FAQ
Most Common Waterbike Questions (Q) & Answers (A)
Q. Do I need to know how to ride a bike?
A. Actually you don’t! Our bikes have 2 large pontoons instead of wheels so they are actually much more stable than a regular bike and are very comfortable.
Q. Do you provide life preservers to Waterbikes riders and races?
A. Yes we provide small and comfortable coast guard and instagram friendly life preserves also called personal floatation devices (pfd) if you have your own you are more the welcome to bring it and we will have them for purchase in our online store in summer 2024.
Q. Is it SAFE To ride a waterbike?
A. Yes! In the past 7 years we have had over 6,500 rides without incident, so we are confident in saying it’s very safe if you follow our instructions!
Q. Will I Get Wet?
A. In the off chance it starts to rain, it becomes super windy (which might get your feet wet), or you jump in, it is possible but pretty unlikely.
Q. Are there any restrictions?
Riders determined to be intoxicated will not be allowed to ride until they return while not under the influence of any judgment/mental/physically altering or impairing substance(s).
Children aged 13+ and 5ft or taller are welcome with parental supervision.
Ride & Dine Adventures minimum age is 16years+
Our rider weight limit is 250 lbs or 113 kg
Our Rider Height Range is 5 ft to 6ft 7in or 152 - 201 cm
Max Waterbike Weight Rating is 350 lbs (with two people on one waterbike)
Q. Does SpinOut do rides for large groups and company offsites?
A. Yes - We do now! We are happy to be able to curate customized Waterbike experiences for groups of 5 to 50+. Please take a look at our ‘GROUPS’ section for more info and example pricing. Click Here
Q. Where can I find you, where do you launch from?
South Beach Harbor Marina adjacent to Pier 40 (MAP) in San Francisco Next to the Oracle Park in South Beach / SOMA of San Francisco, CA
Q. What Should I Bring For My Class or Tour?
Yourself, well fed and rested and we recommend not drinking too much alcohol 12 hrs beforehand
A Windbreaker - Sometimes gets windy or chilly early or late in the day
Closed Toed Athletic Shoes or Aqua Shoes (Do Not Wear Sandals but Crocs are ok)
Hats and/or sunglasses - as the glare from the sun and water can be quite intense.
Water - the bikes are equipped with a standard sports bottle holder. If it’s hot you will get thirsty!
Your Full Charged Cell Phone - For taking lots of pics and videos
Back Pack (We do not have any place to keep your stuff so pack light)
Money / Credit Card (In case we stop and you want to buy something before or after your trip.
Q. Does SpinOut Fitness accept ClassPass membership and bookings?
Yes - We are excited to be back Class Pass. We offer 4 classes as of March 2024. Waterbike 101 (Basics), 201 (Intermediate), 301 (Advance), 401 (Expert). We will show you everything you need to know about Waterbike Basics, Safety, Navigation, to advanced techniques. See the our classes CLICK HERE
Q. Does SpinOut Fitness accept GymPass membership payments and bookings?
No we do not take GymPass because we are not a normal gym/activity, and GymPas has no flexibility in their pricing model that works for us.
However you can book with us directly, and try to find another way for your company to reimburse you.
Q. What is the difference between a CLASS, EXPERIENCE or ADVENTURE?
CLASSES are shorter than 60 minutes and are geared toward those who wish to get a great outdoor workout. Think Spinning but on the water.
EXPERIENCES are less intense and ranges from 60 mins to 2 hours in length.
Q. Does SpinOut Fitness accept FlexPass membership payments and bookings?
Yes - Soon we will be accepting FlexPass bookings, please check back with us in the summer of 2024 and on our blog for more info
FAQ. What’s “HIIT the Water” and How Does It Compare To Spinning or Road Cycling?
A. It feels similar but there are big differences, below is a list of the top 10
It Floats, It Floats, it Floats!
No roads, No Cars, No Lights, Nothing to crash into
You are outside in the elements, In the mostly calm waters amongst natural sounds and wildlife.
You are not stationary we actually move Through the water on timed courses and to destinations.
The waterbike does not have wheels or flywheel it uses water, wind, waves and current as resistance.
On a waterbike the faster you want to go the harder it gets. But the power curve is very smooth and seamless.
Also I find our Training series classes and clinics to be a Strengthening and Muscle Building (Anerobic) exercise as well as building Endurance (Aerobic)
Waterbike have no need to adjust tension or friction
A slow pace is really easy for rides and Sprinting is very hard and can burn up to 1000 calories per hour.
Real Fresh Air
Q. What are the Schiller S1-C and the S1-E Waterbikes?
A. The waterbikes are state of the art Bike and Catamaran Hybrids. The S1-C is fully human powered. For more information please visit their website Here.
Q. What are the height/weight requirements for your bikes?
A. Currently we have 12 Bikes available for use at one time. New water bikes are coming in September 2023 and will all be even more adjustable.
1 - Small Frame (4 ft 8in to 5ft 2in)
9 - Medium Frame (5 ft 2in to 6ft 5in)
2 - Large Frame (5 ft 7in to 6ft 8in)
Q. Can I wear my spinning cleats; Shimano, Look, Peloton…?
A. Not yet. We currently are working on finding the right pedals for the bikes. we are testing the Crank Brothers - Double Shot 2 clipless and Magped systems so if you have two hole pattern shoes you can just get a cleat for them. Otherwise if you would Like to bring your own pedals we can put them on your bike Before you ride.
Note: May only be available for long multi hour tours and Advanced Classes Only.
Q. The seat hurts my butt, is this normal?
A. I have done a major study and asked tons of bike riders from amateur to professional and they ALL say, their buts and bits tend to get a bit chapped the first three or four times they ride. It gets better with time but you can purchase and do a few things that will literally save your butt…
Get Decent Padded Bike shorts!!!!!
Best Anti Chaffing Creams - 2021 Article by Petr Minarik - LINK
Sit back on the seat - leaning forward can help make things worse
Ride More - if you ride more often your nether region will toughen up and bother you less
Keep It Clean down there - Make sure to discard sweaty clothes and take a shower post ride / workout.
Q. It’s my first class and I’m pretty nervous. How can you help with that?
A. We provide a quick orientation on how the waterbikes work, rules, and saftey guidelines. When you are done with we will give you time to get familiarized with the waterbike and opt out if you’re really not comfortable.
Q. Do I have to use cycling shoes?
A. No, but very Soon we will be upgrading our bikes with special pedals that will allow you to use both cleated cycling shoes or your sneakers. The cleats we will be using are going to your standard plastic delta / look style cleat, which are the same you probably use at other indoor cycling studios.
Q. How much is your local-only passes?
A. Verified locals will get a significant discount on our annual local and community passes ranging from $100 to $500+ per year. Click Here for more details.
Q. Do you have New Rider Specials?
A. Every week we schedule a free new rider orientation so that you are familar with our company, saftey standards and how the waterbikes work. You will get 5 minutes to cruise around and see if waterbiking is for you. Once your orientation is complete you will be given a 10% off code to attend any one of our single rides or fitness experiences.
Currently we have a special that is always going that gives BIPOC riders a discount of 5 to 15% off their bookings and 10 to 25% off our yacht club membership, starting May 2023!
Q. Can my group or company book a private ride?
A. We currently can offer group rides for up to 10 people at a time and 20+ people by Spring 2024. We can do this faster with your help as a sponsor - If you or your company are interested please call or text us.
Q. Do you have parking?
A. As of Spring 2024 - Fall 2024, We have parking only for reserved private group rides and elite pass holders. Availability is not guaranteed and is first come first serve depending on the season baseball, basketball or concerts and other scheduled special events happening in or around the stadium.
Parking cost are as follows.
$10 - <1 Hour for only during our scheduled waterbike ride less than 1 hour.
$25 - 1 to 2 Hours for only during our scheduled waterbike ride
$35 - up to 12 hours on non-game/special event days.
$40 - 2 to 4 Hours for only during our scheduled waterbike ride on game / special event days
$60 - up to 12 hours during special events
Q. When do my prepaid fitness passes expire?
A. All prepaid fitness classes will need to be redeemed / used within in 90 days of purchase.
Q. When does my Gift Card expire?
A. All prepaid gift cards do not expire and can can be used toward any class or tour. All gift cards can be transferred or gifted to another person and also act as store credit and do not need to be used all at once.
Q. How early should I arrive?
A. Since we are located in the shadow of Giant’s Stadium in Downtown San Francisco we recommend arriving 15 - 20 minutes early so you can maneuver through traffic, find parking, and walk over to the meeting and orientation area.
Q. Are you open during the COVID-19 Outbreak / World Crisis?
A. We have geared up for a safe fun summer and fall 2024 season. All schedules are live and are updated weekly. For additional posts on any unexpected closures click the link above connect with us by text on our community number.
Rules and Policies
Q. What are the SpinOut rules?
Waivers - All riders must sign a waiver prior to their first ride.
Checkins and Holds - We reserve the right to release waterbikes that are not signed in for 10-minutes before a class begins. In order to hold the bike, we ask that riders call the studio to let us know they are on their way if they are running late. The checkin agent will hold a bike for up to 5 minutes after class begins for classes for beginner and intermediate classes only, though we cannot guarantee the rider will be given the bike they signed up for. Riders who are more than 5 minutes late will not be admitted into class.
Lost, Stolen or Dropped Items - We are not responsible for any items that are lost, stolen, or dropped in the water. Leave anything you don’t want to lose at home, in your car’s trunk, or on a waterproof bag on the waterbike with you.
Leaving Classes and Tours Early - For your safety we do not allow riders to leave group training sessions and tours early unless it is an emergency, as the instructor will have to escort you back to a launch point. If you are in an intro class and plan on leaving early, we ask that they please tell the Instructor ahead of time.
Q: What is the refund policy for all reserved rides, experiences, adventures, and private groups?
A: You can receive a refund within 48 hours (2 days) from the original purchase date, except for special promotions, discounted rates, and purchases through affiliate websites. If you cancel after 48 hours, you will be issued a gift card for the amount you paid. To avoid penalties, cancel your reservation at least 48 hours (2 days) before the scheduled time. Failure to show up or cancel within 48 hours of the scheduled time will result in the loss of your deposit and the inability to reschedule. In the event of inclement weather or a cancellation, you have two options: a) Reschedule for a later date, or b) Receive a transferable gift card (you can give them to anyone you wish) for the amount you paid.
Q: What is the cancelation policy for fitness classes?
A: For fitness classes, the policy is as follows: a) Classes may be subject to last-minute cancellations due to COVID-19 or other reasons. Proof of exposure or illness will be required for a full refund within 48 hours of purchase. b) If a class is canceled within 48 hours of your scheduled time, you are eligible for a refund. c) To avoid penalties, cancel your reservation at least 48 hours before the scheduled time. d) If you cancel after 48 hours, you will be issued a gift card for the amount you paid. e) You can transfer the gift card to someone else. f) Failure to show up or cancel within 48 hours of the scheduled time will result in the loss of your ability to reschedule. g) Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis (refer to the exception area above for more information). h) If you have three or more no-shows, you will only be able to purchase a walk-in class or tour.
Q: What are the requirements for deposits?
A: a) Reservations over $500 require a refundable 50% deposit. b) To receive a full refund of your deposit, cancel your reservation within 48 hours (2 days) from the original deposit date, except for special promotions, discounted rates, and purchases through affiliate websites. c) Failure to show up or cancel within 48 hours of the scheduled reservation time will result in the loss of your ability to reschedule.
Click here for our full cancelation policy. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us via text at (415) 855.SPIN or email us at refunds@spinoutfitness.com.
Q: Is waterbiking safe for expecting mothers?
A: Yes, waterbiking is a safe, low-impact exercise ideal for pregnant women, providing comfort and reducing physical strain. For a comprehensive guide, read more here.
Q: What are the health benefits of waterbiking for pregnant women?
A: Waterbiking during pregnancy supports cardiovascular health, aids in weight management, and enhances mood and energy. It's a relaxing workout away from city crowds.
Q: What attire is recommended for pregnant women waterbiking at SpinOut Fitness?
A: Comfortable, light clothing that allows movement is best. Remember to apply sunscreen and wear a hat for sun protection during your session.
Q: How can pregnant women ensure safety while waterbiking?
A: Pregnant women should stay hydrated, avoid overheating, and listen to their body's signals. Adjust workout intensity based on comfort, and enjoy the stability and safety of our waterbikes.
Q: Where can pregnant women participate in waterbiking in San Francisco?
A: SpinOut Fitness at South Beach Harbor Marina, Pier 40, offers beginner classes and guided tours specifically designed for expecting mothers. Visit us online for more information and to book a session.