All the tools to take your spin class in the comfort of your home and ways to track your progress
It’s been over a month now since my last spin class and I miss some of my favorite instructors pushing me further than I could myself. I didn’t ended up buying a Peloton, but I know a lot of people have. During this Stay At Home orders, I needed to replicate the gym inside my garage. The following is a list of items that I’ve heard work for people and especially for me the past decade of spin classes. It may not be the same experience as your local spin class, but I’ve been surprised that in some cases, it’s better.
Peloton Spin Bike
If you got the money to spend, go for it! Prices range from $2,245 to $2,694 and you also have the option to finance at 0% APR.
Specialized Allez Sport
This was my alternative to purchasing a Peloton- a Specialized Allez Sport Bike for $1,050. The functional part of this solution is that you can enjoy the bike outside the home as well. Pair your bike with the Wahoo KickR Snap and you instantly get a spin bike.
Wahoo KickR Snap
If you already have a road bike and don’t want to drop all that dough on a Peloton, the KickR Snap simulates conditions like wind and elevation through the free Wahoo app available on ios and android. I purchased it through REI and used my Member Perks for 20% off. $500
Apple Watch
Nothing more motivating than seeing your friend complete another workout as you get an alert on your watch. Staying motivated is hard and the Apple watch has kept me on track. Each day, you try to achieve 3 goals: 12 total hours of getting up for a minute; 30 minutes of exercise; and an active calorie goal. Expect to burn anywhere in the range of 400 to 600 calories per hour of spin. Keep yourself accountable by sharing your data with close friends. Choose from the Series 3 version starting at $199 or the Series 5 version starting at $399. Here’s a comparison.
Peloton App
You don’t need to have a peloton to use the app. Along with cycle classes, there are live and on demand classes for strength, yoga, cardio, meditation, running, outdoor, stretching, bootcamp, and walking. I’ve used it for the past week and really impressed how motivational they are and in tune with the music. Ride to EDM, 90’s hip hop, or even country. Stream it from your phone to your big screen tv through apple tv or chromecast. Free for 90 days on ios and android and $12.99/mo after.
Fulgaz App
Ride through a Tour of Europe or on the breath-taking vistas of Maui simulating the outdoors in 4K with the Fulgaz app available on your iphone, ipad, apple TV, android, or Windows 10. Ride by yourself or with others. It syncs up with Wahoo KickR products simulating the course automatically. Here’s a youtube video in action. Free for 14 days and then $12.99/mo. or $108.99/yr.
Pearl Izumi Bike Shorts
Your ass will hurt on a bike no matter what. Padded bike shorts are a must when spinning. Pearl Izumi has several product lines, but the ones I’ve used for years is the Attack Shorts for $80. I also have the Escape Quest Shorts, but with a thinner cushion for $50. Here’s a link to the women’s version.
Mens Shimano RP1/Womens Quest Road Cycle Shoes
If you want to get a full workout from your bike, a set of cycle shoes will help through pulling motions you can’t get from a normal shoe. There are many brands out there, but I ended up with these Shimanos for $80 through REI. Here’s the Women’s Quest Road for $100. Both shoes are SPD and SPD-SL compatible. Here’s a link for the Shimano SH-56 Multi-Directional Release SPD Cleats for $15 and one for the Shimano SH-11 SPD-SL Cleats for $29. Double-check with your bike manufacturer to see which cleat you need.
Dr. Scholl’s Shoe Inserts
If you have knee problems, riding a bike is one of the best exercises to do. However, the muscles in your foot may start to fatigue. To relieve the pain, I placed Dr. Scholl’s inserts into my cycle shoes. Depending on your condition, you can try the Plantar Fasciitis or Heel Pain versions. I picked them up at Target for under $20 each. For other products visit:
VIVO Mobile TV Stand
If you don’t have a Peloton, attach your smart TV to this VIVO Mobile TV Stand. This stand was super-easy to set up and comes with lockable coasters and a tray for your computer. It’s in stock on amazon prime for $62.99.
Specialized Body Geometry Dual-Gel Gloves
I know this might seem overkill, but you end up putting a lot of force on your hands during spin. With all the up-and-down motions your instructor puts you through, this is definitely worth it. I got these Specialized Body Geometry Dual-Gel Gloves for $35. Here’s the version for Women’s Body Geometry Dual-Gel Gloves.
Wahoo RPM Speed & Cadence Sensors Bundle
If you like data, then you have to get the Wahoo RPM Speed & Cadence Sensors Bundle. You attach the cadence sensor to your shoe strap and the other to the inner bike tire sending off your speed and cadence data via bluetooth to your phone through the wahoo app. The RPM sensor is a good way to sync up with your instructor’s RPMs. You can get both for $69.99.
