Are there any spinning instructors/participants in?
Discussion
I've not long completed my instructors course and have started taking lessons (predominantly for non cyclists).
My preferred method is to state the RPM and RPE required, I find unnecessery 'fluff' can be overly distracting.
I'm interested to hear what you think makes a good lesson both for a cyclist and non cyclist.
Finding appropriate beat/RPM matched music is proving the greatest challenge!
My preferred method is to state the RPM and RPE required, I find unnecessery 'fluff' can be overly distracting.
I'm interested to hear what you think makes a good lesson both for a cyclist and non cyclist.
Finding appropriate beat/RPM matched music is proving the greatest challenge!
I love the RPM classes at my gym ('Better' @ the Oasis in Swindon). They are v popular.
Music-wise, new 'releases' come out roughly every month, however our instructor tends to mix n match a bit. It's mostly dance/trancey stuff. All good. The instructor really gets into it too which helps immensely.
My only gripe is that the bikes are v basic. No meter, purely a dial to add/reduce the resistance so you can (and a few do) make it easy. The competitor in me would like to see a display on the front wall showing who's putting the effort in but that'll never happen ;-)
Music-wise, new 'releases' come out roughly every month, however our instructor tends to mix n match a bit. It's mostly dance/trancey stuff. All good. The instructor really gets into it too which helps immensely.
My only gripe is that the bikes are v basic. No meter, purely a dial to add/reduce the resistance so you can (and a few do) make it easy. The competitor in me would like to see a display on the front wall showing who's putting the effort in but that'll never happen ;-)
I've been to a couple of different ones. If there's music, then I find it much easier if the RPM matches the beat. If it doesn't match then the music is just a distraction and gets on my nerves.
Worst thing is bikes with shagged crank bearings. I appreciate that's not really down to the instructor but feeling the clunk through your knees every revolution is horrible!
Worst thing is bikes with shagged crank bearings. I appreciate that's not really down to the instructor but feeling the clunk through your knees every revolution is horrible!
Have done / do a bit of indoor cycling.
Started cycling @ the usual gym Spin classes. These were all too music, normal “gym crowd”; so a mix of fit and unfit alike. The best classes were where the instructors had spent time matching the music to the segments. All were RPM / PE based. Sort of music that tended to work best was chart, house, some big beat, smattering of rock. I remember Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Knife Party (Bonfire works well); Prodigy (most tracks good; Out of Space works well for climbing into sprints); Nickleback (Rockstar – climbing) etc etc. Also some 80’s & 90’s music always seemed to work well. I think Old School Hip Hop works well, but probably not in a class format (Krs1, BDK, Wu Tang, PE, Eric B & Rakim, Cypress Hill, NWA, Main Source, Snoop etc); as its hardly all inclusive so best left to the Turbo in the man cave. I also think you might be able to do album specific classes (if you had the time). I’m minded that LTJ Bukem’s “Logical Progression vol 1” would make a good single album workout; might have to try it.
I remember this generally being pretty low resistance high cadence work (but requires the cadence / resistance display). The problem with most gym spin bikes in the Likes of David Lloyd is they don’t mimic real bikes well; and there will be some proper comedy bike set-ups (60% of the class will set up the bike in a sit up and beg fashion; the instructor should enforce better bike positioning). I’m sure there’s a cycling pay off; but I’d class this more as keep fit than cycling fit (I dread to think of some of the hip rotation problems).
After taking up cycling outside, I dropped spin a bit but have tried CycleBeat in London for their 2 week trial period. This is again Spin to music; but with Power display and everything hooked up to a class leaderboard. Still RPM / PE based; but the added benefit of power made the class a bit more competitive; as everyone strived for the big numbers. Its outright watts, not per KG so you obviously ended up with the bigger lads showing some impressive figures. Similar to gym spin, but a more Gucci version if you like. Here’s a link www.cyclebeat.co.uk
Being time poor (x2 kids, injury & repeat crashes / breaking bikes); I’ve been cycling less and less of late so joined Athlete Lab this year – www.athlete-lab.co.uk This is all FTP based training on stationary bikes (proper geometry) hooked up to powermeters. Its programme specific, and does without the instructor on a bike – BUT does have instructors shouting at you walking around. This is much more bike specific; but still too music (generally we watch races – Tour, Vuelta, Giro, classics etc on the big screen as well). Everyone’s ride data is up on display, and you train to your FTP (so resistance is altered to keep you in certain % of FTP power zones). There are also climbing sessions without tethering to FTP, but its much more bike realistic (well as far as you can indoors). Music is there, but less important as the workouts are tough and very much geared to the programme; plus you’re getting bombarded with data. You also then get a full workout breakdown with NP, Average Power, Max Power, Cadence, left / right balance, intensity scoring, Thresholds, Powerzone, graphs etc (it looks like a Bloomberg trading screen).
Take up here seems to be all racing, club or Ironman riders, but maybe some of the programmes / theory can be exported to general Spin (certainly some of the HIIT). If you can spare the time, its worth checking it out and working out what if anything can be applied to more general “Spin”.
I’ve also tried Watt Bikes at an indoor altitude training centre. Don’t like Watt Bikes, but a spin class at 3000m could be interesting…..
Spin is a great social training environment; but the more of a cyclist / more serious you take it the more sepcific the workout needs (and equipment requirement).
Started cycling @ the usual gym Spin classes. These were all too music, normal “gym crowd”; so a mix of fit and unfit alike. The best classes were where the instructors had spent time matching the music to the segments. All were RPM / PE based. Sort of music that tended to work best was chart, house, some big beat, smattering of rock. I remember Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Knife Party (Bonfire works well); Prodigy (most tracks good; Out of Space works well for climbing into sprints); Nickleback (Rockstar – climbing) etc etc. Also some 80’s & 90’s music always seemed to work well. I think Old School Hip Hop works well, but probably not in a class format (Krs1, BDK, Wu Tang, PE, Eric B & Rakim, Cypress Hill, NWA, Main Source, Snoop etc); as its hardly all inclusive so best left to the Turbo in the man cave. I also think you might be able to do album specific classes (if you had the time). I’m minded that LTJ Bukem’s “Logical Progression vol 1” would make a good single album workout; might have to try it.
I remember this generally being pretty low resistance high cadence work (but requires the cadence / resistance display). The problem with most gym spin bikes in the Likes of David Lloyd is they don’t mimic real bikes well; and there will be some proper comedy bike set-ups (60% of the class will set up the bike in a sit up and beg fashion; the instructor should enforce better bike positioning). I’m sure there’s a cycling pay off; but I’d class this more as keep fit than cycling fit (I dread to think of some of the hip rotation problems).
After taking up cycling outside, I dropped spin a bit but have tried CycleBeat in London for their 2 week trial period. This is again Spin to music; but with Power display and everything hooked up to a class leaderboard. Still RPM / PE based; but the added benefit of power made the class a bit more competitive; as everyone strived for the big numbers. Its outright watts, not per KG so you obviously ended up with the bigger lads showing some impressive figures. Similar to gym spin, but a more Gucci version if you like. Here’s a link www.cyclebeat.co.uk
Being time poor (x2 kids, injury & repeat crashes / breaking bikes); I’ve been cycling less and less of late so joined Athlete Lab this year – www.athlete-lab.co.uk This is all FTP based training on stationary bikes (proper geometry) hooked up to powermeters. Its programme specific, and does without the instructor on a bike – BUT does have instructors shouting at you walking around. This is much more bike specific; but still too music (generally we watch races – Tour, Vuelta, Giro, classics etc on the big screen as well). Everyone’s ride data is up on display, and you train to your FTP (so resistance is altered to keep you in certain % of FTP power zones). There are also climbing sessions without tethering to FTP, but its much more bike realistic (well as far as you can indoors). Music is there, but less important as the workouts are tough and very much geared to the programme; plus you’re getting bombarded with data. You also then get a full workout breakdown with NP, Average Power, Max Power, Cadence, left / right balance, intensity scoring, Thresholds, Powerzone, graphs etc (it looks like a Bloomberg trading screen).
Take up here seems to be all racing, club or Ironman riders, but maybe some of the programmes / theory can be exported to general Spin (certainly some of the HIIT). If you can spare the time, its worth checking it out and working out what if anything can be applied to more general “Spin”.
I’ve also tried Watt Bikes at an indoor altitude training centre. Don’t like Watt Bikes, but a spin class at 3000m could be interesting…..
Spin is a great social training environment; but the more of a cyclist / more serious you take it the more sepcific the workout needs (and equipment requirement).
The women in the class last night I doubt have ever seen a bike. Yes they were fit (in the original sense) but everyone doing stuff you wouldn't on a bike in real life, with the instructors encouragement like mashing pedals..
1 had spd shoes, that were so sparkly they couldn't have ever been outside.
1 had spd shoes, that were so sparkly they couldn't have ever been outside.
louiebaby said:
Not done any, but kind of interested in the idea of being an instructor. What does the instructor training entail?
http://www.nscr.co.uk/phase1info.htmI really enjoyed the course, although only 3 days I learnt quite a bit which has helped me understand training out on the bike as well as indoors.
I'm fortunate that work (RAF) paid for it and as such my audience is primarily personnel, it's a 50/50 mixture of those who cycle and those who are there for general fitness.
A good class for me is simple clear instruction, lack of gimmicks and a workout plan/music which draws out maximum effort.
lufbramatt said:
I've been to a couple of different ones. If there's music, then I find it much easier if the RPM matches the beat. If it doesn't match then the music is just a distraction and gets on my nerves.
Worst thing is bikes with shagged crank bearings. I appreciate that's not really down to the instructor but feeling the clunk through your knees every revolution is horrible!
See also the rowing machines with rusty chains. Grate-grate-grate. Not a good one...Worst thing is bikes with shagged crank bearings. I appreciate that's not really down to the instructor but feeling the clunk through your knees every revolution is horrible!
TheFungle said:
A good class for me is simple clear instruction, lack of gimmicks and a workout plan/music which draws out maximum effort.
Oh absolutely - if I can lose myself in some music I get a much better workout.Actually helping people to pedal correctly as opposed to the pointy down toes or I have spuds so massive my knees need to point out you see so often.
But on a serious note I really like classes that include back to back climbs as it gets folks to realise that more than 4 minutes bursts of effort are possible.
But on a serious note I really like classes that include back to back climbs as it gets folks to realise that more than 4 minutes bursts of effort are possible.
Actually helping people to pedal correctly as opposed to the pointy down toes or I have spuds so massive my knees need to point out you see so often.
But on a serious note I really like classes that include back to back climbs as it gets folks to realise that more than 4 minutes bursts of effort are possible.
But on a serious note I really like classes that include back to back climbs as it gets folks to realise that more than 4 minutes bursts of effort are possible.
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