Spinning a new wheel

Spinning a new wheel

New sport incorporates team

spirit, aerobic workout, race training and fun for all

By Sarah Krupp

At first glance the room appears cozy, with wood stools, and
plump couches, a blackboard listing food items ranging from mango
smoothies to fat-free blackberry scones.

But beyond the cafe lies what its owners describe as a "20th
century torture chamber" – a dark room lit by a single spotlight
filled with squarish stationary bicycles. The stone walls are bare
and cords connected to the sound system dangle from the ceiling. In
the front of the room a pale screen glares blankly.

Patrons come to the "torture chamber" in Johnny G.’s
Headquarters, a converted warehouse in Culver City, to feel the
burn of one of the nation’s newest fitness crazes: "spinning."

Spinning classes, which were invented by Johnny G, are
stationary biking with a twist. Bikers listen to music and modify
their cycling resistance and their own pace according to the rhythm
of the music.

The instructor encourages the class, urging them to speed up if
they are not following the beat of the song. An average spinning
class lasts 45 minutes and has between 20 to 40 participants.

Spinning allows the average person, who only has one hour to
exercise a day to get a "condensed" "hard-hitting" workout, said
Jeff Wimmer, the manager of the Beverly Hills Bike shop. The
physical results are tremendous, Wimmer said.

Unlike an ordinary stationary bike, the Schwinn Spinner bike,
which Johnny G invented, has a larger saddle area and a heavier fly
wheel to create greater resistance. Because a Spinning bike has no
computer to monitor the rider’s performance, it becomes the rider’s
responsibility to challenge his or her self.

This strategy is consistent with Johnny G’s philosophy – that
each person must face his or her self to be healthy mentally and
physically.

"(Spinning) is a journey of change of remarkable
self-improvement. It offers opportunities for change and the
strategies to carry them out," he explained in his promotional
video.

Spinning is an "athletic phenomenon," not only because it is
time efficient, non impact and burns calories, but because people
of all ages, skill, and fitness levels can participate in the same
class, said Victoria Gold, Johnny G’s partner.

"An ‘iron man’ can be in the same class as someone who needs to
lose 30 pounds," Gold explained. "Both are helping each other and
both are hurting."

Others said Spinning offers the opportunity for adults to become
athletes.

Spinning instructor Greta Bart described how she first entered
Johnny G’s headquarters to apply for a job thinking it was a
weaving store and began working in the cafe. After Spinning
"changed my life," she decided to train to become an
instructor.

"(Spinning) makes me feel like I am on a winning team. I get the
same feeling of excitement, endurance, strength and power," said
Bart, adding that being athletic improves mental health by
increasing self-esteem.

Spinning can teach the skills needed for serious biking, said
Beth Brown, who is training to be a leader for the 1996 California
AIDS Ride. Although she had been riding for eight years prior to
starting Spinning, she said that Spinning taught her technique,
energy conservation and how to breathe properly.

Organizers said that Spinners are growing in numbers, and
accordingly so are locations offering Spinning. Many health clubs,
including Gold’s Gym and Bodies in Motion, are planning to offer
Spinning classes in the near future.

Photos by PATRICK LAM

Spinning instructor Jill Brown (top) talks to her exercise
class. Above, participants peddle on specialized Schwinn stationary
bicycles in Johnny G.’s Culver City studio.