A lot of people like jumping on your bicycle when it’s nice outside, pedalling from one place to another and getting in some good exercise. But the thought of sitting on a stationary bike and sweating in a dark room for 45-minutes baffles you. What enjoyment could you possibly get out of that? Don’t be so quick to turn your nose up at Indoor Cycling, you can burn anywhere from 400 to 600-plus calories depending on your intensity and how long you’re in the saddle. Still not convinced? Here are a few reasons you should learn to love Indoor Cycling.
1. You’ll get the energy you need to give 100 percent to the whole workout.
From the instructors to the music to the constant change in scenery on the projector, good classes never seem to have a dull moment.
2. You’ll push yourself to the max, but no further.
Indoor Cycling classes aren’t made for Tour de France contenders (well, maybe some are, but not your average class). They are for everyone from beginner to advanced levels of fitness. “We focus on metabolic intervals, light resistance to heavy resistance, so your legs burn and are challenged, but never feel too fatigued. Many of our instructors take an interval approach to pedalling on “flat ground” versus pushing hard to “climb a big hill”. Interval training gets the heart rate up so you can burn more calories in less time. It may hurt a little to walk up and down the stairs after class, but who doesn’t love knowing they worked hard?
3. You’ll get lost pedalling to killer music.
And after attending the class a few times, you’ll learn which instructor you like best, and who has the most similar taste to you in music. There’s nothing like keeping pace with a good beat and seeing everyone else around you on the same count. And you may discover some new tunes to download at home and add to your own exercise playlist.
4. You’ll get used to that sore butt feeling.
We’re not going to lie, if it’s your first time, or you haven’t been in a while, chances are, your bum will be sore the next day. So what can you do to avoid squirming at your desk the day after? Be sure you’re not in the saddle the whole time. “Though it might seem easier to stay seated, heavy-resistance saddle riding at high pace could hurt. Most classes will have you in and out of the saddle every other song. Still not comfortable? Try using a padded seat or cycling shorts.
5. You’ll define and lean out your legs.
Notice we didn’t say bulk up. And we hear it all the time. It’s a huge misconception that ‘my legs are going to get big if I cycle’, If I chest press 150kg, yes I would get bigger, but that’s like riding with high torque for eight hours. The interval training that most instructors practice, allows you to tone muscles that you may have not even known you had.
Words by My Fitness Hub Manager John Handley
