Spinning Classes

[bikerHen]

I've check a couple of the local gyms and mostly they are just talking about the burn. Irulan, Gold's North is one that I am going to check out. Maybe Tomas teaches there as well. I don't think I could drag myself to the south hill three days a week!

My other thought is to invest in Spinning Tapes and just park my bike on the trainer this winter. Can one learn anything from these tapes?

I have to do something! Last fall I gained back all the weight and lost all my toning by the time my tan lines had faded! I'm not going to let that happen this year. I have some major biking goals for next year and I need to be in way better shape than I am now! BikerHen

[Irulan]

Classes can be fun, just edumacate yourself ( here is a great place) so that you get the most out of them and you're not another sheep going for the burn.

Irulan

[latelatebloomer]

B-Hen, I did it the other way - started spin classes and wound up on the road. My very excellent spin instructor is a real cyclist (he just won PA State Champ racing in his master class) and spends most of the class off the bike, gives a lot of individual instruction, and does NOT scream. His classes are longer, 1 1/2 hours, and some in March were 2 hours long to get us ready for the road. Chip is serious about warm up, stretching breaks, cool down, and more stretching off the bike. We often worked in the dark to keep the focus on our own workout. This guy's personally responsible for the Latebloomer discovering that she had an inner athlete - at age 45!!!

BUT he leaves the gym for 6 months to train and race. So he left me with these caveats: get to the gym early and be responsible for your own warm up. Skip anything that seems wrong for your body (like "jumps" for me), use a heart rate monitor and don't overdo, no matter what the instructor might say. Some of the other spin instructors at our gym are okay, some seem like they only comprehend being young & indestructable. Drink often, even if they don't cue you.

I know what it's like to fear regaining the weight: I feel like my 50-some pounds are like Captain Hook's ticking crocodile - just a step behind if I lose my focus.

So my suggestion is to try lots of spin instructors - I bet you'll find at least one or two you like to work with. Hope this helps.

[Asphaltgirl]

Our local community college started spinning classes last winter and it was a great way for me to ease back into real biking season. Unfortunately the leaders were students from their personal trainer course. They all did have cycling experience but their teaching styles were definately different.The best were 2 instructors that also taught spinning at Canyon Ranch and they were terrific....each class was different-so as we were spinning they spoke about health issues/nutrition etc. but the men instructors were all into power and speed. Go and watch a class and scope it out. Just remember --it's YOUR ride and you call the shots. Have fun!
~AG~

[latelatebloomer]

B-Hen, I did it the other way - started spin classes and wound up on the road. My very excellent spin instructor is a real cyclist (he just won PA State Champ racing in his master class) and spends most of the class off the bike, gives a lot of individual instruction, and does NOT scream. His classes are longer, 1 1/2 hours, and some in March were 2 hours long to get us ready for the road. Chip is serious about warm up, stretching breaks, cool down, and more stretching off the bike. We often worked in the dark to keep the focus on our own workout. This guy's personally responsible for the Latebloomer discovering that she had an inner athlete - at age 45!!!

BUT he leaves the gym for 6 months to train and race. So he left me with these caveats: get to the gym early and be responsible for your own warm up. Skip anything that seems wrong for your body (like "jumps" for me), use a heart rate monitor and don't overdo, no matter what the instructor is whooping about. Some of the other spin instructors at our gym are okay, some seem like they only comprehend being young & indestructable. Drink often, even if they don't cue you.

I know what it's like to fear regaining the weight: I feel like my 50-some pounds are like Captain Hook's ticking crocodile - just a step behind if I lose my focus.

So my suggestion is to try lots of spin instructors, with an eye out for the "grown-ups" - I bet you'll find at least one or two you like to work with. Hope this helps.