Cycle Gel

Cycling Fitness – Put Your Own Spin on It!

You have to spin it to win it!

If you have never tried a spinning class, or used a spinning bike at the gym, you may be missing a trick!

When I first heard someone mention they had joined a spinning class, I thought, that sounds a bit soft.

At that point, I totally dismissed spinning as being for those who like to take it easy. Not for hardcore trainers like me.

As the years went by, hardcore was replaced by something not so hard! Softcore perhaps?

I had just returned to the bike after many years absence, and was looking for some training routines online.

I came across some mp3 downloads for cycling workouts, and thought I would give them a whirl.

I found, that on the normal stationary bike, I struggled with the lifts. These are when you have to come up out of the saddle, before returning to a seated position. The handlebars don’t seem to help support you. Maybe it is the position of them, the type of bike I used, and the fact they are fixed.

I transferred to a spinning bike, and found my new gym friend.

The spinning classes had stopped at my gym, so I was on my own.

As I write, my gym is being extended and spinning is back.

Spin classes are still very popular, and are a great way to train. You follow the instructor and listen to their music and their instructions. They may tell you to increase resistance, go faster, stand up, sit down and how hard or how easy you should do it.

You can work to your own abilities, but shouldn’t cheat too much. You are only cheating yourself. When the instructor tells you to increase your resistance or speed, just try your best.

You will need to take a towel and a drink with you, as it does get sweaty. Padded shorts or a gel seat can make life a little more comfortable.

You will want to check with your fitness centre first regarding the type of spinning you will be doing. Some tend to do more of a cycling based routine. Normally this type of instructor will be from a cycling background.

Some do more of an aerobic session, with different upper body movements thrown in.

Some will concentrate on strength, with plenty of hill climbs, and some will be more speed orientated with plenty of sprints.

In my opinion, a mixture of both would be best. Even if you have to join more than one class.

Variety is the spice of life, and so it should be in your training. Keep your body guessing and it will respond.

Spinning classes, and indeed spinning alone listening to an instructors mp3 download, is 100% more preferable than trying to get a decent workout on a stationary bike, in a busy gym!

Having someone to guide you, someone to encourage you, someone to push you, ensures you remain motivated throughout your session.

After a couple of weeks, your quads will not ache as much. Your backside will have got used to the saddle, and you will be surprised how far you have come on a bike that doesn’t move!

If you are looking to improve your fitness, whether you are a beginner, or an experienced trainer, you will find spinning has a lot to offer.

As with any new or increased activity, it is a good idea to consult your medical professional beforehand.

Keep spinning!

About the Author

After many years, struggling to keep his weight under control, the author, because of injury, started to cycle. He found that he became a lot fitter in a relatively short period of time.
He lost weight and found his fitness levels for Badminton were the best they had been for years.
For free tips and training plans visit: Cycling For Fitness

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