High-intensity indoor cycling options abound
16 Sep 2015
Bike When You Like
On a recent Tuesday at the BreakAway Cycle & Strength Studio in Longmont, a nearly full class of riders worked strategically to push their legs at the right speed and resistance to exert the exact number of watts of power needed at that moment to reach their peak performance. In a different indoor class at the Hill’s new cycling hot spot, Beat Cycle, sweat-drenched men and women filled a nearly pitch-black studio, following the beat of high-energy pop music as they pumped their legs (and often their entire bodies) up and down for the duration of the 45-minute class. (Photo above: Carlos Cruz-Abrams leads a class at Beat Cycle on the Hill. At studios of this type, riders are guided by a software system that tracks their individual bikes and projects the data onto a screen in front of the whole class.) At Inspired Training Center in Denver, class members had brought in their own bikes—which were then set up on stationary CompuTrainers—to receive the guidance and advice of USA Cycling–certified coaches.
Indoors and Out
While the style of indoor cycling varies from studio to studio, one constant is the way Boulder County’s cycling community, fitness gurus and newbies rely on these high-intensity workouts to maintain their fitness when the weather keeps them indoors. “If you’re racing and you’re a serious cyclist, you’re on a home trainer at least once a week,” says 30-year-old Muffy King, who is training to complete her third Ironman in November. King supplements her solo home training with indoor group-training courses put on through her cycling coaches, often in someone’s basement. She says indoor cycling can provide a better, higher-intensity workout than riding outside because “you are going the whole time. You’re getting a solid hour of pedaling and movement.” Lloyd, a USA Cycling–certified coach who has raced competitively in Boulder since 1980, agrees. “It’s a very effective way to get in a good workout,” she says, noting that there is no coasting in indoor cycling, or distractions like stoplights. “What might take three hours outside will take an hour in the studio.”
Getting Started
Boulder Magazine asked Robert Pane, M.D., a Boulder internist and amateur cyclist, two basic questions:What are the best health benefits of indoor cycling?
It is a good form of aerobic exercise for improving cardiovascular fitness. Many people who could not otherwise get the benefits of walking, running or hiking, for example because of arthritic conditions in the legs or spine, or because of balance problems, are usually able to use a stationary bike for exercise.Are indoor cycling classes appropriate for everyone?
No matter what your age, if you have not been physically active, you should consult your physician before embarking on any exercise program. If you have not been accustomed to biking, you should start at a very low wheel tension and only increase your exertion gradually. Most importantly, because riding a Spin cycle is very different from riding a bicycle, you should get an introduction to Spinning by a knowledgeable trainer before attending a class.By Adeline Bash Freelancer Addie Bash, a Boulder native, studied journalism at the University of Oregon before returning to Colorado. She works in marketing for a local natural-food brand.
