Spin Class - What to Wear?

[surgtech1956]

The local YMCA is having an open house for my workplace and one of the classes that we can try out is a spin class. What should I wear? Thanks

[jyyanks]

People at the gym I used to attend wore bike shorts (combo of padded or non padded), regular sneakers and T shirts or sports bras.

I didn't see anyone in full drawn out cycling gear, most people were dressed in regular work-out clothes. At the YMCA, I would think you would be safe with regular non padded bike shorts, a T shirt and regular sneakers. Have fun!

[nscrbug]

I take spin classes on a weekly basis, and I just wear my regular workout clothes - a sleeveless tech top and some workout capris. I sweat buckets when I do any kind of cardio workout, so I always bring 2 small (hand towel size) towels with me. I also wear a pair of MTB shoes with SPD cleats because it just feels more "natural" for me to be clipped in on the spin bike. I've never worn actual cycling shorts for spin class, since the classes I take are only 45 minutes and I always end up doing other stuff while I'm at the gym anyways and I'd rather not have to change (there is no way I could lift weights or do other cardio wearing padded cycling shorts). Oh and yes I do change into my normal running shoes after class. (:

[OakLeaf]

I would definitely wear cycling shorts unless you have the option to bring your own saddle and seatpost (check with the gym, but many spin bikes don't take regular seatposts, and if you do that remember you'll have to adjust your tilt, since the spin bike doesn't necessarily have the same seat angle as your own bike).

The OEM saddles on those things are HORRIBLE (squishy with really wide noses), and the last thing I want to do is be sitting on a seam in regular shorts and making it even worse.

I usually wore a cotton T-shirt when I did trainer classes, though. You're not moving around much, so chafing isn't an issue; you're not going through temperature differentials; and cotton helps reduce the size of the puddle underneath you. :p

[Crankin]

I wear my regular cycling clothes. At least I used to... but at my new gym it's more low tech, so I will probably wear bike shorts with a sleeveless tech top, or maybe the Terry Eurohalter, which can double as a bike top, or great for any workouts.
I know I'd never just wear a sports bra with my shorts!

[indysteel]

I wear my regular cycling clothes. At least I used to... but at my new gym it's more low tech, so I will probably wear bike shorts with a sleeveless tech top, or maybe the Terry Eurohalter, which can double as a bike top, or great for any workouts.
I know I'd never just wear a sports bra with my shorts!

+1. My Y's spin room is always hot, so I sweat a ton. I typically wore a Eurohalter and bike shorts. Bring at least one water bottle and a towel.

[amb]

I just did my first spin class this week. I wasn't sure what to wear and didn't want to roll in looking like I thought I was Lance if that wasn't the vibe of class. I wore regular workout clothes but I would never go again without a chamois. The seat was horrible and the seams of my capris did not feel good on the lady parts! I did take my shoes (spd cleats) and my gloves. I'm a bit of a germaphobe so the gloves were mostly so I didn't have to touch the bar!

On a side note, I found spinning to be pretty darn boring! I might give it a second try bc the Inst couldn't get her ipod working and had to use her phone which meant the music was awful. Not sure if that's her typical music or just what she could pull together.

[Irulan]

Bike shorts, some sort of wicking top, bike shoes, bring a towel. I can't imagine NOT wearing shorts without a chamois.

[tangentgirl]

I usually regret not wearing bike or at least tri shorts to spin class. I generally wear them with a regular workout t-shirt and bike shoes.

My gym has one super-bikey instructor who wears a club bike jersey when he teaches. Some of the guys (haven't seen women do this) who go to his class also wear bike kits. The total overkill is good for a giggle.

[surgtech1956]

Thanks everyone. Dumb me, didn't realize you could use actual cycling shoes. I've got some tech shirts, will probably wear regular shorts - don't know if I want my co-workers to see me in 'lycra' bike shorts:). Probably bring my gloves too, maybe a sweatband

[tangentgirl]

Yup, you can usually get away with spd and/or look cleats.

[Catrin]

I've been attending spinning classes for about 2 years now; I wear bike shorts and my shoes with SPD cleats - I understand almost every spinning bike out there has SPD on one side. We do have a couple of spinning bikes that have SPD on one side and Look on the other, but most are a combination of platform and SPD.

If I am going just to spin when I generally just wear one of my jerseys as it wicks better than my other tops. If I am strength training before/after then I wear my normal workout top, bike shorts, and of course I always change shoes before class. I HATE those toe cages on the platform side.

Sometimes I wear lycra shorts, other times I wear my mtb baggies, it just depends on what is clean. No one else cares what I have on and they have too much time on their hands if they do :)

[Irulan]

our gym has a minimal number of bikes with cleats on the pedals. You need to get there early to snag one,or you'll be using toe clips.

[nscrbug]

It's interesting to hear that so many of you wear actual cycling shorts for spin class. Maybe it's the area I live in, or the clientele, or whatever, but I can honestly count on 1 hand, the amount of times that I've seen cycling shorts being worn during ANY of the spin classes in my gym (a Bally's). Cycling shoes are a different story, as I see many of those...but shorts, nope. Most just wear regular gym clothes and sneakers. On the rare occasion, I sometimes see folks wearing regular STREET clothes. My gym is pretty lax on enforcing the "wear appropriate workout clothing" rule. I see guys working out in jeans and work boots all the time. Seems uncomfortable to me, but whatever....:confused:

[surgtech1956]

One other thing I forgot to ask. Do you use your own Ipod?

[Dogmama]

One other thing I forgot to ask. Do you use your own Ipod?

The instructor should provide music and combine it with moves on the bike.

I've seen shorts, bike shorts and full kits. I will say that the full kits were overkill.

Gloves, I wear them because my hands get sweaty & I won't slip off of the bars.

[Crankin]

At my former gym, I'd say there were as many people wearing full kits as those wearing a combo of bike shorts and other tops.
It depended on what class you went to. Some classes had more outdoor riders in them, especially the ones that were added in the winter, for "training," and were geared for cyclists. If I happened to go at 9:30 AM, well, it was the housewife crowd. But, most of them wore bike shorts.
I couldn't sit on those seats in regular shorts.

[Dannielle]

If I don't wear padded shorts I regret it. Every time. I didn't wear padded shorts one day last week and afterward I resolved to wear them from now on even if it means changing before/after class. I will continue to do so until they outfit spin bikes with Brooks saddles. ;-)

But yeah, bike shorts and a tank/cami (I get way too hot/sweaty for a cotton tshirt!).

[Irulan]

The instructor should provide music and combine it with moves on the bike.

I've seen shorts, bike shorts and full kits. I will say that the full kits were overkill.

Gloves, I wear them because my hands get sweaty & I won't slip off of the bars.

I have seen people bring their own players/headphones and do their own thing... rude I guess but sometimes the music sucks so bad....

[OakLeaf]

Wow.

I don't teach indoor cycling (and I'm *really* glad to have the bikes' long crankarms and my knees as an excuse not to), but there's a contingent of people who show up for my strength and step classes and don't pay attention. In that situation, it's "merely" rude and distracting to the other participants.

But in a spin class, where bikes are nearly always limited, it's more than rude to take a bike that someone else could be using and then not participate in the class. If I were the instructor in that situation, I'd speak to the person after class, and if they continued to do that I might even speak to my program coordinator.

[indysteel]

Wow.

I don't teach indoor cycling (and I'm *really* glad to have the bikes' long crankarms and my knees as an excuse not to), but there's a contingent of people who show up for my strength and step classes and don't pay attention. In that situation, it's "merely" rude and distracting to the other participants.

But in a spin class, where bikes are nearly always limited, it's more than rude to take a bike that someone else could be using and then not participate in the class. If I were the instructor in that situation, I'd speak to the person after class, and if they continued to do that I might even speak to my program coordinator.

I'll take somebody wearing headphones and quietly doing his or her own thing over people talking all through class. Now that's rude. When I used to go to spin classes, there was one group of friends who chatted with one another through the entire class. It was such a distraction.

[Catrin]

...
But in a spin class, where bikes are nearly always limited, it's more than rude to take a bike that someone else could be using and then not participate in the class. If I were the instructor in that situation, I'd speak to the person after class, and if they continued to do that I might even speak to my program coordinator.

I agree entirely. Especially in the winter there are always more people than there are spinning bikes, so if someone simply wants to do their own thing and not participate in class then they should choose to spin outside of class time. This is more than rude...in the cases where I've seen this happen (not often) they are quite obviously totally ignoring what the class is doing. Better they spin outside of class and allow someone else to have their bike who wants to be there.

[Blueberry]

I don't do spin classes - but just wanted to chime in on one thing:

Our gym takes the seatposts off the bikes when there isn't a class going on. We've asked, and you can't get one unless there is a class going on. So - no chance to spin at other times (sadly) - otherwise, I would love to do just that....

[Crankin]

When I was teaching aerobics, I had a woman who would come to my class, wear a Walkman (this was the '80's) and then proceed to sing loudly to the music that she was listening to. She also dressed kind of provocatively. None of the other instructors would say something, so, finally, after asking her to stop, which she didn't, I told my boss. She stopped. I've seen all kinds of rude.
Some of the gyms around here take the older models of the spin bikes, or even just 2-3 and put them in the cardio/workout area, so people can use them when there is not a class. Personally, I just stay home and do the trainer if that's what I want; I only go to spin if I feel like being in a group.

[surgtech1956]

I didn't mean about bringing my own Ipod to do my own thing, I just didn't what a class was like.

[Blueberry]

Personally, I just stay home and do the trainer if that's what I want; I only go to spin if I feel like being in a group.

Sometimes I just need to not be in the house. If I'm in the house, I'll get distracted - cooking, cleaning, organizing.....maybe once I finish (if I ever finish) the purge I'm on, it will get easier....

[Irulan]

I don't do spin classes - but just wanted to chime in on one thing:

Our gym takes the seatposts off the bikes when there isn't a class going on. We've asked, and you can't get one unless there is a class going on. So - no chance to spin at other times (sadly) - otherwise, I would love to do just that....

I've inquired about this and it seems to be a liability issue (surprise). As for the save bike don't show people, our gym also has a five minute rule. No saving bikes.

[Tokie]

Spin classes are ALL about the music ,in a way, choreographed somewhat to the rhythm and pace of the music. Hopefully, something you like. And almost always, played way too loud for my poor ears. Some instructors have ask you to do alot of standing out of the saddle, or do quick intervals (off-on-off-on the saddle in rapid succession) I just modify, the quick up-down stuff hurts my knees, and prolonged out of saddle "climbing" isn't my cup of tea either. Hope you like it! Did anyone mention bringing your water bottle? You will sweat alot. tokie

[Catrin]

My club has a sign on the door that the spinning bikes are meant for class use with an instructor and that, while they can be used outside of class, it is the members responsibility if there is injury.

This is nice though, for it means that I can start spinning before class and generally get in an additional 30-45 minutes before class. The only ones who do this are those who ride outside and are just in for the winter.

[Miranda]

I'll take somebody wearing headphones and quietly doing his or her own thing over people talking all through class. Now that's rude. When I used to go to spin classes, there was one group of friends who chatted with one another through the entire class. It was such a distraction.

As an instructor, I can not begin to tell you how angry that makes me!:mad:

For some different reasons, I just let go all of my class load except for one class (happens to give me gym access for free, so I need to keep it). In that class, I have a click of outdoor riders, with one person in particular that's the ring leader so to speak, that have got to be the rudest people on earth in regards to that. My boss there is pretty much all about her and of very little support. It's colder now, and I know they will be in. My heart is filled with dread. Ugh. I take very seriously what I do and try to conduct myself as a professional, BUT I have to tell you that I have never been so close to screaming "shut the f*** up!!!" (while wearing the mic, mind you) at someone in all my life!

*d e e p * b r e a t h*


OP...

Just finding this thread... looks like you have gotten lots of good advice.

One thing I do not see answered though is besides bike shorts you can bring your own gel saddle pad. Sporting good stores, and Walmart sells them for $10 &up. I carry an extra one in my gym bag for students.

The spin bike has adjustments to get many sizes of bodies comfortable but the frame size is unchanged... SO... that means for someone like me who takes a small frame size I'm rolled forward onto my pubic bone on the spin bike. Bike shorts chamois plus gel pad makes it fine for an hour class.

[Dogmama]

As an instructor, I can not begin to tell you how angry that makes me!:mad:

BUT I have to tell you that I have never been so close to screaming "shut the f*** up!!!" (while wearing the mic, mind you) at someone in all my life!



I had people like that too. I made them sprint. (evil grin)

[Miranda]

I had people like that too. I made them sprint. (evil grin)

hahahaha... :cool:

[April100]

People at the gym I used to attend wore bike shorts (combo of padded or non padded), regular sneakers and T shirts or sports bras.

I didn't see anyone in full drawn out cycling gear, most people were dressed in regular work-out clothes. At the YMCA, I would think you would be safe with regular non padded bike shorts, a T shirt and regular sneakers. Have fun!

I went to my first spin class last week, needless to say it was hard. I noticed that a girl on the next bike was wearing some workout shorts with the name Trimbo. I spoke to her after the spin class and she told me that they harness her body heat and make her sweat around her hips waist and bottom, resulting in inch loss and weight loss over several weeks, plus she said it helped reduce cellulite.
Iwas going to buy a pair but they’re quite expensive, Has anyone else used these shorts, and were they any good? Thanks April.