What makes a participant do these things??

[Raindrop]

Hi Cyclingmomma. I just now saw your post and wanted to clarify that I should of added during cool down I regularly have the participants sitting up without their hands on the handlebars. But, during cool-down, the pedaling is much slower and even if there is a pedal spindle break, the person has time to catch themselves.

As far as listening to your own music in class...well, I have to admit that I'm coming from a biased point of view. I spend a lot of time planning the focus of the class, the profile and selecting music to fit that profile, so I do sort of look at it as a personal affront to have someone come in and use their own ipod. Additionally, I use an eclectic choice of music so usually, if you hate one song there's a very good chance that you'll like the others. I also [B]always [B] say at the end of my classes, "if you had any issues with the bike, the music or me, please let me know". I know that not everyone will like all of my playlist and that music is very subjective. However, if you hate the music that I choose, there are other instructors that play other types of music and everyone can vote with their feet.

Luckily, my classes stay full.

[teigyr]

Raindrop, I'd ask where your classes were but I'm mostly content right now. Of course it's summer too so I tend not to do indoor classes.

I don't know why people take a class and then talk through the whole thing. I've always felt sorry for instructors when they say "at this stage you shouldn't be able to carry on a conversation" and people are I always thought there might be pressure from the gym to not alienate people just due to the fact it's a fairly competitive business.

I've run a limited gamut of indoor cycling instructors. Some are cyclists and don't know how to instruct, some are 80's aerobic type people who aren't cyclists, and one just tried to talk about how awesome he was. (This was the one who had people in awe because he could cycle 12 whole miles in an hour!!!)

I do think being a good instructor is a talent and the music and class plan is important. It's funny because I am a music purist and give it all up for the right spin class. Tempo, mood, and all of that matters because hill climbing songs are different than sprint songs and I appreciate the work that goes into the planning. I've even climbed hills in reality and a spin song will come into my head and help me pace myself on the hill.

So I guess I'm saying for those instructors who do a good job and actually DO speak out if someone is disrupting the class, there are those of us who appreciate it. As rude as it is to be talking during a class, it is just as frustrating to those who want to be there and keep hearing about what somebody bought at the mall.

Now, how's about those people who get on the list (there are gyms that require a sign-up list if the classes fill up) so there are people turned away. The sign-up list people only stay 20 minutes or so before they decide they have something better to do and then there is a vacant bike the rest of the class. What the heck is up with that?!

[Raindrop]

Oh...I totally get your frustration with the sign-up list. What I've always done is give away any empty bikes if the signed-up rider doesn't show within five minutes of the class start.

My real frustration comes from the gym management at one facility. After using a perfectly executed sign-up sheet (which took awahile to train the participants), the general manager (who has absolutely nothing to do with the aerobic/cycling program) decides it's no longer needed. This, even though the classes (mornings particularly), are over-filled. The reason he gave? Too much paper. I suggested the use both sides or even one of "them new-fangled white boards). But no....he wouldn't budge.

So now we're back to people throwing towels on several bikes to save them for friends who don't show up.

[tulip]

My instructor is quite straightforward and will tell participants directly (me included) when they are doing something unsafe or wrong. My problem is that my knees tend to be too close together. So he calls me on it. He calls out other people in the class to, among other things, increase resistance to stop bouncing, ride properly with your hands on the bars, decrease resistance to get up to cadence, chin up to breathe properly, drink up, etc. It's his job to teach us what's right. I expect that, and would not like it if he just kept quiet or made general comments to the group. Some people don't know they are doing things wrong, and some just need reminding. He's good at learning people's names, and at the beginning of the class will ask people he doesn't know what their names are. I think people behave better since he knows their names. There's no chitchat, but there is a friendly banter between the instructor and the participants.

Some people show up really early and put their towel on the bike and then go do their core work and come back at the beginning of class. That seems perfectly acceptable to me. It's hard to differentiate between those towels and ones that other people have put up for friends. However, it's reasonable to make it clear that five minutes before class the people waiting get dibs on unoccupied bikes. Put up signs a few weeks before you start this so that everyone knows. It'll only take a few times for things to work themselves out.

[gleeclub]

just wondering how is having your knees too close together bad for you? this is a great way to work your hammys when your quads tend to get tired.

[tulip]

The instructor told me that knees should be inline, not knock-kneed and not sticking out. He's a physical therapist in his regular job, so he knows more than me. Plus, I've had hip problems and don't want to exacerbate them. I noticed in the TDF one of the Spanish riders (I think) was extremely knock-kneed. I guess he's okay with it.

[aicabsolut]

Exactly. Some of the pros have developed extremely strong adductor (inner thigh) muscles, and they can get away with having their knees a bit closer to the top tube to enlist those muscles more on the upstroke. However, they won't have any "knee wobble" throughout the pedal stroke. It can be very risky for your knee health to have your knees go out of the centerline when pedaling, either outward or inward. You want your kneecaps to be facing forward. You might be able to accomplish this and have your knees in a bit. It all depends on your own biomechanics. However, I wouldn't really advocate that people change it up just for the sake of enlisting certain muscles or (on the road) to be more aero. If a knee (or both) are out of line, then it could take a negative toll on your knees over time. That's what my orthopedist says and what I've heard from bike fitters.

[pulch21]

i realize this thread has died a little, but i'm new here and wanted to add one little thing:
how about the people that still insist on doing pushups on the bike!!!!
pushups... really.
or those that insist on never sitting on the seat. they slam the seat way down and back. it's harder they claim.
GRRR!!!

[Zeek]

i realize this thread has died a little, but i'm new here and wanted to add one little thing:
how about the people that still insist on doing pushups on the bike!!!!
pushups... really.
or those that insist on never sitting on the seat. they slam the seat way down and back. it's harder they claim.
GRRR!!!

Better known as Contraindicated Movements. So silly, aren't they?