Indoor Cycle

Do you like to work on your endurance and fitness and do you want to burn a lot of calories at the same time? Then a spinning bike is the perfect fitness equipment for you. With a spinning bike you can work comfortably from home to improve your fitness whenever you want. The nice thing about a spinning bike is that they are suitable for anyone who wants to get and stay fitter. Whether you are a novice athlete or already advanced with a spinning bike, your workouts will always remain extra challenging and fun.

What is spinning?

Spinning, also called indoor cycling, is an intensive form of exercise where the focus is on improving your endurance, among other things. Improving your endurance is done through intensive cycling movements, for example with intervals and intensity workouts. One of the advantages is that you cycle comfortably indoors on a bike that remains in the same place.

What is a spinning bike?

A spinning bike, also known as spin bike, spinning bike and indoor cycle, is a specially developed training device that allows you to train to the limit comfortably at home or in the gym. You can compare a spinning bike with a racing bike. The seat of a spinning bike is sportier, you sit bent forward, compared to an exercise bike. In addition, the available technology is also fully aimed at being able to do race workouts.

What are the benefits of training with a spinning bike?

Training on a spinning bike brings you several benefits. The great thing is that everyone can participate in spinning workouts, whether you are just starting out or are already an advanced cyclist.

Lose weight, burn calories and improve your fitness

The intensity of the workouts allows you to burn quite a few calories. The number of calories you can burn depends on your weight, the duration of the workout and the intensity. For example, a man can burn more calories than a woman while doing the same workout.

In addition to allowing you to lose weight and burn calories, spinning workouts also make you fitter. The more you ride the spin bike, you will see that it becomes easier, that you enjoy it more and that you get more energy from it.

Low impact workouts, no shock loads on your joints

By fully tailoring the spin bike to your own training position, you ensure that any impact on your joints is kept to a minimum. During sports and exercises that require running and jumping, your weights must continuously absorb these shocks, which places a strain on the joints. Spinning is a low impact workout, so your weights do not have to absorb shocks.

Push your limits and go to the extreme

Spinning is a real workout where you aim to push your own limits. You can make a cycling workout as heavy (or light) as you want. But do you want to keep pushing your boundaries and continuously improve? Then make sure you make your workouts a little harder each time. If you aim for a 1 percent improvement every day, you will have improved yourself by 365 percent at the end of the year.

Train in the comfort of your home whenever you want

You may recognize it: you want to train outside, but it is raining or quite cold outside. Not the nicest weather conditions for training outside. With a spinning bike you can work on your fitness from home whenever you want. This way you can continue to work on your fitness during the colder winter months or very hot summer days. Do you normally go to the gym to spin? Or perhaps you are active as a cyclist or mountain biker, then a spinning bike is also ideal for ""hibernating"". Then with your own spinning bike you can also save a lot of time on the travel time you normally use to go to the gym.

What should you pay attention to if you want to buy a spinning bike?

Would you like to buy a spinning bike? Then there are several important points that you need to look at to make the best choice for you. With the wide variety of bikes available, it must meet all your wishes and needs. To help you with your choice, we would like to take you through the details of the spinning bikes.

• The pedal system of the spinning bike
  
  • Step-through system
  • Freewheel system
• Types of braking systems
• Presence of a training computer
• The weight of the flywheel
• Frame stability
• Q factor
• Sitting position and comfort
• The drive of the spinning bike
• Dimensions of the spinning bike
• The loadable weight

Pedal system of the spinning bike

Spinning bikes can have different types of pedal systems, namely a continuous pedal system and a freewheel system. You will see the pedal system most often on spinning bikes.

Step-through system

The pedal system ensures that the pedals continue to rotate during your workouts. Suppose you stop pedaling, the pedals will continue to spin. The pedals of this type of spinning bikes are often directly linked to the flywheel. This also allows you to spin very well while standing and the rotation of the pedal always helps you reach the ideal moment so that you can always continue cycling hard and intensively. If your bicycle has a continuous pedal system, you can stop the pedals by slowly reducing the speed or using the emergency stop.

Freewheel system

Various spinning bikes have a freewheel system. The advantage of the freewheel system is that the pedals stop when you stop pedaling, just like with a cycling / racing bike. The flywheel then continues to rotate. Because the pedals are not directly linked to the flywheel, you can, for example, stop pedaling in the event of cramp or acidification and then pick it up again immediately. If you like intensive workouts where you also want to train while standing, a freewheel system is less comfortable because you have to get out of the “free” moment yourself with your pedaling movement.

Types of braking systems

Two types of braking systems can be distinguished on spinning bikes, namely: brake pads and the electromagnetic brake. The earlier spinning bikes were often equipped with felt brake pads that slowed down the flywheel when braking, but also offered resistance if you wanted to train harder. Nowadays you see that most of the spinning bikes are equipped with the magnetic braking system. With the magnetic braking system you can determine your desired resistance more accurately and you get a more realistic training. In addition, a magnetic braking system makes a lot less noise and is maintenance-free, which is a big plus compared to the brake pad system.

Presence of training computer

To get the most out of your workouts, you can opt for a spinning bike with a training computer. This allows you to make all your training fully transparent so that you can cycle even more results-oriented. The functions of the training computer differ per spinning bike and often consist of the following values: your heart rate, the number of calories burned, the distance cycled, the training duration, the speed and the number of laps per minute (RPM).

This way you can keep track of each training and see whether your performance and endurance are improved.

There are also spinning bikes with Zwift or Kinomaps. With these apps you can make your workouts even more fun and challenging. Kinomaps adapt to the resistance you choose. For example, choose the Alpe d'Huez route and cycle straight up the mountains. If you go uphill, you will also feel this in the resistance that adjusts automatically. Or go for the Zwift App Zwift is one of the better-known apps for cyclists that allows you to cycle against friends or other people all over the world.

The weight of the flywheel

One of the most important parts of the spin bike is the flywheel. It used to be that the heavier the flywheel, the better the spinning bike. Due to new technologies, the weight of the flywheel now makes less difference. For example, the mass inertia of a lighter flywheel may be greater than a heavier flywheel.

On some spinning bikes, the flywheel has been moved from the front to the back. This feature is often seen in high-end bicycles and there is an important reason for this displacement. Suppose you are spinning to the limit, then at some point you will perspire and sweat. If the flywheel is at the front of the bicycle, rust can develop over time due to the sweat that drips on the flywheel. Do you use the spinning bike a lot? Then a bicycle with a flywheel at the back is a better choice.

Frame stability

Good stability of the spinning bike is very important. Suppose you want to spin while standing, then it is very important that the bike is sturdy and in a stable position so that you do not fall over during your workouts. This all has to do with a good frame structure.

Is your floor a little crooked? Then various spin bikes also have the option to adjust it perfectly level.

Q Factor

The Q factor concerns the distance between the mounting points of the pedals on the crank arms. An optimal Q-factor ensures that you can perform your training comfortably. The most optimal Q-factor is between 140mm and 170mm. Your pedaling movement is most efficient between this range. In addition, a good Q-factor ensures a natural cycling position, allows you to transmit power better and reduces knee strain.

A Q-factor that is too narrow (<140mm) or too wide (>170mm) can cause you to experience discomfort in your joints during your training.

The sitting position and comfort

A good cycling position is important to train comfortably and prevent injuries. That is why (almost) all spinning bikes have the option to adjust both the handlebars and the saddle horizontally and vertically. It may be the case that a certain spinning bike is only suitable for a certain body size. 

Handlebar ergonomics

Most spinning bikes today have multi-grip handlebars. This means that you can train in different positions. If you prefer to cycle quietly, you can simply grab the handlebars and cycle. Are you a professional cyclist? Then you can also choose to cycle in a sporty (cyclist) position.

Various spinning bikes also have bottle holders on the handlebars or on the frame. This means you always have enough water or sports drinks at hand.

Drive of the spinning bike

Among spinning bikes, two types of drives can be distinguished: V-belt (string) and chain belt. The advantage of a V-belt is that it is maintenance-free, ensures a smoother pedaling movement and is also quieter. Compared to the V-belt, the chain feels less fluid, needs regular oiling and makes more noise than the V-belt. On the other hand, a spinning bike with chain is slightly cheaper than a spinning bike with a V-belt.

Dimensions of the spinning bike

Before you want to purchase your new spinning bike, it is first important to see where it will be placed. If you have a somewhat smaller living space, it may be desirable to opt for a more compact spinning bike. A spinning bike with the flywheel at the front is often more compact and a bike with the flywheel at the back is longer. The majority of the bicycles have transport wheels so you can easily store and move them.

The load-bearing weight of the spinning bike

A spinning bike can only handle a certain user weight. That is why it is important to see whether the bike is suitable for your body weight. If you choose a spinning bike that can only hold up to 100kg and you weigh approximately 130kg, the spinning bike may eventually show wear (faster).

Suppose you weigh 100kg, then the spinning bike must also be able to handle at least 100kg. For example, you weigh 110kg and the spinning bike can handle a maximum of 110kg, then we advise you to go for a spinning bike that can handle at least 120kg. We recommend choosing a spinning bike that can handle more than your own body weight.

Who is a spinning bike suitable for?

The nice thing about a spinning bike is that they are suitable for anyone who wants to get and stay fitter. Whether you are a novice spinner or already experienced with a spinning bike, your workouts will always remain challenging and fun.

Choose a spinning bike or exercise bike?

The spinning bike and exercise bike are very similar. You can make a cycling movement with both fitness equipment, but there are major differences between the two. Since an exercise bike resembles a normal bicycle, a spinning bike looks more like a racing bike. In addition, the majority of spinning bikes contain a continuous pedal system and exercise bikes contain a freewheel system. The position you adopt on an exercise bike is also different, so you sit upright on the exercise bike, while on a spinning bike you sit in a more bent-over (sporty) position. Do you want to train your endurance and push yourself to the limit? Then you will certainly succeed with a spinning bike. 

Can you lose weight by training with a spin bike?

Did you know that spinning is one of the most popular ways to burn calories and lose weight? In order to achieve optimal results, it is important that you adjust your spinning bike completely to your body and of course do a few vigorous workouts several times a week and pay attention to your diet. The amount of calories you burn naturally differs per person, this is partly due to your physique, your weight and how often and how intensively you train.

One of the other advantages is that in addition to your weight, you also work on your fitness. After training for a while you will notice that you have more and more energy and become fitter and therefore want to do even more fun things.

Need help with your choice?

Would you like to buy a spinning bike? But are you still not sure which one would best suit your wishes and needs? We will be happy to help you with all your questions. You can reach our spinning specialists by telephone at +31(0)413-256800 or send an e-mail. Or visit our store in Volkel, the Netherlands.