Spinning: What's with the weird hand positions?

[Jen]

That's madd dog athletics. They are weird. There are kind of three types of spinning. One emulates a real ride and one is diffent exercises, and LeMond is like a very competitive training exercise. I do RPM which is like a real ride outdoors, all tracks follow the work and recover pricipal of cycling. I love spinning.

[Raindrop]

I also wanted to add, that the hand positions don't really work well on some of the different models of indoor bikes...the lemond bikes particularly. (I'm still trying to get used to them since I teach at a club that has them, but luckily...I'm not married to the Maddog hand positions)

[hellokelli]

To me the 3 hand positions seem natural. When you'r standing it's just easier to hold the end of the handle bars, and when you are starting off doing a warm up, its natural to put your hands in the center. My spinning instructor also says that the hand positions help take the action off your arms. In other words, you don't want to use your arm's muscles to hold yourself up, you should be using your core and your legs only.

[Jen]

I also wanted to add, that the hand positions don't really work well on some of the different models of indoor bikes...the lemond bikes particularly. (I'm still trying to get used to them since I teach at a club that has them, but luckily...I'm not married to the Maddog hand positions)

I have to teach on the LeMond bikes at two clubs. I really hate them. It seems like you are spinning straight up and down. Don't like the feel, the resistance, nothing. In fact, I try not to teach at those clubs. I far prefer the schwinn. On the leMond bikes, the handlebars are weird. You only use the top part for hanging things. Ugh. They did some good marketing. They also fall apart quickly. Many are broken at both gyms I go to.

[Raindrop]

Jen, I feel a lot like you. The set up of the bikes makes you feel very "upright" and not at all like a real bike set up (road or mountain). I do like the belt driven drive, although on this bike it takes way too many turns to adjust your setting. Phew! I'm just trying to get comfortable on the bikes. It's kind of hard to instruct when you're not at ease on the bike you're teaching from.

P.S. I am very aware that many of the participants don't ride outside...but, I also have many that do and replicating a ride is hard when the bike doesn't give them that ability.

[janetsplanet]

The hand positions depend on the type of bike..I always try to keep close to the road positions on my bike so I am building the core musles for road biking.
Some spin bike you can and some you cant..When you stand use the position keeps all of your weight on you legs..My instructor says you should be able to feel the seat when you stand.. To know for sure try no bounce where nothing moves from your waist up. All action and strength comes from lower body. Do that off and on for a whole song and your thighs should be singing the blues and getting tight....