I ho-humly accepted this video as part of an exchange. It had a lot of things going against it: 1) I have taken lots of healthclub spinning classes and have routinely become achingly bored in every single class; and 2) I didn't read much about this video aside from Cheryl Shakespeare's fine breakdown of it, so that made me wonder about it. Still, my husband has a spin-type bike and this was one of the few spinning videos out there. I thought, "What the heck?" and went for the exchange. If I didn't use Keiser's Race and Pace, at least my husband could get some use out it.

Well, surprise! Keiser's Race and Pace has turned out to be one of my favorite workout videos out of an embarassingly huge collection. That just goes to show you the power of the exchange.

Cheryl already broke this video down very well, so I have nothing to add except my impressions. I have only Johnny G's II video to compare this with, which I got on exchange at the same time I got Keiser's Race & Pace. Frankly, I found Johnny G's video very unappealing. I guess I just don't like over-the-top inspirational talk and theatrical gesturing while I'm spinning. I'm more of a Midwestern meat-and-potatoes spin girl. Just give me my intervals, please!

Keiser's Race and Pace does just that. It reminds me of a conventional spin class with straightforward timed intervals. Having three separate instructors take you through various intervals makes the workout interesting. All three instructors -- Tracy, Chandra, and Kris -- are appealing and do motiviate you to give each interval your most, but without dramatic oratory. The workout just flies by! I couldn't believe I finally found a spinning workout interesting! .... The entire class is dripping at the end of the workout, and so am I. (During this 45-minute workout, my husband refilled my water bottle twice and once stopped to mop my dripping, smiling face with a towel, looking at the TV screen in amazement.)

This video works me as hard -- if not harder -- than Cathe Friedrich, and you know that that's saying a lot. You definitely need to have a huge water bottle and towel on hand for this workout. Best of all, there's no impact. Can't beat it! Highly recommended to other meat-and-potato spinners.

OTHER NOTES: Good production value. Low-key soundtrack in the background. Can't recall the songs, but it's the stuff you usually hear on CIA and other workout videos.

Michelle Easton