Spinning Classes

Wirral_paul
Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
edited May 2012 in Training, fitness and health
Morning all

As above, does anyone do them and how do you find them? I've never done a Spinning class but it sounds like it should really help my cycling - especially on the short term high intensity efforts like climbing and sprinting. Also a good way to get out in the evenings while the weather is crap (so thats about 11 months per year!!)

So what do you all think of them??

Cheers

Comments

  • Zoomer37
    Zoomer37 Posts: 725
    No idea what spin classes are like. People seem to sweat a lot in them if that means anything.

    If your worried about getting out in this weather would it not be better to invest in a turbo or rollers? At least then your on your own bike and can definitely put in some proper training.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    I think best policy is to pays your 4 or 5 quids and see for yourself as to their value.
  • ms
    ms Posts: 143
    It all depends on the instructer. At the gym i go to there are loads of spin classes some with good instructers some Ok, but the best class is taken by a coach from our Triathlon club, which is always over subscibed too every week, a 2 hour leg hurting lung bustin sweat fest.
  • grahamgorilla
    grahamgorilla Posts: 9
    you cant beat riding your own bike, spinning classes are ok for cv but hit different muscles to your normal bike. I prefer the turbo and the extra time spent driving to and fro gym gives me extra time on bike. If you want to spin find a good instructer to push your limits..
  • Muffintop
    Muffintop Posts: 296
    I do spinning classes and I've found they've help my performance on the road brilliantly. My cadence and general bike strength is up. I'm not keen at all on doing all out intervals on the road so I tend to push myself a lot harder in class.

    If they're proper spin bikes, you shouldn't be hitting different muscles - you should be able to set them up to the same dimentions of your own bike (I always set it up to be a little more uncomfortable so sitting on my road bike's like putting on comfy shoes).

    Mx
    FCN: Brompton: 12, Tourer: 7, Racer: 4

    http://www.60milestonod.blogspot.com
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Muffintop wrote:
    I do spinning classes and I've found they've help my performance on the road brilliantly. My cadence and general bike strength is up. I'm not keen at all on doing all out intervals on the road so I tend to push myself a lot harder in class.
    Mx
    Out of interest then, how do you guage this objectively?
  • ms
    ms Posts: 143
    JGSI wrote:
    Muffintop wrote:
    I do spinning classes and I've found they've help my performance on the road brilliantly. My cadence and general bike strength is up. I'm not keen at all on doing all out intervals on the road so I tend to push myself a lot harder in class.
    Mx
    Out of interest then, how do you guage this objectively?


    I think the only way you can gauge this is on feel.

    As cyclists we all love riding our bikes but for whatever reason some people cannot get out on the road as much as they would like this is where the turbo trainer can come in very handy. I enjoy turbo training but if Ive had a tough day at work I find it very hard to push myself on the turbo to the levels required on some interval sessions but I've found if I do a spin class when I feel like this I can push myself a lot harder due to the motivational instructer and music than if I was at home on the Turbo.

    I appreciate that not all training methods work for all people but I feel that spin classes works for me and compliments my overall training plan
  • Muffintop
    Muffintop Posts: 296
    JGSI wrote:
    Muffintop wrote:
    I do spinning classes and I've found they've help my performance on the road brilliantly. My cadence and general bike strength is up. I'm not keen at all on doing all out intervals on the road so I tend to push myself a lot harder in class.
    Mx
    Out of interest then, how do you guage this objectively?

    Not really sure how to answer this since I'm not one of identical triplets, one who did nothing and the other who has no job, no friends, or outside cycling interests, lives in that secret left turning stretch of road that's re tarred every winter, can go round descending corners at 42 miles an hour with her eyes open but useless because she's gone blind from interval training effort on the way up and has hasn't been able to use anything but her face to slow down for that 16 wheeler who didn't think to wait in the passing place and is driving up the middle of the lane, because the driver's in a massive motor vehicle and pays road tax.

    Lets all take a moment of reflection on a beautiful life (because her face is all mashed up). She is survived by two sisters (a lazy arsed imaginary one and a real one who goes to spin classes to benefit her road cycling).

    So...+1 ms.

    Mx
    Feeling strangely bereft...
    FCN: Brompton: 12, Tourer: 7, Racer: 4

    http://www.60milestonod.blogspot.com
  • rookieroadie
    rookieroadie Posts: 105
    Only been a roadie for just over 12 mnths.Been doing a weekly 1 hr spinning clas since last Sept/Oct and found it to really help my cycling.

    You get used to spinning at a high cadence and also helped my climbing as the class i attend has lots of climbing at high resistance.Found my endurance is much better also.

    Yeah a real sweat session but a great alternative when you cant get .Cant recommend it enough.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'm biased as I teach them - but yes - the bikes are very adjustable so you can get your position dialled in pretty well on most spin bikes. (the livestrong ones not so much)

    If you get a decent teacher then it should be a lot like a turbo session.
    A slightly more sociable version of sitting alone in the garage.

    I know it helps me with my riding - I've only been out on the road once in the past 3 or 4 weeks but I'm still doing pretty well from the spin fitness.
  • rookieroadie
    rookieroadie Posts: 105
    Been to a few classes with different instructors.Some do more sprints,some do more climbing but the end result is the same,b****y knackering lol.
    Ive found im a lot fitter now and can just go along at a high cadence due to this and my increased fitness.This isnt purely down to the spinning classes alone but theyve helped no end.

    Id recommend them to anybody to be honest.Great alternative to just knocking out the miles on the road.
  • KnightOfTheLongTights
    KnightOfTheLongTights Posts: 1,415
    cougie wrote:
    I'm biased as I teach them - but yes - the bikes are very adjustable so you can get your position dialled in pretty well on most spin bikes. (the livestrong ones not so much)

    If you get a decent teacher then it should be a lot like a turbo session.
    A slightly more sociable version of sitting alone in the garage.

    I know it helps me with my riding - I've only been out on the road once in the past 3 or 4 weeks but I'm still doing pretty well from the spin fitness.

    +1 to everything there.
    I go to a great place in London called the Pedal Studio. Only way it could be improved is if they had WattBikes ...
    Beats sat in a cellar driving yourself bonkers on a turbo.
    But I would add that the average gym spin class is pretty useless - choose carefully.
  • TKF
    TKF Posts: 279
    Do you normally sit or stand in a spin class?

    I went to one at my local gym and the entire 45 minutes was spent out of the seat making it entirely unrealistic wrt riding a bike.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I like to mix it up in my classes. Most of it in the saddle but I give them climbing breaks and let them choose how they want to approach it. Longest climb I do is about six minutes which is ample for most people.

    Beginners always like out of the saddle anyway as it gives their bums a break.

    I can't think of a single uk climb that would need 45 minutes out of the saddle to get over ??
  • Mikey1976
    Mikey1976 Posts: 165
    +1 for spinning.

    Ive done a 45 min spin class once a week for the last 18 months, I personally dont think you can replicate that intensity on a road bike in the same 45 min time frame. The class has a mix of standing/seating/hills/sprinting, at some points we have done 25 minutes out the saddle but strangely i struggle after 5 minutes out of my seat on my road bike (maybe different muscles??)

    I also do a 30 mile training ride and a longer 60 mile on the weekend and find spinning fits in perfectly.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Like Cougie, I do SPIN professionally, but just try a road race or even a 10 before saying that about spinning classes.
    Last road race in the evening (hence the short time) my average HR was 175 for 58 minutes and bouncing off the limter for most of it trying to chase down attacks or doing my prefunctory one per race :wink:
    I think you need to ride harder outdoors.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Very true - the intensity of road racing an testing is extreme.
    It's also quite hard to replicate as you need to be motivated and the adrenaline helps get the heart rate up.
    I'd probably be wary about maxing out on the road - just as you're mixing with traffic. Turbo or spin is a safer option.

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