Guest Article: Anti-Reverence? The Spin Bike.
Our balaclava wearing friend, @Oracle, submitted this winter reflection on the V. The article is a little ripe, but for many, spring is still a long way off and the gym or a balaclava are the only solutions to some tough questions.
Yours in Cycling, Gianni
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This past winter, I went round a bit in the comments about whether variances to certain Rules could be allowed on the basis of climate and geography. Balaclava’s, their utility, and their inability to ever be considered casually deliberate, were at the forefront of the discussion. While grinding out some miles in some (for me, unseasonably warm) 0ºC temperatures last December and January, cheerfully sporting my admittedly ugly balaclava, that discussion came back to mind, and I began to ruminate on what other items could be lumped in together with the balaclava in that category of things that are Anti-V, yet whose use paradoxically enables our continued pursuit of the V in the face of adverse conditions. The topic has stayed with me off and on for a while, and today while I was strapping on my Sidi’s, it struck me that perhaps the most divisive piece of such equipment was sitting right in front of me.
The spin bike.
Generally, I have always loathed this contraption, and much of what it represents, even before I became initiated in the ways of the Velominati: rooms full of pseudo-cyclists performing loosely-described cycling-like activities. Many of them in yoga pants, gym shorts, tennis shoes or some other shamefully non-compliant garb. Or, worse yet, cadres of willful Rule #42 violators. None of them (including several of the ladies) Rule #33 compliant. The “ride” quality does not even come close to real cycling, and obviously, being stuck in a climate-controlled room spinning in place cannot approach the sensations of the open road (although, I suppose, in that it shares a certain similarity to riding the trainer for hours on end). It occurs to me that nothing can be more antithetical to the V or the letter and spirit of the Rules. I can’t imagine that Merckx has ever ridden a spin bike, unless it was part of some scientific experiment in an attempt to quantify the essence of the V.
And yet…
Over much of the winter, I willingly climbed on a spin bike two or three times a week, and have been known to attend an actual spin class once in a while with the VMH on Saturday mornings. How can I do this, given all I’ve said above? Am I sick? Do I betray all it means to be a Velominatus every time I click into that battered set of Keo’s that someone mounted onto one of the spin bikes at the gym?
I tell myself that I have no choice; that circumstances have driven me to this””my office is far from home and doesn’t have a shower, so commuting and lunchtime rides simply are not possible (I sweat buckets even on cold days, and I have to wear a suit and otherwise be presentable for work). Lately, kids and work have been so taxing and, coupled with the dark, cold Midwestern winter mornings, that has pretty much meant “early to bed, late to rise,” for this nascent Velominatus. As much as I’ve tried, early morning or late night trainer sessions just haven’t been in the cards.
Consequently, I joined a gym near the office in order to break up the day and get in some cardio over the lunch hour. I didn’t do it with the intent of using the spin bikes; rather, I was all set to put in some treadmill miles, weight training, etc. One day, while trotting along and thinking about how much my knees hurt, I said, “what the hell. Tomorrow I’ll try one of those spin bikes.” The next day, I suited up, slapped on the Dark Knights, and started spinning. At first, it was horrible. All of the things I described above came to mind and I was sure that I’d never do it again. However, after a while, a funny thing happened. I got over the differences in geometry from my road bike; I got over the annoyingly short crank arm length and annoyingly wide bottom bracket; and I got over the weird feel of the flywheel and the squishy, outrageously non-Rule 61-compliant saddle. Instead, I cranked up the tunes and started focusing on form. Without traffic or weather to contend with, my mind was freed for deep, unbroken meditation on the rhythmic movements of my legs and the way my whole body was working together to achieve the magnificent stroke. The spin room is surrounded by mirrors, so I was able to watch my motions and correct irregularities. My imagination wandered, and instead of being in the spin room, I saw myself ascending the twists and turns of L’Alpe d’Huez. In short, I was channeling Rule #6 and finding the V-Locus.
When my time was up, I jolted out of my reverie with something akin to shock. I think that… I kinda just enjoyed riding a spin bike! I felt a little bit filthy, true, and yet somehow, I had a similar sensation to when I come home from an honest, physically demanding effort on the road. How could this be?
Don’t get me wrong. Given the choice, I will choose the road over spin any day and twice on Sundays. There is still no comparison between actual riding and the pseudo-cycling spinning activity. However, winter cycling in Wisconsin for someone whose only time to ride is early in the morning is difficult: snow, ice and bone-chilling temperatures make night-riding difficult and dangerous. After winter sets in, I’m unable to resume my regular early-morning rides until March at the earliest. It could be that I’ve found a new tool to keep the fire burning a little bit higher during the dark months of high winter here in the Midwest.
However, when I get home at night and go down into my basement to grab something out of the freezer, I have to walk through my little bike maintenance area. I can practically hear my bike whispering as I walk by: “I smell the stink of that unholy creation on you. Why are you not riding me? You do not deserve the Velominati name badge I bear!” In the face of that recrimination, all my rationalizations turn to dust. And yet I cannot help but think that the effort it takes to find the V while sitting atop such a contraption, ironically, can only bring me closer to la Vie Velominatus.
@Oracle, Great writing there! I can totally sympathize with trying to fit in a ride or trainer session with all of your ancillary activities. With the time change this weekend, I hope I can begin riding the 35km commute home more often.
Great article!
Personally i abhor spin bikes, but i have much sympathy with your situation. Having visited the mid-west and Madison over winter the thought of cycling is not terribly appealing.
Over in blightly, althought the weather is pretty shite, at least we can get out most of the year, and when it does get too cold, mtbs come into their own.
And if it keeps you ticking over before you can dust off the bike(s) for the spring the spin bike may well be a necessary evil.
Holy shit. I think I need an eye cleanser.
Ahhhh. That’s better.
I hope you felt incredibly guilty every time you climbed aboard one of those god-forsaken spin bikes. And yes I’m a hypocrite, since I own a trainer. But I’m still going to judge.
Good article though! And I’m lucky enough to live somewhere that it rarely snows or drops below 0C, so I can’t really blame you for embracing the Anti-V by the horns. Trading your soul with the Devil for maintaining fitness through the winter, interesting concept…
Nice one, Oracle. Long before this site was conceived and I was just a budding Velominatus living in Juneau, AK I did a few spin “classes” for the same reasons you underline so well. Cold, dark, rainy (in the case of Juneau), unsafe – and that was just in summer. This winter I’ve seen heavy stationary and roller time trying to resemble something close to training for the Keepers Tour. Not a session goes by I don’t feel the road and the great outdoors trying to pull me off the trainer. Alas, every bit of suffering I can manage here might at least make it more bearable in Belgium if it doesn’t allay some of it there. But tomorrow – it’s supposed to be in the 40’s F for the first time in a while and the roads just might dry enough after last night’s blizzard to muster a ride out there on the road. I can only hope.
Those of us in northern climates (MI for me) can’t be faulted for opting for choices like the spin bike. Your gym membership probably cost less than a nice trainer or set of rollers, and if it keeps you fit & healthy for the riding season then go for it.
That said, no matter how awful the weather, I find something on EVERY outdoor ride that makes it worth braving the elements. Plenty of times I’ve had to talk myself into going, and each time there is a moment of joy/peace/clarity/whatever where I say to myself, “This is why I’m out here.” Could be a conversation, a glorious sunset that peeks momentarily from behind the clouds, or a story to share on future rides, but there’s always something – and I don’t think a spin bike can offer the same guarantee (I know my trainer doesn’t).
Great article. I spent a winter in Russia about 10 years ago, and knew my next stop was Northern California, where I planned to get back into cycling after years in Chicago, which was for me a cycling wasteland. Being wholly uninterested in risking my life on Russian roads (and not having a bike with me in any event) I did quite a number of spin classes at the gym I joined. Kept me fit and sane, and got me very psyched for getting out on the roads again when I moved out here.
Haven’t been on a spin bike since, thank Merckx.
Hi, my name is Wiscot and I used to spin. So much here rings true – especially as I too live in WI. I used go to the Y and take spin classes. A couple of the instructors were good and gave a fine workout (one was an ex semi-pro and she would kill us with long, hard intervals). However, things started getting stupid with bad music, silly intervals, folks bringing coffee in and chatting during sessions. I stepped away from the classes and did an hour by myself in the main cardio room as it was rude to do my own thing in the classroom and all the chatter and carry-on were really distracting. Even the hour in the main cardio room was mind-numbing despite plenty of (good and bad) visual distractions.
Two weeks ago I picked up one of the Kinetic Rock and Roll trainers for $300 brand new. Holy cow! What a difference. My own bike, core engaged, and, despite looking at the inside of my garage door, the time flies by. Logically it should be more boring, but the concentration needed seems to alleviate the boredom. I did 90 minutes last weekend without a problem; I’d never do that at the Y.
I only had a Y membership for 5 months over the winter and the $300 is about what I spent on it. As soon as the hour goes forward, I’m back outside full-time. The convenience factor is great too – I just change, go down to the garage and ride. I know next winter I’ll be in better shape as the “off” months won’t be so bad.
Great piece @Oracle. I think you’re Merckxolic guilt is getting to you. Provided that a) you don’t choose an alternative activity over a road ride and b) you don’t think of these things as being “bikes”, you’re golden. I don’t feel guilty if I spend a few hours in the gym (at least I don’t think I would) as long as it’s not time that I otherwise could have spent on the bike.
I did a spin class once. More than anything it was the horrendous music that stpped me returning.
Yeah, I hear you all about the classes. The ONLY time I do a class is to spend some time with the VMH. Otherwise, I spin like I usually ride–solo.
Funny that this article popped up today. With the spring coming on, I almost took it down, for fear of harsh judgment. I’m happy to see there are others who sympathize. Although I can already hear the scathing comment I’m going to get from @frank…
@napolinige
I am not even close to velominati status, never will be, too old, too fat, too lazy, too poor (own just two bikes both shit and have children constantly draining the “get a real bike” fund, damn them) but… doesn’t Rule #5 apply here? I live in Stockholm,Sweden, the only thing that stops me riding is new wet snow when it gets too deep. Hit -16c this year, but still did my daily run. Thank Merckx the winter seems to be over now and this weekend I get to remove the studded tires!. But I will never forget one day riding in a massive snowstorm when for a few seconds, my pace matched the wind exactly and it was as if i was suspended in one of those snowglobes in slow motion, with the snowflakes caught in my lights. Beauty beyond comparison. Would not, could not swap that moment for an “expletive deleted” gym.
@heinous
Can’t believe I used “you’re” instead of “your”.
TAXI….
@Mark
It doesn’t really get cold here (Naples, Italy), though everything is relative, I’ll take my high 30’s summer days anytime over your freezing cold. Still, you’re right. that does sound beautiful.
@heinous
Yes Oracle, great bit of writing and yes @heinous, I agree, too much Merckxian guilt. Spinning, rollers, indoor trainers in the spare bathroom, they all are mindless but they do promote cycling fitness so on the balance, like Martha Stewart says…a good thing.
I know, that was wrong to bring her into this.
Sorry, but Spin bikes are the shit for keeping you in shape, I ride my 2-3 times a week and I live in Southern California. I have my own, it was cheaper/faster than a gym membership. I don’t have to worry about dodging cars before or after work and I can get a workout done in 60-90 minutes that keeps me in shape to ride with the club and do centuries on the weekends.
They’re better than rollers in that you can do power intervals you can’t do on rollers, you’d be all over the garage. Some will argue with me on this, but Carmicheal even say’s this in his book. They’re also better than a rear wheel trainer in that you’re not sweating all over, and wearing out, your high dollar ride.
Don’t be a hater. You want to ride fast when you do get free time for the road? Get a Spinbike.
@Mark
You are already a Velominati, being too fat, lazy and poor don’t get you out of it. Or my ass would be on the street. VÄlkommen, love the story of riding in the snow globe, these are cycling memories burned into the brain for a lifetime. Spring coming to Sweden, congratulations.
@Danny
why do you think you can’t do power intervals on rollers?
@itburns, @Danny
What little power I’ve got, I can get it all out on my rollers. To start with I was all over the place but a bit of perseverance and my pedalling is much smoother for it. Spin bikes can be used to great effect for fitness but they’ll do nothing for your stroke.
That was my point. I see it written in many places about rollers that you can’t get out of the saddle, you can’t do intervals, you can’t get an intense workout, etc. This “common wisdom” contributed to delaying my decision to give them a try. It’s also absolutely false.
Riding no-hands on rollers is still beyond me though. It was the cause of the only time I have fallen off the side of the rollers. Nice bruised rib for a couple weeks and a mental block against trying it again that seems to be permanent.
Have to agree with @itburns and @Chris here. I have no problem riding really hard on the rollers. If you are new to rollers you won’t be able to do it but once you are accustomed to them not only is it not a problem, it teaches your body to ride with good form even when you are working very hard.
@Oracle Chapeau – nice article. I think of spin bikes as the masturbatory sex toys of the V: you don’t want anyone to know you use or enjoy them, but sometimes they fill an important role in one’s life, perhaps only because we know they are filthy, naughty, naughty things.
@The Oracle
Excellent write up!
Ah, spin bikes. I turned my nose up about them forever. Shit saddle. Sit up and beg position.
Spin classes. Only losers do those. I’d much rather be out on the bike in snow/rain/hail/meteor shower than to do one of those.
Then, my now XVMH started doing them. Told me how amazing they were, what a great workout. Bah, I said. Then she started doing more, back to back sessions twice a week in addition to the other training she was doing. Bah I said, ’till she started smoking me on the climbs and riding me off her wheel, full stop.
Try it I did. Being as time poor as I was with small children, I began doing a lunchtime spin class. The first one was an eye opener. Can you say intervals?
Like you, @The Oracle, I found that the crappy ‘bike’ sort of disappears once you begin the efforts. As long as you can get the saddle height correct, and the bar drop approximately right, it’s ok.
I disagree with the comment made by another about these bikes being not conducive to working on your stroke. I found that as the whole thing is totally rigid and anchored, it magnified any extraneous body movement. Yes, it’s not like a real bike, but because of that I found it easier to isolate problem areas of my stroke to smoooth them out. If you bounce at a 150rpm cadence, you’ll know about it straight away. As they’re fixed flywheels as well, you can’t just stop. If you rock your shoulders, you’ll notice it. I find that I’m much quieter on the bike now than before as a result of doing these classes.
Because I am just a liiitle bit competitive, I’m unable to get on something like this and just “spin”. It tends to be war. I finish these classes having a bit of dificulty walking.
Yes, you get good class leaders, and totally shit ones. The good ones know how to keep ratcheting up the intensity/resistance, leaving you a pulpy mess at the end. The shit ones are late and waste your time, or sing into the microphone, or just talk too much shit.
The long and short of it, I’ve had performance gains in the rest of my cycling that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
It’s true that I haven’t done a spin class in quite some time as I’ve been able to rearrange my life to get in lots of road miles and intensity in other ways, but I intend to do them again.
Interestingly, there is a place in Melbourne that does spin classes on Wattbikes run by proper cyclists. Once again, the XVMH alerted me to this. I intend to make it part of my weekly riding over the winter to get intensity sessions to help my CX racing.
It’s amazing the things we learn when we’re open to new experiences.
@itburns
I can’t ride out of the saddle but I can still make myself feel rather poorly when seated. It’ll come with time. Regardless, I can still
Purely from a training point of view, I prefer doing intervals (apart from hill reps) on the rollers because of the lack of variance, no hills, no wind, no traffic, no excuses – I’m the only variable.
Another supporting voice for the rollers. Its perfectly possible to get an intense workout and they improve the magnificence of the stroke no end. Belive me my stoke has room for improvement.
@eightzero
I imagine walking out of a spin class is akin to walking out of cheap backstreet `establishment`. You feel dirty, cheap and you`ve spent a lot of money getting a poor imitation of the real thing.
Oh boy. I once had a student of mine inquire about buying a bike, since she knew I was a cyclist. She told me she was in training for a triathlon. To date she’d only ever “ridden” a “bicycle” during…spin class! It blew my mind.
Great article Oracle. The urge to try a spin class has come over me as well though because of hot rather than cold weather.
We’re expecting 41 degrees tomorrow for my group ride. Im sure the spin bikes siren call Will be heard. Fortunately exorbitant gym fees keep me away.
@mouse
The idea of my knees doing 150rpm attached to a big fixed flywheel is terrifying. You talk about shit instructors, it was the ones who went for the 150rpm thing and als tried to turn the classes into some sort of dance aerobics with push ups on the bars that scared me off. Anybody trying to get non-cyclists spin anywhere near that quickly is dangerous.
@Ron
I did a half ironman about ten years ago relying on back to back spin classes at my local gym. I wasn’t very quick but it worked and ultimately it got me back into cycling so they can’t be all that bad. I just prefer the alternatives.
@Chris
You have to think of it in a similar manner to riding a fixed wheel on the velodrome. Same sort of thing. You need to be supple to do it well.
By no means was I suggesting that the instructors were forcing anyone to do 150 cadence. That’s just me.
Non cyclists would struggle to do it anyway.
Yeah, I’ve never had anyone do the aerobics thing. I’d walk out straight away if any of that shit went on.
One of the best instructors I’ve had would lead the 45 session, then finish it off with a “stretch” for 15.
The “stretch” would usually consist of multiple sets of ab crunches, push ups, hip flexor lifts etc. that would be more painful than the spin session.
@mouse
Good points, thinking about it I suppose you could work on your stroke. And you’re right, quality instructors are the key.
I gave up on spinning back then when the decent instructor left, he used to work the various intervals into a “ride” flat out on the flats, mix of seated and out of the saddle for rolling hills and increasing resistance out of the saddle for the steeper stuff. Worked well but now that I actually cycle I’m not sure how it’d work.
Great article The Oracle, I’ve never ridden a spin bike but just because here in Milano winter time is never so hard.
@Oracle- please go say 50 hail mary’s, 50 our father’s, and strike yourself repeatedly across the back and buttocks with a well work bike chain! Great writing, but friends don’t let friends spin. Period. End of rant.
@Anjin-san
Surely you mean 50 seated and 50 out of the saddle hill reps?
@Chris
You are correct sir, what was I thinking? Add 50 Climbing Repeats!
Ohm and that should have read “well worn bike chain”… damn spell check and Affligem are working in unison to disrupt my V.
I like how the comments on this are either all-for or all-against. Very reflective of my own struggle.
Nice article @The Oracle; While I am fortunate enough to live in a place where it only rains buckets, is close to, but not freezing, and has winds so strong that it feels like riding into the back of a 747 engine at takeoff, I get why you’d do it.
As to the Balaclava, this should make you feel better:
Photo by Josh, used without permission (he’ll forgive me I think since he posted it on FB).
Great article. Horrible torture device.
Rollers and a trainer. X-country skis. Hockey skates. Snowshoes. These are the tools of a Northern Velominati during hibernation months.
Wait, no. Hibernate instead and ride yourself into shape old school. I will always love Fignon’s description of the Badger’s shape during spring training camp. The off-season means off. And lots of red wine.
Great article Oracle. I am blessed to live in the land of the nearly perpetual sun so I don’t have the same concerns that you do about cold. I have the luxury of being able to actually get excited to ride in the rain because there’s only a handful of times a year when the opportunity presents itself. So there’s no way I’d try to judge even if I wanted to.
If a spin bike, as a last resort, helps you maintain your weight and form for the coming warmer months, and in addition adds to your quality of life both at home and at work then I say go for it.
In fact, from my point of view, being willing to do whatever it takes to stay in riding shape…and then be willing to write an article about it when you know you’ll get flak… is in my eyes a fine example of Rule #5 in it’s own right. More mental than physical perhaps, but Rule #5 nonetheless.
I like to lay down the V as often as possible, usually in sanctioned get-togethers called races. In the winter, I ride the gerbil wheel often, maximizing my FTV (did I just invent a term on this site?). There is one great use of the Spin bike, however, and it’s extended climbing out of the saddle. I like to emulate my sensei Chris Horner by doing 5-10min intervals out of the saddle on the spin bike. Try that on the trainer, you won’t get far. Use the tools that will maximize the V. I’d do small ring sprints on a tricycle if it would help…
@Skinnyphat
+1
Oh, I’m also hopelessly out of touch of what is truly cold in terms of riding your bicycle in Lyrcra, thin socks, and aerated shoes. I moved far south a few years back & haven’t seen my rollers in awhile. I hate to say it, but living in a warm climate makes you a pure SoftMan in terms of temperature. 3*C is about the coldest I now see. I used to consider that mild.
I also should say – if you gotta do it, and can stomach cycling indoors, and it keeps your in decent form when the conditions just plain aren’t good, that’s cool.
I’d never do it; I preferred to ride rollers alone while watching ice hockey or soccer matches.
There are definitely Rules here, but I think each of us knows inside how deeply we feel a connection to cycling. I doubt anyone doing most of their riding in a spin class has the passion, and I also doubt anyone with the passion would spend more time in spin classes than absolutely necessary according to the weather.
La Vie Velominatus.
Hmmm. Not too sure about this.
Or this.
And this is different.
Well, there’s this.
Ok. Now I feel better.
This could get me into a spin class.
Leave it to the Italians to make this look pretty cool. Now I’m kinda inspired.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
“International Organization Jackie Spinning Championship” …I am speechless.