By Kate AmosLong summer days mean long summer bike rides and family vacations. But as Labor Day approaches and the days get shorter and colder, it’s time to head back indoors for our regular exercise fix. These seasonal transitions can be challenging (just think of the kids dreading the first day of school), but they also provide an opportunity to re-focus our attention on training and set new goals.Some of your riders may have taken advantage of the late sunsets and warm weather to put in lots of miles on the outdoor bike, while others may have even gone on a cycling vacation. In either case, these riders are likely to return to class in great shape with plenty of enthusiasm for riding. Talk to these riders to find out what their favorite rides were and where they struggled over the summer—indoor riding is the perfect place for focusing specifically on weak spots. If a rider had no problem keeping the pace on the flat but regularly struggled up hills, plan some rides that feature plenty of climbing or see if they might have weight loss goals that you can help facilitate. And be sure to also remind these riders of the importance of recovery; if they’ve just completed a big block of riding the early fall is a great time to schedule in an easier period, with lots of recovery rides.Alternatively, some of your riders may have taken a vacation from cycling or may have just taken a break from the bike for whatever reason. A good rule of thumb is that returning to form takes twice as long as the break—so it would take four weeks for a rider to return to the same level of fitness they had before their two-week vacation. Rather than allowing them to get discouraged, remind these riders of the importance of ret and recovery as well, stressing that taking time off is great for the body and that they can now return with renewed focus and passion. Help these riders to establish new goals and a plan for achieving them, building fitness in a thoughtful and sustainable way.Finally, remember to keep it fun! Returning to the studio doesn’t mean countless hours toiling away in front of a fan—the engaging profiles, thoughtful playlists and expert advice from instructors are what make a Spinning® training session one of the best parts of any season!