Spinning & the Maximum Heart Rate

Spinning

An indoor cycling class is often referred to as spinning. These group exercise workouts challenge your cardiovascular system by increasing your heart rate. The faster you pedal and the more resistance you place on the flywheel, the higher your heart rate elevates. The American Council on Exercise lists indoor cycling as a high-intensity exercise. An ACE-sponsored cycling research study reports that participants exercise at heart rate levels near the MHR.

Endurance

Indoor cycling is an effective way to improve your cardiovascular endurance. The key is to exercise within a specific percentage of your MHR. Spinning.com recommends a target heart rate of 65 percent to 75 percent of your MHR for endurance training. Calculate your heart rate training zone by multiplying your MHR by 0.65 and 0.75.

Combinations

Spinning classes use a combination of heart rate zones to add workout variety and to improve both your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. For example, you begin with a low-intensity warmup cycle that increases your heart rate between 50 percent and 65 percent of your MHR, then add a hill that increases your rate to 85 percent to 90 percent of your MHR, and return to a flat road sprint that reaches 75 percent to 85 percent of your MHR.

Anaerobic

The closer you get to your MHR during training, the more your body shifts into using the anaerobic energy system. Anaerobic processes occur in the absence of a large amount of oxygen. What this does for you is to prepare your body to perform at these higher intensity levels such as during a race or long ride. Alternate days of anaerobic training with days of lower-paced endurance training for a well-rounded workout program.