Teaching my first 90 minute Endurance Ride

It feels like it happened without much fanfare but there were posters up and announcements made. There were rides for preparation which I kind of like to call prequels. I deliberated at the last minute whether I should use the movie version of my 90 minute production because I had not had a chance to review it or how to click all the right buttons or whether to use  the ipod plus my powerpoint. I voted for the movie because I was afraid I might not click the ipod and the powerpoint start at the same time. I was not sure that the quality of the music coming out of my computer was as good as what had come across my ipod a day earlier when I practiced. So I began with boldness knowing that I had done my best. It was not with the same sense of inspiration that I like to start my rides with knowing that I am going to teach particular drills or have some deep personal transforming point that I want to make during the journey. I had notes in front of me but not in the kind of order that I like to go into a ride with.
It almost felt ridiculous riding at low intensities because I and most of my spinning students want hard intervals but I proceeded reminding the class that they could go hard or according to my plan. It seemed that they were following the plan of lots of time in the saddle riding flats and rolling hills . We did a little climbing out of the saddle but I told them to find a manageable home base while in hand position 3. The slides worked beautifully with the music for which I was proud of my work. It was cool because last night there were meteor showers and I had already planned a slide/ song involving shooting stars. 
I did mark in my mind the point at which class would normally have ended and it seemed hardest then for about 10-15 minutes but then I caught my second wind and succumbed to the temptation of doing intervals with the music. It was good because our back stretch was not a sleepy little hollow but was full of fire for the finish line if they wanted. I had 2 last slides of a pace line and then a group struggling for the finish line. Overall it was good but for the powerpoint I can see ways to improve by photoshopping some of the pictures I had. The next time I think I want to do sets of 50's , 60"s, 70"s, 80's, 90's and 00's music and repeat. I think it will break up any montony. Nothing felt monotonous about this ride to me. Sure it was hard but rewarding.

Preparing my first Endurance Ride

Wow . I can't believe I'm doing it but I have been talking about it for weeks.  I am old school I guess and
this is the first powerpoint presentation I have ever put together. What was I thinking because I am hoping to pack the 50+ bikes in the room. Praying that air, stereo ,presentation and music work seamlessly. Thanks to a friend I have a professional DJ mixed playlist. I have spent many hours on this project and hoping that all who come will enjoy it. I am the queen of variety and that is reflected in my pictures that I have chosen to represent the songs I will be playing. My music is a little more uniform in my mind because I was wanting the music

 to represent flats, rollling hills and a final climb if students feel they have more to give than expected  near the end of the 90 minutes. My pictures reflect the fact that I love sunsets and sunrises. I got a virus on my pc so that put my preparation back by one week. I have learned to back up OFTEN now. I will have inspiration quotes sprinkled in and at least one good story to keep the wheels rolling. I will let you know how it goes.
The picture above is one of the pictures that I am using for Vertigo by U2.