My 5 Favorite YouTube Channels With Free Spin Lessons
In my opinion, in-person spinning classes are the best type of spinning class, but I know my view is very biased because I teach them several times a week . When I’m not teaching, I take classes on my Peloton because I trust the brand to provide me with certified, experienced instructors and thoughtful, effective workout programs. However, I’m a woman of the people, so I understand that there’s a demand for free options that are still well-structured and helpful.
If you’re on a budget, traveling somewhere, or just need some quick motivation to get on a spin class, you can get closer to Peloton or personal experience with YouTube classes. Some 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.
Kaylee Cohen
The virtual cycling instructor I give the highest rating to is Kaylee Cohen , who teaches her 359,000 followers not only spinning but strength training, too. (Like the Peloton app , she offers a variety of options, but unlike the Peloton app, it won’t cost you $44 a month to access.)
I like her because she gives simple safety and resistance tips and doesn’t talk too much. She even offers live classes, which is great for keeping some accountability and staying on schedule. Lastly, she actually has real songs — like lyrics and fun beats — that you can’t find everywhere. Song licensing is expensive, and it’s the main reason you have to fork over that $44 for Peloton every month, so many of these free channels serve up simple elevator music. At least Cohen gives you something fun to ride, even if you haven’t heard it before.
She also has all the certifications you would want from an instructor at a real gym. She has a guide on her website that covers positions, resistance, RPM, and more. She is as good as it gets, which is why I think she is the best. She offers different types of workouts, guided stretching (important!), and more, making her well-rounded and really helpful.
Global Cycling Network (GCN)
GCN is approaching 3.5 million subscribers, so the brand is clearly doing something right. Most of GCN’s content is about actual outdoor cycling, but there are a few indoor classes, too, and they’re very thorough and run by professionals who actually know what they’re talking about.
What I love about the Global Cycling Network is how vast the content is. I’m not an outdoor rider by any means and don’t plan on being one, but many of my in-person students are, so I try to stay up to date with all of that and teach classes that they might find useful. GCN is a great bridge between indoor and outdoor cycling, helping you get familiar with all kinds of bikes, terms, and processes, so whether you’re staying in or planning to get out and ride, you can gain knowledge from the experts that will make you a better rider.
Joe Alvarado
I can’t figure out why or how Joe Alvarado only has about 10,000 subscribers, but I know you should join them. His channel offers two things that I think are essential to quality riding: First, he provides dedicated videos that explain key concepts, like how heart rate should impact your cycling training. Second, he has real music.
But however he licenses them, we should all be grateful. But his channel is also great because it’s inspiring and the videos are well done. You can see on the screen where your resistance should be set, and there are even countdown timers so you know how much time you have left for a certain activity, like a moderate effort ride. He also has actual certifications to teach group fitness and cycling. I know I sound like a broken record, but that’s really so important.
Christina Girod
I loveChristina Girod’s classes because many of them are actually filmed in POV style while she teaches in the studio. When you’re taking an in-person class, it’s really helpful to see what other people are doing, especially if you’re new, and you get that advantage here. She also uses remixes of popular songs, which is always fun and probably the main reason she has 168,000 followers.
There are two things to keep in mind about Giro’s videos: it can be hard to hear what she’s saying at times, but I think that’s just a sound issue.
Girod also incorporates a lot of different movements. If you’ve ever been to a Soulcycle class and been asked to do push-ups on the handlebars or jump in and out of the seat, you may be familiar with this approach, but it’s definitely not universal. From using weights to incorporating some pretty complex movements 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 how to do all of this, and I won’t bore you with it, but I will say that I incorporate weights and some choreography into my own classes and am a big proponent of it. If you’re used to a more old-fashioned style, you’ll find Girod’s methods either intriguing or confusing – or maybe both.
Spin Obsession (Jesse)
Finally, I like what I saw from Jessie of Spin Obsession , who teaches outdoors and has high-quality production. Again, you see timers on the screen as well as visual instructions of what you should do, but she also has a variety of videos available. Some of them just have music and prompts without any chatter, while others have more verbal instructions.
Classes come in a variety of lengths and styles, so whether you’re looking for Tabata or a hardcore 45-minute workout, you can find something. The channel doesn’t update often and has a small following, but the content is great.
Things to Consider When Taking Cycling Classes on YouTube
There are plenty of other channels on YouTube offering spinning classes. I haven’t included them because I don’t like them — the video quality on many of them sucks, some that seem really promising are in languages I don’t know, and others just don’t meet my standards for a good class — but everyone is different, and you may find something you like by digging through the “recommended videos” that accompany the ones I linked to above. The real benefit of checking out these free classes is that you have so much variety available to you, which isn’t always the case when you take an in-person class.
If you’re a beginner, these free classes are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they can give you an idea of what to expect if you sign up for a class at a studio near you. I’ll be the first to admit that the vocabulary and moves can be difficult to understand if you’re a beginner (though you should definitely show up early for your first few classes and tell the instructor you’re a beginner, I beg you). On the other hand, the benefit of in-person classes is that you get more detailed, specific instruction, and there’s someone there to help you or stop you if you’re doing something wrong. If you want to try a YouTube class, please choose one that has a knowledgeable, easy-to-follow instructor and/or on-screen cues and graphics. Watch a few videos on topics like bike setup, positions, and resistance before you get started. Cohen has a great video , and Girod has a very detailed video that explains all the different types of choreography you might encounter.