I just wanted to throw out that I'm impressed by the conversation & dialog on this subject. I've recently discovered spinning classes and find it addictingly fun in a way I never realized. I'm pretty much an avid mountain biker and figured the static room couldn't offer anything....but it did!

I've taken 4-5 instructors now and what I find really makes the difference is the music...you almost need a dj spinning the tunes to keep things lively.

There's so much psychology going on in the room it's amazing....people faking crank-up's, instructors pausing to sit up on their bike pretending to look-out over their flock (when in reality they just demo'd some intense power and couldn't keep it up and needed a break). Instructors singing along with the music...just all sorts of stuff....it's hilarious...but all in good effort.

I'm quite certain the body is better off with exercise...but many of us are probably going well past the "optimal" level in terms of benefits vs. wear/tear. Our bodies don't last forever and they do wear-down....but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Eat proper, take good supplements (joint stuff), avoid high-impact, focus on low-impact, wear proper gear and enjoy the beauty of your body and the blessing of life. Aw crap, I've been watching too much Oprah again