Here's the Gist
As an indoor cycling instructor who has taught and attended countless classes, I have seen firsthand how poor etiquette can disrupt the room. Here are my essential dos and don'ts to ensure everyone gets the most out of their workout.
- If you did not book beforehand, always surrender your bike if a rider arrives who actually reserved a spot.
- Avoid demanding a specific bike or asking someone to move, as doing so makes other riders feel uncomfortable.
- Show up on time so you do not break the instructor's setup and interrupt the flow of the class.
- Keep conversations to yourself during the session because chatting distracts the instructor and fellow paying participants.
- Always wipe your bike down with provided cleaning supplies so you do not leave sweat behind for others.
- Respect fellow riders regardless of their ability or effort, keeping in mind everyone is on their own personal journey.
When it comes to indoor cycling, there are plenty of options for enjoying the exercise. You can invest in a bike for home and train there. You could join your local gym and use their bikes, or you could even go to a spinning studio for the full experience.
When it comes to training at home, anything goes, but when it comes to going to a spin bike class, there’s a certain etiquette that I recommend sticking to in the spin room. In this article, I tell you the dos and don’ts of the spin room.
As an indoor cycling instructor, I have taught and attended many classes. When clients first get into the class, there’s so much going on, and all you want to do is get ready and start training. I often see people go against etiquette, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it can come across as rude. Let’s discuss what to avoid.
Etiquette In A Spin Class
Now, for the exciting part, let’s discuss etiquette in the spin room. This is just my personal advice from many years of seeing people in a spin room.
1. Not Booked? Give Up Your Bike
A lot of spinning studios are incredibly popular and require booking. However, I have seen times when people who are not booked jump in, hoping for a space. There’s nothing wrong with this, but if someone later comes in who did book, it’s good to give up your space. You would be surprised at how many people don’t.
2. Don’t Be Particular About A Certain Bike
When I used to teach a class at a gym, I had a few clients who were very particular about what bike they were on. They would even ask people to move because they wanted to use that bike. Don’t do this. It can make others feel uncomfortable.
3. Turning Up Late
As an instructor, I used to plan the class beforehand, get everything set up, and take the time before the session to ensure everyone was set up correctly. Then, I would turn the lights down, start the warm-up, and get the class going. Then, someone would walk in and set up a bike, completely breaking the class flow by turning late.
4. Talking During The Session
When you’re in a session and giving your all to teaching, it’s great to have everyone engaged and working together. A big distraction for many is when you start getting people having conversations midway through. It not only upsets the instructor but also the other people who have paid to be there.
5. Not Cleaning Your Bike Down
You will see in most studios that they have cleaning goods near the bikes. It’s good to use these, and people really respect it when you clean down machines. You get sweaty on a bike, and the last thing you want to do is leave it for everyone else.
6. Respect The Other Riders
Another factor to mention is that it’s important to understand everyone is different, and no matter the level of ability, the number of moves they do in the class, or how hard they work, you have to respect that they turned up and are probably giving their best. You never know what journeys others have been on.
A Final Note On Indoor Cycling Etiquette
Indoor cycling is a lot of fun, especially when you go to a group class and enjoy it with others. As an instructor, I feel that a certain level of etiquette needs to be followed. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. I hope I have taught you something new.
Quick Answers
What should I do if I join a spin class without booking?
If you jump into a class hoping for an open space without booking, you should give up your bike if someone arrives who did book. It is fine to hope for a spot, but it is good etiquette to yield your bike to the person who reserved it.
Can I ask someone to move so I can use a specific spin bike?
No, you should not ask someone to move just because you want that particular bike. I have seen clients be very particular about their bike in past classes, but doing this can make other riders feel uncomfortable.
Why is it bad to arrive late to a spin class?
Turning up late completely breaks the flow of the class. As an instructor, I take time before the session to ensure everyone is set up correctly, dim the lights, and start the warm-up. Walking in late and setting up disrupts the entire session.
Is it okay to talk during an indoor cycling class?
No, you should avoid having conversations midway through the workout. Talking during the session is a major distraction that not only upsets the instructor trying to teach, but also bothers other people who paid to be there.
Do I need to clean my spin bike after class?
Yes, you should always clean down your bike using the cleaning goods provided in the studio. You get sweaty during a ride, and you should never leave that sweat behind for everyone else. People really respect it when you clean your machine.
How should I treat riders of different fitness levels in a spin room?
You should respect everyone in the room, no matter their ability, how many moves they do, or how hard they work. Everyone is different, you never know what journeys others have been on, and you should respect that they turned up and are giving their best.
Thank you Mr Ferri , I’m going to pull out my bike and ride again. Thanks to reading your article,I’m going to try again to ride my indoor bike. Long story why i quit 😔
Hi JoAnn!
This is awesome, I hope you’ll have some fun with it! We are here for any help you might need.