Originally Posted by cyclochica
Ok I just got back from my spinning class (it's raining so I didn't ride today) and I have a few questions. During the class we were asked to do these things called jumps, which are kind of like really fast squats on the bike while pedaling. What is the purpose of this move? I never bounce up and down out of the saddle when I ride. On top of that they seem like a knee injury waiting to happen, but that maybe because our counts seem too fast for this to be effective.
Can you all clue me in on what this move is supposed to do and if I am missing out on some fitness benefit by not doing it?
Don't do it.
Bored bunny instructors with no clue as to what cycling is perform what we call "contraindicated moves". Moves like what you described are definitely stress on the knees and can lead to knee injuries over time. Avoid these instructors like they have airborn VD and they're trying to spread it to everyone around them. I'll guarantee that they are 1) not certified or 2) have no continuing ed since they got certified or 3) got certified many years ago and haven't been updated since. Either scenario, it's a bad scene, and for what they're telling you to do, it's not worth busting your knees over so that you can't go back to cycling in the summer.
Fast jumps are nothing- they were sanctioned at one time for creating rhythmic movement while riding, but they are now discouraged by every legitimate organization out there. Jumps are done a lot slower, with more time emphasized out of the saddle to develop the core and quads. When the jumps are performed in a slower manner, transition from seated to standing and back to seated can be emphasized. If I get my class to jump, we may jump about 4- 5 times in a 5 minute song (for instance). Even then, I'm stressing that this is not realistic for the road for a lot of cyclists- my classes know better than to do those ridiculous jumps. Besides, they just look like rabbits on crack when they're doing it anyway- why would I lower my class to looking like a bunch of jumping idiots?
The bouncing in the saddle is indicative of too little resistance for the flywheel. When the speed of the wheel exceeds the speed of the legs, it creates a disconnection of the foot from the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke. This disconnection creates vibrations that travel up the legs, creating a bouncing effect in the butt. Also, since the vibrations are going up through the legs, it also creates a vibration in the knees that can cause knee damage over time. Any haf intelligent instructor knows these simplistic explanations. For crying out loud, they friggin' diagram it out for you in most books so you can see it for yourself. I've even seen lectures where physical therapists came in and demonstrated a video of the tearing of the kneecaps during a bouncing movement, and it doesn't look pretty.
If you're interested in this stuff, send me a PM. I would be glad to write you out a list of things to take to each instructor and ask them, plus give you the answers of how they respond. If they answer in the incorrect way, slowly back out the door and run run run as fast as you can. They suck and you don't need to waste your time on them. Seriously.
Koffee