Indoor cycling training 8/8/10
I am a basic gym nut and I didn't ride outside for a long time. I talk about trying half marathon, but I really don't run outside. Now that I have been doing indoor cycling for a while, I would like to write an entry about it. Before I started, I used to think what is so fun about the class. But after realizing, there are not many machines that I can use to bring my heart rate to personal trainer's specification and I am really bad with choreographic moves, I decided to give it a try to spinning class. It prepared my cardio ability for my San Francisco ride last year where I rode up the hills to the Golden Gate Bridge on a hybrid without getting off the bike at all.
I usually see decent bikes, but now-closed Plano Bally's had a bike whose seat didn't slide across and couldn't go low enough. After only one class, it hurt my legs and had to refrain from exercising for a few days. The bike I see anywhere else is probably Spinner® NXT (pictured left). Indoor cycling is a towel hogging activity. Everybody has different set up, but here is mine. I bring a big towel and a small towel. Spread the big towel over handle bar area. Put my water bottle on right and rest a small towel on the left. In the middle, I have a cardboard that has HR number written in water resistant marker. Then on the closest point of the handle bar, I have my heart rate monitor. The monitor is set to display current time and heart rate so that I can count the cadence and keep track of heart rate. I use the big towel to wipe off the equipment and floor before I leave. Small towel is only used to wipe myself. In Allen 24 hour fitness studio, they keep the light so dark, I have to pick a bike by the corner so that I can see the monitor. Also I need to sign in and get a yellow card for reserving a bike. At 24-hour fitness, the towel is not provided, so I will have two small ones and paste the heart rate card with scotch tape.
Classes vary and I understand everybody has different goal. Some times it is talking with friends and sometimes it is doing their own thing by ignoring what the instructor says. Instructors vary, too. Some instructors ask us just to ride really fast (with loud music). Some instructors tell us to be in particular heart rate zone without telling us how to get there. Some instructors assume we all get to AT when they get to AT. Some instructors talk about their family during class. Some preach, some like to encourage. I like my instructor to have a clear lesson plan, how the heart rate range should be arranged for interval training. My favorite, Stan, does not say which heart rate zone, but he is very clever about setting a “course” and specifying cadence. My new favorite, Jason, specifies heart rate zone and makes sure to work in various zones. I will get to describe why I like some classes by posting my heart rate data.
I usually see decent bikes, but now-closed Plano Bally's had a bike whose seat didn't slide across and couldn't go low enough. After only one class, it hurt my legs and had to refrain from exercising for a few days. The bike I see anywhere else is probably Spinner® NXT (pictured left). Indoor cycling is a towel hogging activity. Everybody has different set up, but here is mine. I bring a big towel and a small towel. Spread the big towel over handle bar area. Put my water bottle on right and rest a small towel on the left. In the middle, I have a cardboard that has HR number written in water resistant marker. Then on the closest point of the handle bar, I have my heart rate monitor. The monitor is set to display current time and heart rate so that I can count the cadence and keep track of heart rate. I use the big towel to wipe off the equipment and floor before I leave. Small towel is only used to wipe myself. In Allen 24 hour fitness studio, they keep the light so dark, I have to pick a bike by the corner so that I can see the monitor. Also I need to sign in and get a yellow card for reserving a bike. At 24-hour fitness, the towel is not provided, so I will have two small ones and paste the heart rate card with scotch tape.
Classes vary and I understand everybody has different goal. Some times it is talking with friends and sometimes it is doing their own thing by ignoring what the instructor says. Instructors vary, too. Some instructors ask us just to ride really fast (with loud music). Some instructors tell us to be in particular heart rate zone without telling us how to get there. Some instructors assume we all get to AT when they get to AT. Some instructors talk about their family during class. Some preach, some like to encourage. I like my instructor to have a clear lesson plan, how the heart rate range should be arranged for interval training. My favorite, Stan, does not say which heart rate zone, but he is very clever about setting a “course” and specifying cadence. My new favorite, Jason, specifies heart rate zone and makes sure to work in various zones. I will get to describe why I like some classes by posting my heart rate data.
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