Spinning is one of the hottest workouts around. It’s great for building cardio and leg strength, and you can burn 400-600 calories in an hour-long class. But what if you don’t have a spin class near you? Well, how about spinning at home?

The bikes in a spin class are specially designed but you can easily use a regular bike at home. Just mount the back wheel on a bike trainer like this one and adjust the tension so that the wheel doesn’t move. Since the back wheel is now a couple of inches off the ground, you may find that you need to mount the front wheel on something to bring it up a little in height. You can use a special stacking block like this, or just use a heavy book or a couple of pieces of wood. It’s best if you can find something with a groove in it so that the front wheel won’t move if you lean on the handlebars.

If you need a little motivation (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) try one of the cycling DVDs on the market. Spinervals makes a whole series of them, all designed for the home exerciser.

Don’t forget that if you’re sweating, you’re losing water. Make sure you have water with you while you’re spinning–you can easily drink a liter or so. Of course, we recommend that you add EBOOST both for energy and to replace the electrolytes lost through sweat. Because you ARE going to sweat! But that’s the whole point, right?

Read the article here.

EBOOST Daily Health Booster

MSRP: $12

5 stars (1 review)

Bicycling Review

EDITORIAL REVIEW

This week I’ve been having some serious trouble with fading energy, times when I’ve felt myself falling asleep at my computer, brain fuzzy, eyes drooping and productivity at about negative five, because I’ll have to re-do whatever I was working on.

Lucky for me, I got some samples of EBOOST in the mail a few days ago. I’m usually wary of this sort of “dietary supplement” but I’m also a sucker for effervescence, which EBOOST uses to mix its powder with your water, no stirring. The tiny bubbles won out, and that turned out to be a good thing. Basically, you add the contents of a single packet to eight ounces of water, let the mountain of orange foam subside, then drink. The first taste (and OK, the second and third) is a little off-putting, like you’re drinking warm, flat Orange Crush, but then it becomes more palatable and you can guzzle the stuff.

The effect comes on pretty quickly, but it’s not the vein-tingling sensation you get after drinking a cup of coffee after a period of abstinence. It’s more like you gradually become happier, perkier and productive. eBoost contains green tea extract (caffeine!), Vitamins B12 and C, zinc, selenium, copper and potassium, a combination the company claims results in energy, immunity, recovery and focus. Seems to work, so I can, too. The energy and positive vibe continued into the lunchtime group ride, where I was able to hold my own, even without thinking that I’m the world’s worst cyclist as the pack drops me on a hill. I might be an EBOOST addict now.

10 tablets/$12; 24 packets/$23

- Christine Bucher

READER REVIEWS

Review By amber, Rides for Transportation:
i ride to work everyday and eboost is always in my water bottle! the orange matches my 1970 orange varsity schwinn bike!