualified many years ago and have never revisited anatomy, physiology or session design. Others unknowingly adopt poor or unsafe practices from social media or trends that prioritise appearance over effectiveness, and don't understand how these put riders at risk.
From the outside, it can be difficult to tell the difference.
The ICI star system was created to:

Promote safer, more effective indoor cycling sessions

Encourage ongoing learning rather than one-off qualifications

Recognise professionalism and commitment to best practice

Give riders and studios clarity and confidence

ICI is about raising standards across the industry, and the star system helps instructors show that they are part of this.

What Each Star Level Represents

One Star

A one-star instructor has completed comprehensive indoor cycling instructor training the Indoor Cycling Institute.
This includes education in bike setup and safety, applied anatomy and physiology, and effective session design. One-star instructors are fully trained and have demonstrate they have a higher than industry standard level of knowledge and skills to deliver safe, effective indoor cycling sessions.
This is not an entry or partial level. It represents specialist education rather than generic fitness training.

Two Stars

Two-star instructors are active members of the Indoor Cycling Institute who are currently engaged in continuing professional development (CPD).
This star level reflects an instructor who is committed to staying up to date rather than relying solely on training completed years ago. It shows a willingness to review, improve and refine practice as knowledge and standards evolve.

Three Stars

Three-star instructors are Indoor Cycling Institute Endorsed Instructors.
To achieve this, instructors must have gained a minimum of five ICI CPD points within the year and demonstrated a consistent commitment to best practice in session design and delivery.
ICI endorsement provides an additional layer of reassurance that an instructor is actively maintaining high professional standards.

Flexible, Relevant Continuing Professional Development

An important feature of the ICI approach is that CPD is flexible rather than prescriptive.
Instructors work in a wide range of environments, from large gyms to boutique studios and community settings. Because of this, there is no single set of courses that everyone must complete beyond the initial entry-level training.
Instead, instructors can choose CPD that is relevant to their role, their riders and their working environment. This ensures learning is meaningful and practical, not a box-ticking exercise.

How Riders Can Use the Star System

For riders, the star system is about trust and confidence. It provides reassurance that an instructor’s knowledge is current, evidence-based and aligned with best practice, rather than outdated or influenced by unsafe trends.
One-star instructors are comprehensively trained. Two- and three-star instructors show a clear commitment to staying up to date and improving. Three-star instructors also hold formal ICI endorsement.
The system is not about whether you enjoy a particular music style or teaching personality. A good indoor cycling class should work for all riders. The star system simply helps ensure the instructor knows what they are doing.

How Instructors Benefit from the Star System

For instructors, the star system provides recognition for professionalism and care.
It acknowledges those who prioritise quality, learning and rider welfare. It also offers a clear development pathway and builds credibility with studios, employers and riders.
In short, it recognises instructors who are genuinely committed doing an excellent job.

Why Star Ratings Matter for Studios and Gyms

For studios and gym operators, the star system supports consistency, safety and trust.
It helps with risk management, staff development and quality assurance, while also giving riders confidence in the standard of instruction they are receiving. It also provides a handy solution for recognising when knowledge and training updates are needed.
Star ratings can be used as a way of differentiating from other fitness providers in the area by using these on the timetable and in marketing literature. Studios can also apply to become ICI endorsed studios which demonstrates their commitment to best practice and rider care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a higher star rating always better?

A higher star rating reflects ongoing commitment. One-star instructors are fully trained. Two- and three-star instructors demonstrate commitment continued professional development. Three-star instructors explicitly commit to upholding best practice.

Can a great instructor have fewer stars?

Yes. Star ratings reflect education and CPD status, not personality. However, a continued commitment to rider safety and session effectiveness is important.

Do star ratings expire?

CPD and endorsement are reviewed annually to ensure standards remain current.

How do I know what star level an instructor is?

You can enquire directly with the Indoor Cycling Institute. ICI maintains a register of instructors and their current star status.

Is the star system recognised outside the UK?

The principles behind the star system are internationally relevant, and ICI education is respected globally.

Finally

The Indoor Cycling Institute star system is not about image, ego or intensity.
It exists to support safer, more effective indoor cycling through education, professionalism and ongoing learning. For riders, it offers reassurance. For instructors, it offers recognition. For studios, it offers confidence and consistency.

Join ICI as a member and get access to 50% discount on all our CPD courses as well as the Endorsed Instructor pathway:

Join ICI