Training & Nutrition - Attended my first spinning class

I have now attended my first spinning class!!

It was actually pretty good ... not overly difficult, but still a bit of a workout. The instructor had a good variety of activities (sitting, standing, faster, slower, etc.). He did say he started a bit easy because it is the first class, and that the emphasis of the class is to build speed. He is from a triathlon background so has some real cycling experience.

I discovered that the bikes have SPD pedals after all (on my first visit to the facility, it was hard to tell from a distance) so I'll be wearing my cycling shoes next time instead of runners.

And then after the 60 minute class, I headed over to the weights room where I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes and lifted weights the rest of the time. There's also a pool in this facility so I may swim after my spinning classes sometimes. I actually wished I'd brought my bathing suit today so I could soak in the hot tub for a little while at the end of my 2 hour workout.

I plan to do this twice a week till the end of March. I think it will be a good supplement to my outdoor cycling! :)

Congratulations on discovering spinning! I usually spin 2 or 3 times a week; I've found its a great way to get intervals in because I hate doing them outside. I can also "ride" next to my wife and still get a hard workout in, which I can't do on the road (I'm lucky if I average over 100bmp when I ride with her). That being said once the days start getting longer and warmer I'll be outside more and spinning less.

Sounds similar to my spinning experience. I like the spin class to warm up and then do weights, stetching and etc. One word of caution...the spin bikes, with their flywheels, occasionally cause me knee and tendon pain behind the knee:eek: . I am not sure why but it happens.

I've attended 3 spinning classes now and they do seem to be a good workout. My quads feel it by the end of the hour.

I suspect that something like this could help increase my cadence a bit too.

I know, OT, but I gotta ask: why not randonneuse?

Your workout sounds wonderful. I wish I had your energy.

I've thought about spin class, but I'm such a compulsive! Would never fit into my oh so structured, periodized, rationalized workout plan. By the time I start intervals, it's summer. I'm still working on the fundamentals. Won't even start serious LT work until May.

I actually have A LOT of energy when I finish the workout ... after the two hours at the gym I'm bouncing all over the place for the rest of the evening. I'm actually thinking about keeping it up over the summer because I feel so good!

See ... cycling outside rarely does that for me. I enjoy cycling outside, but I rarely get the endorphin rush.

As for the timing of this spinning class (essentially interval training), I need to "peak" in about 3 weeks for my first big event (the Eau de Hell week). I've been training regularly for some time now, mostly for distance riding, but I wanted something to motivate me to put a bit more effort into my training to help me build a bit of strength and speed. Also, the weather here is so variable right now ... sometimes it is nice enough to ride outside, most of the time it is not (like right now it is -4C and snowing) ... so the spinning + workout option seemed like a good one.

I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I do!! :)