What do you want from a Spin class?

[Veronica]

I no longer belong to a gym, but my favorite instructor was always really cool about me not doing every thing exactly the way she did. She knew that I had specific goals in mind and they didn't always fit with what she had planned. I liked her personality and her music. I did tend to choose a bike off to the side to not distract others.

V.

[latelatebloomer]

For myself, I prefer an instructor who spends time off the bike, checks in with riders individually, really eyeballs how people are doing and becomes aware of their goals. My favorite instructor often doesn't ride at all - his class is so full he often gives his bike up - it's more a treat if he's riding with us.

I like longer intervals, where I can focus on my body - how I'm using my muscles, trying different ways of moving, a chance to close my eyes and race in the desert or wherever the music is taking me. I need the break from stress as much as my body needs the workout.

I like riding in dim light or even sometimes, in darkness - or as much darkness as the room can provide - then it's just me, the music, and my bike, and a coaxing voice.

I like an instructor who knows how to use a mike - no need to shout! I don't much like whooping, cheering, or berating.

I like at least a couple little stretch breaks, same for recovery, and I think it's good to cue riders to drink.

Spin classes really changed my life and helped me discover that there was an athletic spirit within me - and the spin instuctors and classmates never wrote me off because of my size.

latelate, over and out!

[alpinerabbit]

I want: great music, loud , but not too loud

fast speeds are stupid. I am not going up a hill standing at 150 rpm.

a cool instructor. My favorite is this wiry guy, a really crazed middle-aged man who you really believe. I do not need sexy.

good ventilation (!!)

not too many poseurs in the class

not to have to show up an hour early to grab a spot before it's booked

to get decently tired but not exhausted to the brink.

and yes, I also do it just in winter not to lose my shape. At least that's what got me started this winter.

[Veronica]

Those standing drills with low resistance are really good for building leg strength. I have been doing the three hour spinervals DVD and Coach Troy does that exercise three times. It's a b*tch, but I am seeing improvement in my performance.

V.

[alpinerabbit]

That really improves you? How does that match climbing real world hills? Just a stupid question...

[Veronica]

Strength training works by stressing your muscles. Those high cadence standing drills stress your muscles. Improved leg strength translates to improved climbing ability. It also makes your technique improve, you can't do it, if you're not spinning in circles.

There are three one minute sets of this sprinkled throughout a 180 minute training video. There are other, longer sets that focus on riding the way you would really ride outside.

V.

[traveller_62]

Like others my primary motivation for spinn class is to keep in cycling shape in the off season.

I appreciate....

1. an instructor who uses a variety of music and who chooses the music because the beat matches the expected cadence
2. an instructor who creates a structured class...in other words the workout isn't just random spinn stuff--there is a warm up and intervals and breaks and a period of active recovery at the end.
3. an instructor who understands the needs of cyclists and structures spinn classes over time to improve specific aspects of cycling performance
4. an instructor who supports the participants with encouragement and motivation (not a drill sargent type)
5. an instructor who explains the drill at hand and what the benefits of the interval are

It sounded to me, Raindrop, like you are exactly this kind of instructor!

There are some kinds of intervals that I absolutely hate but I know that I need to do them to increase my cycling ability....The worst for me are high cadence out of the saddle speed drills. We did a 4.5 minute 116 rpm out of the saddle drill last week. Ack. Give me a high resistance, low cadence climb any day.

I've asked my instructors for an "All Enya" spinn class tape but so far, no luck.

It's hard when you have such a diversity of students whose needs and desires for the class are so different. Any chance you can have more than one kind of class? Spinning for Cyclists and Spinning for General Fitness, for example?


-traveller