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Code of Professional Conduct
ICI's standard for professional behaviour in indoor cycling, covering competence, responsibility, integrity, rider care and professional judgement.
Indoor cycling instructors work in a position of trust. Riders rely on them for technically sound instruction, appropriate challenge, clear communication and sensible decisions about safety.
This Code sets out ICI's view of the professional conduct that should underpin good indoor cycling instruction.
It sits alongside the ICI Professional Standards Framework, which deals in more detail with the technical and practical standards of indoor cycling instruction.
A professional standard, with clear limits
The Code is ICI's published standard for professional conduct in indoor cycling. Instructors can use it as a reference point for their own practice, and studios and employers may find it useful when setting professional expectations.
Compliance with the Code is specifically expected where somebody is acting for, teaching for, assessing for or otherwise representing ICI.
Completing ICI training does not place an instructor under continuing ICI disciplinary control. An ICI certificate records training and achievement, it does not make ICI the instructor's employer or professional regulator.
Professional conduct in practice
These principles sit alongside the technical standards of good indoor cycling instruction. They are intended to support sound professional judgement, not replace it.
Competence and responsibility
Work within your training, competence, insurance and professional role. Take responsibility for the instructions you give and the decisions you make.
- Maintain the knowledge and practical competence needed for the work you undertake.
- Do not present yourself as competent in an area in which you are not appropriately trained.
- Recognise when a rider's needs fall outside your professional role and refer appropriately.
- Follow relevant legal requirements, safeguarding responsibilities, employer procedures and insurance conditions.
- Take reasonable action when you identify unsafe practice, faulty equipment or a significant risk to riders.
Rider care
Treat riders as people whose safety, dignity and individual circumstances matter.
- Give clear information that allows riders to take part safely and make informed decisions about their effort.
- Allow riders to reduce intensity, recover, remain seated or stop when necessary.
- Do not use humiliation, intimidation or coercion as coaching techniques.
- Do not present pain, distress or loss of control as evidence that somebody is working hard enough.
- Respond appropriately when a rider appears unwell, unsafe, distressed or unable to control the bike.
Honesty and representation
Describe your training, certification, experience and professional status accurately.
- Do not claim training, certification, endorsements or professional status you do not hold.
- Do not describe expired membership or professional recognition as current.
- Use ICI names, logos and recognition marks only where you are entitled to do so.
- Distinguish clearly between completing CPD and completing instructor training or certification.
- Be accurate when describing your relationship with ICI.
Professional boundaries
Maintain appropriate boundaries with riders, learners, colleagues and other people with whom you work.
- Do not misuse a position of authority, trust or influence.
- Respect privacy and handle personal information appropriately.
- Follow safeguarding requirements and raise safeguarding concerns through the appropriate route.
- Keep physical contact appropriate, necessary and respectful.
- Do not exploit professional relationships for personal, financial or sexual advantage.
Respectful communication and conduct
Communicate in a way that is appropriate to a professional fitness environment.
- Treat riders, learners and colleagues fairly and respectfully.
- Do not discriminate unlawfully or deliberately humiliate, bully or intimidate others.
- Give feedback honestly without making it unnecessarily personal or demeaning.
- Raise professional disagreements through appropriate channels.
- Remember that professional conduct can extend to online communication where there is a clear connection with your professional role.
Safety, concerns and reporting
Do not ignore a genuine safety concern simply because addressing it is awkward or inconvenient.
- Report significant equipment faults and remove unsafe equipment from use where that is within your control.
- Follow appropriate procedures for accidents, incidents and near-misses.
- Raise serious or repeated unsafe practice through the appropriate venue, employer or other responsible organisation.
- Make reports honestly and factually.
- Do not knowingly make malicious or misleading allegations.
Continuing professional development
Initial training is a starting point. Maintain and develop the knowledge needed for the work you continue to undertake.
- Keep relevant knowledge and practical skills reasonably current.
- Reflect on your own instruction and respond constructively to useful feedback.
- Update practice where credible evidence, equipment or professional guidance changes.
- Seek further training before moving into work that requires competence you do not yet have.
- Do not rely on length of experience alone as evidence that practice remains appropriate.
Professional accountability
Be prepared to take responsibility for your professional decisions and for the way you represent your training and experience.
- Be open to reasonable professional feedback and scrutiny.
- Correct inaccurate claims about your training, certification or professional status.
- Keep evidence of relevant training and continuing development where appropriate.
- Take responsibility for mistakes and act appropriately to reduce the chance of them recurring.
- Do not use an ICI certificate or past relationship with ICI to imply endorsement beyond the recognition actually given.
Professional judgement still matters
No code can describe every situation an instructor will encounter. The underlying principles provide a reference point when the precise circumstances are not covered word-for-word.
Who should you contact?
If you have a concern about an indoor cycling instructor, the appropriate organisation will usually depend on the circumstances.
Concerns about the delivery of a class, instructor behaviour, equipment or safety at a particular venue should normally be raised with the studio, gym or employer responsible for that activity.
Safeguarding concerns, suspected criminal conduct or an immediate risk of harm should be reported to the appropriate organisation or authority.
If your concern relates specifically to somebody acting on behalf of the Indoor Cycling Institute, such as an ICI tutor or assessor, please contact us directly.
What falls within our remit
ICI can address concerns about people who are acting for or representing ICI, including tutors and assessors, through the appropriate ICI quality, contractual or complaints processes.
ICI does not investigate independent instructors simply because they previously completed ICI training. A certificate records the training and assessment completed at the time it was awarded. It does not create an ongoing disciplinary relationship between ICI and the instructor.
Likewise, ICI does not determine employment disputes, criminal liability, civil liability or safeguarding outcomes that properly belong to employers, venues, statutory bodies, courts or other responsible organisations.
Where a concern is sent to ICI but falls outside our remit, we may explain that we are not the appropriate organisation to deal with it.
Professional conduct is one part of professional practice
The ICI Professional Standards Framework sets out the wider technical and practical expectations for good indoor cycling instruction.