Venting

[lovelylibrarian]

I spin about 5 times a week and there are a few things that annoy me.

• Guy that is breathing so hard that I think he's going to pass out. Lower the resistance for God's sake!
• Girls that are chatting through the whole class. How totally distracting. I could barely hear the instructor.
• People that totally do their own thing. I think it's OK to modify a little bit to suit your needs but why come to a class if you are totally doing your own thing. It's distracting.

Maybe I'm just having a cranky day. Is it just me?

[singletrackmind]

It's not just you though I can't say I understand it. Several women complain about another one in a class I sometimes do because she's very, um, outgoing in her comments, grunts, etc, throughout class. Sure, she is occasionally a distraction but no more so than any regular group ride and she even imparts a certain energy into the mix.
They also complain about the noise or kind of music, if the fan is on too soon, etc etc.
Whatever, I've usually got my head too far into what I'm doing (pretending to try to catch the lead-and blow past) to worry about what else is happening. Unless the instructor does another all Cher class. Then I might have to crawl up to that worn out old soap box myself!

I do sit up in the front row so maybe not being able to see much beyond either side also helps?

[Veronica]

I love Cher.

I rode up Mount Diablo on Evil Pulled Pork day (it's a long story - pulled pork, before a big climbing ride...) singing Cher songs in my head. It wasn't pretty, but I made it to the top.


V.

[Eden]

I don't do spin classes, but re the guy who breaths very hard.....

I know that when I have to do zone 5 efforts as part of any of my workouts, yeah I probably sound like I'm going to pass out, but rest assured I'm OK. We're all just different. The hubby, who has big lungs almost never sounds out of breath even when he's at top effort, me on the other hand, though I process oxygen better than he does, I heave like an out of control set of bellows. Let the guy do his workout and don't worry about him.

[lovelylibrarian]

I don't do spin classes, but re the guy who breaths very hard.....

I know that when I have to do zone 5 efforts as part of any of my workouts, yeah I probably sound like I'm going to pass out, but rest assured I'm OK. We're all just different. The hubby, who has big lungs almost never sounds out of breath even when he's at top effort, me on the other hand, though I process oxygen better than he does, I heave like an out of control set of bellows. Let the guy do his workout and don't worry about him.

OK. I honestly was worried about him-- that he might pass out. I'll try to stop worrying though.

[singletrackmind]

I love Cher.

I rode up Mount Diablo on Evil Pulled Pork day (it's a long story - pulled pork, before a big climbing ride...) singing Cher songs in my head. It wasn't pretty, but I made it to the top.


V.

Hee hee, that's where I wish our instructor was playing Cher songs-
in her head!
Yeah, Cher's ok once or twice, but the entire class??? Have to admit it was amusing and I'll get to rib her on this one forever.

[bmccasland]

Yeah, but the look on the instructor's face when you pass out is priceless.

Actually it was just her look when I went for my inhalor. I was smart enough to release the tension. Now if she could grasp the concept that the worst thing is to *just stop*. Once my breathing was under control, I was there pushing myself again.

Sorry for the heavy breathing, pant pant pant.

But I learned, and despite what the instructor says, I control the tension knob.

[Dogmama]

Yup, that's probably me. I often use spinning to do controlled intervals that I can't do on my rode bike. I sweat a lot too. But I don't fling my head around like some guys & spray the room .

If you don't like the music, tell the instructor!! When I'm putting music together, I try to get a mix of what everybody will like.

Finally, if I get really irritated in a class, chances are, I was irritated when I walked in. I just needed something to vent at!

[SadieKate]

I love Cher.

I rode up Mount Diablo on Evil Pulled Pork day (it's a long story - pulled pork, before a big climbing ride...) singing Cher songs in my head. It wasn't pretty, but I made it to the top.


V.

OK, I am now re-assessing whether it was actually the pulled pork that caused the problem.

[Veronica]

OK, I am now re-assessing whether it was actually the pulled pork that caused the problem.

Don't go blaming Cher...

V.

[Raindrop]

I teach seven cycle/spin classes a week...one of them at a community center. Last week I had a couple of women come in who hadn't ever attended before, so I greeted them, and set them up on their bikes.

During the beginning of my classes I always explain the goal of the class, proper form and pedal stroke and RPE. We are in the warm-up anywhere from 8 to 10 minutes and then proceed to a moderate effort before getting into the "meat" of the workout (about 10 - 15 minutes in). By the time we get to that point, I explain that they should be at a perceived exhertion level that has them breathing deeper and although still able to talk, not wanting to carry on a conversation. (Just one of the cues I use to help newbies to understand).

One of the women gives me a hard look, works for awhile and then blurts out, "You mean we can't talk at all??!!" I explain that sure they can talk, but if they're able to easily hold a conversation they might not be working at a level that will cause a conditioning response...and besides, a conversation during this point of the class would ruin it for the other members that were focusing on their ridel.

She was pretty quiet after that, but I knew she wasn't happy about it.

Later, after the class was over she came over to tell me that they (her and the friend), had a wedding shower to plan, and I kind of ruined it for them. I said that the planning was better done before or after the class...or, if they wanted to be working out while doing their planning it would be more productive to take it out to the bikes on the aerobic floor...you know, so they wouldn't be interuppted by the music, and my cues. (Yes, I said this very nicely and meant it totally....but talking during the my class should happen before or after, maybe a little bit during the warm-up. Otherwise, you're not there to work, IMHO).

OK...just my little vent about talkers in class....back to t subject at hand.