Spin Cycling Vs. Outdoor Cycling

For many exercise enthusiasts, spinning seems like the best of both worlds. You can burn calories, improve your cardio, and build lean muscles without having to haul a bike outdoors. Spin classes also tend to be quick and convenient, making them ideal for people with busy schedules. Additionally, spin instructors are always there to provide their students with plenty of valuable tips and strategies that can boost their performance. For this reason, many serious cyclists choose to supplement their outdoor riding with spin courses.

While there are many key similarities between spin classes and traditional outdoor cycling, there are also a number of differences that are worth considering. If you’re wondering whether you can replace your regular bike with the best spin bike, read on.

Which Activity Burns More Calories?

If calorie-burning plays a big role in your choice of exercise, you should know the facts first. Most spin classes are known for their serious calorie-torching ability, which is part of the reason why they’ve become so popular in the fitness world. After a typical spin class, you can expect to burn about 400-600 calories. This makes spinning one of the most efficient fitness activities in terms of shedding calories.

Cycling, on the other hand, requires more effort on your part to lose weight. At a casual pace, you might burn no more than 100 calories. You can make this number go up to 600 if you put in a lot of effort, but it’s more difficult to motivate yourself when you’re on your own. In a spin class, you have encouragement from your instructor and other members to maintain a more demanding pace. When you also consider the fact that cycling involves unpredictable roads and environments, spinning tends to be the more reliable option if you aim to shed calories quickly.

Which is the Healthier Option?

You’ll be happy to learn that both spinning and outdoor cycling offer a number of meaningful health benefits. When you ride a spin bike, you can experience amazing effects on your cardiovascular health. Regular spinning significantly reduces your risk of heart disease and allows you to build a stronger heart overall. Other benefits of spin classes include better muscle definition, higher immunity, decreased stress levels, and a lower risk of injury.

Cycling offers the same positive effects, but there is an extra health benefit that comes with traditional cycling. Riding your bike outside allows you to experience the great outdoors, and that alone benefits your health in a myriad of ways. Spending more time in the fresh air has been linked to a positive mood, a lower risk of depression and anxiety, higher energy levels, enhanced creativity, and reduced pain, just to name a few. Even though spinning helps you build strength and endurance, it’s worth noting that you’re confined to the indoors while engaging in this activity.

At the same time, many people have jobs and other commitments that require them to be outside all day, such as those who work in construction. Plus, if you’ve already spent enough time outdoors for the day and want to enjoy being at home, riding a spin bike is a great way to reap the benefits of cycling without having to step out into the elements.

Which Form of Exercise is More Convenient?

Given the shorter duration of spin classes, many people automatically assume that it’s more convenient to hop on a spin bike, hopefully complete with a diverse set of features, and start exercising. However, it's a good idea to think twice about the way you choose to spend your time. For example, do you have a short commute to work? Instead of driving to the office out of habit, try switching to cycling. This strategy lets you make better use of the time you’d already spend getting to work. Instead of just sitting in traffic, why not get some fresh air and exercise?

That said, if you live in an area where cycling around town just isn’t feasible, spinning might be the more convenient option for you. The important thing is being honest with yourself about your lifestyle and needs to determine which form of exercise is most efficient.

The Bottom Line

All things considered, both outdoor cycling and spinning impact your health in a number of powerful ways. The healthier and more convenient option is something that heavily depends on your personal preferences and needs. However, if you truly want to get the most out of bike riding, the best thing to do is to incorporate both activities into your lifestyle. This way, you’ll reap the unique benefits of cycling and spinning at the same time. Plus, you can decide which form of exercise works best for you if you give both of them a chance.

Resources— Greatist, Bicycling

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