Cycling

Selecting The Proper Spinning Class

Seeing how this season was my first on the bike, it is now my first offseason. One way that I’ve chosen to stay in shape is to attend spinning classes. I’ve been attending and comparing various spinning courses over the past few weeks, and now that I’m the authoritative expert on the matter, I’ll share what I’ve found.

For those that don’t know, spinning is riding a stationary “spin” bike in a classroom setting, usually to lame music. A spin bike is an improved form of the typical stationary bike, but differs in a few ways: it uses a freewheel, which resists changes in rotation once it has gained momentum; the bike is built in such a way that it allows you greater freedom of moment, especially when out of the saddle; you can often exchange the standard toe strap pedals for clipless pedals; and you have more control over the fit of the bike by being able to slide and/or raise the seat and handlebars. While this isn’t riding a bike, it’s as close as one can get while there is snow and ice on the ground. There is the option of using rollers or a trainer instead of spinning, but I don’t think that would suit me. I like the company.

So I’ve been comparing my gym’s nightly spinning classes to the classes available at a certified spinning studio, such as RPM. My goal is to find out if the dedicated spinning program is really worth it. Below is what I think I think.

Note: Both places use the Star Trac NXT spin bike, which is considered to be among the best in the business.

Advantages of a Dedicated Spin Studio

Structured workout: Whether you’re a serious cyclist or just looking to improve in the offseason, it is beneficial to have a training program that first focuses on base building. You shouldn’t start difficult classes right away; this is the offseason and you don’t want to burn out. There is also a chance that by going too hard, you could reach peak condition much sooner than you had anticipated.

For example, do you want to be in prime riding shape in late February? Probably not. In a spinning studio, a training plan will (or should) be outlined. At a local gym, you will be at the whims of an instructor that changes daily. If the instructor had a tough day at the office, he may decide to do a 50 minute hill training session. This makes the gym’s spinning program less predictable.

Credible instructors: Speaking of instructors, you want confidence in the instructor that is telling you to push yourself to maximum effort or that your position on the bike is incorrect.

The staff at a spinning studio typically know their stuff, and they are most likely avid cyclists. Instructors that you find at your local gym seem to be all over the map, which might have you questioning their workout routine and instructions.

As an example, one of my recent instructors at the gym tried giving me advice on positioning while out of the saddle. The position she recommended was so awkward that I’m convinced that my knees would be destroyed in only few weeks. No thanks…

Reserved bikes: If you pay a membership fee at a spinning studio, you will have your bike guaranteed. I’ve always managed to get a bike at my local gym, but I have seen people miss out on the class because they arrived a few minutes late. Bummer.

Harder and proper exercise: When the classes at a spin studio make it beyond the base training and in to the difficult workouts, the exercises become more challenging than the local gym. I think this is primarily due to spinning studios being led by cyclists and gyms being led by what I’ll call cardio instructors.

In my experience, the local gym offers a spinning class that is an alternate method to cardio workout. The spinning studio offers a class that provides offseason training to cyclists.

One such distinction between the two is that the local gym might have you doing exercises that don’t even translate to riding a bike. Jumping up and down exercises and no hand, low cadence riding seem absurd - I never do this on the bike.

Pedals: A spinning studio will allow you to bring your pedals to class. Using your pedals is better than the default toe straps or buying shoes specifically to meet the pedals on the spin bike. You may or may not be able to bring your pedals to the gym,and it can be a headache due to how quickly the classes change. Also, you’d be the only one doing it.

Benefits of the Local Gym

Convenience: One amazing and obvious benefit of the gym is that you can go when you want. Sure, the spinning classes are scheduled at certain times, but they might be offered 2-3 times daily, so you’ll have plenty of options.

With a spinning studio, you will have a rigid schedule, and you might occassionally need to miss. Missed classes can be expensive, which leads to…

Price: The costs of proper spinning classes can be prohibitive. For example, you might pay $300-400 for 2 classes/week for 3 months. Combine that with your existing gym fees, and you’ll be paying a hefty monthly price to stay in bike shape. Paying only $50-80/month in gym fees is attractive.

Access to weights: I’m going to assume that if you’re not a serious cyclist that you’d probably opt for the gym at this point. Why pay the extra money when you can get spinning classes and weights at the local gym? Serious cyclists should consider the same question. Proper training in the offseason should also include weight lifting to strengthen the core muscles. You shouldn’t choose a spinning studio over the gym; you choose the gym or the gym AND spin studio.

So that’s what I’ve discovered so far. The end result is clear: the spinning studio offers a better program, but if you can build your own workout routine, and you don’t mind occasionally (or often) disobeying the spin instructor, then the gym might be your best bet. A third, less realistic option might be to buy your own spin bike and keep your gym membership. You can find a good spin bike and instructional DVDs for $300+ on the web, although the NXT retails around $1500.

Happy spinning.

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