Key takeaways
  • Have a backup plan for tech failures.
  • Use your voice and body language to cue.
  • Keep riders moving, even without music.
  • Focus on simple, familiar drills to recover.

The Moment My Playlist Froze

I teach about three classes a week between the YMCA and UCSF, and I pride myself on having everything mapped out. A few weeks ago, we were right in the middle of a heavy climb. The room was packed, the energy was peaking, and then the sound system just cut out. Dead silence.

Twenty-five people stared at me while they pedaled in a quiet, sweaty room. My phone had disconnected from the Bluetooth, and the app decided to freeze completely. If I am being blunt, my stomach dropped.

Keeping the Energy Up When Tech Fails

Look, the worst thing you can do is stop pedaling and start fiddling with your phone in silence. You have to keep the room moving. I immediately yelled for everyone to keep their resistance heavy and hold a moderate climb.

I made a joke about the tech gods testing our endurance, and honestly, the class laughed. You have to own the awkwardness. As long as you act like you are still in control of the workout, riders will follow you.

This is exactly why having my class visually mapped in On the Beat saved me. Because I knew my exact intervals and what drill was coming next, I could cue confidently while my hands scrambled to reboot the music.

My Go-To Recovery Drills

When the music stops, you need drills that do not rely on a beat drop. Here is how I handle it:

  • Heavy grinds: I cue a heavy climb out of the saddle. It forces people to focus on their form and breath instead of the missing rhythm.
  • Time-based sprints: I will call out a 30-second max sprint. You do not need music to count backward from thirty.
  • Isolations: If we are in the middle of a choreography block, I strip it back to simple isolations. Holding your core tight over the saddle gives everyone a physical distraction.

Technology is going to fail on you eventually, girl. Just remember that the people in the room are there for a workout, not a DJ set, so keep them moving and trust your plan.