FitSugar

Indoor Cycling Just Got Better: Schwinn Training Bike

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:52 -0800

Winter rain and snow means it is indoor cycling season: I'm talking about spinning. Equinox has filled its Cycling Studio with new spin bikes by Schwinn. The bikes are pretty dang sweet.

I rode one during 45 minutes of Sports Cycling, and the ride was smooth and comfy with so many different hand grips available - the handlebars are tilted for ergonomic placement. The tension on the fly wheel is created by magnets too, ensuring that all the bikes in the room create the same tension across the board. Best of all the bikes have console computers, which not only work with most heart rate monitors, but also measure miles per hour, cadence, distance, and watts. The pedals have cages, if you don't have cycling shoes, and the pedals are compatible with road bike cleats as well as mountain bike cleats - very versatile.

These indoor cycling bikes will arrive at Equinox gyms starting now throughout early Winter. They are exclusively at Equinox for the time being, but these bikes can only spell upgrades for most gyms. Tell me, do you spin?

Lauren Conrad and Lo Bosworth Disagree on Spinning

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:30:00 -0700

While talking to PopSugar on their way to A Time For Heroes Celebrity Carnival, LC and Lo talked health and fitness.

Lauren told Pop that the housemates cook a lot at home and are firm supporters of organic food. Among many things they share, one is a personal trainer. They do not, however, share the same opinion when it comes to spinning. Here's a brief exchange to clue us in to their fitness personalities:

Lo: I just started spin and Lauren went with me.
LC: - and I hate it. I prefer boxing or hiking, more fun activities.
Lo: I love it though. I think it’s just important to keep it varied so you don’t hit a plateau.

Last year we learned that LC loved boxing, and glad to hear she is sticking with it - you gotta do what you love. I share a love of spinning with Lo. What about you? Where do you stand in the great spinning debate?

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RealRyder: A Spin Bike That Moves

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:30:00 -0700

While attending the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association convention last week, I was roped into a 20-minute spin class on a RealRyder bike. Even though I was in my jeans, I knew this was a piece of equipment I wanted to check out. It is a spin bike that moves side to side, which mimics banking a turn on a road bike. Inappropriate attire aside, the class was great. Learning how to make the bike lean (a combination of leaning and turning the handlebars) was a bit challenging at first, but I got the hang of it. I could feel my abs and arms working a lot more than they would have on a regular spin bike. The true challenge comes when you stand up and pedal while trying to keep the bike relatively centered. The side-to-side sway of the bike felt almost like riding on the road.

To see how the this moving spin bike increases your calories burned per workout, read more.

The RealRyer should help you burn more calories per workout: The more muscles activated means the more calories burned. If you have a chance to try one, I highly recommend it. More and more gyms, from British Columbia to Tennessee, are adding these new bikes to their cardio arsenal. Check the RealRyder website, find "Facilities" in the drop-down list under the "Partners" tab, to find out if a gym near you offers RealRyder spin classes. If you are interested in installing one of these bikes in your home gym, be prepared to drop about $2,000.

Have you ridden a RealRyder? Tell me all about your experience below.

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Hand Positions in Spin Class Explained

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

It is no secret that I love spinning, but sometimes the instructors don't explain all the details, and if you're new to class, the numbers for the hand positions can be a bit confusing. Not all classes use these hand positions, but if you take a class trademarked as Spinning, you will likely hear these numbers coming from your spin instructor as they tell you to stand and sprint. Here is a little cheat sheet so you know where your hands go while you pedal away.

Position 1: Hands placed in the center of the handles. You can place the hands one on top of the other in this position. This is a good spot when warming up, cooling down, or recovering from a sprint interval.
Position 2: Hands are just inside the upward curve on the handle bars. This is where your hands will most likely be for most of the class.
Position 3: Hands hold on to the top of the handles. This position should really only be used when standing for a climb. If you use it seated, you can strain your back.

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Fit's Tips For Your First Spinning Class

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

It's no wonder some of us are intimidated by spinning classes: the padded shorts and biking shoes that many people wear on their way into class make it seem intense and exclusive. While it's true the classes offer an intense workout, gyms don't offer spinning classes with the intention of creating an in-house cyclists-only club. Stop being intimidated and try something new by participating in this challenging cardio workout.

Getting started: Because there are only a certain number of bikes available per class, peak-time classes often require you to pick up a pass beforehand so you're guaranteed a spot. Arrive early so you have time to adjust your bike, and if the instructor isn't there yet don't be afraid to ask someone around you for help if you need it.

To see more of my tips for spinning first-timers, read more.

What to expect: The instructor will guide you through the workout, telling you when to increase resistance and when to pedal faster. You're guided through climbs, sprints, and muscle isolations, with intermittent lower-resistance pedaling during cruising periods. There's music blasting that keeps you moving for the entire class, and you'll sweat - a lot.
What to wear: No need to go shopping for cycling gear. Wear your workout sneakers and a top that breathes easily. I recommend wearing 3/4 length pants, but if you don't have them, full-length will be fine.
What to bring: A bottle of water and at least one towel.

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Winterize Your Workout With Spinning: Pedaling Tip

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0800

One of my favorite indoor Winter workouts is spinning. While nothing beats biking on the open road, spinning for an hour burns a ton of calories, with the extra bonus of getting to rock out in the saddle. Similar to running on a treadmill, spin class is a perfect opportunity to focus on your cycling technique. Since you don't have to watch out for oncoming traffic or steer around obstacles in the road, you can hone your pedaling technique. Yes, I know the expression, "It is just like riding a bike." But you can really maximize your cycling power by working your legs through the entire revolution of the pedal, not just pushing the pedal down. Plus this will work all the parts of your legs not just your quads, which means you are balancing the strength of your legs.

To learn a simple exercise to experiment with this idea read more.

Keep both feet on your pedals, but work one leg at a time while keeping your other foot clipped in to the pedal or in the foot cage/basket. Focus on making a smooth circle with your pedaling foot to keep the momentum going through the entire revolution of the pedal. Feel your hamstring pull your foot backwards, keep working the back of your leg while you engage your hip flexors to pull the pedal up. You might find, after doing this exercise that one of your legs has a difficult time pedaling solo. This would be your weaker leg and chances are high it has just being going along for the ride.

I try to do this single foot pedal technique for at least a minute per foot every time I am on a spin bike. It helps me balance out my legs and my stroke. Try it and see how it feels.

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Winterize Your Workout With Spinning

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

In my opinion, nothing beats a long bike ride in the Fall. However, lack of light and low temperatures (not to mention snow and rain) can dampen anyone's enthusiasm to jump on the saddle. This is where taking a good old-fashioned spin class comes in handy.

Spinning tops my list of five fitness classes everyone should try. I know that riding a stationary bike in a low-lit room with a bunch of strangers doesn't necessarily sound like a good time, but it is. It is an amazing cardio workout and a calorie burner too. Just this morning I burned over 400 calories in a hour-long class, and I got to rock out to Van Halen. What more could a child of the '80s ask for? Spinning makes sense if you are a cyclist, but it is a great way to keep up your cardio fitness if you run as well. A good spin class will include a warmup and a cooldown period with stretching, as well as intervals, sprints, hill climbs, and jumps (where you come in and out of the saddle quickly). I highly recommend taking a hand towel, because spinning equals sweating, and a water bottle. In fact, many places don't allow you to participate in a class without water.

Visit Spinning.com to find an official spin class near you. I have also seen spinning classes listed on gym schedules as Cycle Plus. Whatever you do, arrive early to class so you can adjust your bike to fit your body. Ask the instructor for help if you need it.

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ACTivism: Spinning Nation

FitSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:00:00 -0700

If you like to bike but can't fit the seven day AIDS Life Cycle into your schedule, there is a new spin on donating to charity. You don't have to take it to the streets to fundraise physically – you can sweat it out in spin class on a stationary bike in a room with fans.

On June 28, Spinning Nation will take over 500 registered spinning facilities to raise funds to fight cancer and AIDS. Registered riders will spin in four consecutive one-hour classes. You need to raise $250 to participate and can register through Active.com. Check this list of participating sports clubs to see if your gym is involved. The funds raised will benefit Athletes for a Cure, AIDS Research Alliance and Cancer Schmancer.

For more information on registering or making donations, visit Spinning Nation.

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Cute Alert! Pup Takes His Treat for a Spin

GiggleSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Sing-a-long with me now:
The butt on this dog goes round and round, round and round, round and round . . .

Nicole's Spinning Her Way Lean While Pregnant

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:30:00 -0800

The always long and lean, even while pregnant, Nicole Kidman has started spinning to keep fit while pregnant. Here are details:

The actress is getting on her bike – stationary bike, that is – for a spinning class at Montana Avenue's Revolution Fitness in Santa Monica. The actress was spotted taking a class from teacher Bobby Neely on Sunday, sporting a white T-shirt, black leggings and, of course, her baby bump. Kidman sat on a bike next to her personal trainer and rode to a soundtrack including songs by Mary J. Blige, Bon Jovi and everybody's favorite '80s icons, Culture Club. But Kidman seemed especially tickled by a Keith Urban song, a fellow gym-goer says.

Spinning is a great activity for everyone, but a lot of pregnant women like spinning because it's easy on the joints. Nicole looks pretty beat here, so let's hope she wears a heart-rate monitor to make sure her heart rate does not go too high for her little bun in the oven.

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