These are the main reasons why you should try spinning

Hate grinding it out on the treadmill? There’s no burn like a spin class! Spinning is a great way to sneak some cardio into your workout because with the motivational instructors and pumping tunes, it’s likely that you won’t even realise how hard you’re working until you’re done! 

We all know that spinning boosts your endurance, tones muscle and strengthens your core – but there’s so much more to this workout than just the obvious health benefits. Here are a few of our favourite things about a spin class at Atlantic Reach… 

Key benefits

It’s low impact, so it’s ideal for all ages and is a great way to get back into fitness after an injury.

You set your own resistance – perfect for upping the intensity when your head’s in the game!

You’ll finish a spin session with a huge smile on your face. You can expect to burn approximately up to 600 calories in the average 45-minute spin class but your endorphins will be off the scale!

It never rains indoors, but you can take spin bikes outside when the sun is shining.

Ultra competitive? Our super smart Keiser bikes track your pace, mileage and power percentages throughout the class through FTP training (more info about FTP a little lower down!) – so you can either compete with the rider next to you or use your stats to improve your own performance next time!

You’re all in it together! Keeping fit with a buddy has proven to make people more committed and focused on their workouts – so just imagine the feeling when you’re in a room with 20 other spinners and the motivational music’s blasting out!

Targeted muscles

Spin class will, quite simply, leave you with a great arse! Your glutes, quads and hamstrings, which are some of the largest muscles in your body, are the ones doing most of the heavy lifting during a session. 

However it’s not just your legs that will get a great workout – your core will also be strengthened and your brain will feel lighter after completing a class.

‘FTP’ for the win!

This is a total game changer and something that could maximise those gains during your time in the saddle! FTP stands for Functional Threshold Power – it’s effectively a measure of the power you can hold when you’re peddling at your hardest over a set period of time, and then using that information to get the most out of your class.

During an FTP class, the instructor will get you prepped with a warm up and then will ask you to find that sweet spot where you’re peddling at your max resistance but with a consistent, maintainable pace. After 5 mins, that intensity level is logged in your smart bike and then the playing fields for that session are even! No matter if you’re a complete newbie or an experienced cyclist with quads of steel, everyone will be working to their own limits!

During the session the instructor could ask you to then peddle at 60%, then 80%, then 50% (shown on your screen). With FTP, you and your neighbour will both be peddling at your own version of 60% so your legs might be going at different speeds! It really is the most flexible and accurate way to train – rather than unrealistically competing against other riders around you, you can take note of your FTP and try and beat your own levels in the next class!

Keiser spin bikes

All our studios are kitted out with the creme de la creme of spin bikes – the Keiser M3is! They’ve been designed to suit every rider and have heaps of technical advantages – but all you need to know is that they’re super comfy, quiet and can be completely adjusted to suit to you. They’re also all linked up to Bluetooth so you can keep track of your session in live time both on the bike’s individual computer screen and on communal screens around the studios.

So, what are you waiting for? Come and spin with us! Our timetable features two spin classes every weekday (one in the morning, and one in the evening), plus morning spins on the weekends too. Classes are free for members and £8 per class for non-members – book here!