Before You Begin Your Indoor Cycling Class
You have probably been thinking about beginning cycling maybe as a form of exercise or as a form of relaxation. Signing up for your first indoor cycling class can be intimidating.
Features like Adrenaline-infused rides filled with feel-good camaraderie and bumpin' playlists make great low-impact cardio workouts, and provide a major endorphin boost, ensure places that offer classes in indoor cycling have a huge patronage.
Below is everything you need to know about tackling your first indoor cycling class.
- Registration
Most indoor cycling studios open online booking one to two weeks in advance, which means you need to be on top of your reservations game. Classes can fill up pretty quickly, especially if they are at prime pre- or post-work times for the 9-to-5 crowd.
For almost every boutique offering, registration is also the point where you'll choose which bike you want.
- Most Studios Have Shows For Hire
Most cycling studios offer cycling-specific shoes that clip into the pedals for riders to wear during class. The purpose is for Clipping in, which creates a more efficient pedal stroke, and ultimately a smoother experience.
Instead of worrying about your feet spinning out of a plastic cage, you can focus on keeping the right RPM (rotations per minute). It is advisable you call your local studio a ring or check the website beforehand, and know that while many offer shoes for free.
- Wear Clothes That Wick Sweat
Engaging in cycling means you will be sweating a lot. Ensure you wear clothes that can wick sweat especially at the bottom. Wear leggings or crop tops. Up top, I lean toward a sports bra with a loose-fitting tank to keep things breezy but supported.
- Early Arrival
Ensure you make it to the cycling studio ten or fifteen minutes before the commencement of the session.Most popular studios have lockers for you to store your stuff, as well as locker rooms for changing and getting cleaned up before or after class.
Getting to the studio early gives you time to get organized, fill your water bottle, and set up your bike before the show gets on the road.
- Ensure You Pick The Right Bike
Make sure your seat is at about waist height and allows for a slight bend in your knee when extending through the pedal stroke. Handlebars should be either level with the seat or slightly higher to prevent any low-back tension and the distance from your seat to the handlebars should be a forearm’s length apart.
An indoor cycling instructor offers this advice, “Spin classes are known for being a killer cardio workout that's easy on your joints—that is, if your bike is set up correctly. Everybody is different, and a lot of bikes are, too”. If you indoor cycling is a way of life for you and you are interested in leading a spinning class of your own, you can easily get certified as an indoor cycling instructor!
- Three Positions Instructors Call Out
And they're simply called position one, two, and three. First position is when you're in the saddle. Second position is when you stand and ride upright. Third position is a core scorcher, also standing, when you bend forward, maintaining a flat back, and reach out to the front handlebars.
These hints will get you started on your cycling lessons. Take not of them because they will come in handy.