I have picked up spin classes here. Nice change -- I don't have to think about the workout, I just have to follow along. I do double spin classes (2 hours total). I'm using them for cardiac workout and to simulate climbing.

When I hit the road (with those that spin as well) after only a month of spinning, I discovered 2 big things: 1) my spin was squirely! and 2) my climbing has improved significantly.

So now I hit the rollers a couple times a week, while doing spin classes 3-4x a week.

HTH

In the winter months here I spin twice a week which happens to be my brick days. So I either hit the treadmill after for a 5k or hit the pool for laps. I admit though, you work up a nice sweat in spin class so it's nice to throw the cross train in there. I've notice though that training for the NY tri, I've been way out of the free weights sections and more so in the cardio areas.

I have taken a few spinning classes they are very difficult. Some things I learned there:
1- get a bike in the back so no one can watch you when your are about to puke, or when you are sitting when everyone else is standing.
2- Take a towel
3- Take plenty of water.
4- Get plan B organized for example I couldn't come last week because.

Allen

I started spinning a month ago. It's certainly easy enough to tell the spinners from the cyclists. Some of them are amazingly aerobic and can spin at ridiculously high cadence. They can spin at like 100+ RPM out of the saddle too. But they have those skinny legs

The biggest adjustment for me as a cyclist was learning to recover by spinning and not by coasting downhill. I find that the climbing I do in spin class really helps me on the road and that (once I got a portable heart monitor) I need to push harder in class to get my heart rate p to where it is on the road bike. Also, on the road I take like 30 minutes to warm up. No such luxury in spin class.

Women in spandex are kind of interesting too.

Funny story...

1st time taking a spin class I get there early, adjust the seat, get ready to go and the class starts to fill up. Pretty soon there are more people than bikes. The instructor walks in and says, "we've got a problem - someone didn't sign up! Who didn't sign up?" After some looking around I raise my hand and she screams at me, "you have to sign up for the class on this sheet!" (waving the clipboard at me)

I get off the bike and slink out of the room with 20 pairs of eyes following me the whole way out the door...

So check to see if there is a sign-up sheet if you don't want the humiliation of being kicked out of Spinning class!

+1

I started spin classes about three weeks ago (two sessions a week) now that it's too cold/dark to get out for an after work ride. I'm still fitting in actual cycling on the weekends, but so far I've really enjoyed the cardio workout that I get in the spin class.

IMHO, how much you get out of it is heavily influenced by the instructor. My usual instructor is a cyclist (member of a local race club), and about half of us in that session ride. His workouts are geared to folks who ride, and do spinning in the off-season. This week, I couldn't make my usual Wednesday night session and went to a Tuesday night class. Different instructor...still a great cardio workout, but definitely more of an aerobics approach than my usual class. I'd still go to that other session rather than miss a workout completely, but given the choice I prefer the cyclist-orientated workout.