Southern California - Spinning classes vs. indoor trainer at home

I'm still a newbie 50+ cyclist trying to ride as often as I can. With winter coming I'm starting to think about when I'll ride -- before or after work. Knowing me, I will not get up early enough to don the winter gear and get out for a ride in time to get home, shower, and get to work by 8:00 (the commute is 1 hour). Evening rides after work will be my best bet, but I won't want to ride in the rain after dark.... at least not yet.

In addition, I'm nursing knee and hip pain which can be helped by light spinning. But not in 104 degrees... :(

That leaves indoor riding at home or at a gym.

For indoor riding, can anyone suggest a good indoor trainer for maintaining fitness and strength?

Regarding gyms, does anyone know of a spinning class in the Claremont/Upland/La Verne/Glendora area?

Jen

Cyclops Fluid Trainer 2

We use a fluid trainer and Spinervals tapes/DVD's. It's a great workout! My wife uses them a lot and I do mostly during the cold rainy days of winter.

Sheldon

Jen,

The La Fitness in both laverne and upland have spinning classes.. Upland right off the 210 & Campus has a dedicated spinning room, so even if there is not a class you can bring your shoes and use the bikes.. here is the upland class schedule

http://lafitness.com/Pages/clubClassSchedule.aspx?clubid=335

If you are serious about getting a good trainer, I suggest either the Kurt Kinetic (http://www.kurtkinetic.com/) Road Machine model or the 1up USA (http://www.1upusa.com/index.html) Aluminum Bicycle trainer. These are durable and fairly quiet, something both you and your family will come to appreciate. Also get a trainer-specific tire.

I initially had a fairly noisy Minoura trainer that had a federal recall due to a tendency for the flywheels to “explode” under use, sending metal shrapnel toward the rider. Then I got a CycleOps magnetic trainer which was adjustable while in use via a cable to the handlebars. It too was fairly noisy. As they warm up, magnetic trainers increase their electrical resistance, causing decreased current, decreased magnetic field, and decreased resistance.

When one of my children moved into their first apartment, we gave them a trainer as a present. It had to be quiet for the apartment building. I wanted it to be good, so reviews narrowed it down to the Kurt Kinetic or the 1up. I choose the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine because some reviews suggested it might be slightly quieter. Reviews of the rocking model did not seem to justify its higher price and with some woodworking skills, you could add this feature to the Road Machine.

The Kurt Kinetic is a fluid trainer, one reason it is comparatively quiet. Unlike many other fluid trainers, it uses a patented magnetic coupling to the fluid resistance unit. This eliminates any shaft seals which reviews note can leak over time. It accommodates a wide variety of wheel sizes. In addition, it offers a wide range of resistance which goes up with the square of your velocity, just as aerodynamic drag does when you bike. Finally, the fluid does not change viscosity as it warms up, so the resistance is constant and predictable at a given speed.

This last feature allows Kurt Kinetic to sell a cyclocomputer which displays watts (present, average, and max) because the resistance is constant and predictable at a given RPM. I find this feature plus a heart rate monitor is helpful and makes training more interesting. It is also humbling. I can maintain 440 watts for a few seconds; Chris Boardman did this for an hour in setting the Hour Record.

My adult child was so satisfied with the Kurt Kinetic that about a year later I bought one for myself. I got it via Ebay Best Offer. This allows an authorized dealer (thus giving you the good warranty) to sell below the official minimum price. Mine included free shipping.

Regardless of what trainer you get, also get a dedicated trainer tire for the rear. My adult child learned of Continental's UltraSport Hometrainer (http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/tires/race/hometrainer/hometrainer_en.html) tire (both 700c and 26” available). These run quieter, cooler (special rubber formulation), and last longer than a conventional tire. Under heavy use conventional tires run hotter and may even delaminate on trainers. Only drawback to this tire is can be a bit more effort to mount on a wheel rim and Continental states it is NOT suitable for use other than on a trainer.

Best of luck with you trainer. I find a good home trainer with a reading stand, video tapes and DVD's, and sometimes music a good way to get aerobic exercise when the weather is bad.

The scenery is better at Spin Class

I'm lazy, so I prefer spinning class. Almost all LA fitness, 24 hour, or Bally's have spinning classes.

Sometimes I will do rollers at home after spin.
Talk about sleeping like a rock.

24 hour fitness!

gym spinning machines are boring to the bone,

I have a blackburn trainer

its equally boring

and

in 105F in the garage = worse than 130+ on the road. At least you get air conditioning on the road. In the garage it feels like a sauna

gym spinning machines are boring to the bone,

For me biking will always be an outdoor activity...that's a big part of it's appeal.

For me biking will always be an outdoor activity...that's a big part of it's appeal.

yea I agree. sitting in the garage suffering feels like self induced torture

I like the trainer for the long, rainy days or nights when I want to get some miles in, in front of the TV when I might otherwise be on the couch. You have to push yourself harder to work if you're doing it solo. Group exercise does typically encourage harder work.

Not to diss the folks who spin...I'm lazy I admit it...

Also fortunate that I live right next to a good bike path.

Thanks everyone.

I want to emphasize that riding outdoors will ALWAYS be my first priority.

But when it is raining hard, or too hot/cold, I'd like another option.

I'll give La Fitness a call and see if we can pay for spin classes separately without having to buy a whole gym membership that we don't need.

I bought an indoor trainer thinking I can use it after work during the week. I didn't use it as much as I'd like though, since it's hard to get myself cool enough to ride it for a long time (>30mins). Having a fan turned on high isn't enough for me; haven't tried it with the a/c yet.

Not to diss the folks who spin...I'm lazy I admit it...


I diss people who spin, they're a bunch of pansies

Um, not to be a nit-picker, but doesn't your avatar say "SoCal" and didn't you post in the Southern California sub-forum? I've lived in San Diego - winter in the classic sense just doesn't factor in there. Sure you might have a brisk morning and need a light coat at times, but Winter with a "W"? I think not.

Come on admit it, you're contemplating spinning class for the discipline and scenery reasons, not weather related ones!

Um, not to be a nit-picker, but doesn't your avatar say "SoCal" and didn't you post in the Souther California sub-forum? I've lived in San Diego - winter in the classic sense just doesn't factor in there. Sure you might have a brisk morning and need a light coat at times, but Winter with a "W"? I think not.

Come on admit it, you're contemplating spinning class for the discipline and scenery reasons, not weather related ones!


doesn't your avatar say PA?


spinning classes have fat chics I dont see any scenery

Um, not to be a nit-picker, but doesn't your avatar say "SoCal" and didn't you post in the Southern California sub-forum? I've lived in San Diego - winter in the classic sense just doesn't factor in there. Sure you might have a brisk morning and need a light coat at times, but Winter with a "W"? I think not.

Come on admit it, you're contemplating spinning class for the discipline and scenery reasons, not weather related ones!

How low did the temps get in San Diego when you were there? Lower 30s? Upper 20s?
OK, I concede we don't have a bad winter (er, "winter") here, but on those mornings when it is a bit nippy by whimpy SoCal weather standards, or very rainy/wet/slick and dark after work, I'd like to have another option. I'd prefer riding my own bike on the trainer at home over going to the gym any day...

24 hour fitness!
they mostly offer them at weird hours.

If you are serious about getting a good trainer, I suggest either the Kurt Kinetic (http://www.kurtkinetic.com/) Road Machine model or the 1up USA (http://www.1upusa.com/index.html) Aluminum Bicycle trainer. These are durable and fairly quiet, something both you and your family will come to appreciate. Also get a trainer-specific tire.

IRegardless of what trainer you get, also get a dedicated trainer tire for the rear. My adult child learned of Continental's UltraSport Hometrainer (http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/tires/race/hometrainer/hometrainer_en.html) tire (both 700c and 26” available). These run quieter, cooler (special rubber formulation), and last longer than a conventional tire. Under heavy use conventional tires run hotter and may even delaminate on trainers. Only drawback to this tire is can be a bit more effort to mount on a wheel rim and Continental states it is NOT suitable for use other than on a trainer.

Best of luck with you trainer. I find a good home trainer with a reading stand, video tapes and DVD's, and sometimes music a good way to get aerobic exercise when the weather is bad.

+100

I have both the Kurt Kinetic, and 1Up Trainers. I started with the 1Up and when my wife started to ride she wanted a trainer. So I then purchased the Kurt Kinetic. Both excellent trainers, very quiet. Everything Giro said is true.

Spin class vs. riding a trainer at home, very few spin instructors understand the concept of interval training. While spin class can help improve cardiovascular fitness and burn calories. They won't help you become a better cyclist. If you use the trainer with the assorted DVD's that are availiable from Chris Carmichael and Spinervals from Troy Jacobson, you wiil become a stronger, faster rider. For me the DVD's help me focus and give me a specific workout.

I still prefer riding outside, but once it starts getting dark, I don't trust the driver's around here.

Spin class vs. riding a trainer at home, very few spin instructors understand the concept of interval training. While spin class can help improve cardiovascular fitness and burn calories. They won't help you become a better cyclist. If you use the trainer with the assorted DVD's that are availiable from Chris Carmichael and Spinervals from Troy Jacobson, you wiil become a stronger, faster rider. For me the DVD's help me focus and give me a specific workout.


+1 on this. Or if they do understand it, it's really just about impossible to come up w/ a spin class that'll work for everyone's goals anyway.

When I go to spin class, I bring my heart rate monitor and make sure I manage my workouts according to it, and not the instructor. That way I make sure I get the right amount and kind of work done in class. I prefer this to the trainer mainly because I'm paying for the gym and the scenery is nice. Plus my dog ****zes when I'm on the trainer :)

I agree with a lot of what the scvroadie said. Spinning classes are great to burn calories. However, they are not really good for cycling training. Most spinning teachers like to stand for a good portion of the class. A cyclist is way more efficient when seated and should train that way. I have a Blackburn trainer that works great. You really need to have a plan when you get on a trainer. The above poster mentioned the spinervals dvds. I used the first one many years ago (back when it was on VHS only) and it was very helpful. I spend at least one day a week on the trainer for most of the year, regardless of weather, because of very specific rides, most of my other preplanned rides translate easily to the trainer as well. If you just jump on the trainer to ride for 30-60 minutes, you will be bored to tears after 10 minutes, but if you have a plan the time will pass quickly.

If you are just interested in burning calories and decide to do Spinning, the Claremont Club offers Spinning classes as well. I have never had a problem with the hours of 24 hour fitness classes. Around here most locations offer classes from early to mid-morning and 1 or 2 classes in the evenings. I think the sport locations allow you to pay a one day fee, but after about 8 or 10 of those you probably would have been better off buying a trainer.

Thanks for all the very helpful information. Our goal is to become a better cyclist and maintain our fitness through winter (er, "winter"). Sounds like the trainer is the best option for us if we cannot ride outdoors.