I think I've seen this asked before, but I can't find the thread.
I'm just wondering, is taking a spin class anything like actual riding a real bike on a trainer?
Also, what do you wear? just normal cycling clothes minus the helmet and glasses? And last, but very important, would I be fine using cycling shoes with look cleats? My family goes to 24 hour fitness, and they have a spin class tomorrow that I was going to try out before I got a membership. Heard it helps a lot with climbing.

I wear cycling shorts and some sort of workout shirt... don't necessarily need a cycling jersey since no need for pockets or the zipper. As far as the look cleats go... it's possible... but I'd say unlikely. I've been to one class that had a couple of the bikes setup for look cleats but the vast majority of bikes are going to have a platform with straps on one side and a mountain spd on the other. I personally use some old mountain bike shoes for spin classes. The classes can be a lot of fun and an amazing workout, just depends on the instructor.

Intervals and high cadence spinning; no, it's not like riding a bike. The non-strap side is almost universally spds.

Wear clothes to sweat into. Bring water. You may find yourself spinning above 120 rpm.

If you don't take you own tunes, take earplugs. Spin instructors can be the most obnoxious animals on earth.

I feel ambivalent about them... More cute women than the group ride but I hate the music and follow-the-leader group exercise format...

In my spin class I use Look cleats. SPD are also an option.

So I'd probably be best just calling ahead of time and asking? I figured spd would be prominent, but since look are also pretty common I thought they might have them as well.
I've heard some pretty ridiculous stories about the instructors. Like doing push ups on the handlebars...
But the classes aren't just for cyclists, so it makes sense I guess for them to not be completely geared toward them.

Just go and do your thing. I spin, but I sometimes (most of the time actually) just tune out the instructor and work on whatever I want to work on. There are plenty of stuff you can work on, like one-legged drills, riding extensively out of the saddle, leg speed, intervals etc.

My club has only caged-pedals and SPDs. Spin is/can be very good exercise.

In the spring I went to a bunch of spin classes at the 24 Hour Fitness in Tempe. Here's my suggestions--

1. get there 10-15 min early. people go and claim all the good bikes. the classes fill. if you want to do it, get there early, grab a bike, do some warm-up, stretch, etc

2. the bikes at 24 Hour Fitness have platforms with straps on one side, SPD's on the other. I used my mountain bike shoes.

3. I went directly to spin after work. I brought some old/cheaper bike shorts (~$40ish), put on gym shorts over them to walk to/from the locker room. I got some Nike Combat shirts on clearance from Nike.com that were awesome to wear. it gets super hot in the room so you want to wear as little as you can.

4. bring a towel and bottle of something to drink (water/gatorade).

5. if your gym as a pool, I highly suggest bringing a suit and doing an easy 4-500m swim after spin. I noticed a huge difference the next morning when I did this -v- just went home.

6. for your first class, I'd suggest you try to get a bike in the back and just go with the flow


yes spin instructors can be idiots, play obnoxious music. the best thing I've learned from it? standing up while pedaling. prior to spin I hardly did this. I still don't to it as much as I should, but I do it much more.

Sometimes I do spin classes in the winter out of desperation for a break from the trainer. I’d say they’re somewhat effective in maintaining some level of fitness and maintaining weight, but I’d never do it in the summer. At my club about half of the pedals are SPD on one side, toe clips on the other. The others are SPD/Look.

The toe clips attach to the look side of the pedal. Spin bikes have a pedal with an SPD on one side and look on the other.