Fitness
7 Indoor Cycling Workouts You Can Do in the Gym or at Home
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Health-GettyImages-1488956789-accc05d0a0b84bb0bed1455df1cd9215.jpg?ssl=1 "7 Indoor Cycling Workouts You Can Do in the Gym or at Home")
When it comes to cardio equipment, stationary bike workouts are sometimes overlooked. Riding a stationary bike, known as indoor cycling, is a convenient way to meet some or all of your aerobic exercise goals from the comfort of your home or a gym. Stationary bike workouts provide benefits like keeping your blood pressure or cholesterol levels in check.
Before starting any new exercises, always talk with a healthcare provider. They can advise you on appropriate and safe activities for your fitness needs and how long you should do them.
Whether a biking newbie or an avid cyclist, experience the spin benefits first-hand with one of seven expert-designed cycling workouts. Just make sure you grab a timer to clock all the intervals.
- All levels welcome
- Cardio and strength for higher levels
- Intro to hill and speed intervals
- Cycle fartlek
- 25-minute intermediate intervals
- Power intervals
- Advanced conditioning
This 53-minute, beginner-friendly stationary bike workout is primarily aerobic. It incorporates short, challenging intervals to build fitness and burn calories, Kate Ligler, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, a MINDBODY wellness specialist and designer of the workout, told Health.
How to do the workout:
- Start with an easy 10-minute warm-up.
- Move into three to five rounds of six-minute work sets that get progressively more intense.
- Gauge the intensity of your work and rest periods based on your RPE.
- Finish with a three-minute cooldown.
You’ll use a scale of 1 (very easy) to 10 (maximum effort) for RPEs and work at a pace that works for your fitness level. That’s why you won’t see RPMs listed here—listen to your body and get a feel for the bike.
Keep these modifications in mind:
- Beginners: Stick with three rounds of the main work block to get a 45-minute workout.
- Advanced exercisers: Do all five to bring it up to an hour.
This 34-minute routine builds three key elements all indoor and outdoor cyclists need to perform their best: cardiovascular fitness, leg strength, and an efficient pedal stroke, said Emily Booth, national education manager of indoor cycling for Life Time.
How to do the workout:
- Start with a 10-minute warm-up.
- Move on to the main event, focusing on nailing each skill during three-minute work sets.
- Repeat the main workout for two to four rounds.
- Finish with a three- to five-minute cool down.
Thanks to the length of the working sets, this regime is ideal for intermediate and advanced cyclists, said Booth.
This 44-minute workout is perfect for beginner-to-intermediate riders, said Lauren Kanski, NASM-CPT, a New York City-based trainer. You’ll take your heart rate through different zones as you work on three intervals of various work-to-rest ratios.
How to do the workout:
- Start with a 5-minute warm-up.
- Cycle through a 15-minute interval with a 10-minute, 30-second on-and-off segment and a five-minute recovery period.
- On the next 15-minute interval, alternate between three-minute climbs and two-minute recovery periods.
- Do a final eight-minute, 30-second on-and-off segment with high resistance and speed.
- Finish with a five-minute cooldown.
The result: boosted fitness and tons of torched calories—all while going easy on the joints. Instead of focusing on exact speed or RPM, aim to hit your all-out effort on the work intervals.
Fartlek training is a fun way to mix HIIT with steady-state cardio, said Kristian Flores, CSCS, a strength and conditioning coach in New York City. While many people associate Fartlek training with running, you can apply the “speed play” principle to nearly any activity you choose—including this 30-minute stationary bike workout.
How to do the workout:
- Start with a five-minute warm-up.
- Cycle for 15 to 20 minutes at your level of effort.
- Finish with a five-minute cooldown.
Part of the appeal of Fartlek workouts is that they’re often unstructured—you go as hard as you can for as long as you can and recover until you’re ready to go hard again. How you do the main portion of the workout is up to you.
This also makes Fartlek workouts great for all fitness levels, as your effort and work-rest intervals are based on your current ability. No matter your experience level, Fartlek training can help you build endurance and power, said Flores.
This 25-minute routine is structured according to effort level. While you don’t need to be a cycling pro to do this workout, it’s best to have some experience on a bike—especially doing intervals. That way, you’ll understand what different effort levels feel like for you, according to Jess Cifelli, master instructor at CYCLEBAR.
How to do the workout:
- Start with a five-minute warm-up.
- Complete the first interval, around 10 minutes, switching from cycling seated to cycling while standing throughout.
- Do two 15-second bursts of seated cycling. Repeat this interval for five sets, followed by two minutes each of low-effort and high-effort riding.
- Move to the next interval of alternate maximum- and low-effort riding while standing. Repeat for five sets, followed by one minute of medium-effort riding.
- Do 30-second alternate maximum- and low-effort riding while seated. Repeat for five three sets.
- Finish with a five-minute cooldown.
Here’s how to gauge your effort levels as you take this workout for a spin:
- Low: This effort requires light resistance; you should be able to converse with the person next to you.
- Medium: Crank up the resistance a bit; you should still be able to carry on a conversation, but it shouldn’t feel effortless.
- High: You shouldn’t be able to continue a conversation any longer, but you can handle the work; standing up in the saddle is usually ideal.
- Maximum: You can’t speak at this intensity and also can’t imagine working longer than 30 seconds.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts like this pack a punch in a relatively short time, says Lauren ‘Lolo’ Wilson, senior master instructor at CYCLEBAR, who created the workout. This 48-minute routine can improve aerobic capacity, build muscle tissue, and help you burn fat.
How to do the workout:
- Start with a 10-minute warm-up, riding from 80 to 100 RPMs.
- Complete four sets of 30-second sessions. For the first 30 seconds, you should ride for 105 to 120 RPMs; the second 30 seconds is recovery time.
- Complete 20 sets of 30-second sessions. The first 30-second ride should be 90 to 100 RPMs, while the second 30-second ride is for recovery.
- Finish with a 10-minute cool down at an easy pace.
HIIT sessions like this work best for someone who’s been exercising consistently three to five days per week for at least six weeks, said Wilson.
Keep these modifications in mind:
- If you’re new to HIIT, or you’re not sure you’re ready for the entire workout, start with 10 power intervals and add two intervals to each workout until you reach 20 total intervals.
- Wilson recommended dialing back your intensity during the first few intervals to avoid running out of gas during later rounds.
This 60-minute routine is for experienced cyclists confident in working at near-maximum intensity. After a gentle warm-up with a series of mobility drills designed by Meghan Hayden, NCSF-CPT, a founding trainer at Performix House in New York City, you’ll jump right in with short, intense bursts.
How to do the workout:
- Start with a five-minute warm-up.
- Dismount the bike and do a circuit training session that includes exercises from downward dog poses to quadruped circles.
- Return to the bike and repeat 20-second work periods and 40-second rest intervals for seven sets before you hit your three-minute recovery. Each modest rest period will help you recover between sprints and build your anaerobic fitness.
- After you recover, move into a 20-minute moderate-intensity ride to help you work your endurance.
- Finish with a five-minute cooldown.
Treat that recovery time as meditation and focus on your breathing—you have a lot to gain with this workout.
Indoor cycling is a great cardio option. Research has shown that it helps individuals improve their aerobic capacity, which refers to how much oxygen intake a person has during high-intensity activity. Indoor cycling has also been shown to:
Many people can benefit from using a stationary bike. For example, a meta-analysis found that stationary cycling can help relieve pain and improve function for people with knee osteoarthritis. Another research study determined that using a stationary bike can decrease fatigue levels among healthy adults.
Consulting a healthcare provider is especially important for individuals with health conditions, pregnant people, and older adults. They may need to limit their time on a stationary bike or use it with modifications.
Who Should Limit or Avoid This Exercise
However, people who should avoid strenuous exercise like indoor cycling include individuals with the following conditions:
- Low back pain due to conditions such as cancer, fractures, or infections
- Severe arthritis
- Severe neurologic or cognitive disorders
- Uncontrolled arrhythmias, diabetes, heart failure, or hypertension
- Unstable heart disease
Doing a stationary bike workout is a good way to get your heart pumping. The exercise also offers potential health benefits like reducing blood pressure and increasing HDL cholesterol levels, but indoor cycling isn’t for everyone. If you can do this type of workout, there are many different challenging options available for all fitness levels.
Fitness
How Jeremy Clarkson Reset His Health and Fitness at 66 – Walking, Pilates and Trying ‘Not to Die’
Rewind a decade or so, and Jeremy Clarkson had a particular disdain for exercise, healthy eating and denying himself life’s pleasures. He never worked out, smoked 40 cigarettes a day and, in his own words, drank four pints of wine daily. Now, at 65, his entire outlook on health and longevity has shifted.
At the heart of Clarkson’s desire to change are his young grandchildren.
‘I’m not going to dwell on the joys of being a grandparent because what can be said about it has already been said. But I have decided that it is so wonderful that I want it to go on for as long as is humanly possible. Which means I must do everything in my power not to die,’ he wrote in his column forThe Times.
And the British TV personality has certainly had a couple of wake-up calls.
After being admitted to hospital with pneumonia in 2017, Clarkson then suffered what he described as ‘really bad coronary artery problems’ at the end of 2024. Documented in the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm, he experienced a ‘sudden deterioration’ in his health and needed a stent fitted to restore proper blood flow.
Why Clarkson Finally Started Taking His Health Seriously
Since then, he has taken up reformer Pilates, had a pickleball court installed at his Oxfordshire home and started going for walks when the weather is just right.
‘Eventually, I decided that organised, indoor exercise was not for me and decided instead to do walking. Not when it’s raining obviously. Or if it’s too cold, or hot. And not if I’m busy. But on a reasonably temperate Sunday morning, I’d get out there and pootle along,’ he wrote.
‘So far I’ve relied on luck to keep me alive. But I’m in sniper’s alley right now and I have to work at dodging the bullets. Two years ago, I saw old age as a wearisome tangle of tubes and knee-replacement surgery. Now though, thanks to my grandchildren, I’m actively looking forward to it.’
Clarkson’s comments highlight just how much his attitude to ageing has changed.
‘I’m buying time. It hurts and it’s expensive. But it’s better than wasting your money on a new watch.’
The Diet Changes Behind Clarkson’s 3-Stone Weight Loss
Diet has also become a key part of his health overhaul.
He now eats burgers wrapped in lettuce rather than buns and opts for alcohol-free versions of his Hawkstone beer. Underpinning much of that change has been a microdose of the GLP-1 medication Mounjaro, which Clarkson credits with helping him lose more than three stone in six months by suppressing his appetite – although he admits he doesn’t particularly enjoy the experience.
‘When you are on Muntjac [his name for Mounjaro] you can come down in the morning and idly help yourself to a small handful of sunflower seeds,’ Clarkson said. ‘And it’ll feel like you’ve just finished a massive Christmas lunch. You’re stuffed.
‘So you find yourself living a minibar existence. Tiny packets of milk, sachets with only three grains of sugar in them, vodka in thimbles. That’s not living, though. That’s existing.’
If there’s one thing Kori Sampson knows, it’s how to optimise your body composition for performance. To tap into his knowledge as an elite athlete and coach, we asked him to create a 4-week plan to help you move faster, recover quicker and keep pushing when the fatigue sets in – all while improving your muscle-to-fat ratio.
Ready to build muscle, burn fat and come out the other side looking, feeling and performing better? Click here to get 14 days of free access to the plan via the Men’s Health app.
Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men’s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.
During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.
Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running – he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark…
You can follow Ryan on Instagram or on X
Fitness
Fitness coach debunks 8 ‘crazy’ exercise myths women still believe: From periods and workouts to weightlifting
Despite growing awareness around fitness and women’s health, several outdated exercise myths continue to persist. From misconceptions about strength training to beliefs surrounding periods, pregnancy and weight loss, many women still receive advice that isn’t backed by science. These myths can not only slow progress but also discourage women from prioritising their health and fitness. (Also read: Can eating too much protein be harmful? Experts explain why excess intake may do more harm than good )
Fitness coach Zoe recently addressed some of the most common misconceptions women continue to hear in a June 12 Instagram post titled, “craziest exercise myths women still hear.” Here’s what she had to say:
1. Periods mean complete bed rest
According to Zoe, menstruation does not mean you need to stop exercising altogether. “No. You can train. Just adjust intensity if needed,” she wrote, explaining that while energy levels may fluctuate during different phases of the menstrual cycle, movement and exercise can still be beneficial.
2. After marriage or kids, fitness is not important
Many women are often made to feel that fitness should take a back seat after major life changes such as marriage or motherhood. Zoe strongly disagrees. “That is exactly when it becomes more important,” she said, highlighting the need to maintain strength, mobility and overall health while navigating increased responsibilities.
3. A C-section means your core is gone forever
Recovering from a Caesarean delivery can be challenging, but Zoe says it doesn’t mean women should give up on rebuilding strength. “Wrong. It means you need rebuilding, not giving up,” she wrote, emphasising that gradual rehabilitation and proper training can help restore core function.
4. Walking around the house is enough exercise
While daily movement is important, Zoe points out that it isn’t the same as a structured workout. “No. That is movement, not full training,” she explained, noting that a balanced fitness routine should include strength, mobility and cardiovascular exercises.
5. Sweating more means more fat loss
Many people associate excessive sweating with effective fat burning, but Zoe says that’s a common misunderstanding. “No. It means you are hot,” she wrote. Sweat is the body’s cooling mechanism and does not necessarily reflect the number of calories burned or fat lost.
6. Running will ruin your uterus, boobs or joints
This long-standing myth often discourages women from running or high-impact activities. “No. Poor preparation and weak support is the issue,” Zoe said, stressing the importance of proper training, supportive gear and gradually building endurance.
7. Women should only do yoga, not weights
Strength training is still viewed by some as a male-dominated form of exercise, but Zoe believes women benefit greatly from lifting weights. “Women need strength too,” she wrote, highlighting how resistance training supports muscle mass, bone health, metabolism and overall fitness.
8. Carbs at night make you fat
Carbohydrates often get unfairly blamed for weight gain, especially when eaten in the evening. “No. Overeating does,” Zoe explained, pointing out that overall calorie intake and dietary patterns matter far more than the timing of carbohydrate consumption.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
For Hobart teacher Mary Holton, health means everything.
She started feeling the squeeze from cost-of-living pressures when fuel prices spiked again.
“Going out for just fitness alone was a bit much,”
she said.
Mary Holton says since joining the group, her fitness across the board has improved. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Many Tasmanians are feeling cost-of-living pressures in a very physical way, with locals saying exercise routines are being dropped, health appointments delayed and wellbeing pushed to the bottom of the list as budgets tighten.
Ms Holton relies on multiple physiotherapy sessions each week, but says paid fitness classes simply are not an option.
“That costs … so to actually go to other classes as well, it’s out of my budget really.“
Ollie Mathewson conducts a free workout session. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
National data shows that almost half of Australians already fall short of minimum physical activity guidelines, and rising prices are making even basic care unaffordable for many.
Consultant clinical psychologist academic Kimberley Norris says this is exactly how unhealthy patterns begin.
“We tend to focus on the most stressful thing first … and health is one of those things we don’t think about until things go wrong,”
Professor Norris said.
Kimberley Norris says humans tend to focus on alleviating stress first and foremost, and warns de-prioritising health can become a cycle. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
For Ms Holton, going to a free workout group in her local community was a game-changer.
“Came down and absolutely loved it. It’s really nice to have a group and it just keeps growing,” she said.
Finding a free exercise group has drastically improved her health, as noted by her GP, and she is part of a growing trend.
Free exercise classes become a lifeline
At a community exercise class in South Arm, south-east of Hobart, the mood is upbeat, with laughter, movement, and a sense of relief.
Participation has more than doubled in the past year, with more than 100 Tasmanians now involved.
Trainer Ollie Mathewson said the surge was unmistakable.
“It’s free of charge for everybody … and over the last 12 months I’ve noticed a lot more people starting to come along,”
he said.
Ollie Mathewson says attendance at his classes has almost doubled over the past year. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Across greater Hobart, free and low-cost alternatives are multiplying and include walking groups, community-run circuits, and morning and afternoon fitness meet-ups.
Tasmanians are increasingly organising their own solutions.
Mr Mathewson said connections drive outcomes.
“A lot of people talk about weight and strength, which are obviously insanely important, having other people there to push you single every week makes it a hundred times easier.“
Professor Norris said one’s health can be prioritised for free.
“What we know about health is, it’s more about sustainable wellbeing, it’s about quality of life,” she said.
“So rather than focusing on how much you can deadlift, how far you can run, it’s about how your life has improved and how close your life is to the way you want to live it.”
She said free options were vital because once people stop moving, it becomes harder to start again.
“If we develop routines in which health is not a priority, then we almost get stuck in this cycle of health always being last.“
Health appointments being delayed or dropped
For some Tasmanians, the financial pressure is forcing even tougher choices.
Amy Dakin says she can’t even think about getting a gym membership with all the other costs of living on her mind. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Amy Dakin, who lives with a compromised immune system, often has no choice but to delay essential care.
“My health needs to be prioritised, but your bills come first, really,” she said.
Jordyn Rowbottom says she’s not the only one changing her hobbies to save on costs. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
Jordyn Rowbottom has seen the same pattern around her.
“People are being forced to cut what they can access,”
she said.
Professor Norris warns that these short-term decisions can create long-term harm, not just for individuals, but for the broader health system.
She said the combination of financial pressure and reduced physical activity would create a public health challenge.
Trainers adapting to shrinking budgets
Personal trainer Nickola Orr works with clients across different income levels, ages and needs.
She said affordability now shapes almost every program she designs.
“You want to make sure they can get as much help as they can within their price range,”
she said.
Nickola Orr is concerned about access to fitness and health services in the face of rising cost pressures. (ABC News: Jake Grant)
With the median individual spend on fitness in Tasmania sitting at almost $600 last year, Ms Orr said the warning signs were already visible.
“We’re going to see more results of long-term neglect; higher injuries, more need for mental health assistance. It’s going to snowball.”
Her concerns echo Professor Norris’s academic findings that once healthy routines break down, the consequences ripple for years.
“The changes are very small … while they add up over time, there is no immediate impact,”
Ms Orr said.
Calls for more free and low-cost options
Mr Mathewson hopes the success of free community classes will inspire governments and private operators to expand accessible fitness programs.
“More free options would be a great thing. There are a few now, but there should be more,” he said.
The Tasmanian government has said it will release its 20-year preventive health strategy this month, titled The Health Revolution.
A Department of Health spokesperson said the strategy “will address the broader social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health and wellbeing”.
“Specific issues about access to health services and programs are being considered through the Access to Health Services project, a Commonwealth-State partnership.
“The Health Revolution will complement that project by addressing the root causes of poor health and the underlying conditions to make it easier for Tasmanians to live well.“
-
Mississippi2 minutes agoMississippi Court of Appeals Brings ‘Court on the Road’ Prog…
-
Missouri9 minutes agoTwo airlifted after serious crash in Cole County
-
Montana12 minutes agoClark Fork River remains central to Missoula’s identity, conservation groups say
-
Nebraska17 minutes agoMiss Nebraska festivities kick off with opening ceremonies
-
Nevada24 minutes agoHillel of Northern Nevada Builds Community at the University
-
New Hampshire27 minutes agoNew Hampshire Pummels Altoona with 14 Runs on 18 Hits
-
New Jersey32 minutes ago‘This Cruelty is Intentional’: The New Jersey Lawmakers Fighting to Shut Down Delaney Hall
-
North Carolina37 minutes ago
Former staffer claims sexual harassment in ethics complaint against NC insurance commissioner
