Spinning class is kicking my b@#$%

[Miranda]

Here's some things I do on the fit issues for spin class...

Yes, while "it's your ride", it's certainly not your bike!

Bars and seat even is a neutral starting point for set up. I ride with my bars higher up like a comfort bike. Actually, since there is no use for them in steering, I only need them for a light touch to balance my overall weight.

The saddles are definately not mine either. I bring my own triple gel pad cover, and still wear a padded chamois short. This helps cover up any things about the saddle I don't like, and makes it "ok" to deal with for 45mins to 1hr. If it starts hurting anything that day, I just stand more for relief (on 'my' ride).

The toe clips on the pedals are actually sized for a man's size 10/11 shoe. Thus, why I only rode 1 class in my life like that. I clip in. I also use multi-release spd cleats, vs single, which I thinks give my knees some float. This compensates for some other things I have adjusted permanently on the road bike set up. I'm getting myself some spin only shoes too with mixing up my pedals on my outside bikes now.

The computers on the bikes for calories are dialed to show what's burned by default for a 150# man. I use the rest of the stats, but know my own personal Polar set to my height/age/weight/sex etc. is my more acurate tool.

On anything that "hurts" I don't do those things on 'my ride'. OK, the single dial is suppose to be your hill. Your options are limited with that obviously. Outside I would not grind my knees, quads, etc. to the point of failure and non-recovery to make it through the rest of my ride. I would modify and use my gears. I would still work my legs to the point I know is reasonable, but my heart muscle can recover better on the ride, vs over fatigue of my quad muscles.

Any teacher that's worth anything should understand about modification. Meaning, I tell them I have some things I modify for... so it's not that I'm mis-understanding your queing... still with ya in spirit.

EDIT: Spin Bike Set Up & Balance...
One more thing about the bars. When standing outside, your bars of more importance to balance your weight. Inside, if done correctly, the bars not should be supporting your weight even when standing in hand position two or three. OK, this literally took me months of spinning to get this concept, and find my perfect center of gravity to do. One day, the teacher qued "pelvic tilt" while doing a standing drill. The light bulb went off for me. Just as outside we learn as kids how to perfectly position our weight over the bike to make it do what we want, the same is for inside. The slightest rotation of the pelvis over the pedals can make all the difference in the world between having the drill kill you, and making it a piece of cake. Just some food for thought.

[beancounterbeth]

Thought I would jump in here and give you all a good laugh. :-)

This morning my boss was saying that her step class has been kicking her butt so since her gym is starting up spin classes next week she may try one of those for something a little easier. I just looked at her funny and said why in the world would you think spin would be easier than step? She made a little motion with her arms and said "how hard can it be riding a bike". I told her that I burned 770 calories and was dripping sweat the other day in my spin class (granted I was on the bike for about 15 minutes before class started). Then she proceeded to look at me and say "how do you know that?". As if I was making all of this up or something. I then informed her of what a heart rate monitor is and that I wear one. She still said that they are inaccurate. So I ended the conversation with inviting her to go ahead and give spin a try and let me know how it goes.

I can't wait for her to try spin and come back to work and eat a big plate of crow.

Why do some people think that "oh, it's just riding a bike....big deal"?!!!

[Miranda]

Thought I would jump in here and give you all a good laugh. :-)

This morning my boss was saying that her step class has been kicking her butt so since her gym is starting up spin classes next week she may try one of those for something a little easier. I just looked at her funny and said why in the world would you think spin would be easier than step? She made a little motion with her arms and said "how hard can it be riding a bike". I told her that I burned 770 calories and was dripping sweat the other day in my spin class (granted I was on the bike for about 15 minutes before class started). Then she proceeded to look at me and say "how do you know that?". As if I was making all of this up or something. I then informed her of what a heart rate monitor is and that I wear one. She still said that they are inaccurate. So I ended the conversation with inviting her to go ahead and give spin a try and let me know how it goes.

I can't wait for her to try spin and come back to work and eat a big plate of crow.

Why do some people think that "oh, it's just riding a bike....big deal"?!!!

Yes, do tell how the feed back goes. One of my instructors says it's always something when the injured marathon runners (sorry no offense intended to you true diplomat run gals) come to spin class and say, "well, THIS (spinning) is all I can do now *groan grumble biking is so easy*". Then you can literally watch them start to die on the bike through the progression of their first class. Welcome to Wheel World, sweetheart. As far as cardio group classes I've taken in my life, spinning is without question the hardest/most intense.