I tried over at the Road Cycling Forum but got no responses. I'll see how I do here.

I am not a cold weather rider. I dread my fingers and toes getting cold so I opt for training indoors. But I primarily ride on a SPINNER (fix gear) and very seldomly on a trainer (multi-gear).

Questions:

1. Is training on the SPINNER doing me any good? On a SPINNER you push the weight versus pulling the weight on a bicycle. Does this make a difference in developing/training the muscles?

2. What is the advantage on training on a SPINNER?

3. What are the disadvantages?

4. For those of you who are training, do you incorporate training on an indoor cycle or do you prefer to use a your bike on a trainer?

5. If you use an indoor cycle, do you also use a trainer? If so, how often do you use each peoce of equipment?

BTW, I went by a LBS this weekend and found out the have a CompuTrainer. Apparently, they have setup for 9 bikes and I found out some of the clubs go there - got to tell my boyz. I will be there to check this out. There was a guy riding in a simulation and the CompuTrainer course was kicking his butt - a realistic ride and race conditions. It was really interesting to see what kind of wattage this guy was putting out over the varying terrain. I'm really curious to see what my numbers are.

6. Anybody use a Computrainer? How do you like it? Is it worth training on it? How often would you use it? (I'm thinking using it once a week for simulation purpose and to take a pulse check to see what my reading are weekly.)

For those of you may not know what this is, it's a 3d simulation that allows you to ride in the simulation while you are on a trainer. Kewl stuff! More importantly, it gives you critical data such as wattage readings, gradients of hills while climbing, and all kinds of data about your simulated ride. For more info, check out: https://www.racermateinc.com/compu_pro3d.asp.

Thanks for your responses.
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Howdy madcyclist...

This is my first post (been lurking about a month now). First of all, a bit of personal history, just so you know where I'm comin' from:

I'm male, 52-years-old, who USED TO ride a road bike 4-5x/week here in sunny San Diego. I rode all around this beautiful city for about 10 years...and then experienced serious "burn out". I haven't been out on the road for over 10 years. However, during that time, I've maintained some cursory contact with riding by using "spinner" bikes. The first bike I owned, an old workhorse called a Bodyguard 990, was actually a fairly sophisticated "erg" bike that finally gave up the ghost last year. About 3 months ago, I purchased a true "spinner" bike (Schwinn Pro) and have been using it regularly (5-6/week) ever since.

My impressions?

Number one: Technically, these are not "fixed gear" bikes, at least not in my definition of that term. Resistance is fully adjustable, as I'm sure you know, so you can create myriad workouts. Since the "spinners" are pretty bare bones (i.e., not an "erg"), I think you either have to take a class, or get yourself a HRM (as I have) to track your workouts.

Second, I'm not sure what you mean when you say "on a SPINNER you push the weight versus pulling the weight". I find myself doing both, just as on a real bike. Oh, I'm assuming here that you're either clipped in (as when you take a class), or you have replaced the clipped pedals with the clipless variety, as I have. If so, the action (push/pull...circles with the ankles) is pretty similar to true riding.

To address your other questions:

The advantages to training on a SPINNER are many. If you're strapped for time, like I ALWAYS am, jumping on my SPINNER for 60 minutes is a great way to keep in shape. Another advantage: no problems with bad weather (kind of ironic that I would be listing this as an advantage, living in San Diego. It was about 75 degrees and sunny yesterday ). Still another: safety. San Diego traffic can be pretty scary at times; it's one of the factors that lead to my "retirement" from road riding.

Disadvantages? Pretty obvious one: BOREDOM. A lot of people find the mind-numbing sameness of stationary riding just too much to take for any extended period. There ARE ways to alleviate some of that boredom, and you've alluded to one: training simulations. However, as far as I know, SPINNER bikes aren't made for such a high tech option. In fact, I've yet to find a HRM w/cadence function that works on a SPINNER bike (I've bought - and returned - a Polar monitor because the cadence function was useless...no "fork" on a SPINNER bike). You could, as I said, take a class for motivation, and some people find the comaraderie, music, and instructor-induced variety enough to keep them interested. For me, since I own the bike, I use it at home. In fact, I really don't like SPINNER classes ( I HATE the music...just an old fuddy-duddy, I guess ) and, again, time is of the essence for me, so having the bike in my bedroom is much more convenient than driving to a club, taking a class, and driving home.

All in all, indoor cycling on a SPINNER can be most beneficial. If you're only doing it for bad-weather training - or just for a change of pace - it's an excellent way to stay in shape over the short haul. It can even function as your only "cycling" experience, like it has for me. But, generally speaking, I think I'm more the exception than the rule on this.

One man's opinion. Hope it helped.


Jim

I'm one of the poor souls that doesn't live in sunny California , so I use both during the winter (although this is my first "offseason"). If it is over 40 and there's no snow on the roads, I'll be outside.

On the trainer, I've been using the "Spinnervals" DVD's. Pretty good workout for me.

I've also been doing spin classes. They are also a good workout, but they seem more like the stair-climber machine set to music. That may just be the class that I'm in -- it seems 80% of it is out of the saddle, which is good for me, but I don't think that the "bouncing" to music is particularly efficient cycling practice.

All said, either one is better than nothing...

I ride outdoors when it's not -30C (like today) and spin mostly in the winter but I also go to spinning classes on rainy days in the summer or on days when I am pressed for time but still want a good sweat and I find that the 2 (real cycling vs spinning) are really quite different.

It is easy to get used to a spinner (pay attention to bike setup) but you do develop some bad habits that take awhile to straighten out when you get back on the road. As good as workouts can be on the spinner, I find the road much more demanding.

Both are good, a good instructor, the right music...can make for a great indoor workout. Just don't think of it as cycling.

I do use a trainer. While spinning would contribute to cardio fitness and perhaps, some to overall cycling ability, using your actual bike on a trainer keeps your riding position in tact and actually exercises the same muscles as you use to ride the bike.

So, if you are looking for fitness only, either works well. If you are looking to ride your bike more efficiently, then the trainer is the way to go IMHO.

You may find it interesting to note that my LBS has leased part of the building to a spinning class. The owner and manager of both stores suggest that there is virtually no crossover between cycling and spinning as far as participation goes. The LBS does see some small benefit in apparel and accessory sales to spinners though.

Some warm clothing - especially full gloves, some sock liners and heavier socks, long tights and a windproof jacket and we can get you out there! (So I won't feel as alone on the bike trail). I'm in NoVA, too, and while this week is COLD (5 degrees), it'll get warm enough real soon. Many of the local shops already have their winter gear on sale, and I use a lot of cold weather gear I picked up for other reasons (e.g. not cycling specific or priced) for cold weather riding.

A cycling friend who races does some spinning and a lot of indoor trainer riding during the winter - his opinion is spinning is useful but not as cycling-specific as his longer and targeted trainer sessions. Spinning is a mix of riding, usually at an overall higher intensity, for 45 minutes-1 hour. He prefers his trainer. I see a number of people at local spinning classes who are triatheletes, so they obviously think it's helping them. I find it more enjoyable than riding a trainer by myself and the instructor and other students provides some motivation. Spinning gets the club's bike sweaty, not mine.

On the other hand, I can hit the trainer at my convenience. You can use whichever bike you want, geared or fixed. If the trainer has a means of varying resistance, it'll make riding fixed more interesting.

Spokes Etc in Vienna, per chance? I noticed their set up a few weeks ago in the back of the store. I didn't check what the story was on sessions.

Geared or not, fixed or free, it doesn't matter as long as it gives you sufficient resistance and you do the work. I will sometimes use the spin bike in the gym during the winter. It allows you to get in a decent training set without spending a lot of extra time dressing in all your clothes, having to ride out to an open road or trail, and washing/drying the bike off when you return.

Even if you don't have a PM or HRM, you can do interval training on a spin bike, particularly very hard, very short efforts like 30-30s and Tabatas.

Have you tried the LD-577 yet? It is a strong speed bike that can be used in the indoor gym. It also has a wide base and a wider frame similar to the commercial bikes. You can read the complete review of this website here: https://fitnessgeko.com/fitness/pro-...-ld577-review/

SPINNER is a brand name for an ordinary gym spin bike with variable resistance, for those who many not know.

1. Any aerobic training is helpful. I believe SPINNER brand spin bikes don't come with SPD-side pedals like most do. They do come with toe clips and straps, which should be used and tightened. If your gym doesn't have them fitted, find out why and where they put them when they took them off.

2. Pretty girls and boys and some encouragement from the instructor in a group spin session. Outside of a group session, no added benefit over other options.

3. Disadvantages are that it's not your bike, not your saddle, not your exact fit as it would be on your bike. Plus, since it's a fixie with a heavy flywheel, as the OP says, you only have to push down on the pedals, which degrades one's pedal stroke over time. And it's always too hot in a gym setting.

4. I used to incorporate training on an indoor cycle, but I gave that up because training on my own bike on a trainer (actually resistance rollers) is both more convenient and more effective and more versatile.

5. I used to do spin class once a week. Now I usually use my rollers/trainer three times a week if it's raining or too cold to ride outside or if I need to do a workout which can only be done on rollers/trainer.

6. I've used a Computrainer equivalent in a spin class setting and while it was fun, it's expensive and involves driving there. I have cyclist friends who love it and can spend the money on it. Quite effective.

OTOH, a good set of resistance rollers or trainer will set you back about $300 and will last you for decades, so that's quite cost-effective if you'll use it.

I have been doing sprint interval sessions on my bike on a trainer for about 2 years, to very good effect when I keep up with it. Last winter, I also got. Gym membership, and for about 3 months, did the same interval sessions on their gym bike with varying resistance (and tightened toe straps).

I found the fitness benefit to be similar to the bike/trainer set-up. After all, work is work. Yes, the bike fit was not as good as my bike, (it was actually more of a TT bike position with elbows resting), but I found no negative effect to real riding. I was still riding outside at least every week or two as weather allowed.

I would encourage it if that's all someone has. It can be used for Maintaining or increasing cycling fitness.

The OP was last on this forum in 2006.