So What?

Recently I read of a study an instructor did at his club that tested 21 bikes to see the varying resistance for each bike. Here is what he found.

The first measurement was the number of turns from all the way off (maximum counterclockwise) up to where he could feel the road. This is a bit subjective, but not veryeven a beginning rider can tell the difference between free-wheeling and a wheel that offers some resistance. The second measurement was the number of turns from feeling the road to that's itI can barely pedal a full revolution. using his personal limit. How different were the bikes from each other? The table shows the minimum and maximum number of turns among the bikes for the two measurements, and also the total number of turns from bottom to top end.

The differences among the bikes were mostly at the low end. Some riders will feel the road after three turns from the bottom, while others will turn (and turn, and turn) seven full revolutions before anything happens. So if riders start their rides at the very bottom, and the instructor just talks about taking quarter turns, half turns, and full turns, some riders will still be free-wheeling while others will already be into moderate-heavy territory. Rider inexperience, coupled with our human tendency to take the easy path if we can while still obeying orders, will thwart the instructor's intention to guide a ride according to traditional categories of benefit. --Results were found by Gordon Bermant who teaches Spinning in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

I want you to learn a few things from this article. First, if you decide to take Spinning classes it is important for you to be very aware of how you feel and the amount of energy you are expending. This is what you should base your workout on, not the specific instructions.

Second, I am a fan of Spinning and I like the idea of someone pushing you to do you best throughout your training session for 30-60 minutes. If it can't be me, I want it to be someone trusted like a certified group training instructor.

Finally, if you are going to do some training on your own outside of a class setting, remember that not all cardio machines are created equal, especially the spinning bikes. There is a great deal of maintenance that needs to go into a bike and you should be aware that some bikes are easier to ride than others. If you are on a bike that takes 7 turns just to feel the tension, then you will need to take more turns to get you where you want to be when you work hard. If you are on a bike that turns 2 turns and you feel like the road just became a hill in San Francisco, then you will need to adjust accordingly. I like the idea of having variety in your workout regimen. And utilizing a spinning bike can be a good alternative to running on a treadmill or using the elliptical. Cross training is important in my style of training. Learning how to make the ride challenging when you need tough intervals and interpreting the varying resistance to rest when you are in a rest phase is an important part of those intervals.

So drop by a Spinning class. If that is not your thing, take one of the many cardio routines I have sent you over the past 2 years and try one of those programs on a Spinning bike. I think you will like the challenge.

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