Cyclebar experience - Pushups on Spin Bike?

smcgrath45

Hi! I recently bought a groupon and tried out 2 classes at a Cyclebar near me. I like Spinning a lot and had been excited to try this place. The place itself was great but I was surprised that the focus seems to be on working your body during the ride rather than creating a riding experience with hills and such. Instructors spent most of the class having people do pushups on the bike, and touch backs. There are bars for shoulder work during the ride as well. I've also read that pushups, touch backs and weights while riding are dangerous. On the other hand, everyone is very fit, the music rocks and maybe I am wrong? I am wondering if this is typical for all Cyclebars or it varies by studio.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

I’ve never been to Cyclebar but I do go to SoulCycle and that is the same. I used to go to spinning classes at my gym and that really focused on resistance with hills to climb and so on. At SoulCycle there is none of that, they don’t even talk about resistance. SoulCycle is all very fast with lots of pushups and touch backs and a section with hand weights.

I don’t know whether more focus on resistance would be better, but I enjoy the classes.

smcgrath45

I read about SoulCycle and yes, I saw how it is very different. I really hurt myself unfortunately in my first class Thursday with the bike pushups. I felt fine at the time but two days later (today) I started to experience this intense chest pain unlike regular chest pain from lifting. I actually went and got a EKG, I thought I was having a heart attack (I'm a worrier) but they said it was muscular. I was guess I was using the wrong muscles. I'm not sure if this is good or bad exercise. I agree that if you like it and show up, it is better than not going at all. I have more classes to use so I may sit in the back and not do the pushups till I feel stronger.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

Don’t feel pressured to do the pushups etc. half the time I don’t! I’m not that co-ordinated and would rather put effort into the cycling element.

Also if you’ve only just started going remember you have to build up stamina and master the basics first. Every cycling class I’ve been to they’ve always said work at the level that’s comfortable for you- if it means sitting sit, if it means skipping the pushups skip them.

You could also ask at the beginning of the class that they pay attention to your form in class because you’re new and want to be sure you’re getting it right so you don’t get injured.

I go spinning because I find the music and the group element make the time go quickly. The best exercise is one you enjoy though so try something else if Cyclebar isn’t it. You might like Zumba - that’s lots of fun!

deannalfisher

honestly i'm not a fan of all that flashing kind of stuff while riding in a studio - it doesn't add anything to the workout imho - a good spinning workout can leave you feel like you are dying without anything like that

smcgrath45

Thanks, I am going to sit in the back and try different instructors. I'm guessing it's somewhat the same though since the website says they incorporate all that stuff. I've tried spinning at the Y but its the wrong type room and the instructors are really random, some play country music and you sit in position 1 the whole time. I did think the facility was really nice. It's worth putting up with the other stuff I guess.

Safari_Gal

Hi - I go to SoulCycle a minimum of 3 times per week. It’s the one workout that keeps me engaged. That and diet has helped me lose 30+ lbs. Form on the bike is very important, dont go full speed at first- go at your own pace. SoulCycle is known for dance music and choreography- but I too had to build up to full speed. My instructors have always preached about going at your own pace and using resistance on the bike to your benefit. I use a ton of resistance- it helps during weight segment and helps give you stability on the bike during push ups, etc. Not sure what city you are riding in - but they typically have staff in the room at the top of class to get you set up and started- also in my experience - the instructors are there to help you - check in with them at the beginning and end of class and I think you may have a more customized ride. That’s my 2cents from my experience- hope you enjoy.

AnnPT77

I spin at a Y, have done it twice a week for around 10 years, and the individual instructors differ a lot.

One of my current instructors basically does one fast song (speed bursts or sprints interspersed, or increasing cadence (100 for a while, 110 for a while, etc.), or occasionally just steady fast), then one resistance/hill song (slightly varying schemes), alternating those through the whole class, mostly position 1 or standing 3 and only tiny amounts of 2.

Others mix it all the time with those kinds of things plus jumps (standing, sitting, crouching in various combinations for various counts), push-ups, added bits with light (very light) dumbbells, hovers (upper body absolutely steady either standing position 2 or crouched 3, only lower body moving, body weight back over the seat), and I forget what-all.

One would occasionally have us get off the bike and run/jog up and down the long hall (I demurred - bad knee is why I spin in the first place). One liked to do approximately half the class while pedaling backwards (still doing speed, resistance, and whatever). Few of the recent ones seem to do seated position 3 (pseudo aero), for some reason, but others in the past did more of it.

Some of this stuff is safer than others, I think. Some instructors talk about how unsafe the things some other instructors do are. I have no idea.

There has been every kind of music from 1950s rock to 1940s big band, to hip-hop, a little classical, some jazz, country, disco, themes (holiday or whatever) and more - anything you could think of. We even had some projected video rides in exotic locations. Some decorate the room with holiday stuff at certain times of year. Some like the bikes in a U-shape, others like them in straight rows. Some have "take your pulse" moments, and others ignore that whole issue.

Some do part or all of the end-of-class stretching on the bike, and some don't. All of them do different stretches, for different hold counts.

There's everything, eventually, I swear. Once I think I've seen it all, somebody comes along like the "pedaling backwards" guy and proves me wrong.

Overall, it's all fine with me. If it doesn't work for my body, I don't do it. I'm looking for the music, the class, and the instructor's antics to distract me from the fact that I'm working really hard and if I had enough time to dwell on that I'd probably want to back off.

OP, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I like the classes where beginners are told just to focus on pedaling through the whole first class without stopping, at any intensity they can manage, not worrying about whether they follow any of the details, and skipping anything that seems too challenging or scary.

tbright1965

One of the favorite lines from one of my favorite spin instructors is, “It’s your ride.”

Which means do what you can do. I’ve been spinning for nearly 7 years now. There are days when I don’t have the energy to sprint in position 2 or 3 or my knees are barking at me, so I’ll stay in the saddle and perhaps add a bit more resistance.

My local Y also offers Les Mills Sprint which is a 30 minute HIIT class. But none of our instructors suggest we do push-ups or similar. I get my strength training in the weight room and spin or ride my road bike for aerobic conditioning.

No matter where you go, it’s your ride. You do you and get what you came for.