Mrs expressed an interest in Spinning classes this week.
Having looked around, there are none that are going to work for her, so now shes looking for spinning bikes (heavy clothes horses?) on ebay et.al.
Shes found one that has a computer that runs a class on it. Ie: you turn the pedals for 20 mins, and it runs a fittness program, which seems like a better idea than just sitting turning your legs with no guidance.
My opinion on spinning classes (which i have never done), is that the main components are:
*- You paid for it, so you GO every week, rather than put it off or not bother
*- There is someone shouting at you and pumping EDM music to make you put effort in, which you wont get at home.
How does Spinning compare to a Turbo?
i suggested that something like Zwift might be better for home use, as (as i understand it) you have "somewhere to ride to", and the "hills" are pre defined. You have a defined target and resistance schedule, rather than just being left to your own thoughts and finding it hard and turning it down, or getting bored and turning it off?
The other budget option would be the GCN videos, and work along with Manon and the gang in their programmes on youtube.
Any commentary welcomed!
Any kit reccomendations?
Its been a while since she rode a bike properly (ie, with two wheels, and without three kids on board) so Rollers are a non starter.
How much is the spin bike with training programme?
How much is a smart trainer that you might also use? Are you the same height as your wife? Saves messing with bike swaps on smart trainer.
How much would the spin classes be?
Have you got spare room for the spin bike or would you be pedaling in a cold garage?
Etc
Op, does your wife/partner ride a bike irl? If so Zwift might be the way to go but initial set up can be a little pricey depending upon the set up you want and if you have a bike ready to go on a turbo already. Then the cost of the turbo itself of course.
I don't really have an answer but I tend to think...
Spinning Class - pure cardio' work out (low resistance and high cadence)
Turbo Trainer - cardio' plus some strength/endurance element (varying resistance and cadence)
If she's currently doing no exercise then either is a good place to start and you can just let her 'evolve' her training to suit her needs ;o)
Get a turbo trainer Olly, then you can use it as well and smash it on the next Wales weekend 😉
Have you got spare room for the spin bike or would you be pedaling in a cold garage?
Before you buy your spin bike that sounds like a horrid idea. A week later that really doesn't sound like a bad thing!
Would a Peleton bike* and sub be the right thing? Can't say I think they're for me but it does sound like the midpoint between your (realistic?) opinion of how and why these things work and your wife's spinning idea.
Zwift works well for me, but that being said I like to ride a bike, and I like computer games, zwift and the like are both those things.
The idea of Pelton does nothing for me, but the idea of spinning classes doesn't either. Purely based on me I can't honestly see (zwift rgt etc) one being a substitute for the other (spinning).
*expensive but probably available for about the same price as a clothes horse on ebay
Get a turbo, use zwift.
It’s a totally different experience to any old school turbo.
She’ll probably actually enjoy it.
This is assuming you have space/funds of course.
Personally I prefer Spin bikes to basic turbo, but I like to ride fixed wheel and do so on the rollers. You can still ride Zwift on a spin bike with a power meter (e.g., Assioma single side pedal) but it's not a cheap option at £400 plus the bike. Since a Spin bike is fixed wheel and static, speed = power.
Spinning Class – pure cardio’ work out (low resistance and high cadence)
Turbo Trainer – cardio’ plus some strength/endurance element (varying resistance and cadence)
Very class dependent, in fact I tended to ignore my old spin instructor when he went reeeally low cadence/high resistance.
Old school turbos can be had super cheap if you're not ready to invest in the Zwift infrastructure. My roller/turbo sessions are typically GCN vids + old school techno in my headphones + SAD lamp for some extra serotonin 😎 That lot needn't cost much, and if she/you like it then you can get spendy on Zwift
I really rate Zwift & there's different ways to use it so it's really versatile (i.e. ride solo, organised rides, races, training programs etc) so a cheap road bike permanently mounted on a smart trainer would be favourite (actually, an adjustable smart-bike would be the best option but they're £££!)
IME just following a number on a screen like TrainerRoad or the spin bike described in the OP is too dry and tedious for me to stick with.
IMO zwift/turbo training are two totally different things really so depends what she actually wants to do!
If you're an Apple user then their Fitness+ service is excellent, there's loads of instructor-led spin videos with music etc & new ones every week!
my wife used to spin.
she wanted to get back into it.
i convinced her that Zwift was better. She tried it for 6 months. Didn't like it. We sold her turbo trainer & bike that was on it and she got a spin bike. She now does spin classes via Les Mills (and many other classes, like body pump etc).
so with that in mind, if she hasn't done spin before, you might be able to sway her towards Zwift. If she has done spinning before and knows what she likes, Zwift might be a failed experiment.
The point about classes is that (as studies have shown) you feel obliged to go out and do it when it's an organised thing because there are other people involved. Regardless of what you buy for your own home, if it's just you doing it with yourself it'll be far easier to just delay it til it's too late or just sack it off altogether.
The fact that Zwift has visual hills doesn't really make much difference, for me. The benefits of Zwift are, in my view:
1. Predefined races: Of course, people will say they don't want to race, and I get that, but the race categories go all the way down to basically zero in terms of training, and you're going to come 150th or whatever. But it shows you the people around you and who you've just beaten or lost to each week; and you start to recognise names, so it can be fun to come back and see how the others are doing and try and beat them.
2. Riding groups: There's a Zwift group on here and I joined in with a colleague's club group races. We come nowhere, and we're shit, but I attend because I don't want to be the quitter.
3. Having Zwift means you have a device in front of you, and that device will also allow you to watch Netflix (other streaming services are available). I do race flat out when it's race time, but at other times I cannot be bothered so I just put something on with the Zwift scenery in the background. Because Zwift is much more consistent power than riding on road, I reckon that watching a whole film whilst chilling on Zwift is equivalent to a 3hr base training ride outside. This is the only tolerable way to do base training on a turbo trainer! If you can't manage a whole film then watching episodes is also great, because it tends to keep you there for half an hour or however long the episode is.
But you need something - just slogging away on a turbo is shit, as is slogging away pointlessly on Zwift. The scheduled training programmes are only of interest, in my view, if you are performance orientated and you can see your numbers go up for the benefit of riding with your mates or racing etc.
Zwift is much more for cyclists, who want to be faster cyclists. If it's for fitness I'd definitely be looking at a Peloton bike (assuming budget will allow it) - it'll be much more fun.
The set up costs for these are all quite high. I'd go with whatever she is leaning towards. Otherwise it may just be a waste of cash.
Nothing really to add except a stealth ad for my fairly basic but smart trainer in the classifieds 😉
On the training note, as someone who has discovered that what I enjoy about cycling is being outside, a turbo wasn't for me (hence the sale) however Zwift did make it more enjoyable but only when my mates were online also.
I was doing it in a cold garage and just didn't really enjoy it, I would rather just head out.
However if it's for fitness then maybe YMMV
OP is 100% ban on, in my experience.
I did a twice weekly spinning class for about 3 years and got great benefit from it because
A)There was a great instructor screaming at me and pushing me
B) Its dark, sweaty, and very loud.
C) I'd paid for it and booked it in, when I turned up I was mentall ready to 'train'.
None of this will happen if you have 'spin bike' at home - I considered it for a long time but then ultimately made that realisation.
Zwift, with a good turbo however, works great, and I know use it to great effect as a replacement/alternative for the Spin classes.
Contrary to the above, I've done solid winters of spin classes (pre-Zwift and because I had a gym membership) with a decent instructor and I've never felt they've done much good for my riding.
Good for sweating like a b@st@rd and an edorphin rush, but even with a good instructor the structure is too far removed from proper race training IMO.
That's from a fairly decent level though (without wanting to sound arrogant) - the benefits of spin classes are probably greater if you're going in from a lower point.
I do both, when the weather is so bad I no longer want to go out. I have a Wahoo Kickr and use BKool, as I got some deal and it was ok. But I quite like spin classes as it's quite a social experience.
This winter I think I'll just do the spin classes as it's a right arse setting up the bike on the Wahoo and takes up too much needless room.
Bit surprised there's no suitable classes as there are 3 venues near me with classes throughout the day. The best one is led by a road biker though
Zwift isnt for everyone. I found it dull-dull-dull. So I tried smart rollers and Zwift = better but it took up a lot of room.
Then my wife ignored me and bought a Peloton bike. I have to say she was spot-on and its changed my fitness/training regime.
I like spinning classes, I like someone shouting at me. almost three years on I am much stronger than I was in the past. I ride it at least once a week, average 2-3 and use the app/stretching etc three + times a week and now on a two year streak. Even though I know how to stretch I use it after every ride (inside or out), just a good habit. Even if I am not well I make sure I do a couple stretching sessions each week.
Like the new types of 'exercise bikes' for Zwift, the Peloton bike is always ready, zero setup.
I have been riding mtb's since 94 and road bikes since 96 almost daily. Spinning is excellent.
Spinning Class – pure cardio’ work out (low resistance and high cadence)
I dont agree with this. Its all depending on the class type you choose. Hell you can even add in some weights with some of the workouts. Off the people I know who have bought Peloton bikes (6): Three are hooked and its transformed their fitness. One of which was a cyclist of a good standard before. Two are an occasional user. One hasnt really used it at all, right from the start which is odd
If it helps the discussion she wants it mainly for fitness, has never tried spinning, but does normally ride bikes, historically (hah) mtb, but mainly daily transport. With no spinning experience https://www.exercise-bike-review.co.uk/viavito-satori-exercise-bike-review.html was looked at. Edit* but didn't know zwift and rouvy existed.
If you'd all recommend something expensive my personal opinion is the OP should buy it for her...
(Practically classes not a great option. The only one locally that allows an 8 wk old baby alongside the rider clashes with the school run... life's that exciting)
We have a peloton bike, have had it for almost two years. It is excellent for maintaining basic fitness, but I prefer to go to 'real life' spin classes where you get to interact with people. So I tend to do a couple of in person classes a week and aspire to do a couple of peloton classes as well (although they often get dropped).
Peloton sub is £39 per month, but it includes some really good stretching/ Pilates/ yoga classes and some excellent meditation classes amongst many other options and we have five users on it as well. So reasonable VFM if you can get the bike at the right price.
My Missus bought a basic friction based spin bike about 18 months ago, turn a dial get more resistance, essentially the same as the things you find in spin classes.
First of all it lived in the spare room with a TV so she could follow spin videos on YT, and she used it a couple of times (without much enthusiasm), then we needed the space back so it got moved to the Garage along with all of my stuff...
I've since 3D printed a little bottle holder/Garmin mount that fits on the bars neatly (the included "Computer" is long dead) and I now just leave my HR strap and a towel hanging from the bars with the seat set at my preferred height so it's ready to go any time.
Me and my eldest use it far more than the boss ever did, She occasionally vows to start using it again... Then doesn't.
My use of it is a pretty straight forwards ~1hr session once or twice a week:
10min warm up to Z3 with a bit of resistance, then turn up the resistance and do 20mins held in Z4 to low Z5, 10 min low resistance spin in Z2-Z3, and repeat the 20min Z4-5 then a ten min spin down.
generally I just do it in normal trainers and shorts, but I'm tempted to find some cheap single sided SPD pedals so she can still use it in normal footwear and I can clip in.
TBH it's not really like normal cycling, effectively it has 2 modes and either simulates riding a fixie through quicksand or strapping your legs to a flywheel with very little in between, but if you want to hold a specific HR for a prolonged period it kind of works.
I do keep meaning to try one to the GCN (or other channels) spin session videos with a phone/tablet/laptop but TBH my 1 hour sessions with my own choice of music, beasting myself while staring at a HR monitor suits me, I just wander to the garage work up a sweat then go have a shower. If I actually wanted a Gym bunny to shout motivational nonsense at me over 90s Dance hits, I'd be visiting a Gym.
My missus has since signed up for a Gym again... And visited about three times in six months.
Also in the Garage are a treadmill, an elliptical trainer and a punchbag the purchase process was similar to the spin bike for all of these and the current use case is depressingly alike.
I use the treadmill occasionally, nobody uses the elliptical trainer or the punch bag anymore.
I do quite like the idea of getting a Rowing machine...
All the peloton and other posh spin bikes she looked at seemed to be are similar crappy spin machines, but with a tablet stuck on the bars, Is there much point in anything fancier? I'm not sure if she'd have used it more if there was an overpriced subscription attached to the bloody thing.
The home fitness industry basically relies on seasonal fads and body shaming to stay afloat...
I do quite like the idea of getting a Rowing machine…
Handy that Concept2's stand upright as it makes a better clothes hanger after you have stopped using it 😉
I am an ex-rower and hate, hate , hate rowing machines. They are good and if you stick to them you will get really fit. I dont know a single person who has stuck to that mind you away from the rowing club gym.
I have been doing it all (of the above) for almost 30 years. I have rowed at a good high standard. I hate gyms now. Winter bike, and some mtbing and the Peloton is the best all year combination of fitness and fun I have found.
See the rowing machine is far and away my favourite part of my gym routine. It's about the only thing I'll make a point of doing even if it means hanging about for it to come free.
It's my go to, even if I've only 10 minutes to fit something in.
I reckon it would get used regularly, as in once a year every year, if I bought one.
I like spinning classes, I like someone shouting at me.
A lot of this depends on how you're wired. I hate people shouting at me, it does absolutely nothing for my motivation. Self-talk is a different thing altogether. Similarly I'm not bothered for classes or gyms, I guess I'm motivated enough that I don't need a financial imperative to train and I don't laze around looking for excuses not to.
If I were the OP, I'd be having a proper chat with the missus about what motivates her. It may be that the elements of a spin class that appeal to her can be replicated using a smart turbo - it doesn't have to be Zwift, there are plenty of alternative platforms that might work. Plus I don't see why she shouldn't be able to do spin classes / sessions on a smart trainer by simply changing up or down a gear to allow a higher or lower cadence with the turbo in dumb / level mode.
The advantage is that a turbo can be used for more than just spinning classes - and by both of you - while a spin bike is pretty much limited to spinning, I think.
I had a spinning bike in the garage pre-smart trainers and used it for a few years through winter, with just DVD box sets and sufferfest videos. It was a great way to get and stay fit but I only stuck at it through sheer stubborn-ness. These days I have a smart trainer and use SYSTM/Zwift but it sounds to me like your wife might be better with something like Peloton.
Handy that Concept2’s stand upright as it makes a better clothes hanger after you have stopped using it 😉
Sounds about right 🙂
I like spin classes at the gym, good ones anyway. I don't think you could replicate that group dynamic at home, even as an extreme introvert I still find the group experience of something far more motivating than solo (like going to the cinema/theater is different to watching it at home even if you have a big TV).
If you have a bike that'll fit her on a turbo I think the sufferfest is probably the closest to a spin class. Way more structured (and generally longer) than a spin class, but the storylines are at least motivational.
Zwifts also fun for just riding around in which is neither of those really. And does have training plans/workouts to pick now.
I have a wattbike a Zwift and FulGaz subscription but I’ve decided to do 3 spin classes a week for the winter.
The classes are free with my gym subscription and 2 of them competitive using Spivi. I rinse myself in those class far more than on the wattbike.
The wattbike isn’t great in erg mode with Zwift so I use the spin classes to put high power efforts into my riding.
I find that the classes cover a wide range of cadences and are not all 100rom plus. Plus you can just ignore the instructor and work if the power meter.
If you have a bike that’ll fit her on a turbo I think the sufferfest is probably the closest to a spin class. Way more structured (and generally longer) than a spin class, but the storylines are at least motivational
It changed its name to Systm when it was bought out by Wahoo, but despite the stupid name it's now a lot better - it has lost a bit of the bleeding-eyes-suffer-suffer-suffer ethos it had before, but it's got a lot more content. I'm a big fan of the On Location rides, where they've built a workout around an outdoor ride, with nice scenery and decent commentary. Certainly worth a go as it's quite different to Zwift.
