AltheCyclist

My gym recently announced it's removing racquetball courts in favor of enlarging its spinning class space. What a waste .. why do people drive to a gym, ride on stationary bike (yawn), and then drive home? Why not just bike to wherever and save the time?

Tundra_Man 

-20 degrees with a 50 mph straight wind would be one reason.

But most of the time I would agree with you. I'd rather just ride my real bike.

DataJunkie

Spin classes can be fun in their own way. However, remove racquetball courts? *scratches head*

rhm

Spinning is exercise. Biking is transportation. Not the same thing.

JeffS

Because they want to?

The same reason you feel compelled to criticize said people I suppose. Obviously spinning is important to their members. The largest class I've ever seen would have fit in a single racquetball court.

CbadRider

I have a 40-mile round trip commute to work. From September - April it's too dark to ride safely (I have plenty of lights, but the cars still don't see me very well). Spin class at least lets me get some cycling in during the work week.

I also teach spin class and over half of the people in my class are not cyclists. They just use the class for exercise.

billyymc

Why do they have to "remove" the courts? Just put some stationary bikes in there.

superdex

why do you care?

DataJunkie

Do you wear a suit reminiscent of the one in your avatar? If so I am heading to CA for my next spin class.

AltheCyclist

Yeah, that's actually the main part of my beef ... there's a spinning breed that want the "environment". I.e. lighting, music, etc. And, it seems to be growing. I guess I expected that with the growth of commuting and sport biking, the indoor spinning classes would become less popular. This is probably why I don't own a gym.

DataJunkie

The issue as mentioned before is that spinners and cyclists are not one and the same. Sure there is overlap. Perhaps the issue is that spinning brings in more money and racquetball is not as popular.

bizzz111

Just another health fad. However, if health clubs didn't cater to the fads, they wouldn't be in business.

They will sell a lot more memberships if people see 50 bikes lined up with strobe lights and a surround sound system than a racquetball court that smells like moldy gym socks.

cerewa

Biking FOR transportation IS exercise too. Enough exercise that I don't have to do any other kind of exercise, unless I want to.

AltheCyclist

Not trying to criticize, trying to evangelize! What reasons do most people bike-commute?
1. Exercise
2. Be "Green"
3. Save time/money
4. They like it
5. One or more of the above

Spinning covers and reverses a few of those. If the Spinners started biking, they'd get the benefits. And I'd get to play racquetball

Erick L

It doesn't even cross most people's mind to use a bike as transportation. Preaching to the BF choir isn't going to change anything. You have to tell people who aren't doing it.

DataJunkie

What makes you think that someone in a spin class will be converted?
Riding a bike <> a spin class

bizzz111

I don't spin but I imagine spinners look at it like this. Spinning advantages:

1. Don't have to deal with traffic
2. Don't have to deal with bike maintenance.
3. Don't have to worry about a flat tire.
4. Has someone there providing the motivation and direction (a coach if you will).
5. Much cheaper in the short run vs. buying a bike + all the necessary accessories (helmets, lights, pumps, etc.).

genec

Hey, you never know... perhaps these "spinners" will realize there is a whole exciting ready built "environment" out just waiting for them to explore.

Now wouldn't that be a hoot!

Treespeed

I would also add that it's a good way to really put your head down and hammer without having to worry about getting run over or run off the road. When I had a gym that had spinning it was a great way to get 30 minutes of intervals in with the added benefit of group pressure and a coach to kick my butt. Plus, like most classes at the gym, it was mostly women which was a nice change from my normal group ride. I don't see why it has to be an either/or issue, the reasons people commute are probably completely separate from why they enjoy a spinning class.

mikeybikes

+1

Two completely different "sports".

JeffS

As someone who used to spend a lot of time in spin class, I suspect that many attendees don't really think of spin as riding a bike.

"It's Monday. Am I going to go to the 6pm spin class, or the 7pm pilates class?"

There was one gym that attracted a number of roadies. For many of them, they weren't willing to get on an actual bike unless they had several hours to ride. Spin class was their alternative when they didn't have time to ride. Sounds odd, I know, but these are people who ride a bike for a very specific reason, which does not include transportation. In fact, a fairly high percentage seem quite scared of cars and simply will not ride in town.

-------

I've often thought about the odd business model of a gym. You want to attract customers, but don't really care if they attend.

Rhodabike

I do a weekend spin class when it's icy, snowy, slushy, and very cold outside in winter. It's a change from doing it at home on the turbo trainer. Riding outside isn't safe or practical then. We don't get complete snow removal from any street then (it gets piled up into mountains at the curb) and none at all on side streets.
Some of the other people in the class are clearly not cyclists, but about 25% have bike shorts and shoes and seem to be training for something cycling-related.

superdex

and let us not forget, spin class == more women in bike shorts, and that's not a bad thing, right?

no motor?

I thought about taking a spin class before I bought a bike and resumed cycling after 20 some years, but couldn't find one close. So I ended up being really lucky and getting the right bike for the time off of CL, and got to find out how bad I sucked by riding around in the privacy of my own neighborhood.

xtrajack

Never understood the concept of pedaling my a** off and not going any where.