Indoor Cycling – “That’s for FIT People”……….

I have been teaching indoor cycling for the last 8 years and I hear the same thing time and time again

“I will try that class once I am fit enough” or “that class is too scary or hard for me”

Sometime I agree an indoor cycling or Spinning class can be very intimidating thing to look into through the studio window or listen while you are doing or your session on the treadmill, but it shouldn’t be.

These classes that you have seen through the window are for everyone. You don’t have to be fit – if people continually said “I will wait until I am fit enough before I do that” no one would ever get fit.

I am not going to lie – it will be a challenging experience, but results are achieved with hard work and effort.

The most important thing to remember is – work at your own level, don’t feel like you have to keep up with everyone, the other people might have been doing indoor cycling as long as me!

This is quick fire guide to getting started in an indoor cycling class.

Be prepared:

Take along a water bottle and a towel, during an indoor cycling class you will be sitting in the same pocket of air and you don’t move around much. This mean you will get very hot and sweaty. Also ensure you have tight fitting bottoms or shorts, sometime the bottom of trousers can get caught in the pedals.

Arrive early:

This is very import, if for some reason you get delayed and can’t make it 10 minutes early, reschedule. If you can’t get there early because of other commitments try a class at the weekend for your first one so you have extra time.

This is so important it will take a good instructor at least 5 minutes to get you set up safely.

Even better if the is an intro / set up class at your club – make sure you get a place booked on this class!

Take your time:

You will not be 100% comfortable with the bike and the riding positions on the first class, it is going to take 3 – 5 classes. The best advice is to stay in the saddle for the first few classes, only attempt the standing positions when you feel ready.

Listen carefully – any good quality instructor will coach you through the class use an intensity scale (such as 1 – 10, based on your perception of how hard you are working) this again highlights that the classes are mixed ability – for everyone.

If you find yourself in a class where instructor yells at you for 45 minutes “faster” “harder” etc etc and doesn’t bother to coach you through the intensity of the class or set you some goals and objectives throughout – STAY CLEAR!

This should set you up on your way to success in the indoor cycling environment.