Is “Spinning” all it’s cracked up to be?
Some mates of mine have been going to spinning classes all winter and they’re dropping me like a stone whenever we go out riding together. Are these classes any good, or is it just aerobics on bikes?
Steven Ames, Surrey.
What is “Spinning”
When we talk about “Spinning”, we have to be very careful, because rather like the incorrect use of “Hoover” as opposed to “Vacuum Cleaner”, the term Spinning is used synonymously with all studio cycle workouts, when in fact it is a registered trademark of the Schwinn Bicycle Company.
According to Schwinn, their Spinning classes are taught in over 5,000 clubs in 100 countries around the world by over 20,000 certified instructors. Schwinn claim that their indoor studio cycle workout burns an average of 500 calories per forty-minute class. This obviously depends upon the fitness level of the individual, but I would think that most Mountain Bikers could exceed this figure if they put their minds to it. Add to the Schwinn figures, those of numerous other company’s that market their own interpretation of Spinning, and you have a very popular exercise class indeed.
Johnny G, the face behind the Schwinn Spinning program, was a huge influential force when it came to me designing and structuring my own classes. I participated in one of his classes at a fitness show in Germany some years back and was amazed at his incredible ability to extract every ounce of energy from my body and push me to levels of pain and intensity that I would ordinarily only experience during a race. Although my personal studio cycling certificate was issued by Reebok, not Schwinn, my own “Cycle Reebok” classes certainly contain that element of Johnny G sadomasochism, which has been forever etched on my memory.
Who takes part?
According to Johnny G, "The Schwinn Spinning program allows people of all ages and fitness levels to take a stationary bike and transform it into a powerful workout. Indoor cycling classes allow participants to experience road cycling without all the associated dangers. The program is also a great choice for the cyclist who wants to take his/her outdoor program inside during inclement weather."
When I worked in a London health club, the attendees of my classes were incredibly varied in ability. The cycling enthusiast would bring his/her own pedals and shoes and others would simply turn up in shorts, T-shirt and trainers. Studio cycling works well with different ability levels, because no one in the class knows how much resistance another person is using. This is because the resistance level is controlled by a discreet knob, or lever, with absolutely no consistency between machines whatsoever. So, if you consider yourself at the lower end of the fitness spectrum, don’t worry, no one will know unless you tell them. In fact the ‘keeny beeny’s’ end up far more knackered than anyone else, because they are all so darn competitive.
What does a class entail exactly?
A good instructor will play with your mind and push you to your limits. After a warm-up, the instructor may proceed by making you compete in a mock three-minute time-trial. You will then sprint for the line and try to beat the guy that’s sat next to you, also stationary and also frantically whipping his/her legs around in the struggle to the tape. You will get out of the saddle and climb an Alpine pass, with Marco Pantani dancing on the pedals just ahead of you. Then you will need to catch up with him, stick on his wheel for a while and then drop him like a stone as you sprint off for the King of the Mountains jersey (easy if you’ve got a vivid imagination). On the way down the other side, the hill will be so steep that the gear you are using just isn’t big enough and your legs will be spinning at your maximal RPM. This whole imaginary trip will be built around some formal interval training drills and sections of pedalling in time to the music. Fantastic fun when you’ve learnt the moves!
Will it help with my Mountain Biking?
I don’t think you’ve been imagining it Steven, your mates have definitely benefited from their “Spinning” classes (or whatever form of studio cycling they do). Regardless of your personal situation, I feel that one class per week could pay huge dividends to your fitness. If you find it difficult to motivate yourself to cycle on weekdays during the winter, you must try a class. If you only usually cycle at weekends during the winter months, the impact on next summer’s form from two-weekday studio cycle sessions is likely to be phenomenal.
I say “do it” if the weather’s not good, otherwise get out there and ride the singletrack with your pals – you can’t beat the real thing.
Some mates of mine have been going to spinning classes all winter and they’re dropping me like a stone whenever we go out riding together. Are these classes any good, or is it just aerobics on bikes?
Steven Ames, Surrey.
What is “Spinning”
When we talk about “Spinning”, we have to be very careful, because rather like the incorrect use of “Hoover” as opposed to “Vacuum Cleaner”, the term Spinning is used synonymously with all studio cycle workouts, when in fact it is a registered trademark of the Schwinn Bicycle Company.
According to Schwinn, their Spinning classes are taught in over 5,000 clubs in 100 countries around the world by over 20,000 certified instructors. Schwinn claim that their indoor studio cycle workout burns an average of 500 calories per forty-minute class. This obviously depends upon the fitness level of the individual, but I would think that most Mountain Bikers could exceed this figure if they put their minds to it. Add to the Schwinn figures, those of numerous other company’s that market their own interpretation of Spinning, and you have a very popular exercise class indeed.
Johnny G, the face behind the Schwinn Spinning program, was a huge influential force when it came to me designing and structuring my own classes. I participated in one of his classes at a fitness show in Germany some years back and was amazed at his incredible ability to extract every ounce of energy from my body and push me to levels of pain and intensity that I would ordinarily only experience during a race. Although my personal studio cycling certificate was issued by Reebok, not Schwinn, my own “Cycle Reebok” classes certainly contain that element of Johnny G sadomasochism, which has been forever etched on my memory.
Who takes part?
According to Johnny G, "The Schwinn Spinning program allows people of all ages and fitness levels to take a stationary bike and transform it into a powerful workout. Indoor cycling classes allow participants to experience road cycling without all the associated dangers. The program is also a great choice for the cyclist who wants to take his/her outdoor program inside during inclement weather."
When I worked in a London health club, the attendees of my classes were incredibly varied in ability. The cycling enthusiast would bring his/her own pedals and shoes and others would simply turn up in shorts, T-shirt and trainers. Studio cycling works well with different ability levels, because no one in the class knows how much resistance another person is using. This is because the resistance level is controlled by a discreet knob, or lever, with absolutely no consistency between machines whatsoever. So, if you consider yourself at the lower end of the fitness spectrum, don’t worry, no one will know unless you tell them. In fact the ‘keeny beeny’s’ end up far more knackered than anyone else, because they are all so darn competitive.
What does a class entail exactly?
A good instructor will play with your mind and push you to your limits. After a warm-up, the instructor may proceed by making you compete in a mock three-minute time-trial. You will then sprint for the line and try to beat the guy that’s sat next to you, also stationary and also frantically whipping his/her legs around in the struggle to the tape. You will get out of the saddle and climb an Alpine pass, with Marco Pantani dancing on the pedals just ahead of you. Then you will need to catch up with him, stick on his wheel for a while and then drop him like a stone as you sprint off for the King of the Mountains jersey (easy if you’ve got a vivid imagination). On the way down the other side, the hill will be so steep that the gear you are using just isn’t big enough and your legs will be spinning at your maximal RPM. This whole imaginary trip will be built around some formal interval training drills and sections of pedalling in time to the music. Fantastic fun when you’ve learnt the moves!
Will it help with my Mountain Biking?
I don’t think you’ve been imagining it Steven, your mates have definitely benefited from their “Spinning” classes (or whatever form of studio cycling they do). Regardless of your personal situation, I feel that one class per week could pay huge dividends to your fitness. If you find it difficult to motivate yourself to cycle on weekdays during the winter, you must try a class. If you only usually cycle at weekends during the winter months, the impact on next summer’s form from two-weekday studio cycle sessions is likely to be phenomenal.
I say “do it” if the weather’s not good, otherwise get out there and ride the singletrack with your pals – you can’t beat the real thing.
