Get Movin' Monday: Are Biking, Spin Right For You?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Twin Cities is proud of being known as one of the biggest cycle cities in the country. Plus, bicycling is a great way to stay in shape.

It's a way to get moving without an intense impact, and there are lots of options. Now that the weather is warmer, you may want to try biking outdoors or try out a spin class. But the benefits of each differ, so which one is for you?

Tiger Athletics owners Stacie and Chris Clark show us the fitness benefits of both. Minneapolis is one of the best cities for biking and has the most trails for bike riding in the country.

"Cycling is a great sport, especially for a person who's a little older. It's less impact on the body," Chris Clark said. "I like to do the indoor cycling to help me facilitate working out in the winter. From a safety stand point, I got hit last year by a car. It can be dangerous, so it's nice to ride indoors with a bike that assimilates the outdoor bike. It's an awesome experience."

Stacie said another benefit of training indoors is you can customize your workout. From warming up to speed drills to climbing, testing and monitoring are a benefit to riding indoors. It's something you can't do outdoors.

When you have the knowledge and the tools to do the proper ride, that's when you get the most effective and efficient workout results, Stacie said.

"I would say the No. 1 thing they do wrong is bike set up. The next thing is that they bob their hips and drive with their legs and when they do that, they aren't using their hamstrings," Chris said. "When she does it right, she will feel her abdominals fire. She is sitting against the seat, she's sitting light and aggressive, and that incorporates the full kinetic chain."

For a bike set up, talk with your instructor. You need the proper setting for your seat and the handlebars.