Viking55803

I was staying at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage in February. They have an amazing gym that includes a large room full of bikes for spinning classes. I went down one evening and the "spin class" was going - I was told I could just jump in. There was one instructor and one subject. The instructor was probably 80 pounds overweight and sweating like Muhammed Ali during the Rumble in the Jungle. The upshot is that guy had the greatest spinning music I've ever heard - lot's of funky delta blues and stuff I'd never heard. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to talk to the guy to find out how he sourced his music. I've love to have that at the (dreaded) gym.

StanSeven

I think the issue or misunderstanding is all spinning classes aren't the same. As I mentioned earlier, many people consider it as a gym activity and never ride a bike on the roads.

All it takes to be a certified instructor is taking a one day training session and later pass a written test.

I know about the variations because I've been to quite a few sessions all over the place.

One clue that spinning isn't designed for serious road training is you can't get the bar lower than the saddle. In fact on many, the lowest bar is a couple inches over the saddle height.

I don't knock spinning because I do it. But as others have said, it's not going to get you in shape for a fast spring century

osco53

I'd buy the gear and spin at home before I'd go thru all that nonsense...
Now watching Yoga pants spin might be worth the bother ~~~~ Oops sorry bout that

Daniel4

I don't get it. Cyclists are joining spinning classes in winter because ... it's winter. Fair enough. Then they note that it's not the same as cycling. If you just want the workout that's fine but if complain that it's not the same as cycling, then get back on your bike for some winter cycling. The workout is great. You tense up your body as you navigate and push through snow and ice like you don't summer cycling. And you work up a sweat.

osco53

Get a Fat bike

bruce19

what he said. Plus...I don't consider myself a "dirty old man", just an old man with a pulse.

bruce19

During spin class I sometimes yell "On your left."

bruce19

About 10 yrs. ago my gf introduced me to a guy about 45 yrs. old who was getting into cycling. We rode together in a few club rides for a season. He was strong but not really seasoned with 2-wheeled vehicles. The second season he crashed. I wasn't there but heard the story. My guess is his lack of experience and target fixation did him in. As I recall he broke a collar bone. He never rode again. Since then he's been a spinning instructor.

StanSeven

And I keep hanging to the right waiting for you to pass but you never do.

masi61

The issue with loud music is more a problem of compressed, lossy digital music files played back through an iPod or iPhone directly out the mini jack & split into an interconnect direct into the gym's amp. If the gyms would invest in a proper DAC (or the individual instructors brought their own) the difference in sound would be like night & day. Not harsh, but very punchy & detailed. Personally, I don't mind loud music if it is high quality enough. It actually motivates me...

bruce19

Oh, but I do. It's just not in the earthbound reality.

nobodyhere

It's the one place where I feel I can draft safely.

Kindaslow

I want video of you getting your spin bike into position for the draft....

And, did she have small or medium yoga pants on.....

digibud

Our local spinning class is held in a racketball court. Worst acoustics ever and some instructors play the music ridiculously loudly. I got a decible meter app and after showing some instructors what was happening they actually lowered their volume a bit but I don't attend one class simply due to the loud music. Our instructors work for free so it's appreciated and I can't complain. I bring ear plugs that are on a short cord so I can put them in as needed without losing them. Getting a hard workout outdoors is an issue below zero simly due to the danger of getting all sweated up and then having a flat or other mech problem so spinning allows me to work in a seriously hard way that I won't do outdoors in winter. I don't think any of our instructors are cyclists and not many of the users are cyclists either. They donate their time and it's appreciated even when I put the ear plugs in and go off into my own personal workout.

Tundra_Man 

+1

Years ago I bought myself a set of rollers with the idea I could use them to continue riding during the winter. I think I spent maybe a half dozen sessions on that mind-numbing thing when I decided that riding outside in the frigid temps had to be better than the mental torture of staring at the unchanging walls in the basement (I'm not much of a movie/TV guy.)

So I grabbed my old mountain bike and headed outside in the elements. I discovered that winter riding is very enjoyable and brings with it its own set of challenges. It whipped me into shape big time and come spring I found myself lighter and faster than I'd ever been.

The hardest work-out of my life was a 6 mile ride through 7 inches of unplowed fresh snow. It took me an hour and a half. Even in my lowest gear I had to keep stopping every few minutes to let my heart rate come down from the stratosphere. I think I torched every muscle in my body and it took me about 3 days of recovery before I was ready to get on the bike again. Crazy for a ride where I averaged 4 mph.

I gave the set of rollers to a friend and haven't missed them at all. I recommend winter riding. It's a lot of fun.

tg16

A more appropriate question may be, "How did they fit?"

The Quiet One

I prefer the rowing machine myself. I figure mixing it up for the winter is good. I remember reading that Gretzky's dad took away his hockey gear in the spring so he would play baseball. Changing things up worked for him, right?

Mr IGH

Maybe OP should stay home and make sure there's no kids on his lawn...I like spin class and it has helped my cycling skills with all the telemetry. The instructor is fun and most of the class goes for a beer together after Tuesday night class (it's my bike club's weekly class). I guess I do enjoy the social side too, ladies don't hurt things either....

Garfield Cat

But does anyone move over?

FrenchFit 

For a little while I attended spin that had a little virtual reality vibe, dark room one whole wall was a computer projected video taking you on open roads, single track, urban riding, advising you when to gear up or spin out. No instructor. Honestly, you found yourself leaning into corners, dodging pedestrians. Sadly, once the novelty wore off the routines got boring and counter-productive if you had a work-out plan in mind.

If you could pre-program a VR spin program, that would be killer.

Cyclist0084

I think it's time to boycott Utah. LOL!!


I've done spin classes a few times. I once lived about 100 yards from a community rec center that had a rather large gym. They offered new residents a one week free membership ($25 a month after that). One of their offerings was spin classes. I'm glad I tried it, but the experience just wasn't for me. If I'm going to spin, I can get a much better workout using my own bike on my trainer in my spare bedroom.

NYMXer

They probably move to the left, like on the MUP's...

Garfield Cat

Then watch where your snot rocket goes.

trailangel

So you don't look good in Yoga pants!?

NYMXer

Every sport has a certain element of danger