With all of the rain we’re getting, looks like tonight’s 1.25 hour ride is going to be indoors. I admit to HATING my trainer…every 15 minute feels like an hour.
What are everyone’s thought’s on doing an hour spin class followed by 15 minutes or so on my rollers, versus suffering on the trainer for an hour?
Edit: By the way…I’m getting ready for IM FL, if that makes any difference…
PS - Please don’t waste my time or yours by posting HTFU - It’ll do nothing to answer the question.
I prefer the spin class to riding on the trainer. The time just goes quicker. If it’s more of an intense workout than you want for that particular day, just tell the instructor and they won’t mind that you “do your own thing” for periods of time.
This is suppose to be fun, right? Unless you are a pro and trying to make a living doing this, do the workout you want.
The spin class might turn out to be a better workout anyway if you are are having fun and getting into it.
Enjoy.
Maybe this is non-responsive, but…
Do you watch TV on the trainer? I go through serial TV shows on DVD. It’s cool because I can just watch as many 45 minute episodes as I need. It makes a world of difference. I went through a few seasons of “24”, then “The Shield” - this winter it’ll be Battlestar Galactica, maybe.
Here in WI we have a really long winter. I have managed 3 and 4 hours on the trainer this way. Without the TV, I give up after an hour.
The Spin class any day over the trainer. Unless you have a great trainer that makes little noise and you can watch Ultimate Fighting or something else exciting while riding. The spin class I believe is totally under rated by most cyclists. (as long as you have a decent instructor). As soon as you get out of class hit the tread mill or track for a good hard 3-6 miles and that should do something for ya!
Just be careful to avoid any spin rage.
hah, despite my “denizens” thread, i do rather enjoy the occasional spin class. i’d rather paint the walls with my brains than get on the trainer…i just fucking hate it.
Trainer. If I have to make the pain-in-the-ass trip up to the YMCA, I’m hitting the pool. There’s also people in spin class and they aren’t sanitized in chlorine.
Did your trainer come with any Spin Babes?
If you dont enjoy the trainer, do the spin class. I wouldn’t sweat about doing extra though - the spin class will prob be harder than you’d have done on the trainer.
I have seen people boasting about the max hours they’ve done on the trainer, but anyone can sit there and twiddle away without breaking sweat. If they can do 5 hours on a trainer at 75% Max HR though - thats hardcore.
If you’re planning on a threshold-type ride, then trainer is probably much more controlled and appropriate.
How long are most of the intervals in a spin class, anyway?
I prefer the trainer because I can make all the noise I want and nobody will pick me up and throw me against the wall (my kid’s not strong enough yet).
the trainer and hold the watts on the trainer for the duration of the ride. And never stop spinning on the trainer.
Thanks for the replies…I ended up doing the spin class…I had no desire to be bored on the trainer . Fortunately, no one got thrown into the wall.
Since the spin class only ended up being 45 minutes, I got on my rollers for a 1/2 hour, which for me is more of a mental workout, just trying to stay on them…
I just got back from spinning class which I enjoyed a lot
In Beijing pollution is so bad that indoor exercise is a good option.
SInce spin class is like 45-50 minutes, I often spin 15 minutes before class then another 15 minutes after class or I jump on the treadmill for 15 minutes.
I definitely push more and longer in the spin group than iwould do home on the trainer.
PP
Get on the trainer,mp3 blaring music in your head,turn the lights off and ride like hell.Pitch black trainer sessions are awesome!Then again I'm a little "different".Your IM watch will flash at each time interval to tell you when to stop or go.
If your spin class uses the Lemond Rev Master style bike rather than the Spinner bikes, you are going to get a workout that is more like riding out on the road.
When I trained for IM Wisconsin, I had no access to hills.
I’d do a long ride once a week on my bike outside, a shorter ride outside and then teach 2 spin classes at the gym.
Everyone who took my spin class ended up doing lots of climbing workouts. Whether they knew it or not, they were all training for the hills in Wisconsin.
The result was that I became a much stronger climber. Some of the climbs in my spin class were 6 or 7 minutes long… NOTHING in Wisconsin was that long. They were not as steep as heavy resistance in spin class and they were shorter.
I had no problem with the hills.
I know I could have been faster overall… but I credit spin classes to getting me through the Ironman bike course.