Cycling Classes
- Thread starter shawn5
- Start date
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Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
I assume you mean spin class?
In short, they dont compare well at all to riding on the road, even as a fixed wheel rider, the fixed wheel spin machines that are in my gym are nothing like riding a real bike. At all.
Bare in mind, the people who most gym's are aiming these classes at are people wanting to lose weight, gain a bit of fitness etc and they devise routines based on this. The instructors on the most part are not cyclists, probly dont know much about cycling whatsoever and thus dont devise plans based around improving your road riding performance.
Of course you will gain some valuable fitness etc from it, but its no substitute for the road, riding rollers or a turbo will be the next best thing to riding on the road.
In short, they dont compare well at all to riding on the road, even as a fixed wheel rider, the fixed wheel spin machines that are in my gym are nothing like riding a real bike. At all.
Bare in mind, the people who most gym's are aiming these classes at are people wanting to lose weight, gain a bit of fitness etc and they devise routines based on this. The instructors on the most part are not cyclists, probly dont know much about cycling whatsoever and thus dont devise plans based around improving your road riding performance.
Of course you will gain some valuable fitness etc from it, but its no substitute for the road, riding rollers or a turbo will be the next best thing to riding on the road.
rodgy-dodge
An Exceptional Member
- Location
- North East, Teesside
Out on the open road every time....couldn't bare the thought of sitting in one space staring at a machine when there's far more eye candy out side.
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
Some spinning instructors at my gym are serious road cyclists.... but their classes still bear little relationship to real cycling.
I suggest you try a class and see whether you enjoy it. If not, dont rejoin the gym, just spend the money on a road bike.
I suggest you try a class and see whether you enjoy it. If not, dont rejoin the gym, just spend the money on a road bike.
billy1561
BB wrecker
- Location
- North west England
Have to get my eyes checked i thought this thread was about glasses! 
lanternrouge
Active Member
i go to spin once or twice a week and love it. its no comparison to being on the open road but does help with the fitness during the week when its too dark to ride in the evenings.
i did try a turbo trainer but found it too hard to get motivated. thats what i think spin does for me so i would highly recommend it if you need a bit of motivation and find the ordinary gym boring.
i did try a turbo trainer but found it too hard to get motivated. thats what i think spin does for me so i would highly recommend it if you need a bit of motivation and find the ordinary gym boring.
Paul_L
Über Member
- Location
- Shipley, West Yorks
very good for general fitness, but won't make you a better cyclist.
I do the occasional 45 min class, and i usually leave absolutely spent, so it must do something!
I do the occasional 45 min class, and i usually leave absolutely spent, so it must do something!
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I'm supposed to be writing my MSc dissertation just now so I've got a turbo trainer to keep me turning over but I'd much rather be out there. I've done a spin class before but I couldn't really get into it, all I could think of, as before 'I'd rather be out there'.