1st spinning class + 1 week of agony!?

[RoadRaven]

your real road bike moves under you and allows your body to follow natural paths, but the spinning bike stays still and forces your body into unnatural positions. if you spin enough your body will adapt, but it still isn't good. Check out a cyclist while he or she is riding and then look at a person taking a spinning class. the two bodies will move much differently.

Ah... I had not thought of this before, Ryder!
That will possibly be why, in winter, I have more back and arm discomfort after a few days on the spin bike than I ever do after hours and hours in the saddle on the road...
Thanks and welcome to the board...
Hope you stay around, if you design bike-stuff, then you probably have some interesting insites to offer

[Crankin]

I have never seen an instructor touch the resistance on anyone's bike! As a former aerobics instructor, it seems like a highly contraindicated move. And embarrassing for the spinner.
I had a lot of trouble standing when I first started spinning. I had only been riding a short time (the fall) when i started going to class when it got too cold out. I just could not get myself up! I also had a lot of trouble standing on the road and although I can now, I rarely do. It just hurts my knees too much. I do stand in class now, but I never do jumps. In fact, a lot of the time I do seated climbs, even when everyone else is standing.
It's your ride....

[RealRyder]

one of the reasons i came to this site is to get a womans perspective on spinning, because as a man i am limited in my thinking. Most exercise equipment is designed by men, but there are more women members of health clubs than men. I have been lucky that in my 30 years in the fitness business that i have had many very exercise savvy women working for me like Kathy Smith and I have learned a lot from them. i hope to learn a lot from team estrogen.

[bikerwannabe]

Took it slow and easy - although it was still plenty hard (my heart rate was140 - 160.) I did most of the class seated and with low resistance, but tried standing a few times. I was so afraid I would pull something again.

I am pleased to report that I had no pain whatsoever during or after the class, so now next time I won't be so worried and can keep pushing a little harder each time.

Thanks again to everyone who responded to my post.

[Zen]

one of the reasons i came to this site is to get a womans perspective on spinning, because as a man i am limited in my thinking.

I'm not touching that one...