Out of the gym and onto the road - Ideas wanted.

[Irulan]

Originally posted by pedalfaster
You start to chat about the joys of being in the great outdoors with the wind in your hair, and they get that "deer in the headlights" look. Sad, really.

you hit the nail on the head, pedalfaster!!!

Add mud falling off your cleats to the equation....
Irulan

[Terry]

Well,
I've worked in gyms for a number of years; fads and people come and go...I remember sweat bands with velcro so tha the mic-mouth peice, tethered to the belt microphone, would stick to your head...never mind...too hard to explain.

Anyway...
I think that it IS a reality that most people who spin, to include instructors, only spin and never get on a real bike. That's there choice, I suppose...more empty trails for me!

But what REALLY irks me are the women who come to spin class with these $200-300.00 SIDI shoes that will never hit the road/mountain. They are so clean and these women just put them on to spin and remove them after class. They love to walk around the gym holding them as the saunter. (Gym bags, please)
...why don't they just buy Keds and glue some cleats on the bottom? Would work just as well, ya' think?!

It makes no sense to me. Can any of you explain WHY anyone would by hyper-expensive riding shoes to spin when all you need are cleats/there are cages on the pedals?
Terry

[Veronica]

It's all about the gear for some people.

Veronica

[Terry]

Veronica,
Don't get me wrong...I love good gear! (Oh man, the $$$ I've spent since January). Plus, there are lots of well-informed discussions here about riding gear that we all really "use" in all kinds of conditions. I just don't see WHY on earth over-priced bike shoes, are needed for spin. I understand high quality padded shorts, good seats, a great workout bra with fantastic support, but...this shoe-thing is sort of like riding an mechanical bull with hyper-expensive chaps or boots. (The chaps keep the chaf of the bull off your body and the boots work the steer to the best of my knowledge. You wouldn't need that expensive gear to ride in a bar...) I guess that's my point about the bike shoes.

Plus, the women come to class and can't clip in because the place where they bought the shoes could care less about showing them/helping them to adjust them to their feet...half the time, I have "the tool" and "fix" their shoes so they can use them.

I think these women look silly. Basically, I'm just trying to understand whether there is something that I'm missing as to why one would need anything more than cleats or, I'm being judgemental. I really cannot get into bashing gym bunnies because I work in gyms...however, I wouldn't mind "informing" some of my classmates that they can go to such and such bike shop for spin shoes and they are only 30 bucks or something...
then if they buy the 200.00 SIDI's...well, so be it.
Terry

[Veronica]

I haven't bought biking shoes in like 13 years. I'm still wearing the same pair of Shimanos I got for my first mountain bike. They still work.

My guess on the chicks buying overpriced shoes is someone probably told them they would get a better workout with the shoes. I've heard instructors say that in my gym. Then they went to the store and the clerk sold them the most expensive thing (s)he could convince them to buy. And some people just like to buy stuff so they feel like they fit in.

Veronica

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Terry

It makes no sense to me. Can any of you explain WHY anyone would by hyper-expensive riding shoes to spin when all you need are cleats/there are cages on the pedals?
Terry

As a sometimes-spin-instructor and part-time LBS employee, I'll bite....

I think that the demographic we are talking about here ("ladies who lunch" have morphed into "women who gym"?) are accustomed to having "the best"---no matter what it is.

If one is routinely dropping $400 on Blahniks (shoes for the fashion-impaired ) then $200 bucks for Sidis is pocket-change.

Personally, I have sold more of the "entry-level" Sidis (~$120) to the spin-only group. They tend to like the simple velcro straps (those buckles are intimidating!) and Sidis glove-like fit and made-in-Italy cachet are definitely selling points.

As far as cleat set-up...since these women do not have bikes, I have no way of checking cleat placement (most customers wanting help with that throw their bike on the trainer). I will usually "place" the cleats in as neutral position as possible, explaining to the customer that she will need to snug them down after she has determined they are placed correctly for her pedaling style.

[kath]

We started a Triathlon club at our gym 3 years ago. We now have over 60 members, most of them are moms and most of them have 3 or more kids. Most of the time there are at least 3 gals running and swimming pregnant, yes it does make the guys a little nervous to get in the water .
6 of these Latte Crazed Moms finished their first 1/2 Ironman this year. They looked cute while they were kicking some serious butt!
Maybe it's because I live in So. Calif. mabey these women are not the norm. But the point I'm getting to is that if you don't offer them the opportunity - that means a solid training program, a supportive environment and some co-op babysitting you might lose out on a great experience.
Oh yeah, I am a Latte Crazed Mom...I do these Triathlons with my Chai Crazed Son. I have placed in my age group and he has placed in his. I look HOT in my cycling shorts!

[Terry]

Pedalfaster,
I'm doing my best to understand, I hear ya', I'm listening...but,
this one still has me baffled...

For the sake of being downright silly, I am a shoe-aholic. My boyfriend says that I "look" at other women's shoes like men look at women's breast in passing (ohmygod)...I am very serious about my shoes! But, now that I'm on the meds, the shoes and boots don't talk to me when I walk pass them in the shop window saying, "I'm an orphan, please, please take me home"...
Ya' think I'd understand. I digress.

I hear you that if a spinner doesn't ride an outdoor bike, then you have a challenge to adjust their cleats, but, isn't ball of the foot standard when placing cleats? (for starters...)

I can also understand Italian leather snug fit...

In the words of the great Edwina from the British Sit-com, Absolutly Fabulous, "Help mummie-dearst, dahling, I don't understand this at all!", sans the stomping and flaying with a vodka bottle and the smoke...

Ahh...maybe this isn't worth the effort to try and "get it"...
Moving on...any tips on MB shoes for hike and bike? My current shoes are getting a royal beating in the desert and I'm ready to purchase.
Terry

[Irulan]

Originally posted by Terry

I hear you that if a spinner doesn't ride an outdoor bike, then you have a challenge to adjust their cleats, but, isn't ball of the foot standard when placing cleats

the angle of the cleat needs to be adjusted, at least on spds. If it's not adjusted correctly it can be hard to release or cause knee pain.

Moving on...any tips on MB shoes for hike and bike? My current shoes are getting a royal beating in the desert and I'm ready to purchase.
Terry

not really... you want to keep a stiff sole tho... cheap ones tend to break from the stress of the cleat location after a while.

Irulan

[MightyMitre]

Wow guys - there's some good replies there! I recently switched job roles at work so I haven't been able to post as much as I ususally do.

Now, about spinning... I went to a class on Tuesday with an instructor I haven't had before and while the content of the class was ok I think I'll stick with my usual instructor. To start with ( without wishing to sound too harsh) the guy leading the class looked like he could have done with loosing a few pounds, then 2 of the girls seemed to spend more time watching the TV on the wall than puttting any effort in. At this stage I was sweating buckets and probably looked very red in the face - I like to put some effort in but they'd barely even looked warm. It just makes me wonder why people bother paying for a class and turning up if they aren't going to make any effort, and it kind of put me in a bad mood.

Personally I've found spinning been a great help this winter. When it gets dark at 4pm it doesn't really make you want to ride outside, but spinning has helped no end with my out of the saddle riding and switching between seating and standing. ( I'm a roadie) I've really noticed improvements since I started classes back in January - especially on the road.

I have a home trainer which I use from time to time but I like going to an organised class with pumping music and an instructor to encourage you and who like to make you hurt!!


About shoes - I don't know if it's the same in all gyms in England but the bikes we use don't have cleated pedals at all, just toe clips so I have to tighen them up over my trainers. But the idea of buy a lovely pair of shoes that are never going to go near a bike does seem to be a waste - especailly as you can't get them adjusted properly and could end up hurting your knees. There's no reason why people shouldn't have nice kit but to me it's a bit like having a top racing car and only ever driving it down the shops or in a 30 mph zone. Or am I just jealous because want some nice new kit.....


Goddess1222 - Paris-Roubaix was cool. We took a BBQ and cooked burgers, drank beer and got totally covered in dust as the riders came by . All the Belgians who were already pretty merry went totally nutts when Van Pettegem won. It was excellent!

[Irulan]

Originally posted by MightyMitre

Now, about spinning... I went to a class on Tuesday with an instructor I haven't had before and while the content of the class was ok I think I'll stick with my usual instructor. To start with ( without wishing to sound too harsh) the guy leading the class looked like he could have done with loosing a few pounds, then 2 of the girls seemed to spend more time watching the TV on the wall than puttting any effort in. At this stage I was sweating buckets and probably looked very red in the face - I like to put some effort in but they'd barely even looked warm. It just makes me wonder why people bother paying for a class and turning up if they aren't going to make any effort, and it kind of put me in a bad mood.

two comments: weight has NOTHING to do with abilty to lead a good class. My favorite instructor has very much a "peasant" build so what?
second , if you are sweating buckets and red in the face I'd like to gently suggest you check your heart rate?

Irulan

[goddess1222]

ohhhh. so cooool. i am so glad you keep us updated on the races over there. i wish i could have been there.

[missliz]

OK, my sincerest apologies if my use of the term bimbo was offensive- I thought it was commonly understood that the term reffered to a personality type, not a specific clothing style or class. I'll try not to use it again. I just spent too many years in gyms training for competition and getting a lot of really b****y backlash from little airheads who resented me being there for contrast. Maybe you're too young to remember that even in the eighties women athletes were under a lot of pressure not to be fearless, not to go for it, not to do every thing everybody on this board considers Saturday afternoon fun, and most of that came from catty little gym bunnies. All the guys thought it was cool that I could leg press 250 and came home with the top three loot, but I got lectured in the locker room once about how unladylike I was- by an aerobics instructer with bad dental damage from throwing up. Gyms are still full of these kinds of women, fortunately a lot fewer, but still too many. Having been judged really harshly by this type of high school style little witch, I don't really feel bad about calling them who they are. And I have those clothes, looked great in them, and will again.
Tinkerbell, the only reason you have Title Nine, and betty bikes, and the freedom to play hard and get dirty without being called a freak or a lesbian is because my generation put up with a lot while we banged on those doors. Spare me the diatribe. I was the Nike ad when you were in diapers, so say thank you.

missliz

Before I hear any more about it, being called a lesbian is fine- if you like to sleep with women. Being called the pejoritive of lesbian as a tool of intimidation to make you toe somebody elses boring little standard of femininity is most uncool- I'm sure the gay girls would agree. This practice was all too common until really recently and still happens too much.

[missliz]

I find the shoe thing facinating too- I was asking the instructor at my new gym about the pedals on the spin bikes, she was all in Pearl Izumi and muddy mt bike shoes, looked like she rode, but utterly clueless. My LBS guys tell me they sell high end shoes to "latte crazed soccer mom's" all the time- we decided it's like the giant SUVs, a fantasy life prop. I live at the plantation in the mud and bugs half the year, and know a Lincoln Navigator wouldn't make it a hundred yards on dirt, But the same people have those, or the pretty Lexus, or whatever. Consumer goods with a certain image are so much easier than actually risking an adventure. How many Jeep Wranglers with 30 inch tire packages never taste dirt either? Cigarettes are marketed the same way- for every one of a certain number of self images, there is a brand and an image. That's how smokers start in high school, it's so alluring and easy to buy the promise and image of sex and fun (Newport!) and friends and sophistication (Benson and Hedges)- Sidis are self image on the credit card for some people. Thats why they carry them around, there's no self image if nobody sees it to reflect back. And no nasty road rash.
So they are in the woods after all, just need us to hear them fall.

missliz

[Irulan]

Originally posted by missliz
OK, my sincerest apologies if my use of the term bimbo was offensive- I thought it was commonly understood that the term reffered to a personality type, not a specific clothing style or class. I'll try not to use it again. I just spent too many years in gyms training for competition and getting a lot of really b****y backlash from little airheads who resented me being there for contrast. Maybe you're too young to remember that even in the eighties women athletes were under a lot of pressure not to be fearless, not to go for it, not to do every thing everybody on this board considers Saturday afternoon fun, and most of that came from catty little gym bunnies. All the guys thought it was cool that I could leg press 250 and came home with the top three loot, but I got lectured in the locker room once about how unladylike I was- by an aerobics instructer with bad dental damage from throwing up. Gyms are still full of these kinds of women, fortunately a lot fewer, but still too many. Having been judged really harshly by this type of high school style little witch, I don't really feel bad about calling them who they are. And I have those clothes, looked great in them, and will again.
Tinkerbell, the only reason you have Title Nine, and betty bikes, and the freedom to play hard and get dirty without being called a freak or a lesbian is because my generation put up with a lot while we banged on those doors. Spare me the diatribe. I was the Nike ad when you were in diapers, so say thank you.

missliz

Hey! Do the names Cory Everson and Rachel Mclish mean anything to you? ( of course they do) I was body building in the early 80's too. Try being a lifter in rural Wyoming. I was the lone female in the weight room. And then when I started lifting when pregnant, you want to talk about funny looks, rude comments and more...

Irulan