Quote Originally Posted by Possegal View Post
i always have my padded shorts on. (well not always as i'm not sitting here in my office wearing them, but you get the idea). some folks scoff at me (mostly men it seems) but i don't care, no point hurting my tush, right? and i think more folks than not in the classes i've gone to have them on, though not usually the instructors now that i think about it, which is odd and now i want to hear from any of the instructors on the board. anyway, i wear the same shoes i ride my road bike in and i wouldn't spin without the shoes or the shorts. so no, you won't look like a greenhorn if you wear both of them to a class.

i don't tend to wear my cycling jerseys though, but that may just be me. i did chuckle at a guy who came to class once, and it was clear he was new since he didn't know how to set up the bike. he had on the full regalia (all but the helmet and i almost imagine he had it in his car just in case). he had on the gloves and the jersey (the two things i don't wear). then the spin instructor kicked his butt. he was literally draped over the handlebars (made my back ache just looking at him). i hate to say it was kinda funny, is that evil of me?
I wear my cycling shorts, and a spinning jersey and my gloves when I instruct. My palms sweat and the gloves help absorb the sweat so I don't slip all over the handlebars. Some spinning bikes now have more of a padded bar where you don't necessarily need gloves. It depends on the bikes in your studio. I also wear cycling shoes with SPD clips (note: not all spinning bikes have the SPD pedals--some only have the toe cages--you should check with the facility where you are going to spin).

As far as an spinning instructor "kicking" someone's butt, again, I reiterate, it's up to YOU what intensity level you take it to. You need to listen to your body, learn to relax, and let your legs carry you through. If you feel your form starting to suffer, that's your body telling you it's time to take a break. Sit back, relax, release some resistance and gain control of your breath and your pedal strokes. Join back in when you're ready to. It's all about YOU, the rider.

There's nothing wrong with riding in your full cycling gear. If that's what makes you feel like you're really riding outdoors, than go for it. No one should feel they are being judged in the cycling room. It's a non-competitive class. The competition is within yourself and not with anyone else (and especially not with the instructor).