SpinningJohnny G Live DVD

ok. I read tons of reviews on tons of spinning dvd's including this one. I WANTED to love it, as the idea of focusing on the road ahead of me instead of a "class" of riders seemed great. I read a review of someone who hated the three way "split" screen (it's not split), someone said the guy is corny and talks too much etc. The split screen reviewer really had me unsure I must say, but knowing return policies being so easy, figured what the heck. So I DO enjoy this dvd alot!PRO's:THE VIEW: It's is a full screen of the Irish landscape and roads with the instructor on one side (you can still see the full images behind him, so it really doesn't cut off the full view), and stats on the other side, again, you CAN see past them to the landscape behind. For me, he says just the right things to keep me motivated. I do like being able to see him ride, because i try to match my cadence to his. I don't have a digital anything on my bike... and i dont' mind the stats on the side, they remind me what to be doing and help to distract, but I can also "look thru' them to see the views that i bought it for.THE MUSIC: Typically I like to hear fast paced alternative rock for spinning...but somehow the soft irish music playing on this dvd worked just fine. I wanted the distraction of the road so I could look at a curve up ahead and think.. OK just keep standing until that curve!.. and that is mostly what I got, was idea of riding down this road and ... "just pedal faster till that street sign" that we all need to keep us going.CON: I gave 5 "i love it" stars, because i more than "like it" which is 4.... if i could remove just 1/2 a point I would and here is why. The idea of riding along a road and using landmarks and curves and trees and bushes for 'carrots' to go further and push harder for just a little bit longer, is the purpose of having a cd like this (for me). There are many times that the open road ahead will cut away to churches and cathedrals and other Irish landmarks that yes are beautiful... but take my focus off of that "tree" that I was pushing hard to pass... then I kind of mentally have to start over.... I don't get that part at all, a little bummed. The other thing that I'd like to have seen is the roads match the class. When we increase resistance to get up a hill, switch the road ahead to a hill so we can be climbing towards the crest of it!! Some times you can see the road is going at a downhill grade and it doesn't match the cadence of the class.

This is a spinning workout that takes you through some scenic views of Ireland (cities and landscapes) which lasts approximately 50 minutes.What's interesting in this video is there is no warm up or cool down, so to speak. I've purchased two other Spinning videos (both with Josh Taylor as the instructor) and in both of them it's set up an a classroom style, with about 10-15 students on their bikes. He starts off each of those videos with properly getting on the bike, making sure it's set up, and then slowly starting to pedal-not so in this video. The second you hit Play (with or without music), you're pedaling right away. Note that it doesn't start out tough...light resistance, so it does give you a 5 minute warmup where you're just pedaling. Anyways, I like this better than the classroom style videos he has done.Throughout the 50 minutes, you go through a variety of scenes and you go through some hills/climbs and different cadences. It's a solid workout. You finally push really hard at the last 4 minutes and then you take the resistance off and pedal for about 3-4 minutes. Again, in his other videos...you pedal for the same 3-4 minutes with no resistance, but then everyone in the class gets off their bikes and he takes you through some stretches. Not so on this one. He basically does the pedaling with you, then tells you to make sure you stretch, thanks, and goodbye. Again, I like this better as I used to turn the other videos off and do my own stretching anyways.Another positive thing about this DVD is the layout. Looking at the TV, you have the scenic view taking up the whole screen, and then on the left is an overlay with Josh Taylor facing you, doing the same workout as you, and guiding you through it. One the right is a big display listing the Time, Cadence, Seat Position, Hand Position, Heart Rate %, and Resistance. It's all laid out there for you. One complaint I had on the other DVD's is that you never knew how much time had elapsed or what the current heart rate should be. Not so with this DVD-it updates real time throughout the workout, which is very helpful! One user commented saying that these two overlays took up too much of the screen...I don't think so. Besides, they have some opacity to them, so you're getting the scenic view the whole time anyways.I'll be honest, I didn't care *too* much for the scenic Ireland views...for me it was more about the workout. Josh is a great instructor and having all the tools needed for this workout right on the screen was quite helpful. I like the no-nonsense approach to this DVD and hope others in the future incorporate it.

This is a solid 60 minute spinning challenge. There are short intervals, long intervals (6 and 8 minutes!!) plus some short climbs interspersed. The coach is easy to listen to, which is very helpful - especially on those long intervals! The trip takes place in NC (my home state) but we don't really see much except pastures, trees, grass, and road. Lot of shots of the cyclists in the group - the cameras appear to be from a car in front of the pack and a cyclist in the pack's helmet cam. This is fine with me, I didn't really have solid expectations for the scenery (plus I'm used to just watching the spin class ride anyways).The workout is challenging and man, those surprise climbs and sprints will catch your breath! The coaching solid, in my opinion.The negatives I have are:1. There is no stretch at the end. I think this should be included in every fitness video.2. No Premix options - shorter variations of the full workout - this would have been awesome because I don't always have time for the full 60 minutes. I guess if you were to add these options, perhaps there are some die-hards out there that would appreciate longer mixes :DSide note...I am a Cathelete (Cathe workouts) and this ranks right up with her level of challenge, for me. I have to say that I like that this one does not have intervals where you go in/out of the saddle like her spin dvd's do. I personally like to either sit or climb, but do not enjoy the switch back/forth intervals.

This DVD is okay. It’s not bad but it’s not the best Spinning workout I’ve had by any means.I think this would be good for beginners (which I’m not) to introduce them to the Spinning basics. This DVD workout felt too unstructured for my liking. I feel I get more out of another Spinning branded DVD that works on strength. Surprised that this did burn quite a few calories though according to my Fitbit, more than I thought.The very worst thing about this DVD is Johnny G himself. Don’t get me wrong, he seems like a nice bloke but - oh my gosh! - he DID NOT STOP spouting a load of mystical, self-love type drivel all the way through! It was really a bit much for a cynical Brit like myself.I did like how the other riders in this DVD were all ages, races, shapes and abilities unlike the other Spinning DVD I’m used to doing. That was more motivational than Johnny G!

Compared to what I've since found FREE on the internet, (since the DVD arrived 2 weeks late!), it's comparatively pretty "lame" unfortunately!

Instructor can be a little annoying, but all in all a good workout.

I did enjoy the workout but found that the video footage wasn't very clear. I was disappointed in the brief bits of scenery on this ride. I also would prefer to simply enjoy the scenery of the rider, rather than having am image of the coach on the screen.

This is by far the worst of the Maddogg spinning DVDs. It is easy to find something irritating in spinning DVDs, from the motivational speeches of the instructors, to the music, but most have enough positive qualities to keep you coming back. This one, however, hits every single possible irritation button: the music is okay in itself but has no link at all to the cadence, and quickly becomes very off-putting; the workout itself is the very poorly constructed, with negligible pacing, little cadence or heart rate guidance, and although I have tried it a number of times, each time I have ended the workout frustrated and irritable. The final factor is the instructor Doug Katona himself: he comes across as rather creepy, with a singularly unattractive smirking style, which, along with the poorly structured instruction, ensures that the overall experience is aversive. Vastly inferior to DVDs by Josh Taylor and Mike Michels from the same stable of instructors.