avidone1

The word "spin" and "spinning" seem to be showing up alot lately.
It seems to me that some of the references are to spin classes at the gym.
But some of the other references like "learn how to spin the cranks" or similar phrases are a mystery to me.
Can someone kindly set me straight?
thankee

BluesDawg

pedal faster

practical

I know what you mean. When I hear the word "spinning" when riding, it means to go to an easy gear and spin your pedals faster. You might do this going up hills, for example, where it might be better to "spin" up the hill rather than power up it. It can also be used in the context of going down a hill when you put it in a higher gear and spin to go faster - like sprinting. In either case, it's when you're pedalling faster than your normal cadence.

digibud

Spinning is a term used in more than one context, like many words. Spinning classes are classes with bikes setup to allow groups to ride indoors (typically), usually with a leader and music. It may be with a machine called a trainer designed to work with a regular bike or with an indoor bike made specifically for "spinning". Some such bikes include internet hookups and video, heart rate monitors, etc and others are very simple bikes for indoor riding. When a cyclist is out riding, the term "spinning" often refers to the desirable technique of using clipless pedals or toe straps to continuously lift,push and pull the foot in a continuous motion throughout the circle while pedaling, as opposed to simply pushing down hard when the foot is at the top of the pedaling circle. Noncyclists typically "mash" on the pedals when not using clipless pedals with a push down-push down rhythm that is not sustainable over long distances at higher speeds. You will often hear the phrase "spinning in circles" to describe the desirable goal of smoothly moving the foot in a circle. The lifting motion is, however, normally only a matter of unweighting the lifting foot. When serious acceleration is needed one can indeed lift with some force but it's not sustainable.

big john

Spin to win.

Bandera

Cycling is a Pedaling activity.
Developing a supple high cadence pedaling style to Spin along at 80-100RPM all day long up hill and down is highly efficient and proper technique.

Traditionally cyclists would ride a ~70GI Fixed Gear in the off season for several hundred miles to develop a powerful high cadence pedaling style with both Spin & Grunt on demand.
Using a cyclo computer w/ Cadence is a good way to monitor pedaling technique, it's never too late to work on the basics.

"Spin classes" are something that I have no experience of.

-Bandera

EjF

I take Les Mill's spinning classes like they were M&M's... if you manage your resistance properly you can get a great workout in about 45 min time and burn 500-800 calories easy. I get to anaerobic nirvana sometimes... best cardio workout I've ever had.

here's a couple of examples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWzTFaoCxkM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPbrouaEYqE

GravelMN

Well said

avidone1

Ok, I think I got it. Spinning means to pedal at higher rpm's as opposed to powering which would imply higher gearing, more resistance and therefore lower rev''s.
thanks for the feedback.

JanMM

This is it exactly.

FrenchFit 

Having attended a dozen different "spin classes" I would caution they are all different. The common thread is they will all get your cadence above 80+ at some point for some period of time. Those geared for cyclists will often test you at 110-120 and focus on the efficiency of your pedal stoke and endurance, "spinning", those led by non-cyclist instructors will have you lunging up out of the saddle and doing all sorts of weird stuff. If you go into a spin class be prepared to do your own thing.

OldsCOOL

It's going for a ride where the scenery never changes and you go nowhere really fast.

avidone1

LOL, that describes my recent rides. Except for the going real fast part.

OldsCOOL

At least the front brake pads last longer.

tarwheel 

Digibud nailed it.

I used to go to spin classes a lot in winter or on rainy days. However, I pretty much quit spin classes after I started bike commuting because I was racking up so many miles doing that.

Spin classes can be great for maintaining or even building your cycling fitness, but like others said, you have to spin your own ride. Many spin instructors suck and will try to get their classes doing all sorts of strange gymnastics and aerobics on their bikes. A lot of them seem to think you should ride standing up about 90% of the time, turning your cranks at a low cadence -- the very opposite of "spinning." When I was going to spin classes a lot, I sat in the back and essentially rode the way I wanted to ride unless I liked the instructor.

ColnagoC40

I thought spinning is where three types of fibers are converted into yarn and then fabrics??

BlazingPedals

and Mash to Crash?

fietsbob

In a Spinning Class, the 'Scenery' is the people (of the (other?) Gender) In the class with You.

osco53

I 'Spin' 60 to 80 rpm's mostly, I got good lungs so this is easy for me.

I want my knee's to last longer !

OldsCOOL

Amongst roadies your 60-80rpm will be considered slow.

Cyclist0084

+1

LongT

I'm 60 rpm to 80 rpm also. From my old racing days, size does have an effect on your cadence. Taller riders tend to spin a bit slower. But then I raced LONG before cadence sensors. They also thought that you didn't do ANY training but riding a bike. The thought was any muscle you need to ride a bike was used riding a bike so why do anything else?!? Or that is how I remember it anyway!

Bill

OldsCOOL

When I started riding 10sp bikes back in '73 one of us must have read about cadence in a cycling magazine. All of us were "spinning".....pffffffft....PEDALLING at 60 rpm or a touch more. That was the standard. For decades after I would catch myself doing a "thousand-one, thousand-two....". Today, I wont go higher than 90rpm on flats unless I'm fixin' to shift up.

MinnMan

Avidone1: Spinning is more than just pedaling fast - it's emphasizing the whole pedal stroke rather than just pushing down on the downstroke.

It's been said many times before, but nobody learns to spin well quickly. It's something you work on and improve over years. My rides used to average 80 RPM and I had to concentrate in order to use the whole pedal stroke. Now I average around 92 RPM and much more of the spinning comes unconsciously. The difference is sufficiently notable that long-time riding partners comment on how I seem to always be in an easier gear and pedaling faster than most of the others on my rides. However, when I concentrate, my technique is still better - i.e., on the flats I can decide to concentrate on pedaling circles and I will speed up for the same effort (or go down a gear, pedal better, and maintain the same speed).

This works for me.

Though I do not love riding the trainer, it has been invaluable for improving my technique.

Yeah, Avidone1 and others, if it interests you, google "pedaling in circles".

As always, for those who prefer to mash, pedal at low cadence, etc. - it's your ride, do what you like.

road1bike

I am new to road biking, 1 day two falls! I thought cadence was the measure of hoe efficient a person rides. I went to REI, Performance, and a mom and pop LBS and no one had a computer that tracked cadence!

What gives?