Spinning class is kicking my b@#$%

I reluctantly signed up for Spinning class as the temperature took a nosedive here in Missouri. We get out when the high is 50--and I bought a trainer and spinervals DVD in case I missed too many classes.

My quads were SHREDDED! I woke up the day after the first class and could barely walk. I skipped weight lifting all week and was sore enough, I considered skipping the second class. However, I sucked it up and felt pretty good on the bike. By the afternoon, my quads were feeling fried again!

I don't usually stand up to climb on my street bike and only sprint until I feel tired. Spinning class forces you to push a little more--especially since you know you don't have to ride back to the car. I thought I was taking it easy on the resisistance.

I've had three different instructors and they are all different. My third class was better. How is everyone else doing?

Good for you on making it to class! I LOVE spinning:D. I was a 20yr long group aerobics exercise person until some things happened that my docs said "no more jumpy jump for your goily... you can swim, walk, or ride a bike".

After about 10mins of my first spinning class, I thought I was going to *die*:eek:. However, strangely enough, I staggered out of the room thinking, "ahh, I've found 'my people' lol". Then the roadie and trail folks got me hooked back up on outside. Love it all. I have the trainer too. Gets used only out of desperation.

I'm certified to teach spinning actually. If someone were to ask me what is the #1 thing I love about Spinning, my answer would be...

"It's YOUR ride!":cool:.

Having the group and an instructor does push you to levels you might not achieve otherwise. But, if you want to mix it up, scale it back, whatever, it's all good...on 'your ride'.

I think closing my eyes and focusing just on my breathing, and pedal stroke is a great training tid bit you can't get away with outside. Gotta see to not get run over by cars, ya know:rolleyes:.

Keep going... it'll get better. Umm, then as my roadie pack gym pals say, just when you are used to THAT inside, it's time to go back out and Mother Nature's sister wind will kindly kick your a**. Then Spinning will sound like cake:p.

Lovingly Shared,
Miranda
Spin Maniac & Wind Weenie;)

Spinning is challenging, but I don't typically get sore from it. I would assume you're engaging your muscles in a different way. I would also make sure that you're set up on the bike properly.

I have determined that spin bikes are sized along the lines of men's road bikes. The top tube length is too long for me when I have the seat positioned correctly.
I do what I can but end up sitting upright a lot.

Zen I have the same problem! Since (at least at my Y) so many of the spinners are women (more than 80%) why is this the case? Some engineer should see this as an opportunity!

And they typically have 175 mm crankarms, also too long for most women.

Which I don't mind, since my knees are a perfectly valid excuse for me to tell my boss I can't teach spinning. :rolleyes:

It's pretty easy to go too hard in a spin class, especially if you aren't used to working really hard. You can get caught up in the whole thing but you end up working at a much higher level than you are used to. So be careful, don't over do it.

Here's some things I do on the fit issues for spin class...

Yes, while "it's your ride", it's certainly not your bike!

Bars and seat even is a neutral starting point for set up. I ride with my bars higher up like a comfort bike. Actually, since there is no use for them in steering, I only need them for a light touch to balance my overall weight.

The saddles are definately not mine either. I bring my own triple gel pad cover, and still wear a padded chamois short. This helps cover up any things about the saddle I don't like, and makes it "ok" to deal with for 45mins to 1hr. If it starts hurting anything that day, I just stand more for relief (on 'my' ride).

The toe clips on the pedals are actually sized for a man's size 10/11 shoe. Thus, why I only rode 1 class in my life like that. I clip in. I also use multi-release spd cleats, vs single, which I thinks give my knees some float. This compensates for some other things I have adjusted permanently on the road bike set up. I'm getting myself some spin only shoes too with mixing up my pedals on my outside bikes now.

The computers on the bikes for calories are dialed to show what's burned by default for a 150# man. I use the rest of the stats, but know my own personal Polar set to my height/age/weight/sex etc. is my more acurate tool.

On anything that "hurts" I don't do those things on 'my ride'. OK, the single dial is suppose to be your hill. Your options are limited with that obviously. Outside I would not grind my knees, quads, etc. to the point of failure and non-recovery to make it through the rest of my ride. I would modify and use my gears. I would still work my legs to the point I know is reasonable, but my heart muscle can recover better on the ride, vs over fatigue of my quad muscles.

Any teacher that's worth anything should understand about modification. Meaning, I tell them I have some things I modify for... so it's not that I'm mis-understanding your queing... still with ya in spirit;).

EDIT: Spin Bike Set Up & Balance...
One more thing about the bars. When standing outside, your bars of more importance to balance your weight. Inside, if done correctly, the bars not should be supporting your weight even when standing in hand position two or three. OK, this literally took me months of spinning to get this concept, and find my perfect center of gravity to do. One day, the teacher qued "pelvic tilt" while doing a standing drill. The light bulb went off for me. Just as outside we learn as kids how to perfectly position our weight over the bike to make it do what we want, the same is for inside. The slightest rotation of the pelvis over the pedals can make all the difference in the world between having the drill kill you, and making it a piece of cake. Just some food for thought.

Thought I would jump in here and give you all a good laugh. :-)

This morning my boss was saying that her step class has been kicking her butt so since her gym is starting up spin classes next week she may try one of those for something a little easier. I just looked at her funny and said why in the world would you think spin would be easier than step? She made a little motion with her arms and said "how hard can it be riding a bike". I told her that I burned 770 calories and was dripping sweat the other day in my spin class (granted I was on the bike for about 15 minutes before class started). Then she proceeded to look at me and say "how do you know that?". As if I was making all of this up or something. :rolleyes: I then informed her of what a heart rate monitor is and that I wear one. She still said that they are inaccurate. So I ended the conversation with inviting her to go ahead and give spin a try and let me know how it goes.

I can't wait for her to try spin and come back to work and eat a big plate of crow.

Why do some people think that "oh, it's just riding a bike....big deal"?!!!:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by beancounterbeth

Thought I would jump in here and give you all a good laugh. :-)

This morning my boss was saying that her step class has been kicking her butt so since her gym is starting up spin classes next week she may try one of those for something a little easier. I just looked at her funny and said why in the world would you think spin would be easier than step? She made a little motion with her arms and said "how hard can it be riding a bike". I told her that I burned 770 calories and was dripping sweat the other day in my spin class (granted I was on the bike for about 15 minutes before class started). Then she proceeded to look at me and say "how do you know that?". As if I was making all of this up or something. :rolleyes: I then informed her of what a heart rate monitor is and that I wear one. She still said that they are inaccurate. So I ended the conversation with inviting her to go ahead and give spin a try and let me know how it goes.

I can't wait for her to try spin and come back to work and eat a big plate of crow.

Why do some people think that "oh, it's just riding a bike....big deal"?!!!:rolleyes:

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Yes, do tell how the feed back goes;). One of my instructors says it's always something when the injured marathon runners (sorry no offense intended to you true diplomat run gals) come to spin class and say, "well, THIS (spinning) is all I can do now *groan grumble biking is so easy*". Then you can literally watch them start to die on the bike through the progression of their first class. Welcome to Wheel World, sweetheart. As far as cardio group classes I've taken in my life, spinning is without question the hardest/most intense.