Fitness: What’s a Smart Studio spinning class like?

Earlier this week I, along with BH editors Jen Masseau and Katharine Watts, got to visit a new studio in Toronto’s Liberty Village area. Called Spinout Cycle, the studio is the first in Canada to offer indoor cycling in a Smart Studio. What does that mean? Each of the 40 bikes are computerized and link to the leader board at the front of the room (pictured in the photo below). The bikes capture your distance, heart rate, speed RPM and calories burned and display them on the screen each bike is equipped with (see photo at the very top of this post). These bike consoles are also wireless and link the results on the leader board. Don’t worry though – the leader board identifies each cyclist’s metrics by the number on their bike, not your name, so there is some degree of anonymity if you so choose.

There’s also the option to compete against other cyclists. If you’ve got a competitive side, it will come out! (I pedalled faster trying to make my stats move higher up the leader board.)

Check it out at spinoutcycle.com.

Have you tried a spinning class? Would racing against others motivate you more?

Related:
‘ How to make biking more comfortable
‘ The perfect cycling wardrobe
‘ 3 reasons to start biking