Spinning classes....anybody participate?

Cannot say. Guess I'm too much a type A personality. Once I get my mind set on an objective, there is little to stop me. Recently (August 2004) decided to get back into biking to improve my health and now find myself on the trainer 6 days a week 80-90 mins a session. Started out at a woefully weak 20 mins a session but have found enough different things to do to keep me interested. But the main reason I think I have kept this up having the objective, to race again. So many days I think "I don't want to do this" but then I think ".. there is no way you can race if you don't". So I get on, do it, and feel so much better afterwards. So for me being able to get on the trainer at any time verses trying to schedule in a class with conflicting family schedules and such is a better way to go.

Funny thing is.. I thing I'm beginning to enjoy riding indoors more than outdoors! Scary. Sure that will change tho once the Maryland weather warms.

Realistically I have no expectations for any actual race results. For me, it's not about whether I win or lose, it's how I feel physically and mentally about myself. My only goals are to be fit and do better than my last race.

As to your question about improved fitness come spring, I've already seen much improved capabilities with strictly an indoor only riding schedule this past month. Try keeping a log of performance after each ride (distance/avg speed) if your setup allows. Heart rate (peak, average), a good indication of level of effort, if you have a heart rate monitor. Watts/average watts if you have a trainer that provides that capability. Given the same setup, the results of each session from week to week will probably show you improvement unless you are in elite condition. As in real life, metrics are good. While they can be a poor indication between people, they are excellent to see your personal improvement given the number of uncontrolled variables are minimal. Indoor riding gives you such an enviroment.

rolfdevinci said:

Just kinda curious as I started doing the classes in December because I just cannot motivate myself to work hard at home on the trainer. Having great expectations for the arrival of Spring and wanting to maintain decent fitness over the winter I find the group setting gives me that incentive to work hard in class.

Anybody else(who is winterbound) take spinning classes and do you notice a descernable difference on the real bike come Spring in terms of power, form and endurance? The reason I ask is the instructors I have ridden with really stress proper form; IE, pedal strokes,technique(one legged pedaling, lifts, hovers) and incorporate into the routines zone, interval and climbing training. At least what is possible on a stationary bike.

I guess the question I need answered is whether spin class training translates well to start of season road cycling or is it no different than any other cardio work?

joule said:

Cannot say. Guess I'm too much a type A personality. Once I get my mind set on an objective, there is little to stop me. Recently (August 2004) decided to get back into biking to improve my health and now find myself on the trainer 6 days a week 80-90 mins a session. Started out at a woefully weak 20 mins a session but have found enough different things to do to keep me interested. But the main reason I think I have kept this up having the objective, to race again. So many days I think "I don't want to do this" but then I think ".. there is no way you can race if you don't". So I get on, do it, and feel so much better afterwards. So for me being able to get on the trainer at any time verses trying to schedule in a class with conflicting family schedules and such is a better way to go.

Funny thing is.. I thing I'm beginning to enjoy riding indoors more than outdoors! Scary. Sure that will change tho once the Maryland weather warms.

Realistically I have no expectations for any actual race results. For me, it's not about whether I win or lose, it's how I feel physically and mentally about myself. My only goals are to be fit and do better than my last race.

As to your question about improved fitness come spring, I've already seen much improved capabilities with strictly an indoor only riding schedule this past month. Try keeping a log of performance after each ride (distance/avg speed) if your setup allows. Heart rate (peak, average), a good indication of level of effort, if you have a heart rate monitor. Watts/average watts if you have a trainer that provides that capability. Given the same setup, the results of each session from week to week will probably show you improvement unless you are in elite condition. As in real life, metrics are good. While they can be a poor indication between people, they are excellent to see your personal improvement given the number of uncontrolled variables are minimal. Indoor riding gives you such an enviroment.

Yeah....my objectives as well. Did my first race last summer and my race objectives are to finish, set PB`s and have fun.The race schedule here starts early in the Spring so any strategy to keep fit over the winter is important.

Cudos to you for the indoor riding. I`m lucky if I can get an hour in on the trainer and, rarely, push myself like the classes will do. Even after a month of classes(averaging 5 a week plus some weight training/ab work) I can feel and see a difference. If anything it will achieve the aim of keeping the winter weight off.

Good luck...i`m sure you will be a rocket come Spring.

One thing you might want to try on your trainer to do something different, interesting and helpful. If you are into TTs and/or determining your lactate threshold (LT), read about a TT training session to do same. Course you need a heart rate monitor for this test. Knowing your LT is useful for determining training thresholds for anerobic (endurance) or anaerobic (short term power) training.

After warming up, begin a 30 min TT. At 10 mins hit the lap button. Continue till the 30 min mark and end the session. Check your avg heart rate, should be close to your actual LT.

Well so I've read. Would be interesting in any comments to this method of determining your LT. If anything, good way to determine how hard you need to ride in a real 30 min (20k?) time trial.

rolfdevinci said:

Yeah....my objectives as well. Did my first race last summer and my race objectives are to finish, set PB`s and have fun.The race schedule here starts early in the Spring so any strategy to keep fit over the winter is important.

Cudos to you for the indoor riding. I`m lucky if I can get an hour in on the trainer and, rarely, push myself like the classes will do. Even after a month of classes(averaging 5 a week plus some weight training/ab work) I can feel and see a difference. If anything it will achieve the aim of keeping the winter weight off.

Good luck...i`m sure you will be a rocket come Spring.