In-person spin classes are the best kind of spin classes, in my opinion, but I know my perspective is very biased because I teach them multiple times per week. When I’m not teaching, I’m taking classes on my Peloton because that’s a brand I trust to provide me with credentialed, experienced instructors and thoughtful, effective workout routines. I am, however, a woman of the people, so I recognize there is a demand for free options that are still well structured and helpful.
If you’re on a budget, traveling somewhere, or just in need of a quick hit of motivation to hop on a stationary bike, you can approximate the Peloton or in-person class experience on YouTube. Some of the channels and instructors are better than others and there are a few pros and cons. Based on what I know about what makes a good spin class, both in the studio and online, here’s what I recommend.
Kaleigh Cohen
The virtual cycling instructor I give my biggest stamp of approval to is Kaleigh Cohen, who guides her 359,000 followers through not only spinning, but strength workouts, too. (Like Peloton’s app, she offers up a variety, but unlike Peloton’s app, it doesn’t cost you $44 per month to access.)
I like her because she gives straightforward safety and resistance cues and doesn’t chit-chat much. She even offers live classes, which is great for maintaining some accountability and sticking to a schedule. Finally, she actually has real songs—like with lyrics and fun beats—which you won’t find everywhere. Licensing songs is pricey, which is a big reason you have to fork over that $44 to Peloton every month, so a lot of these free channels are serving up straight elevator music. At least Cohen is giving you something fun to ride to, even if you haven’t heard it before.
She also has all the certifications you’d want from an instructor at a real-life gym. Her website actually has a guide that goes over positions, resistance, RPM, and more. She’s as good as it gets, which is why I consider her the best. She offers a variety of workout types, guided stretching (important!), and more, making her well-rounded and genuinely helpful.
Global Cycling Network (GCN)
GCN is closing in on 3.5 million followers, so the brand is clearly doing something right. Much of GCN’s content is about actual outdoor cycling, but it also has some indoor classes, and those are extremely thorough, led by professionals who truly know what they’re talking about.
What I like about the Global Cycling Network is how expansive the content really is. I am not an outdoor rider by any means and have no plans to be, but a lot of my in-person students are, so I try to keep familiar with all of it and produce classes that can be helpful to them. GCN is a great bridge between indoor and outdoor cycling that can help you become familiar with all kinds of bikes, terms, and processes, so whether you’re staying in or actually plan to go out and hit the literal road, you can acquire knowledge from experts that will make you better.
Joe Alvarado
I cannot understand why or how Joe Alvarado only has about 10,000 subscribers, but I do know you should join them. His channel offers two things I think are pretty important for a quality ride: First, he provides dedicated videos that explain key concepts, like how heart rate should play into your cycling workout. Second, he has real music.
However he’s licensing these, we should all be grateful. But his channel is also great because he’s encouraging and the videos are well produced. On the screen, you can see where your resistance should be set and there are even countdown timers to let you know how long you have left on a certain activity, like riding at a moderate effort. He also has actual certifications in teaching group fitness and cycling. I know I sound like a broken record, but that’s really so important.
Kristina Girod
I like Kristina Girod‘s classes because a lot of them are actually filmed POV-style while she’s teaching in a studio. When you’re taking an in-person class, it’s really helpful to see what other people are doing, especially if you’re a beginner, and you get that benefit here. She uses remixes of popular songs, too, which is always engaging and probably a big reason she has 168,000 subscribers.
What do you think so far?
Two things to keep in mind about Girod’s videos: At times, it can be hard to hear exactly what she’s saying, which I think is just an audio issue that crops up.
Girod also incorporates a lot of different movements. If you’ve ever been to a Soulcycle class and been asked to do pushups on the handlebars or jump in and out of your seat, you might be familiar with this approach, but it’s definitely not done everywhere. From using weights to incorporating some pretty complex moves with your hands on different parts of the handlebars, these classes are challenging. There’s a lot of debate in the cycling instructor world about doing all this stuff and I won’t bore you with it, but I will say I incorporate weights and some choreography into my own classes and am a proponent of it. If you’re used to a more old-school style, you’ll either find Girod’s techniques intriguing or confusing—or maybe both.
Spin Obsession (by Jessi)
Finally, I like what I’ve seen from Spin Obsession‘s Jessi, who teaches outdoors and has high production quality. Again, you see timers on the screen, as well as visual instructions about what you’re supposed to be doing, but she also has a variety of videos available. In some, it’s only music and cues with no chit-chat, while in others she provides more verbal instruction.
The classes come in different lengths and styles, so whether you’re looking for a tabata ride or a hardcore 45-minute grind, you can find something. The channel doesn’t update often and has few followers, but the content that’s there is great.
What to keep in mind when taking YouTube spin classes
There are loads of other channels offering spin classes on YouTube. I didn’t include them because I don’t love them—the video quality sucks on a lot of them, some that seem really promising are in languages I don’t speak, and others just didn’t meet my standards for a good class—but everyone is different and you may find something you’re into by poking around in the “suggested videos” accompanying the ones I linked above. The real benefit of looking into these free classes is that you have so much variety available to you, which isn’t always true when you’re taking a class in-person.
If you’re a beginner, these free classes are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they can give you a taste of what to expect if you sign up for an in-studio class near you. I’ll be the first to admit the vocab and moves can be hard to grasp if you’re a first-timer (though you should absolutely go early to your first few classes and tell your instructor you’re a beginner, I beg you). On the other hand, the benefit of going in-person is that you get more detailed, specific instruction and there is someone else there to help you or stop you if you’re doing something wrong. If you want to try following along with a class on YouTube, please select one with a knowledgeable, clear instructor and/or on-screen cues and graphics. Watch some videos on topics like bike setup, positions, and resistance before you start. Cohen has a great one and Girod has a very thorough video available to explain all the different kinds of choreography you might be exposed to.
