Monday, May 21, 2012

What does a typical Spinning or Indoor cycling session consist of?

By Susan Faber


You might have already heard about the popular Spinning sessions or indoor cycling sessions that employ a static bike having a weighted flywheel. These sessions are designed specifically to help riders lose weight rapidly. The bikes have several controls for adjusting the speed and the intensity of workout as per one's experience levels in this group activity. Just like you loose a great deal of weight with outdoor or real cycling workouts, indoor cycling also helps you get in shape faster as it employs similar principles of inertia and momentum using its weighted flywheel.

The bike's pedals are designed with toe clips for enabling the pushing and pulling action by the rider's legs. Alternatively, there are clip-less bikes pedals designed for use with special spin shoes or cycling shoes for which one is required to purchase cleats separately.

Riders are encouraged to wear proper cycling shoes and padded shorts along with quick-drying (athletic) T-shirts for comfort during the riding sessions. The exercise also has to be done correctly in order to avoid injuries especially of the knees and lower back. For this purpose, the bio-mechanical positioning of the rider on the bike should be correct. The seat and handle bars should be adjusted as per the rider's height and comfort levels. For the newbie rider, it is recommended that handlebars are set higher so as to not strain the back. The height of the bike-seat should also be such that when the rider is seated on the bike, his/her legs are straight at the lowest position of the bike pedal. For the purpose of adjusting the seat, the participant is made to stand near the bike so that his hip is on the same level as the seat.

Typically, an indoor cycling session involves an instructor who leads to participants through a series of exercise routines which simulate hills and terrains as one experiences while riding outdoors. Musical and visual accompaniments are designed to keep riders encouraged as the trainer leads them through sprints, runs, jumps and climbs.

Before starting spinning sessions or taking up any exercise activity of this sort, riders must undergo a heart rate test to see if this activity is suitable for them. This also helps participants maintain a moderate aerobic intensity level. Indoor Spin sessions are, group sessions, at the same time, they are designed for individual capacity as well as experience and fitness levels of the rider.

The activity can help one burn almost 500 calories in a single one hour session. This amount can be increased or decreased based on one's endurance level by using the controls provided on the bike. new riders can opt for lower speed settings and trainers can also tell them which movements to avoid from the 5 core Spinning motions: seated climb, seated flat, standing flat, standing climbs and jumps. These particular movements have been tested and are known to work on specific muscle groups of the legs and the thighs.

Naturally, one cannot stress enough the importance of wearing the right cycling shoes, or spin shoes. There are many websites which give you reviews of good quality spinning shoes, and there are many manufacturers who have come up with different styles of these. These shoes are important for making the most out of one's indoor cycling sessions and also to prevent leg and calf injuries.




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