Considering trying Cathe's cycle workouts...HELP!

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FleurdeLisa68

Member
Die hard 20+ years with Cathe but have never done spinning.
Considering adding it to my at-home gym due to its zero-impact-ness.
Question about the bikes/tension.
I watched the video clips of all of Cathe's cycle DVDs and she mentions "turning up the tension" but do the bikes have a number setting and does she tell us what she's using so that you know if you are "keeping up with" what Cathe and her crew are doing?
I am so used to matching what she uses (when she uses 10lb dumbbell, I use 10lb dumbell,).
Also if anyone can recommend a certain bike, that would help narrow down my search for a good one. I saw Cathe's pinterest page but looking to narrow it down even farther...would like to stay under $400.
Thanks for any help!!
 
Wow! 20 years! Good for you FleurdeLisa68! Adding in spin workouts is a great decision! I find these among the toughest of Cathe's cardio workouts. Always a puddle of sweat on the floor!

FleurdeLisa68 said:
do the bikes have a number setting and does she tell us what she's using so that you know if you are "keeping up with" what Cathe and her crew are doing?
Click to expand...
I have not seen number settings on any bikes and Cathe does not give numbers. She just tells you when to turn the tension up or down a little. But although it is not as objective and specific as her weight workouts, I don't think you'll find it a problem. I too like to keep up with Cathe (when I can!) but I have found with spin workouts you can tell if your tension is 'on' if you are at the same level of exertion (she describes that with statements like, "this should be a hard climb") and if you are able to stand/hover, etc. (if you don't have enough tension you can't get out of the saddle). Also, I sometimes look at her feet and go at the same speed (# of revolutions of my feet). I feel as if we all start at the same place (as Cathe says, "Very light tension but always some tension") and then go up and back from there.

But, like any cardio workout it's hard to compare yourself to others - you get out of it what you put in to it and everyone is a little different. And some days you can turn the tension dial a tiny bit more than others. I just take what my body will give me on any given day. With spin I am always pushed to my max!

I live in Canada so I won't comment on brands of bikes as I have different availability and costs. But good luck with this! Hope you find spin a fun and effective way to add variety to your cardio workouts.
 
Jane Power-Grimm said:
Wow! 20 years! Good for you FleurdeLisa68! Adding in spin workouts is a great decision! I find these among the toughest of Cathe's cardio workouts. Always a puddle of sweat on the floor!


I have not seen number settings on any bikes and Cathe does not give numbers. She just tells you when to turn the tension up or down a little. But although it is not as objective and specific as her weight workouts, I don't think you'll find it a problem. I too like to keep up with Cathe (when I can!) but I have found with spin workouts you can tell if your tension is 'on' if you are at the same level of exertion (she describes that with statements like, "this should be a hard climb") and if you are able to stand/hover, etc. (if you don't have enough tension you can't get out of the saddle). Also, I sometimes look at her feet and go at the same speed (# of revolutions of my feet). I feel as if we all start at the same place (as Cathe says, "Very light tension but always some tension") and then go up and back from there.

But, like any cardio workout it's hard to compare yourself to others - you get out of it what you put in to it and everyone is a little different. And some days you can turn the tension dial a tiny bit more than others. I just take what my body will give me on any given day. With spin I am always pushed to my max!

I live in Canada so I won't comment on brands of bikes as I have different availability and costs. But good luck with this! Hope you find spin a fun and effective way to add variety to your cardio workouts.
Click to expand...

Yes, this!
I bought this bike, and I love it. Inexpensive, but heavy. Gives a great ride!

https://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Health...TF8&qid=1497368620&sr=8-1&keywords=SPIN+BIKES
 
Thanks Jane for your helpful and thorough reply. I "get" everything you said and think that you may have me ever-closer to making the leap to purchasing a bike. Thanks so much!
 
I got a bike on Amazon for $250. Best money ever spent. I have fallen in love with spinning. My bike just has a knob to turn. No numbers. But you'll quickly learn your bike and what tension you need. It will take a few workouts but you'll get it down.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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