6 Benefits of Spinning That'll Convince You to Sign Up
Part of the reason we love cycling is because it allows us to get outside and explore. But sometimes, the weather is just plain awful or there’s just not enough time in the day.
The next best option? A Spin class, of course. Most studios offer a variety off class options—some as short as 20 minutes—so you’re always able to fit a workout into your busy schedule. Plus, the work you do in a class complements your on-the-road training perfectly, according to Peloton instructor Jess King.
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“It’s an opportunity for you to play around with your training—there’s something for you to hear, learn, and experience that you can take with you back on the road. So why not dip into both worlds?” she says.
[Find 52 weeks of tips and motivation, with space to fill in your mileage and favorite routes, with the Bicycling Training Journal.]
Below, six more reasons you should totally take that indoor cycling class you’ve been curious about.
1. Anyone can do it.
Spinning is one of those things that seems a bit intimidating if you’ve never done it before. But as long as you have access to a gym, you can take classes that range from beginner to expert, King says, each of which helps build the main muscles used for cycling and your cardiovascular system. Peloton’s beginner-friendly classes teach participants the correct form and technique that will translate to every other level. “We have this unique opportunity to create something for everyone,” King says. But most studios and instructors offer a variety of options that will suit your needs or experience level.
And if you’ve already got the stamina to climb hills and ride long outside, you’re that much more ready to conquer a Spin class. Both studios and at-home options such as Peloton or Flywheel offer longer, more advanced classes as well.
2. It’s a unique experience.
It goes without saying that taking a Spin class is not the same as riding outside. While you can still experience similar terrain (hills and flat ground), King says in-studio Spin classes can feel more like a party than a workout.
“There’s music from all different decades—from classic rock to EDM—and we use interval training, tabata training, and heart rate training, so it’s still a great workout,” she says.
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A lot of times when you’re out on the road, it’s just you and the voice that’s in your head. That can be a good thing when you want to escape to nature and clear your mind, but it can be a bad thing when the voice is telling you to head home. Being in a class setting changes things up—especially when you have the motivation of an instructor cheering you on. (Because let’s be real, there are times when you just really don’t want to do that interval workout on your own.)
“Spin gives you a new perspective on how to ride, breathe, and think about your body,” King says.
3. There’s a supportive community.
When you take an indoor cycling class, everyone from the instructor to the other participants are there to encourage and support you.
“Everyone is rooting for you—you’re not alone in this experience,” King says. “We’re using the bike as the medium for that connection and energy.”
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And Charlee Atkins, C.S.C.S., a senior SoulCycle instructor and founder of Le Sweat, agrees. “[Everyone] is very supportive—they hold each other accountable and celebrate each other’s wins and losses,” she says. “They oftentimes can become an ‘extended family’ of sorts.”
It can be really tough to be out on your bike alone, struggling to finish a particularly challenging ride. Sometimes your first instinct is to give up. But when there are other people around you, it makes you want to keep going and prove you can finish what you started. That’s exactly what taking a Spin class does. And that mindset can and will benefit you on the roads, too.
If you’ve already found a great community of riders outdoors, indoor classes offer the same camaraderie and accountability, just in a different setting.
4. It’s a great total-body workout.
Not only does a Spin class benefit your muscles—everything from your legs to your core—but it’s also a great low-impact cardiovascular workout, which improves your blood flow, increases your stamina, boosts your mood, and prevents against chronic issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, according to Mayo Clinic.
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Some indoor cycling classes even incorporate the use of hand weights to “promote upper-body work, since cycling is a predominantly lower-body workout,” Atkins adds. So in one 45-minute session, you can challenge your upper body, lower body, and core.
5. It’s convenient.
Riding outside can take a couple of hours to complete, and most people don’t have that kind of time during the week. So taking an indoor cycling class is a great option for when your schedule is packed, and you only have an hour or less to work out.
But don’t worry—exercising for a shorter amount of time doesn’t mean you aren’t reaping the same benefits as a longer workout. A 130-pound person riding outside at an average of 15 mph for an hour and a half burns roughly 700 calories—just slightly more than the average Spin class— and gets the same physical gains (increased cardiovascular and muscular fitness) of an indoor cycling class.
6. It’s low impact.
Indoor cycling is a low-impact exercise, according to Atkins. “It’s great for people who are coming back from an injury,” she says, because your hips, knees, and ankles won’t take a beating. This makes it a great choice for those who aren’t yet functioning at 100 percent after getting hurt, or older adults looking for a way to stay active without putting extra pressure on their joints.
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