Spinning

Chairman

Just wondered what the general opinion out there was on spinning classes. Although I'm not wishing the Summer away, I was considering signing up for some spinning classes throughout the Winter months to maintain some fitness. Question is, are they as effective as turbo sessions (which I've always found incredibly dull and difficult to maintain)? Obviously they are better than nothing but does anyone have experience of them - or recommend them?

Thanks

Bianchi Boy

Go for it. I do two spin classes a week as well as ride my bike. Great for the social life as well.

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Celeste is best

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oldwelshman

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Chairman</i>

Just wondered what the general opinion out there was on spinning classes. Although I'm not wishing the Summer away, I was considering signing up for some spinning classes throughout the Winter months to maintain some fitness. Question is, are they as effective as turbo sessions (which I've always found incredibly dull and difficult to maintain)? Obviously they are better than nothing but does anyone have experience of them - or recommend them?

Thanks
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I was working away and could not ride so I did a class in hotel and now I am walking like John Wayne!! Good session crap saddle!!

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cjcp

The intensity of spin classes vary so pick one which you think suits your level of fitness - ask the instructors in case they can tell you. They are good for those eye-balls out sessions if you want to be anaerobic for 30 mins or so with a warm-up and down either side. I think this will help increase your lactic threshhold, but I'd also heard that this wasn't great for fat-burning, for which you're better off pedalling at a steady pace on turbo. The turbo can help you get those steady winter base miles in. So the two probably go together.

oldwelshman

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by cj</i>

The intensity of spin classes vary so pick one which you think suits your level of fitness - ask the instructors in case they can tell you. They are good for those eye-balls out sessions if you want to be anaerobic for 30 mins or so with a warm-up and down either side. I think this will help increase your lactic threshhold, but I'd also heard that this wasn't great for fat-burning, for which you're better off pedalling at a steady pace on turbo. The turbo can help you get those steady winter base miles in. So the two probably go together.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Anaerobic for 30 minutes? Thats physically impossibly, 30 seconds is hard enough!![:D]

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Dayvo

Chairman!
I didn't ride for nigh on six months over the winter (a combination of being in Asia and having the late winter here).
I joined a gym and had five-six spinning sessions a week for four weeks and my 'legs' soon came back, helping my strength and stamina no end.
Apart from very good training, it's also quite a social activity to do when it's too dark/wet/cold/nasty to ride outdoors.
I thoroughly recommend it and am already 'looking forward' to the winter months!

I get knocked down . . . but I get up again . . .

Unknown

Just beware of your style when out of the saddle. As spinning bikes are fixed you don't get the lateral movement you get on the road which means you are putting more stress on your knees if you try to replicate your road syle.

clarinetist

I used to go because i fancied one of the women.[:I]

ghostynlr

Spinning is Class, sit right at the back and take in the sights.

SteveR_100Milers

plus you can easily ride out of the saddle and sprint on a spin bike, which I have never wanted to try and do on a road bike on a turbo. It also teaches you to ride a fixed gear, (mostly to remember not to stop pedalling) which is useful when you migrate to the track in the winter months also.

jc4lab

A Gym at the Lowry Centre in Manchester has one of those cinema screens which has you believing you on the road.. but the memberrship is too much for me..Has anyone ever been a spinning class with one of these

neslon

Keep cycling through the winter, unless its the girls in lycra shorts that you're after. The colder it is, the smugger you can feel, and the more motivated you are! Its only serious high winds that make me think twice about not taking the bike (unless I need to buy a crate of beer
on the way home).