Spin Class No No's

[Julibird]

If only one instructor or spin student out there benefits from this, then I'm grateful!

I am glad you took the time to add so much info! I think there are some really bad classes being taught out there giving Spinning a bad reputation among cyclists who happen to attend them.

Worse, there are people who will follow an instructor who teaches these crazy moves and end up with an injury (I know - my first teacher was fond of hovers and popcorn jumps and my knee started to suffer).

Thanks. Good stuff.

[salsabike]

Funhog, that was really excellent--just emailed it to self and spouse to keep. Good info.

[Flybye]

Funhog, you are awesome! Thank you for all of the tips and the explanations. I don't want to get caught not doing something and asked why and have no answer. Uhhh, cause it's contraindicated, that's why................ Why is it contraindicated? Uhhhhh, cause someone said so

Here is what I have found that she has been advising wrong so far:

Too short of warm ups.

Unclip and pedal with a single leg.

Mashing - though it hasn't hurt me - but I will not turn my tension up nearly as high as I have had it.


The last thing I want is an injury early in the season (or anytime for that matter ) because of a spin class that I am taking to increase endurance and get things moving while the weather is too cold for consistent riding. All of your tips so far have opened my eyes - that's why I asked in the first place.



I have no problem not following someone else. There have been a couple of things that the instructor said that I didn't follow. For example, she asked us (she specifically looked at me) not to turn down our tension when we sat after a 90 second standing hill climb. Yeah, whatever, I was pooped!

I actually see some benefit to giving a copy of Funhog's sheet to instructors. Might be a bit on the risky side, but who gives a flying fart? If it is done with the right attitude and with grace, it could help her and others.

Zen - You are right, for some this might be too much, for them I say, just know the basics. If it is information overload, come back to it another time and refresh.

Thanks - this has turned into a very educational thread!

[Zen]

I don't want to get caught not doing something and asked why and have no answer.

I doubt any spin instructor will ever ask you that. It's spin class, not school. someone may ask if you have a bad knee (I still doubt it) but really if you remain seated while everyone else is standing it shouldn't be any of their concern.
Something they should ask about is if someone looks like they're overexerting or having a hard time breathing.
At my club,any instructor caught teaching unsafe practices will be fired on the spot.

[kjay]

Funhog, thanks for your very thorough and informative message. It is not 'information overload' by any means. I think we should all be appreciative of your willingness to take the time to provide us with this info.

[Flybye]

Completely off topic here but I am coveting the User CP Funhog and the avatar. Have been for days. You are a Funhog!!!

Why didn't I think of that????

[karenxfiles]

I think the information on the contraindicated moves was great......i go to some free classes at the military base, and there are a lot of macho guys in the class. There are 3 different instructors. One is a real "outdoor" cyclist, and I really like his class. But one of the other guys is always doing that hopping up and down stuff, and doing push ups on the bike, and doing that "hovering" thing. I am by nature a very disobedient person, so i was sort of modifying things by not turning the # of "turns" that the instructor said to, etc. Maybe that is why I sit in the back of the room. Anyhow, I was wondering for the last few weeks if some of this stuff was potentially harmful, and now at least i'm a bit more informed.

Thanks!

[Funhog]

Completely off topic here but I am coveting the User CP Funhog and the avatar. Have been for days. You are a Funhog!!!

Why didn't I think of that????

The nickname I acquired from friends in 1994 when I left a high paying corporate job in Atlanta to move to Vail to become a ski instructor and personal trainer. Then a few years ago at the Tour de France, we were watching the Publicity Caravan prior to the peleton passing through (it's like a Mardi Gras parade that covers every kilometer of the Tour route). One of the corporate sponsors had this series of silly animal vehicles (a pink pig, a rubber ducky, and others) that paraded by. One of my clients said, "Hey Jennifer, it's you! It's the Funhog!" So I've got his picture posted all over to remind me that life is supposed to be FUN. I have a small pink bean bag piggy sitting on my computer monitor watching me as I write...

[Funhog]

At my club,any instructor caught teaching unsafe practices will be fired on the spot.

Gosh, I wish this were the norm! Far too many clubs/managers don't give a flying fart (sorry to steal the expression...love it)! Some even encourage their instructors to do "whatever" it takes to get more numbers in, and sadly, some of the most popular instructors are the ones doing the most contraindicated movements.

If the information I provided was helpful to you, I get a lot of psychic reward for that. Thanks!

If you're lucky enough to have safe and effective IDC instructors, consider yourself ahead of the game!

I've taken this contraindications list and put it on my Spinning Blog. Please know that this blog is a completely free resource, I get no compensation from it. My goal is to share and help other instructors and Spinning enthusiasts and cyclists grow and learn. If you have an instructor who might need a little "updating" on his/her style, it might be easier to recommend this blog instead of printing out this thread, or even the contraindications list. Lots of profile ideas, physiology, and soon, music suggestions.

[Zeek]

Gosh, I wish this were the norm! Far too many clubs/managers don't give a flying fart (sorry to steal the expression...love it)! Some even encourage their instructors to do "whatever" it takes to get more numbers in, and sadly, some of the most popular instructors are the ones doing the most contraindicated movements.

All too true. If more clubs worried about the quality of instructors they hired life would be grand.

[alpinerabbit]

Only a cyclist can teach a good spin class. For cyclists anyway.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pC-O6uPQZUQ
But what's with Jonny G's sectarianism. people keep "whooping" that gives me the goosebumps.

and what's with the weaving when out of the saddle. Oh and what's with the ankle position at 5:56....

[kenyonchris]

Jeez...third post this morning...what is up with me...I am usually the silent type.

I have done some good, bad, and ugly spin classes myself...and am a spin instructor. I gather the question is not how to teach a spin class, but how to *take* one. As a student, what I find helpful is a class where you don't feel overcoached, and one where you are not left adrift or unmotivated.
Find a class that has good music, quality bikes, and instructors that won't hurt you, then be motivated to get your heart rate up, then recover, then push it up again (be it by increasing resistance or increasing the cadence, or both)...hopefully the instructor will set the enviornment for this, but not demand that you do jumps, be in or out of the saddle, or whatever.

Spinning can be wildly detrimental to your body if you cycle badly, are out of the saddle for longer than you can physically sustain, or you use bad technique with a lot of resistance on the wheel. Let your heart rate tell you that you are working hard enough (or loafing).

One thing I *NEVER* do regardless of teaching or being a student...do NOT do jumps with too little resistance on the wheel or do fast jumps. In fact, the gym where I taught would not let us do them. Too many knee blowouts. I do do slow up downs, but to mid tension and mid tempo time only.

I don't spin much during the good weather when I am riding outside...but when I do, I am picky about the class I take. Hard to relax with hideous music, goofy instructors, and poor equipment. If all that is OK, it is easy to close your eyes, zen out, and get a decent indoor workout.

[Natural Beauty]

wow, it took me awhile to get through this thread but so good to read! I like spinning class but I had a few really really fantastic instuctors years ago and then unfortunately some poor ones lately.
Like most of you it seems I just do my own thing. I know what my form etc. is supposed to be and I ride to my own beat. I feel bad sometimes because it is obvious that I'm ignoring the instructors for the most part....but maybe that is better than me getting off the bike in the middle of class and shouting "are you kidding me? you want us to do what? why don't I give you my knee now."

[Zen]

I actually see some benefit to giving a copy of Funhog's sheet to instructors. Might be a bit on the risky side, but who gives a flying fart? If it is done with the right attitude and with grace, it could help her and others.

Think about how the instructor will view this.
He/she has invested time and money to be certified. She views herself as knowledgeable and a leader. Now here comes some new kid who read something on the interweb and is now telling her how wrong she is.
I'm just sayin...

[Julibird]

Think about how the instructor will view this.
He/she has invested time and money to be certified. She views herself as knowledgeable and a leader. Now here comes some new kid who read something on the interweb and is now telling her how wrong she is.
I'm just sayin...

Yes...but Jen Sage is one of the best known and respected presenters for MDA/Spinning. She has written some of the curriculum, she is one of a small number of headlined presenters at their largest conference in Miami, attended by people from all over North and South America (including the perhaps more familiar Coach Troy of Spinervals who presents smaller workhops).

It may be a subculture - but if you're in it (an instructor), you might receive her words without taking offense. Maybe.