It's that time of year again : (

[HappyAnika]

It just started snowing outside about 30 minutes ago.

I like the snow, but I'm already so sad about what the change in seasons is doing to my riding. Its not really even the weather yet, today is the first cold day, but the lack of daylight. Its just getting light when I leave for work, and by the time I get home its starting to get dark. By the middle of December its pitch dark when I leave work at 5 pm. My plan is to try and ride one day a week at lunch. The problem is a shower after riding is mandatory, which then means hair drying and makeup re-application, unless I'm having a day where I just don't care what I look like . . .

Usually in the winter I hit the gym a lot, I used to do aerobics 3 x a week plus one or two days of weights. But lately my knees have been protesting even aerobics, which is likely due to my feeble attempts at running. I'm determined to run my first 5K in a couple weeks, then I can ditch the running. I've never been to a spin class, but I'm thinking I'm going to try it soon. I've always been intimidated by the spin crowd at the gym, they seem to have this superior attitude. But hey, I'm a real cyclist now, so there's no reason for me to be intimidated. Then there's just the whole cold factor. I have asthma, and I don't know if that makes my lungs extra sensitive to cold or what, but any form of exercise outside in the winter just burns. Yet I seem to deal with it for snowshoeing, because I love it so much I guess it distracts me from the freezing air, so why should cycling be different? I went for my first chilly ride this weekend, it was about 55 out, no sun, a little windy, and even then I could feel the cool air tormenting my lungs. I figure this is good practice because it will likely be cold that morning I go out to run my 5K. I just hope that my lungs will get used to it and stop protesting.

For today I'm happy that I rode on Sat. and ran yesterday because there's already about an inch of snow on the grass.
(Lucky for me snow melts fast here, I'll be out on my bike this weekend).

[Dogmama]

I've never been to a spin class, but I'm thinking I'm going to try it soon. I've always been intimidated by the spin crowd at the gym, they seem to have this superior attitude. (Lucky for me snow melts fast here, I'll be out on my bike this weekend).

Just go in there, get on a bike & start to complain loudly about the weather at Tour de France this year.

Seriously, I think people are too wrapped up in themselves to notice newbies. Other than a couple of regular people, I couldn't tell you who comes & goes in the morning spin classes. During the class, I'm too busy listening to the committee inside of my head to notice other people.

[HappyAnika]

Just go in there, get on a bike & start to complain loudly about the weather at Tour de France this year.

LOL! The sad thing is I know people at the gym who would do something like that. My gym is weird, the classes are very clique-y. When I was in grad school I tried yoga in the mornings, there was a group of women who were just downright rude to newbies. I belong to the step-class clique, but I always make a point to talk to newbies and encourage them to keep coming to class. Anyway, I'll be making a spinning appearance soon, likely next week. I hope its something I like to help get me through the winter. Its so funny here, everyone else can't wait for winter for skiing and snowboarding, but I love the summers best for hiking and cycling.

[CycleChic06]

I'm way more intimidated by the cycling crowd then the spinning crowd. The spinning crowd at my gym is kinda sad, so they don't really scare me much. Occasionaly you see someone in there wearing bike shoes and spandex, but it's pretty rare. Besides, once your in there and on your bike, then turn off the lights and turn up the music and no one is talking anyway. And if they ARE talking they obviously aren't working hard enough!

[Crankin]

This is a funny thread. Instructors have names for all of those cliques and it's been the same at every gym i have belonged to or worked at. The only group that intimidates me now is the Pilates clique. At my gym, it's a good mix between outdoor cyclists and people who just do spin. If you go at night or early AM, you avoid the talky non-roadies. Most are nice, but we have our names for a few.
I ran on the treadmill today. I don't know how you guys do it. I want to seriously improve, but I can barely manage 9 minutes at 6mph. I did a total of 26 minutes, though, at a very slow speed... I hate feeling unfit.

[Dogmama]

Night and Day. Morning classes = people who want to work out & get out. Nobody is picking up anybody. Talking is allowed, but just casual stuff - no heavy time-wasting conversation.

Evenings = rabid. One guy grabs paper towels and "saves" the good spin bikes for his friends, even though it is against the rules. You have to get there 30 minutes early to get a good bike. People are rude. Women come in with gobs of makeup, dangling earrings, gobs of perfume.