Spinning – Indoor Cycling – is a form of exercise using a stationary exercise bicycle in a classroom setting. The concept was created in the 1980’s by ultra-endurance athlete Jonathan Goldberg. Participants set goals based on their perceived rate of exertion or heart rate using a heart rate monitor.
A typical class involves a single instructor at the front of the class who leads the participants in a number of different types of cycling. The routines are designed to simulate terrain and situations encountered on actual bicycle rides including hill climbs, sprints and interval training.
Each person in the class can choose his or her own goals for the session. Some participants choose to maintain a moderate aerobic intensity level, while others drive their heart rates higher in intervals of anaerobic activity.