All you who claim a fluid trainer = dedicated spin bike: wrong. Spin bike weighs probably 75 to 100 pounds and sits steady on the ground. Road bike on trainer is road bike locked in via skewers. You simply can't get out of the saddle, rock the hell out of the machine like you can a spin bike. Bottom line: spin bike way better for what it is. No comparison. And saddles are fine for an hour. (make sure we're all on the same page here: spin bike does not mean 'exercise bike'. those seats are truly unbearable and are toys really.)

probably already said but just buy you a few spinervals videos of your choice and its a much better workout and more focused on you and your bike. And they kick your ass.

1. doubt it.

2. i do spinning with a few of my training partners, so there's a social side.

3. the spiining instructor is a top-triathlete, so he knows what he's doing (in a spinning class at least).

Can you actually rock a spin bike? I thought they stayed pretty well upright.

I've coached some people who spin a lot, and I have a hard time getting them to swing their bike out of the saddle in a sprint.

Sorry no, I think I phrased it poorly. My point was that a spin bike is very solidly in place whereas a bike on trainer always feels as if it will come out of the grip if worked too hard... my bad.

I need to start going. I used to go all the time but decided that I'd rather ride outside. But if this can focus my training and help my climbing, I guess I better rethink that.

I try and do 2 spin classes a week when the cold weather sets in. I find that I work harder for those one hour sessions than I ever do on the bike. Maybe it is because there is usually a hottie teaching class that I am trying to impress or if I actually want to hurt myself. I find while the classes do not do much to improve my fitness it does at least keep me from sliding downhill to much.

Also the fact that the best climber in the Bay Area thinks it's good for training has great significance for this flat lander.

loos like i'll have to hit you up for info on spinning classes in memphis. ;)

On weekdays I have no time to go out and ride my bike. So I spin. Usually do 3 days a week ~45 minute classes. I have some really great and motivating instructors. My whole philosophy is that if i spin during the week, the time I spend on my bike on the weekend will be more fun because I'll have the leg power to go faster.

for alot of us in northern climates its a good way to get in some intense sessions during the cold dark winter. having said that i find most spinning classes at gyms to be nothing more than 'aerobics on bikes'.......if you want to translate that workout into something useful beyond sweating off a few pounds then its probably better to find a place that is a bit more cycling specific....here is a local place in toronto thats quite good and has a structured program in the late winter/early spring to get you ready for the road season.

I go to one spin class a week at my gym typically, and that's because it's a full hour (most of the classes are 45 minutes, with a warm up and cool down period, so maybe 30 minutes of hard riding), and because our instructor that day is a take-no-prisoners cyclist who is Top 5 in her age group at Expert level in the US right now. Very few of the people in the class ride outside of class, but she makes it a hard workout and tries to make it apply to real outdoor cycling as well. The other spin classes at the gym weren't nearly as good.

Any comments on the fact that you end up doing hard interval training during the winter? I was under the impression that you want to keep away from that until closer to the racing season.

I was actually a spinning instructor in '00-'01. IIRC, the Johnny G instruction, made a big deal about staying aerobic most of the time the time but I would routinely get close to my max HR during classes, either teaching or taking.

bump.

it's almost been a month now, and this is what i've learned: 45 minutes with Ralph (the triathlete) on tuesdays is a far superior workout than an hour with Richard (the bald guy) on Thursdays.

Jah would never give the power to the bald head. (Time Will Tell)

The hardest part of spinning is telling your friends and family you are gay.

Trainer + Spinervals about 4 times a week. I get VERY sweaty. It's sexy.

Congratulations, you've just made the short list for the most idiotic post of the day.

=(