First spin class experience

[Tri Girl]

I took a couple spin classes last year. I don't like them. Went to two diff. classes just to give it a try. I don't like the seat (very uncomfortable), I don't like the REALLY loud music, I don't like the bike setup at all. I'd rather sit on my trainer at home and watch tv- and I don't really like that either (but at least I'm on my own bike in my own house).

Spin class isn't for everyone. I know LOTS of riders that love it, tho. Maybe I'm just weird.

[gingerale]

I'm impressed that anyone could wave their hands in the air while standing in the pedals! LOL I'd be falling right on my face!!!

Maybe you should give it another try with a different instructor, if they have one?? That way you'll know whether it's the spinning class you really don't enjoy or if it was just the instructor. Good luck with it, either way.

[greycoral]

i take a couple spin classes a week now that the weather has changed, and I have yet to do anything crazy like pushups on the bars or waving my hands in the air. My Monday class I take is on the easier side, more geared towards fitness, my Friday class is much more challenging, and is modeled after a real ride. Her class is really popular, I have to get there pretty early to get a spot. I've taken some pretty boring ones too, it took a while to find the right teachers.

[badger]

I took one spin class last year and I thought I was going to die. I swim competitively, commute to/from work on bike and run occasionally, but nothing compares to this hell on stationery wheels. It was all I could do not to get up and leave, all I ended up doing was just pedaling at low gear for the rest of the hour while this woman who must have been at least 65 years old was doing massive sprints.

Hats off to anyone who does it and enjoy it.

[greycoral]

sprints are the devil.

[Crankin]

As a former instructor (aerobics, stretch, back in the olden days), I have found that there's basically 2 kinds of spin instructors: Aerobics instructors who are on a bike and cyclists who teach spin. While there are some of type #1 who do safe and fun classes, those are the ones who I find doing the "push ups on the bar" and running in place at very high cadences. Don't feel compelled to do what they do. I find that no one says anything to me if I do a seated climb while they are standing and running like crazy or I am standing and going at a lower cadence.
I like the group aspect of exercise once in awhile, but not like I used to; I also like working out to music. If you can find the instructor that is right for you, make it more of your own work out. Usually every gym has at least one person who is a roadie or a tri-athlete who teaches spin. Those are the ones to find.

[Andrea]

As a former instructor (aerobics, stretch, back in the olden days), I have found that there's basically 2 kinds of spin instructors: Aerobics instructors who are on a bike and cyclists who teach spin. While there are some of type #1 who do safe and fun classes, those are the ones who I find doing the "push ups on the bar" and running in place at very high cadences. Don't feel compelled to do what they do. I find that no one says anything to me if I do a seated climb while they are standing and running like crazy or I am standing and going at a lower cadence.
I like the group aspect of exercise once in awhile, but not like I used to; I also like working out to music. If you can find the instructor that is right for you, make it more of your own work out. Usually every gym has at least one person who is a roadie or a tri-athlete who teaches spin. Those are the ones to find.

I wholeheartedly agree with you! I used to teach spin before I rode a bike, and, even though I learned about pushups & the other odd stuff while I was in training, I thought that they sounded like ridiculous things to do during a bike workout, so I never did them in my classes! One woman even complained that I didn't... I told her that I would love to show her how to do more effective pushups on the ground immediately following class, but she never took me up on it

[greycoral]

As a former instructor (aerobics, stretch, back in the olden days), I have found that there's basically 2 kinds of spin instructors: Aerobics instructors who are on a bike and cyclists who teach spin. Usually every gym has at least one person who is a roadie or a tri-athlete who teaches spin. Those are the ones to find.

Exactly!! My mellow teacher is just an instructor, I doubt that she actually rides a bike outside of the gym. My awesome teacher probably spends more time on a bike than anything else. She's a mountain biker primarily, and always has a ton of stories for us.