as asked above, how does riding a bike on a trainer compare to ‘riding’ a spin bike?
yes, imho, the avg. spin class compares poorly…done plenty of both and feel the steady-state efforts do more for you than switching around between jumps and fast pedals. have a friend right now transitioning from a very fit, regular spin chick to a trainer rider and she has gained considerable fitness with the same 3x/50minutes/week
IMHO,
spinning can be a good workout, builds fitness, especially if you don’t follow every crazy move an instructor makes. You can go into a spin class with your own ideas - holding a steady HR in an aero position for 2x10, or holding a high cadance if you are a masher, or other workouts…
BUT, it is always better to ride your OWN setup on the trainer (and of course if you have a power meter you can use on the trainer - I know you don’t, I don’t either- that is even better b/c you can train at specific wattages).
It’s better to spin and build some bike specific fittness than to not bike if spinning helps with motivation, too…
(Edited to correct my horrible spelling and grammar)
The majority on this forum have pretty consistently knocked spin classes, and there are definitely some that deserve it. But as a former “spin” (spinning is a brand name and not all classes are that brand, so I prefer indoor group cycling) instructor, here is my input:
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indoor group cycling classes will usually have much more variety of pace than you will give yourself on a trainer workout. I usually wear a HRM for either workout, and I would typically hit pretty close to by bike max heart rate 2-3 times if I work hard in a indoor cycling class. However, when riding my trainer I usually sort of half-watch TV or something, and my HR is much more steady. Which one is a better workout depends on your intensity in either case.
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50 minutes in a group class will go by a lot easier than 50 minutes on the trainer, assuming you have an instructor/class that you like
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the bike position is obviously a compromise on your real bike position
If you think indoor group cycling is something you would use your gym membership for quite often, then I would definitely audit a class or two before selecting the gym. There is a lot of difference between gyms and their “philosophy” on group cycling. A class branded as “Spinning” typcially has more of the high RPM sessions and is less realistic to road riding than some of the others. The ones I am most familiar with are the classes at 24 Hr Fitness and the Les Mills brand classes called RPM. Both of these make honest attempts to avoid sillyness that you wouldn’t do on a real bike, but then it all comes down to the instructor - some of them follow the corporate “format” much better than others. Also the bikes themselves vary in quality a lot - LeMond bikes are probably the pinnacle of what you are likely to find in the US.
I teach “spin” classes at our local gym, or will go in and spin on my own (100 minutes this morning, woo hoo!) - usually sprints, climbing, whatever - I don’t do a lot of the “jumping” or anything like that. I can get my heart rate to decent levels, I’m just wondering what it’s going to feel like when I get my bike on a trainer, I’ve never been on one before.
So, I guess the answer is “they’re pretty different.” Thanks!
its going to feel like riding your bike, except a lot more boring.
if you want to do long workouts on a trainer, access to mental diversions is a must. laptop/TV for movies, music, whatever works for you.
trainers (the good ones) also never let up. you cannot coast without being told off by the numbers, and the downhills are never as downhill as the real thing - they are not a recovery phase. most of the people i respect generally think that an hour on a computrainer (specifically a CT) is worth at least 90 mins of outdoor riding as far as physical conditioning.
I teach spinning and also a performance cycling class with computrainers. The biggest difference in feel is that the “Spinner” or “Rev Master” bikes have very little flex in them and present a much more stable platform for climbing and riding a high resistance.
Standing off and watching people ride hard on a computrainer shows you how much a bike flexes under strain. Standing on the trainer is possible but the experience is a little awkward, in my opinion, as the bike really doesn’t move underneath you as it would out on the road.
<< if you want to do long workouts on a trainer, access to mental diversions is a must. >>
and, IF you want to drive nails into your forehead, a ball-peen hammer works best 
Trainer + long workouts = go to local post office w/ your manifesto and a high powered weapon.
Save yourself and others from that fate. Trainer is for short, hard workouts; keep 'em short and hard enuff, and you won’t have time to get bored. Or short and easy for recovery. Long trainer workouts…
If you are talking about “feel” as opposed to workout quality, then yes, it will feel considerably different. Riding on the trainer will feel much more like riding on the road (note I said “much more” like riding on the road, not that it will feel “much like” riding on the road). Remember, you have no free wheeling on the trainer. If you stop pedaling on the trainer, the flywheel will simply rip your legs around. Plus, spin bike are usually more comfortable – more upright with bigger seats. They cater to more to the average fitness person rather than a hard-core cyclist. So, your butt will likely be sore for a while as you adjust to spending time in the “real” saddle on your trainer.
Good luck. Overall, however, the benefits are great. You want to spend as much time in your “real” saddle as possible. When is the bike and/or traininer arriving?
I taught spin classes for about 5 years, anywhere from 2 - 5 classes per week. If done correctly, they can be a great workout and a nice alternative to endless trainer miles. Of course, the instructor can make a difference. Keep in mind that many instructors do not ride, but are aerobics instructors who felt that adding spinning to their list would give them more classes. If you can find an instructor who rides and focuses on a good solid and steady workout, you’ll have a good session.
The only problem is that the fit will pretty much always be different than your bike. That’s just the way it is. For the spin bikes to be able to accomodate everyone, they lose the ability to be expertly dialed in to any individual, and have a much more moutain bike type geomoetry than what you race on. I don’t think that’s a big problem, unless spinning classes are all you do.
Spin classes can be a great way to keep your cardio solid, especially in the winter or when travelling.
cyclingnews.com
has lots of info about winter training (inside)
you might enjoy reading it
dirt
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you’re riding a fixie on a trainer? if you stop pedalling on anything other than a fixie, you stop pedalling. the freewheel is there to simulate momentum, not keep your legs spinning if you try to stop them.
my suspicion is that you mean “if you stop pedalling on a spinning bike …”, right?
There nothing like time in your saddle, especially since you’re getting a new bike. Use the winter months on the trainer to get use to your new ride and dial in your position. When you teach your spin classes, use workouts that will benefit you. I am sure that will be fine for 99.9% of the members that take your classes. I am a Les Mills RPM instructor at my club. As Dapper Dan mentioned, we follow a structured format that varies terrain and cadence nicely. Pace, hills, mtns, intervals, speed work, mixed terrain, it’s all in there. It’s makes for great off season riding and breaks up the monotony of being on the trainer…
When is the bike and/or traininer arriving?
I’ve put a down payment on the bike and have to wait until I can pay for it in full (should be a week or two, hopefully the shorter end of that range). I’m pretty sure my parents are getting the trainer for me as a Christmas gift, so Dec 25… not for awhile, but I was spinning yesterday and dreaming about it!
Thanks for the hint! I’ll check it out.
<Trainer + long workouts = go to local post office w/ your manifesto and a high powered weapon.
Save yourself and others from that fate. Trainer is for short, hard workouts; keep 'em short and hard enuff, and you won’t have time to get bored. Or short and easy for recovery. Long trainer workouts… > Long rides on the trainer can be boring,but if your stuck doing all of your winter riding indoors,and your looking to be the absolute best cyclist you can be,than there a must. Leading up to IM AZ I did several long computrainer rides(including two 6+ hour rides),and knocked 40 minutes off my best IM bike split. I will admit that I do get a little surly after some of these long rides though.:-0
I just started doing spin classes 3 weeks ago. From a person that can’t stand being on a trainer, I found them tolorable at first, then when I learned the programs I’m starting to find them more enjoyable.
The instructors at my gyms (Life Time Fitness) are all about keeping HR in the 180-age zones depending on the workouts so they are fairly easy. They check on the new people to make sure the bikes are set up right and try to make sure everyone is smooth and not bouncing.
RPM wise, they preach 90 to 110 rpm depending on the workouts (speed, endurance, hills, intervals) and don’t want you to go too hard and kill yourself, but you’re welcome to do it if you choose.
If you want to do your own thing, that’s fine with them too but the energy you get from these ladies make you want to do their workouts and they won’t kill you.
jaretj
Quote: “my suspicion is that you mean “if you stop pedalling on a spinning bike …”, right?”
Yep, my mistake. I meant to say “spin bike” - you stop pedaling, your legs are gonna keep moving (or give you one hell of a jolt).
To each his own. I do a lot of indoor workouts on the trainer. Usually music and a few magazines are good enough to keep me happy for 90 minutes. Reading is really only for my warmups, and while it can get boring I don’t go crazy when I’m just watching my cadence, etc.
I will say, however, that if Spinervals were available formatter for an iPod Video, I’d be using that. DVDs aren’t practical for me right now, even with a laptop handy I can’t put it where I can see it while riding. So I’d have upgraded to an iPod video by now if there was the right content easily available for it. I know, I could just put the DVDs on the iPod, but that sends the wrong message. Spinervals and the like should be delivering what their customers really need.