Spinning! The Evolution of Cycling
Posted on 12.12.09 by Libby
by: Erica Shaw
There’s nothing like the f
eeling of the wind in your hair, the cool breeze whipping against your face, and the piquant taste of salt as it hits the curve of your lips while flying down a steep hill. You know what’s even better? Experiencing that same heart thumping, muscle-moving thrill while never having to leave the comfort of your gym. Spinning is the new wave around campuses, for guys and girls alike. The appeal of stationary biking? Spinning, or cycling, is SO much more than that. It’s a fast paced, calorie burning workout combined with your favorite tunes blasting a decibel that only moves you to do one thing: spin your heart out.
Spinning is a relatively new phenomenon, having only been developed in the 1980s and trademarked by Mad Dogg Athletics Inc. not long after. Despite the rather unpleasant image surrounding the idea of stationary biking, spinning really is a whole lot of fun. It’s a group fitness class, taught by a certified instructor in a generally climate controlled (cool) room, designed to increase cardio endurance and burn fat.
There are a certain number of bikes that look way different then the bikes you might be imagining that sit next to the treadmills and ellipticals. They’re very simple in fact: two large wheels that spin impossibly fast, and a round knob right at the base between the handlebars and the seat. The knob is adjusted to the left (to reduce tension) and to the right (to increase tension) in order to simulate various workouts.
The two pedals are right where you expect them to be. You can either wear sneakers and slip them into the foot straps, or wear special cycling shoes that clip into the pedals. The advantage of purchasing cycling shoes? They don’t slip out during a tough spring, and they change the motion of the leg to be more complete as it pulls up and down during the workout. If you’re planning on dedicating some serious time to spinning you might want to get a pair.
What makes this new phenomenon so popular? The beat of the music has complete control over your body as you pump in rhythm. It requires very little thinking on the part of the cyclist, as the instructor is constantly yelling out commands. These different exercises include hill climbing (which involves increasing tension to simulate biking uphill), sprinting or cycling extremely fast with the pick-up of the music, intervals which involve changing positions from seated, to standing, to arched (or positions 1, 2 and 3), and flat road. All of this is done while alternating cadence (or speed) and resistance.
Most instructors use a point scale to determine exertion or difficulty. Of course all instructors have their own style of teaching. Some are very technical while some just emphasize to ride with the music.
There’s no reason to be scared of spinning. The first time, like all things, can be nerve-racking. Fortunately, a spinner of any level can adapt themselves to the work out. You move at you own pace, deciding exertion and resistance. An amateur spinner will not have the same level 7 as that of a long-time biker. Thus, you can maximize your workout regardless of your physical ability or capacity to exercise. But each spin increases your cardio endurance level, making it easier to work harder – just like any type of exercise.
So go ahead, I dare you. Try out the new rage in biking. Take an hour out of your life, hop on a bike, and ride to the beat of your instructor’s i-pod. You might even leave 600 calories behind too!
