Has anyone here ever attended any of the commercial fitness classes like SoulCycle/Orange Theory/Barry’s Bootcamp? If so, what were your thoughts on it?
Did your triathlon training prepare you well for it? Did the class push you over threshold and hurt your tri training? Would you go again?
My two cents:
Anything is better than nothing if it’s your only choice.
However, depending on your race distance these classes lack the specificity that you probably need (LSD, threshold power, etc).
If you train to have fun and stay fit and enjoy these classes then go for it! If you’re looking to improve at triathlon, you’re better off either riding outside or doing specific workouts on your trainer.
Here’s something I read about SoulCycle from the end of 2020, the first year of COVID
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22195549/soulcycle-decline-reopening-bullying-bike-explained
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I did a similar in-house spinclass, Cyclebar, for several sessions.
It’s great training. You will get a super legit 1-hr workout from it if you go hard, which is easy to with the coach motivating you.
The music is freaking super loud. You will likely lose some hearing if you go regularly.
Interestingly, at the Cyclebar I went to, 95% of the clients were women, mainly moms. So if you show up in cycling gear as a male, you will be the weird one out, like 1:20 ratio.
I have participated in both classes listed above on work travel weeks out of town.
Decent workout and good way to escape the work travel blues of bad eating and no exercise.
Just had to pack shoes, shorts and base layer shirt. Most classes are loud and hot inside the room.
A few times I called or e-mailed ahead and told them I was traveling and not interested in signing up for any membership and they allowed it.
If not, I usually just pay.
I don’t see it helping a ton with specific race training but way better than nothing.
Some classes/instructors are not even like riding a bike outside, excessive bouncing in and out of the saddle, more of a total body approach I guess.
They can also be entertaining, amusing, and your basic bike fit knowledge may help new people to the class if you offer on saddle height and fore/aft positions.
Rob