What's up with the hats?

[Miranda]

to some of squirrell's post comments...

MUSIC VOLUME...
I'm certified to teach through Mad Dogg Athletics. The music volume issue is unacceptable. I would say something to the teacher, and/or managment. OK, get this...

When I was trained, our teacher said one of her gyms was sued due to the volume of the music. A member had hearing damage and said it was the spin class music. In the end, they settled out of court. The gym was indeed guilty for the music being way too high above the rating system for decibles.

Through this, I figured out a lil something that was wrong with me. After an ENT and audiologist test/vist, I have permanent hearing damage. I have some high frequency loss. And, what drove me there was ringing in my ears. It never goes away. At night sometimes when it's bad, it keeps me from falling asleep. The technical term is called "tinnitus". It's nerve damage. No cure. I'll hear it for life.

Loud noises, music being included, is a cause. When the class has the music cranked so loud, it makes my tinnitus worse. I said something to the gym. The head group class teacher checked the levels (you can use a device called a sound meter) and the stero has a mark of how high to turn it.

STILL, some teachers break that rule. "Woot hoot, it's fun to crank it up... pedal on!". Yea well, that used to me too. Now I'm the stick in the mud like the one wise guy that wears drug store ear plugs. He is the smart one. I have then went on to explain my situation to the teachers, and then they comply. How's that saying go... "it's always fun until someone puts an eye out". It really sux when that someone is you.

TEACHER TENSION...
Yes, that's true. As the teacher you can not work it like it's your time. I've gotten the teacher's bike before, and there was barely any tension. That's ok. It always make me want to fall on the floor laughing when people say to me, "wow! that's great you can teach AND get your workout at the same time!". NOT! Besides needing to be more vocal, you need to stop your own pedaling and help folks when needed. That is part of being the teacher. Versus a participant. If the teacher was riding next to you on a different day... bet her tension level would be MUCH different (&the sweat to go with it).

Spinning is a great workout. Don't let the other stuff taint it. Shake em up.

[Zeek]

I always refer to the level of your gear as "resistance" and try to avoid using the word "tension." It's just a personal thing for me, as "tension" makes me think of something negative (and something that hurts). Resistance seems more appropriate, IMHO. Of course, you may not give a crap what I think either, and that's OK too.

[Miranda]

I always refer to the level of your gear as "resistance" and try to avoid using the word "tension." It's just a personal thing for me, as "tension" makes me think of something negative (and something that hurts). Resistance seems more appropriate, IMHO. Of course, you may not give a crap what I think either, and that's OK too.

Zeek, you're funny lol. Yes, I care... You are very helpful in this area of the board. Semantics...

People don't seem to care that I imagine I'm riding Pegasus with my eyes closed in spin class sometimes... but I do it anyway.

[letsride89]

hey! well, i read this thread and didn't think much of it...i didn't reply because i didn't have any answer! then i went out in my garage and hopped on the trainer...my hair kept falling in my face! it was in a pony tail but the dagum little bangs and shorter pieces insisted on falling out...usually i would grab a headband but i looked to the left and there was a hat! i put it on and WALA!!! no more hair problems!

maybe thats another reason!

[PinkBike]

i have a sprained ankle and wrist (a fall at work) so i'm living vicariously through other posts. but as for the hat thing, i have very long hair and i would prefer a baseball cap to (1) keep all the stray hairs out of my face, (2) catch the sweat and (3) put my ponytail through the back opening to keep it from bouncing into my face. sunglasses? no way - they'd feel all squishy on my nose from sweat and wouldn't they just fog over? but what do i know of gym fashion?

[Duck on Wheels]

I use a buff, if mine're not all in the laundry. Works as a sweat band, keeps the hair out'a my face, and after the class when my hair's all sweaty and lank, I can either turn the buff into a beanie to cover it all up or push the hair upwards into a "fountain" with the buff rolled up sweatband style. (I shower after I hike home 'cuz I still have a few hundred feet of hill to climb after class.)

As for the noise level, I've given up on explaining and complaining. There're some instructors who just really don't get it that intensity is not equivalent to noise level, but that hearing damage is. My hearing is already damaged (from agricultural equipment and rock concerts, probably), so I use ear plugs to protect what's left and keep the tinnitus from getting worse. The buff also helps there, keeps the ear plugs better in place and adds a bit more noise barrier. Only class I take without ear plugs is the classic music class which is mostly ok in terms of noise level, just two finale blasts that the instructor keeps apologizing for and saying next time she'll remember to turn those down.

Music the same from one class to the next: Some gyms have that as a policy too. Think of it as riding the same route. You get familiar with the route and it feels shorter, somehow. Same thing with the music, apparently. Doesn't matter much to me since I wear ear plugs and so hardly hear the darn stuff (unless there's something I really like and take the plugs out for, like if there's some Aretha or Stones in there). But I liked the policy better at the gym I went to in Madison, WI. There I had an instructor who put together fun programs of her own, not too loud, different each day, and with a progression through the year that turned them into a training program and not just a one-off workout over and over again. Here I have to weave my way between classes to put together my own training program out of the regular repetition (Tue 6pm -- intervals + weights after. Wed. 6pm -- classic & 7pm -- intervals. Fri 6pm -- endurance + weights. Sat 10am -- intervals + weights. Sun when the spin room isn't in use -- distance using my own mp3 program for 2-3 hours). Well, as you can see, I've found a way to do that. There are even moments when spinning is fun. Kinda. At least with a couple of the instructors here, who are cheerful and helpful gals. Also some of my spin classmates are a fun bunch. But mostly it's just that I don't feel safe riding outside on snow and ice and grit, nor do I feel comfortable riding in below-freezing weather. So if I'm to be in shape for the ALC by May 30, I've gotta spin.

[Miranda]

Update on my headwear situation...

I'm totally a Buff convert now. Though I look like a goober.

I'm the only one that wears the thing. My hair is so awful, I don't take it off to go into the weight room either. One of my instructor friends was giving me a hard time "that I look SO serious lol". Lucky her... her hair doesn't do the crazy stuff mine does and she's got a short cut.

I'm very impressed on the amount of sweat the Buff soaks up! I don't even really need my towel anymore. Plus, the Buff is a whole lot easier to keep up with versus half a dozen baby hair barrets in the bottom of the gym bag.