Spin bikes might look like they’ll give you the same workout as other stationary bikes at the gym, or even your bicycle at home, but spinning is actually a more intense exercise than what you’ll get with other types of cycling.

That’s why all the best gyms have spin bikes and spin classes at their facilities, and at Adventure Fitness Athletic Club, we’re no exception. In addition to our state-of-the-art spin bikes, we also offer:

Spin and More Classes with Susan, a Schwinn Cycling Classic Certified Instructor

Tuesdays from 5:30-6:15 pm

Fridays from 10:30-11:30 am

Susan’s classes are called Spin and More because members are on and off the bikes, doing a variety of exercises in addition to spinning. It’s a great way to burn some calories, have fun, and make new friends!

Whether you want to join Susan’s Spin and More classes or hop on a spin bike yourself at our Thornton gym, you might be wondering, what makes spin bikes different from other gym equipment? And what the benefits of spinning? Read on to find out more.

What is a spin bike?

Spin bikes were invented in 1987 by professional athlete and cyclist Jonathan Goldberg, also known as Johnny G. Since its invention, the spin bike has become a wildly popular exercise tool and spinning is now taught at tens of thousands of facilities across the country.

What makes spin bikes so unique is that they are designed to provide the feel of riding a conventional bicycle but with the convenience and comfort of being indoors. As such, spinning comes as close as possible to simulating the high-energy ride you’d get if you were racing an outdoor bike. Here’s how this is accomplished:

• The rider must maintain an upright position when riding a spin bike.
• The seat on a spin bike is narrow and has a similar feel to a regular bicycle seat.
• On a spin bike, you can ride while sitting on the seat or while standing, which allows you to work the stability muscles in your legs and back more than you can with a recumbent exercise bike.
• The flywheel on a spin bike is heavy and connected directly to the pedals with a chain.
• You’ll need to work hard to get a spin bike moving, but inertia will keep the pedals spinning even if you stop pedaling. This will give you the same varied resistance that you’d experience on an outdoor bike.
• You’ll also get a faster and higher pedaling cadence and a better-quality workout compared to a recumbent bike or indoor upright bike.

What is better to use at the gym, a spin bike or another type of stationary bike?

When you’re ready to start a cycling program at the gym, you might be wondering which bike you should use. The answer is, it depends! Spin bikes, upright bikes, and recumbent bikes have their pros and cons, so let’s look at the differences to better understand which might be the ideal option for you.

Recumbent and upright stationary bikes

Recumbent and upright bikes are usually used by gym members who are interested in a general exercise program that improves their cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and weight loss efforts. More specifically, these stationary bikes:

• Are easy to use
• Are used individually and not in classes
• Have a low injury risk
• Offer a moderate calorie burn
• Work the quads, calves, hamstrings, and glutes
• Allow you to change the intensity of the workout by increasing speed and resistance
• Upright bikes also allow you to sit or stand while riding, but recumbent bikes do not

Spin bikes

Spin bikes are typically used by local gym members who participate in outdoor road cycling as a sport. Spin bikes are also frequently seen in class settings known as spin classes. A closer look at spin bikes shows us that they:

• Are also easy to use
• Are sturdier than other stationary bikes and are made with better craftsmanship
• Offer a greater transfer of benefits to outdoor cyclists who want to train indoors
• Help you to closely mimic the body position you’d have on a regular outdoor bike
• Have a moderate injury risk if you stand while riding the bike
• Offer a high calorie burn
• Work the quads, calves, hamstrings, glutes, back, shoulders, core, biceps, and triceps
• Allow you to increase speed, increase resistance, and change your position from sitting to standing to boost the intensity of the workout

Even though spin bikes are designed to help outdoor cyclists train indoors, you can still use them as part of your fitness program if you’re not a cyclist.

Just keep in mind that if your only exercise is spinning, you should add strength training to your exercise program, two to three times a week, if weight loss is your goal.

What are the benefits of using a spin bike at the gym?

Since their inception, spin bikes and spin classes have become a national obsession. The intense workout you get on a spin bike can be addicting!

Here are some of the benefits of adding spinning to your workout program:

• It’s nonstop. Unlike outdoor cycling, there are no breaks in spin class. Outdoor biking forces you to slow down and stop for traffic, pedestrians, and road hazards, but spin bikes offer an intense, nonstop workout where you can go as fast and far as you’re able.

• It’s invigorating. Spin classes come with motivating music, encouraging instructors, and an inspiring group atmosphere that keep you moving and burning tons of calories.

• It’s intense. Studies have shown that spinning is one of the most high-intensity workouts you can do, having a similar effect on your body as running a marathon.

• It’s the optimal cardio workout. Research indicates that spinning can decrease fat mass, lower blood cholesterol, and decrease blood pressure. It also increases fitness levels, heart capacity, and lung capacity, even in trained athletes.

• It’s low-impact. You can get the same intensity on a spin bike as running on a treadmill or climbing stairs, without the impact on your joints. This makes spinning great for older people and those with orthopedic injuries.

• It burns a lot of calories. Spinning burns about 600 calories per hour or even more.

Take a Spin at AFAC Gym in Thornton, CO

We hope you’ll take advantage of the spin bikes and spin classes at Adventure Fitness Athletic Club. We also welcome you to try out our other fitness classes and equipment — you’ll discover that we offer the best variety of exercise options in the Thornton, CO, area. Ask any of our personal trainers for assistance, or you can also contact our gym owner, Susan, at 720-849-0245 or susan@adventurefitness.club.

To read more articles from Adventure Fitness Athletic Club, check out our Adventure Corner blogs by clicking here.