Owning a spin bike offer many benefits, such as the luxury to work out any time of the day, relieve stress, and burn calories in the comfort of your home.
However, there are also some disadvantages to spinning at home, and this includes the risk of pushing your body too much and overworking it.
One of the things that can help you make a buying decision is to weigh up the pros and cons. This allows you to assess whether a spin bike really works for you and is it worth your money.
In this article, we take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of spin bikes. Ready? Let’s begin!
What are the advantages of spin bikes?
There are many reasons why many people love spin bikes, and in this section we outline the most common ones.
Relieve stress
It cannot be denied that any kind of exercise you do can be good for releasing stress, and riding a spin bike is no exception.
If you’re feeling unmotivated to finish your workout, the instructor can offer plenty of motivation while the happy, upbeat music in the classes can evoke feelings of joy and improve your mood. Yes, you read that right! Even if you’re spinning from home, you can still have access to a fitness instructor or an indoor cycling class. All you need is a tablet or a smartphone!
Spin bikes also work several muscle groups in your body, and this can help relieve tension and make you feel energised, more relaxed, or more present in the moment.
Helps you burn calories
If you’re eager to lose weight, you’ll be pleased to know that riding a spin bike is an excellent way to burn calories quickly. It is estimated that a 45-minute spin session can burn up to 495 calories. Keep in mind that results vary depending on how much effort you’re putting in; so, the harder you work the more calories you burn!
Tone your muscles
A consistent spin session can change the musculature and body composition of your legs, bum, arms, and abs. You can tone your legs and bum as you want just by increasing the intensity on the spin bike. But to work your arms and abs, we recommend that you include some weights and incorporate situps once you’re done with your cycling session.
So, if your aim is for more visible muscle toning or definition then regular cycling sessions are just what you need! Rest assured that your toning results will reflect that effort.
Keeps you weather-proof
There’s nothing more fulfilling than riding in the great outdoors and being one with nature. But this doesn’t take away the fact that you’re not protected from inclement or unpleasant weather. The heat and humidity can cause discomfort while riding, while the rain and the cold mean that your workout session is pretty much over for the day.
Of course, there are climate-appropriate clothes that you can use, but the weather changes frequently. So even when you’re very prepared, you’ll never get the protection and comfort that comes with riding indoors.
As well as eliminating the frustration and annoyance brought about by bad weather, riding indoors ensures that you don’t skip a single workout session. If you’re too busy during the day, you can always hop on your bike at night and cycle all your stress away.
Offers privacy
We can’t discuss spinning benefits and advantages without mentioning privacy. If you’re not too comfortable riding outdoors with people staring at you, or cycling with others in the gym, owning a spin bike is a life-saver. This way, you can cycle and exercise privately in your own space and at any time of the day.
Saves time
Even when you have your workout schedule for the week set ahead of time, sometimes things happen at work or school, leaving you with so much on your plate. When this happens, it becomes impossible to squeeze in a cycling session outdoors or at the gym.
The best thing about having a spin bike at home is you can cycle at your most convenient time – when all of your family, work, and school commitments are over.
Welcoming and motivating
You don’t need to be an elite rider to participate in any spinning session. No matter your fitness level, you are fit to ride a spin bike. As long as you can afford to own a spin bike and you have a little determination and a willingness to try something new, you’ll be spinning in no time!
When it comes to different spin workouts, you can find so many amazing apps that don’t not only help you break a sweat but are also fun and addictive. Peloton and Zwift are just a few of the spinning apps that keep your workouts varied and motivating.
Even when you’re just riding against yourself at home, these classes do a great job replicating the in-person cycling class style.
Low-impact exercise
If you’re still reading this guide on the advantages and disadvantages of spin bikes, you may be surprised that we classified spinning as a low-impact exercise. Although it’s a high-intensity workout like running, it doesn’t put as much pressure on your joints. If you have back problems or you’re recovering from a knee injury, you can still do a spin class without worrying about making your condition worse.
Pro-tip for those suffering from back and knee pain: Set the handlebars to a correct position that does not require you to hunch your back too much. Also, make sure that the seat is adjusted to allow for 27-37 degrees of knee flexion to reduce overexertion.
Safer than road cycling
Of all the spinning benefits and advantages, this is probably the most important. Why? Safety is always a concern with riding outdoors. But with a spin bike, there are no road accidents, no injuries if not minimal, no dehydration, no noise, and no traffic jams.
Monitor your progress
The majority of spin bikes have a monitor to view your calories burned, distance, speed, and time. Hand pulse sensors are usually fitted in the handlebars so you can keep track of your pulse and stay in the heart rate zone. With these, you can easily see your progress day and day or week by week.
What are the disadvantages of spin bikes?
Spinning, just as any exercise, falls short in some aspects. Below we explore a few common disadvantages and how to manage them:
Out from nature
If you opt for indoor cycling, the biggest disadvantage is missing the refreshing experience that outdoor cycling provides. Obviously, you will no longer experience the feel of fresh air across your skin, the chirping of birds on a Sunday morning, and the autumn leaves burning against a blue sky.
Neglect your upper body
A spin class is perfect if you want to focus on your core, legs, and bum; however, it may not work your upper body much. That’s why we stressed in the advantages section the significance of incorporating weights and introducing situps for a full-body workout.
If you don’t include strength training in your routine, y§our arms and abs will lag behind in progress compared to your legs and bum.
Can disturb other people
Some spin bikes can be very noisy during operation, and this is a total disadvantage. If you don’t want to disturb your family members while you work out at night, it’s important to choose a spin bike that operates smoothly and quietly. You may want to opt for a bike with a belt drive system as this works almost silently.
Can be uncomfortable
Already adjusted the bike for a proper riding form and posture, yet it still feels uncomfortable on your pelvic bones and coccyx? This may have to do with the bike seat. Yes, saddle soreness is a common disadvantage of riding a spin bike as some models are not well-padded for maximum comfort.
If your bike’s seat hinders you from enjoying your workout, getting a padded gel seat is the best solution as it provides another level of comfort.
Can be intimidating for beginners
Attending a spin class for the first time (both studio and virtual classes) can be intimidating. This is because spinning is a far more intense workout than riding a stationary bike, and you could get conscious about not being able to keep up with your instructor and peers.
The intimidation factor is more of a challenge than a disadvantage, and all you have to do is accept the fact that such a feeling is normal. Don’t let it scare you away, and remember that everyone there most probably felt like you do at some point.
If you think that this is easier said than done, boost your confidence by researching what to expect when you attend a class for the first time.
See also: Rowing Machine versus Exercise Bike
You risk pushing your body too much
Spin bikes provide a continuous workout (which is great) but there is a downside to it – there are no intermittent breaks that you can use to rest in between the exercises. The result is that you push yourself too hard and overwork your body (which eventually results in fatigue and burnout).
Conclusion
And that wraps up our list of advantages and disadvantages of spin bikes. By now you’ll have realised the things to keep in mind before doing a spin.
Spin bikes allow you to work on your fitness in rain, shine, or whatever the weather throws at you. In addition to being convenient and safe, spin bikes relieve your stress, tone your muscles, and help you burn calories.
But while it’s true that spinning comes with disadvantages, most of these drawbacks are manageable. For example, you can use a gel bike seat cover to replace your bike’s uncomfortable saddle, or you can incorporate weights to make spinning a well-rounded, full-body workout.
Now, the decision to pursue indoor cycling is totally up to you!
