Training

How much training are we doing to prepare for this epic ride?

Here's what I'm currently doing WEEKLY:

  • 1 x large ride, approx 100km, on Saturday or Sunday, whichever day has the "least worst" weather!

  • 2 x 45 min intense spin (indoor cycling) classes, Tues and Thurs evening. Our instructor, Savannah, is excellent!

Er, that's about it for me at the moment.

I recently gave Pilates a go for the first time ever, but

  1.  I wasn't as impressed by it as I thought I'd be.
  2. The classes are always packed at my local leisure centre, so it's hard to book in advance.
We've got  just over 2 months to go before the start. 😱

Either I'll give Pilates another go, and/or I expect to partake in some targetted leg strength-building exercises.

I'm annoyingly prone to leg cramps at night, in bed, after a big day of riding. Hopefully working on length strength will reduce the cramps.

While I've got you, here's some info on spin classes:

The term “spin class” is widely credited to the innovative work of Mad Dogg Athletics in the early 1990s. In 1993, Johnny Goldberg and his team in Santa Monica, California, developed a new, high-energy group fitness format using specially designed stationary bikes. They branded the workout as “SPIN,” a name chosen for its catchy, energetic appeal and its literal nod to the spinning wheels of the bike. This branding helped set the experience apart from traditional, more clinical “indoor cycling.”

Over time, the name “spin class” became synonymous with this style of instructor-led, music-driven group exercise. It also served to differentiate this format from other forms of indoor cycling—such as riding in a velodrome or training on a standard stationary bike—which might not include the choreographed routines and high-energy atmosphere that define a spin class.

In short, while “indoor cycling” is a broad term that can refer to any cycling activity done indoors, “spin class” specifically denotes the group fitness experience popularized in the 1990s by the SPIN brand.

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