Southern California - back to spinning

its raining right now in the conejo valley (ventura county)
as much as i love the cold and then rain i dont like to ride in it (whose with me? haha)
so i figured ill take this winter off for riding outdoors and ill spin at the gym
what are some good techniques or tricks that i can use so i dont lose my touch when i resume outdoor cycling again? ill take a spin class when im ready :)

If you're a recreational rider like me, then I'd have to ask..."what touch?" :D

Been riding in the cold and rain all week. I lost my brooks cover so I have been hoboing it with a grocery bag cover. I actually like it.

There's a great article on indoor spinning in this month's bicycling mag. The author doesn't seem to recommend it. I think you're better off doing weights, cross training or getting a trainer/rollers. Spinning wouldn't hurt once a week or month. Ask on the training and nutrition forums too. HTH

If you're a recreational rider like me, then I'd have to ask..."what touch?" :D
true haha i dont want to be outta breath when i resume again is all!

Instead of going to the gym, invest in a trainer ( I got one of our two units at a garage sale for under $40). Get some Spinervals or CTS workouts.
My wife and I use these a bunch and get a great, more cycling specific workout. Probably what I'll be doing tomorrow if we wake up to rain. Sunday sounds a bit better so maybe I'll get outside then.

There's a great article on indoor spinning in this month's bicycling mag. The author doesn't seem to recommend it. I think you're better off doing weights, cross training or getting a trainer/rollers. Spinning wouldn't hurt once a week or month. Ask on the training and nutrition forums too. HTH

I will contine riding on the weekend, but cant ride on weekdays anymore, so I have been doing spin class for the past month. I also read the article and believe the author isnt exactly fair in his assessment. Not all spin classes are alike - some are taught by savvy cyclists and they will make sure you get a great workout. I typically do 1 day of weights and 3 days of spin class a week. The classes are fun, the instructors will get you motivated and you meet people. It sure beats sitting at home and staring at the wall or even a TV. Just make sure you have enough resistance on your bike and you will not "loose touch".

Instead of going to the gym, invest in a trainer ( I got one of our two units at a garage sale for under $40). Get some Spinervals or CTS workouts.
My wife and I use these a bunch and get a great, more cycling specific workout. Probably what I'll be doing tomorrow if we wake up to rain. Sunday sounds a bit better so maybe I'll get outside then.

that sounds good to me. im open to trying new things. tomorrow is saturday so ill go hunting for a trainer at garage sales!
i love to run also so thats why i stay at the gym. the spinning classes are really fun and the instructors are bicyclists themselves.
i love the cold and rainy season but it depresses me because i cant ride! ive ordered a roller online and now ill ask for a trainer for christmas if i cant find one tomorrow! thanks for the help!

I will contine riding on the weekend, but cant ride on weekdays anymore, so I have been doing spin class for the past month. I also read the article and believe the author isnt exactly fair in his assessment. Not all spin classes are alike - some are taught by savvy cyclists and they will make sure you get a great workout. I typically do 1 day of weights and 3 days of spin class a week. The classes are fun, the instructors will get you motivated and you meet people. It sure beats sitting at home and staring at the wall or even a TV. Just make sure you have enough resistance on your bike and you will not "loose touch".

thats what i was thinking too and changed my mind again haha
the instructors at my gym are supposedly really good and are actually bicyclists (arent they all?)
so up the resistance...check! thanks for the advice!

Another vote AGAINST spin classes.

I stumbled into a Kreitler flywheel attachment on Ebay selling for dirt-cheap. Shortly afterward, my pedaling form went to pot. Seriously, I started pedaling like some gimp-legged triathlete.
When I couldn't figure out what the problem was and inquired in here, someone was kind enough to mention that spinning with large/heavy flywheels tends to have a deteriorative effect on one's souplesse.

I also recommend a trainer instead. If you have the dosh, the Kreitler rollers with "Killer Headwind" attachment are the way to go. They make me wish I were an orangutan so I could use my feet to give them FOUR enthusiastic thumbs way up.

Remember: Flywheel = gimp-legged triathlete. Good luck!

http://www.kreitler.co.uk/images/challenger_4.5_with_fan.jpg

Another vote AGAINST spin classes.

I stumbled into a Kreitler flywheel attachment on Ebay selling for dirt-cheap. Shortly afterward, my pedaling form went to pot. Seriously, I started pedaling like some gimp-legged triathlete.
When I couldn't figure out what the problem was and inquired in here, someone was kind enough to mention that spinning with large/heavy flywheels tends to have a deteriorative effect on one's souplesse.

I also recommend a trainer instead. If you have the dosh, the Kreitler rollers with "Killer Headwind" attachment are the way to go. They make me wish I were an orangutan so I could use my feet to give them FOUR enthusiastic thumbs way up.

Remember: Flywheel = gimp-legged triathlete. Good luck!

http://www.kreitler.co.uk/images/challenger_4.5_with_fan.jpg

k ill take your word on it! thanks for the help!