What is the Difference Between Spinning and Cycling?

The main difference between spinning and cycling lies in the type of workout and the equipment used. Here are the key differences:

1. Equipment: Spinning refers to stationary cycling classes on a specific type of stationary exercise bike, which is big, heavy, and not meant for outdoor riding. Cycling, on the other hand, involves riding a regular bicycle outdoors on various terrains and conditions.
2. Workout: Spin classes are group exercise classes focused on resistance-based intervals, heart rate training, and sometimes full-body workouts. Cycling outdoors involves varied intensity levels, such as freewheeling, uphill inclines, and changing scenery, which can make the workout more engaging and challenging.
3. Muscle Engagement: While both spinning and cycling work the lower-body muscles, cycling on varied terrain and pushing up hills requires the power of all major lower-body muscles, including glutes, hamstrings, quads, shins, and calves. Spinning, on the other hand, uses the same muscles as road biking but increases the number of pedal strokes per minute, forcing the hamstrings to work harder due to the weight of the flywheel (14-18kg).
4. Calorie Expenditure: Spinning is a high-intensity activity that can burn a significant number of calories due to the fixed wheel of the spinning bike, which means your muscles work the whole time. Cycling has the potential for high-energy expenditure, especially when covering long distances or tackling challenging terrain.
5. Cardiovascular Fitness: A study found that spinners work at 75-96% of their maximum heart rate, while cycling outdoors may not be as intense but still provides a good cardiovascular workout.
6. Perceived Effort: Spinning classes can feel more challenging due to the lack of respite and constant pedaling, but the music and group motivation can help offset this. Cycling outdoors has a varied intensity level, which can make it feel less demanding at times.

In summary, spinning and cycling both offer excellent workouts, but they differ in the type of equipment, workout focus, muscle engagement, calorie expenditure, cardiovascular fitness, and perceived effort. Choose the one that best suits your preferences and fitness goals.

Comparative Table: Spinning vs Cycling

Here is a table comparing the differences between spinning and indoor cycling:

Spinning and indoor cycling share some similarities, such as the use of stationary bikes for indoor workouts. However, spinning focuses on endurance and is closely tied to the music, while indoor cycling offers a wider range of workouts and experiences, including virtual cycling apps and various types of trainers.