first spin class

[Zeek]

I went to spinning today! Didn't feel too much like a greenhorn, thanks to all your advice. It was really fun, but not AS fun as riding a real bike. I think I'm hooked. It's a great workout for bad weather days.

Congrats! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! It's not the same as riding outdoors, but heck, you can pretend like you're outside "in your mind." It's a lot about the mind/body connection. I hope you continue to go back and enjoy the class. Be sure to educate yourself--there are a lot of instructors out there who like to deviate from the true principles behind spinning. Since you are an outdoor cyclist, you will have an aptitude for this. Enjoy it as the weather gets worse, and might I suggest using mental imagery to put yourself where you want to be. Don't be afraid to close your eyes and leave the room in your head. Visualize your hill, or your flat. What do you see? What do you smell? What do you hear? Go that route and pretty soon summer will be here and you can get back on the road!

[Zen]

I like to wear gloves because I can't help but think of all the germs.

I used to wear padded shorts but don't bother with it anymore.

As far as the one legged pedaling, I think it goes against proper instructional methods to have the class unclip on one side but I have had instructors tell us to emphasize one leg and let the other go along for the ride.

I liked my class tonight, we were on (imaginary) cross bikes!

[Zeek]

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As far as the one legged pedaling, I think it goes against proper instructional methods to have the class unclip on one side but I have had instructors tell us to emphasize one leg and let the other go along for the ride.
!

Yup Zen you are correct. Removing one foot from the pedal in a spinning class and asking the class to pedal with only the other leg clipped is considered a contraindicated movement in the spinning program. If you've got an instructor doing this, RUN. This person is not up to date on their instructor skills and clearly has not educated him or herself in safe spinning practices. (Now if you're on a trainer working on this technique, well, then, that's a different story but we're talking about spinning bikes here--fixed gear bikes with a weighted flywheel).

It's OK however, to do pedal stroke drills where we keep BOTH shoes clipped in and FOCUS on one leg doing the work while the other leg goes for a "ride." Left foot works while the right foot rests, and alternate right foot works while the left foot rests (where "rests" means just goes along for the ride, while still clipped in).

[mimitabby]

oh brother. both of our instructors have us do this ( pedal one leg at a time). But they did say i didn't have to clip out if i didn't want to. next time that's what i'll do.
You say i should imagine i'm outside. believe me the instructors are so entertaining I don't need to pretend. both of them are very fit and bubbly and both talk constantly. It's really a lot better than trying to do it in my basement.

[Zeek]

oh brother. both of our instructors have us do this ( pedal one leg at a time). But they did say i didn't have to clip out if i didn't want to. next time that's what i'll do.
You say i should imagine i'm outside. believe me the instructors are so entertaining I don't need to pretend. both of them are very fit and bubbly and both talk constantly. It's really a lot better than trying to do it in my basement.

Mimi just keep both feet clipped in and focus on one leg working while the other leg "floats" in the pedal and goes for a ride. Do each foot for a period of time, then do both together.

Spinning doesn't need to be entertaining. A great profile, motivating music, and a good coach/instructor who knows how to use SILENCE as a motivator (along with communicating great cues at just the right time) is the secret to a great ride. It should take you someplace deeper within yourself. Mind/body connection. The more distraction created by the instructor (these are what I call "The Me Show" instructors), the less chance you're going to have to make it your ride and go within yourself. But like you said, it's better than trying to do it alone in your basement. I completely understand that. Doing a group exercise seems more motivating to me also.

[Possegal]

i'm always so impressed with teh music my instructors choose and often wonder - how do they know what songs would work so well. like the songs that have dramatic changes in the beat so you can 'sprint' during the faster part. and some songs are so perfect for climbing. when i try and think myself what i would use if i were teaching a class, i draw a blank. how do you guys figure out a good group of songs to spin to? just curious.

i have one instructor i call the 'zen spinner'. (no offense to the poster above). she's very quiet, i'm grateful for that, but she talks CONSTANTLY through the class. i finally stopped going because i do like to just get lost, close my eyes and pretend i'm out on the road, but the constant quiet chatter telling me to 'be the bike' (ok, not really, but similar stuff) is just too much. luckily there are a number of other instructors that mesh with my likes and needs, so it's all good. and others like the style so good for them, we all have different ideas of the perfect spin class and there's something there for everyone.

[Zeek]

Posse it takes a lot of time and effort to put a great profile together. I find my music from different forums I belong to. I share with other instructors on the forums. I've been researching my music for years so I have quite a collection. I'm glad you've found a mix of instructors who allow you get where you need to be during a spinning training session. It's really important that a club has a variety of different instructors (and not one or two teaching the majority of classes on the schedule) so the participants and members have a choice and can experience different instructors and find the one, two or even three instructors that work best to fit their needs.

[Zen]

how do you guys figure out a good group of songs to spin to? just curious.

sometime I suggest music. It takes time to put a class together, time out songs for tempo and figure out what will fit where

we all have different ideas of the perfect spin class and there's something there for everyone.

unfortunately we only have three instructors, once in a while a good sub. We have a girl that teaches Friday nights who really gets on my nerves but if you want a class on Friday night she's it. It's her"all about me" class. I've learned to tune her out, I'd bet some of the others have too.

Possegal, what club do you go to? Just wondering.
I'm at FitnessFirst in Frederick.

[Possegal]

oh cool zencentury - i'm a fitness first gal too. luckily due to location of home and job, i'm able to go to germantown, rockville and flower hill, in search of the right class. but i guess more often i'm in germantown. i have a gym at work too but they don't do very many spin classes and i haven't made it to one there in months!

[mimitabby]

don't get me started on the music. nothing like 30 minutes of rap music.
It wasn't so bad when it was just the instrumental but when the lyrics started up i got mad. Fortunately it was not the instructor's cd (that was when she was so late )
I am not real impressed with any of the music. I realize i am the oddball here musically. I wish I could bring in some good fiddle music or something.

[Zeek]

nothing like 30 minutes of rap music.

Just....Kill....Me.....NOW

[Flybye]

Okay, been reading and lurking, now it is time to post on this thread, I suppose!

I have the shorts and got new SPD's that are compat. with the gym bikes.

My only question is - what about the seats? I LOVE my road bike seat. It has been faithful to my buns and bits. How are spin bike seats?

Our class here starts at 5:45 am and I am so not a morning person. I plan on riding outside until I nearly freeze to death before I wake up that early and start going, but that season is in the near future.

[mimitabby]

Uh, Spin seats aren't so great, but my class is only 45 minutes and i can take it. Since we stand up about 15 minutes of it, the 30 minutes of sitting isn't so bad. If I had to sit on one of those saddles for 50 miles I would be miserable.

Today the teacher was playing rap music. Okay, it SOUNDED like rap music.
at least the language was appropriate... (sigh)

Since when do 45 year old white women like rap so much? I mean, REALLY!?
I understand about the 20 year olds.....

(give me a good Sousa march!)

[Zen]

I like(some) rap music But that would not be good spin music for me. I like to rock out.

[Miranda]

Posse it takes a lot of time and effort to put a great profile together. I find my music from different forums I belong to. I share with other instructors on the forums. I've been researching my music for years so I have quite a collection. I'm glad you've found a mix of instructors who allow you get where you need to be during a spinning training session. It's really important that a club has a variety of different instructors (and not one or two teaching the majority of classes on the schedule) so the participants and members have a choice and can experience different instructors and find the one, two or even three instructors that work best to fit their needs.

Zeek... Can you post what forums you belong to you mentioned about the music? Or also any most helpful sites from your experience to aid in teaching?

I recently got Spinning certified to teach class. Wow, talk about a lot of information in one day. Even though I have never taught any kind of class before, I've already had one of the instructors approach me about taking over one of the classes on the schedule by splitting it with another lady who went thru the certification with me. I wasn't even sure there was such a need for help. Might not be such a bad way to start with having someone to share the spot with for rotation.

Besides trying to really figure out "what we are doing" in practice, we both seperately commented on what to do about music. Hopefully, if they don't throw their water bottles and towels at me, guess I'd survive stagefright! Thanks for any thoughts!