Why Endorsed Status Matters More Than Years of Experience

11/5/2026

Why Endorsed Status Matters More Than Years of Experience

One of the things we care about most with endorsed status is whether an instructor is still learning.
That probably sounds obvious. But in fitness, experience and development are not always the same thing.
Someone can have 20 years' experience teaching indoor cycling and still deliver the same session they taught a decade ago. Same cues. Same structure. No real reflection on whether riders have changed, whether coaching standards have improved, or whether there might be better ways to communicate and coach. Could even be the same playlist!
At the same time, you might have a newer instructor in their first year who is actively developing all the time. Reading. Watching other instructors. Asking questions. Adjusting sessions after feedback. Learning more about rider care, physiology, coaching, communication, and session design.
Which instructor is more attractive?
That mindset is really important.

Experience helps. Reflection matters more.

There is obviously great value in experience. Time spent teaching classes teaches you things that courses alone never can.
You learn:

how to read a room

when riders are struggling

how to adapt on the fly

how to manage energy in the studio

how to communicate calmly under pressure

But experience only really becomes valuable when someone reflects on it.
Teaching the same class for years does not automatically make somebody a stronger instructor. Sometimes it just means they’ve repeated the same habits for a long time. And long-standing habits are the hardest to change when change is required.
The instructors who continue improving tend to stay curious. They review what worked well. They notice what didn’t land properly. They look for ways to make sessions safer, clearer, more engaging, and more effective for riders.

New instructors should not feel intimidated

A lot of newer instructors quietly assume they are ‘behind’ because somebody else has been teaching longer. That is not always how it works in reality.
Some instructors grow enormously in their first couple of years because they are open-minded and proactive. They actively seek feedback. They keep learning. They stay current. They pay attention to riders. Others stop developing very early on because they assume qualifying means they now know enough.
At ICI, we would much rather see an instructor who is engaged with learning than somebody relying entirely on old habits.

What endorsed status means at ICI

All ICI instructors can apply for membership and begin working towards Endorsed status from day 1.
The process is designed to encourage ongoing professional development rather than gatekeeping.
To become endorsed, instructors need 5 CPD points. But we intentionally keep the system flexible because valuable learning happens in lots of different ways.
That can include:

courses and workshops

observation and mentoring

reading and research

industry events

reflective practice

coaching development

specialist learning

relevant independent study

It does not have to be formal education that costs money.
If something genuinely helps you become a better instructor, better coach, or better support for your riders, that has value.

Keeping up to date matters in indoor cycling

Indoor cycling has changed massively over the years.
We now understand far more about:

rider care

fatigue and recovery

communication

inclusivity

session design

heat and hydration

pacing and intensity

behaviour change and motivation

Good instructors evolve alongside that knowledge.
Sometimes that means improving coaching language. Sometimes it means changing how sessions are structured. Sometimes it means realising that things once considered ‘normal’ in fitness were not actually very effective or supportive. Sometimes it means questioning what hasn’t been questioned for a long time.
Development is part of professionalism.

The best instructors don't think they’ve finished learning

One thing many experienced and respected instructors have in common is that they still ask questions.
They still attend training.
They still exchange ideas.
They still reflect after sessions.
They still look for ways to improve rider experience.
That openness tends to create better classes, stronger rider relationships, and longer careers.
Good instructors never really ‘arrive’ at a finished version of themselves. They continue developing as the industry develops around them.
And that’s usually a much healthier mindset than trying to prove you already know everything.