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Spin - actually any good??
Lex
Posts: 65
in General Chat
With work commitments etc I struggle to get out on the bike more than once a week. In that case is spin a genuinely decent way of adding an extra bike session or two each week?
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If you can get your heart rate up (i.e. get up to your Lactate Threshold), then you can do intervals, LT sessions, as well as recovery type exercises.
It won't be as good as going out for a real bike ride (i.e. you're not working all the muscles, you're not getting used to your real ride position, your not having all the fun of head wind/hills, you're not developing road craft).
But it will be better than nothing!
You need to look at your overall programme, and see if it usefully fits in.
However, you might find that the rowing machine has better bang for the buck, so to speak - as that has CV benefits and some positive cross training effects for run, bike and swim.
Is cycling to work possible? That's a great way of getting some "free" training in...
Im trying to do each discipline at least twice a week with an emphasis on shorter faster sessions in the week and distance at the weekend. I work in central london and to be honest hate the idea of riding to work, though I totally get what your saying as regards to developing bike skills - im sure im losing time in races because of it.
Ive always been into the rowing as it happens and find it much easier to get a decent work out of it (interval and distance) than having to follow an instructor in a spin class - maybe an extra session on this per week.
I just thought it might be useful to get more cycling related exercise into my legs as its the one area I can really skim off some time for my overall. Currently I have difficulty holding what I feel is a decent pace over 40k
Cheers,
Lex
30mins swim
T1 - ran into the changing room, dripped water everywhere as i quickly changed, switched water bottle for diluted gatorade, into gym and straight onto bike.
30min hill program level 15, HR 130-flats 175-Hills.
T2 - walked to treadmill
30mins on treadmill, flat run at 10.5rpm
T3 - 7min warmdown on the treadmill, back into swim costume and slow walk to sauna.
10min sauna.
in answer to your question (possibly) .. yeah i think it's certainly worthwhile .. but is not in anyway a complete training replacement for the real thing.
kph maybe
Utilmately, I would prefer to be out on the roads riding, but spinning is generally my only alternative, as time committments don't always allow. As to rowing, just get bored, so no real use to me.
If you have a specific objective..i.e. a 40 min TT type training goal, let your instructor know that you may not be following all their cues etc & they should not have a problem, some might, but personally so long as I know, then I don't mind...altho' you will have to listen to my music choice as an i-pod/MP3 player is just rude...
Its my first season doing races and have only had a bike for last 5-6 months. Looking forward to my first off season of longer rides to get some endurance into the legs with regards to the bike. Right now I cant seem to get down below around 1:15 for the 40k but hopefully it will come.
Cheers!
Lex
It depends what you want to get out of it!
It won't be as good as going out for a real bike ride (i.e. you're not working all the muscles, you're not getting used to your real ride position, your not having all the fun of head wind/hills, you're not developing road craft).
But it will be better than nothing! quote]
Jack - there is nothing worse than a bloody headwind which coincidentally stays with no matter which direction you face. Also lets not forget about the other road obliging users.....
Cheers mate and well done for your results.
I think its something that im defo going to add at least once a week but also i really need to make the effort to get out on the bike more than once a week. My swimming has come on to the point where its no longer a handicap to my overall time so it would be good to add some pace to bike.