Status: ICI position statement
Audience: indoor cycling instructors, ICI members, studios, operators, employers, training providers, and riders
Purpose: To set out ICI’s position on virtual and on-demand indoor cycling provision, with particular reference to rider supervision, bike set-up, braking, resistance, warm-up, and studio responsibility
Audience: indoor cycling instructors, ICI members, studios, operators, employers, training providers, and riders
Purpose: To set out ICI’s position on virtual and on-demand indoor cycling provision, with particular reference to rider supervision, bike set-up, braking, resistance, warm-up, and studio responsibility
Executive Summary for Employers and Gym Managers
The Indoor Cycling Institute’s position is that virtual and on-demand indoor cycling sessions require proper management, rider guidance, and suitable supervision.
Showing a video is not a substitute for rider care. A video instructor cannot check a rider’s bike set-up, confirm that they understand the brake or emergency stop, observe whether they are using appropriate resistance, or intervene if they appear unsafe, unwell, or out of control.
Where virtual or on-demand sessions are provided in a studio or gym environment, the operator remains responsible for ensuring that riders understand how to set up the bike, use the brake, select appropriate resistance, warm up properly, control intensity, stop safely, and get help if needed.
ICI’s position is that virtual provision can be useful, but it should not be used as a way to remove basic supervision, reduce rider support, or avoid the standards expected in safe indoor cycling delivery.
Showing a video is not a substitute for rider care. A video instructor cannot check a rider’s bike set-up, confirm that they understand the brake or emergency stop, observe whether they are using appropriate resistance, or intervene if they appear unsafe, unwell, or out of control.
Where virtual or on-demand sessions are provided in a studio or gym environment, the operator remains responsible for ensuring that riders understand how to set up the bike, use the brake, select appropriate resistance, warm up properly, control intensity, stop safely, and get help if needed.
ICI’s position is that virtual provision can be useful, but it should not be used as a way to remove basic supervision, reduce rider support, or avoid the standards expected in safe indoor cycling delivery.
ICI’s position
The Indoor Cycling Institute recognises that virtual and on-demand indoor cycling sessions may have a place in studios, gyms, leisure facilities, and online provision.
They can increase timetable availability, offer flexibility, support smaller sites, provide access to different class types, and allow riders to train when live instructors are not available.
However, virtual provision still involves riders using indoor cycling bikes. The same basic safety issues remain: bike set-up, braking, resistance, cadence, intensity, warm-up, cool-down, rider control, equipment faults, and emergency response.
The presence of a screen does not remove the need for proper rider care.
They can increase timetable availability, offer flexibility, support smaller sites, provide access to different class types, and allow riders to train when live instructors are not available.
However, virtual provision still involves riders using indoor cycling bikes. The same basic safety issues remain: bike set-up, braking, resistance, cadence, intensity, warm-up, cool-down, rider control, equipment faults, and emergency response.
The presence of a screen does not remove the need for proper rider care.
Video instruction is not the same as live supervision
A live instructor can observe riders, notice unsafe technique, respond to confusion, adjust instruction, check whether riders appear unwell, and intervene when someone is losing control.
A video instructor cannot do these things for the riders in the room.
A virtual class may provide structure, music, cues, and motivation, but it cannot personally check the riders present in that studio at that time.
This distinction matters. Studios should not treat a virtual session as if it carries the same safety support as a live instructor-led class unless suitable local supervision and rider support are also in place.
A video instructor cannot do these things for the riders in the room.
A virtual class may provide structure, music, cues, and motivation, but it cannot personally check the riders present in that studio at that time.
This distinction matters. Studios should not treat a virtual session as if it carries the same safety support as a live instructor-led class unless suitable local supervision and rider support are also in place.
Studio responsibility remains
Where a studio or facility provides the bikes, room, booking system, and class environment, the operator retains responsibility for the conditions in which riders participate.
Studios using virtual or on-demand indoor cycling should ensure that riders know how to:
Studios using virtual or on-demand indoor cycling should ensure that riders know how to:
- set up the bike;
- adjust the saddle and handlebars;
- use pedals, straps, cages, or cleats safely;
- use the brake or emergency stop;
- increase and decrease resistance;
- select appropriate resistance;
- understand cadence or foot speed;
- warm up properly;
- control intensity;
- slow down and stop safely;
- get help if something goes wrong.
Supervision should be competent
ICI’s position is that virtual indoor cycling sessions in a studio environment should have suitable local supervision.
This does not necessarily mean a live instructor must deliver the session. However, supervision should be provided by someone competent to recognise and respond to obvious safety issues.
That person should understand enough to notice concerns such as:
This does not necessarily mean a live instructor must deliver the session. However, supervision should be provided by someone competent to recognise and respond to obvious safety issues.
That person should understand enough to notice concerns such as:
- a rider not knowing how to set up the bike;
- a rider not understanding the brake;
- a rider using very little resistance at high cadence;
- a rider bouncing excessively;
- a rider appearing unstable out of the saddle;
- a rider seeming faint, distressed, confused, or unwell;
- a rider struggling to stop;
- a bike fault;
- a new rider needing help;
- a late rider joining without warming up.
New riders and virtual sessions
New riders need particular care in virtual and on-demand sessions.
A rider who is new to indoor cycling, new to the studio, or new to the bike type should not be expected to join a virtual class without appropriate support.
Before taking part, a new rider should understand:
Studios should therefore have a new rider process for virtual sessions, not only for live classes.
A rider who is new to indoor cycling, new to the studio, or new to the bike type should not be expected to join a virtual class without appropriate support.
Before taking part, a new rider should understand:
- bike set-up;
- the brake or emergency stop;
- resistance control;
- cadence or foot speed;
- safe stopping;
- how to reduce intensity;
- what to do if they feel unwell or unsafe;
- how to get help.
Studios should therefore have a new rider process for virtual sessions, not only for live classes.
Late arrivals
Late arrivals create safety concerns in virtual sessions as well as live classes.
A rider joining late may miss the warm-up, introductory safety cues, set-up reminders, resistance guidance, and early intensity instructions.
If a studio allows late arrivals into virtual sessions, there should still be a process to ensure that the rider can set up safely, warm up appropriately, and join at a suitable intensity.
If this cannot be done safely, the rider should not join that session.
A rider joining late may miss the warm-up, introductory safety cues, set-up reminders, resistance guidance, and early intensity instructions.
If a studio allows late arrivals into virtual sessions, there should still be a process to ensure that the rider can set up safely, warm up appropriately, and join at a suitable intensity.
If this cannot be done safely, the rider should not join that session.
Warm-up and cool-down
Virtual and on-demand sessions should include appropriate warm-up and cool-down guidance.
A rider should not be dropped straight into high-intensity work without preparation. Nor should the session finish abruptly without guidance on reducing effort, slowing the pedals, and stopping safely.
Where a rider joins late, leaves early, or selects only part of an on-demand session, the studio should consider how riders are guided to warm up and cool down appropriately.
This is particularly important where riders may be using video content independently.
A rider should not be dropped straight into high-intensity work without preparation. Nor should the session finish abruptly without guidance on reducing effort, slowing the pedals, and stopping safely.
Where a rider joins late, leaves early, or selects only part of an on-demand session, the studio should consider how riders are guided to warm up and cool down appropriately.
This is particularly important where riders may be using video content independently.
Equipment and room checks
Studios offering virtual indoor cycling should have clear procedures for equipment checks and room readiness.
This should include:
This should include:
- bike maintenance;
- fault reporting;
- removing faulty bikes from use;
- checking that emergency stops and resistance controls work;
- ensuring the room is safe to enter and exit;
- maintaining suitable lighting and visibility;
- ensuring sound levels allow safety information to be heard;
- making sure riders can call for help;
- ensuring staff know when a virtual session is taking place.
Intensity and resistance guidance
Virtual classes should still provide clear intensity and resistance guidance.
Riders should understand whether they are warming up, recovering, climbing, riding steadily, completing intervals, working hard, or cooling down.
Poor intensity guidance is a concern in any class, but it may be more significant in virtual sessions because there is no live instructor to notice if riders have misunderstood.
A virtual class should not rely only on generic encouragement, vague resistance cues, or riders copying what they see on screen.
Where possible, virtual content should explain the intended effort using clear methods such as RPE, descriptive effort cues, cadence guidance, resistance feel, interval duration, and recovery.
Riders should understand whether they are warming up, recovering, climbing, riding steadily, completing intervals, working hard, or cooling down.
Poor intensity guidance is a concern in any class, but it may be more significant in virtual sessions because there is no live instructor to notice if riders have misunderstood.
A virtual class should not rely only on generic encouragement, vague resistance cues, or riders copying what they see on screen.
Where possible, virtual content should explain the intended effort using clear methods such as RPE, descriptive effort cues, cadence guidance, resistance feel, interval duration, and recovery.
Emergency response
Studios offering virtual or on-demand sessions should consider emergency response.
Riders should know what to do if they feel unwell, lose control, experience a bike fault, or need assistance.
Staff should know:
Riders should know what to do if they feel unwell, lose control, experience a bike fault, or need assistance.
Staff should know:
- when virtual sessions are running;
- who is supervising;
- how help can be summoned;
- what to do if a rider is unwell;
- how to stop or pause a session if needed;
- how to report an incident or near-miss;
- how to remove faulty equipment from use.
Incident and near-miss reporting
Virtual and on-demand provision should be included in incident and near-miss reporting processes.
Studios should record concerns such as:
Studios should record concerns such as:
- riders not understanding bike set-up;
- riders not understanding the brake;
- riders appearing unsafe during virtual sessions;
- riders joining late without support;
- lack of competent supervision;
- equipment faults;
- riders feeling unwell;
- loss of pedal control;
- confusion about intensity or resistance;
- unclear responsibility for responding to problems.
Online or home-based virtual sessions
This position statement is mainly concerned with virtual or on-demand sessions provided by studios and operators in a facility.
Home-based online cycling raises different issues, because the instructor or content provider may not control the rider’s bike, environment, health declaration, supervision, equipment, or emergency response.
However, the same broad principles still apply. Online content should avoid unsafe cadence, poor resistance guidance, unclear intensity, unsuitable choreography, and instructions that encourage riders to ignore pain, loss of control, or warning signs.
Where content is provided for unsupervised use, the limitations of that setting should be recognised.
Home-based online cycling raises different issues, because the instructor or content provider may not control the rider’s bike, environment, health declaration, supervision, equipment, or emergency response.
However, the same broad principles still apply. Online content should avoid unsafe cadence, poor resistance guidance, unclear intensity, unsuitable choreography, and instructions that encourage riders to ignore pain, loss of control, or warning signs.
Where content is provided for unsupervised use, the limitations of that setting should be recognised.
Commercial convenience should not override rider care
ICI recognises that virtual and on-demand sessions may help studios manage timetables, staffing, and costs.
However, commercial convenience should not override rider care.
If virtual provision is used primarily to replace live instructors, the studio should still consider whether riders are receiving adequate support, supervision, induction, emergency access, and safety guidance.
A lower-cost delivery model should not mean a lower standard of rider care.
However, commercial convenience should not override rider care.
If virtual provision is used primarily to replace live instructors, the studio should still consider whether riders are receiving adequate support, supervision, induction, emergency access, and safety guidance.
A lower-cost delivery model should not mean a lower standard of rider care.
ICI’s expectation
ICI’s position is that virtual and on-demand indoor cycling sessions should be managed with the same seriousness as other indoor cycling provision.
Studios and operators should ensure that riders are not simply placed in front of a screen and left to manage safety-critical issues alone.
At minimum, virtual provision should include clear systems for bike set-up, braking, resistance, cadence, warm-up, intensity, safe stopping, local supervision, emergency response, and incident reporting.
Virtual classes can be useful. They should be safe.
Studios and operators should ensure that riders are not simply placed in front of a screen and left to manage safety-critical issues alone.
At minimum, virtual provision should include clear systems for bike set-up, braking, resistance, cadence, warm-up, intensity, safe stopping, local supervision, emergency response, and incident reporting.
Virtual classes can be useful. They should be safe.
Relationship to ICI professional standards
This position statement sits alongside the ICI Professional Standards Framework.
It should be read alongside:
ICI Guidance for Studios and Operators
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
ICI New Rider Onboarding Standard
New Rider Safety in Indoor Cycling
ICI Incident and Near-Miss Reporting Guidance
Indoor Cycling: What Riders Should Expect
Together, these documents support ICI’s view that virtual and on-demand indoor cycling should still be delivered within a clear framework of rider care, safety, and professional responsibility.
It should be read alongside:
ICI Guidance for Studios and Operators
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
ICI New Rider Onboarding Standard
New Rider Safety in Indoor Cycling
ICI Incident and Near-Miss Reporting Guidance
Indoor Cycling: What Riders Should Expect
Together, these documents support ICI’s view that virtual and on-demand indoor cycling should still be delivered within a clear framework of rider care, safety, and professional responsibility.
Review note
This position statement will be reviewed and updated as practice, evidence and professional understanding evolve.
Further information:
ICI Guidance for Studios and Operators
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
ICI New Rider Onboarding Standard
ICI Incident and Near-Miss Reporting Guidance
Position Statements.
Code of Conduct
Professional Standards
Further information:
ICI Guidance for Studios and Operators
ICI Safety Standards for Indoor Cycling Sessions
ICI New Rider Onboarding Standard
ICI Incident and Near-Miss Reporting Guidance
Position Statements.
Code of Conduct
Professional Standards
This position statement sits alongside the ICI Professional Standards and related guidance, including the Code of Conduct and other published Position Statements.
