welcome to the board aka. Unfortunately I'm not even Close to NY But: I can direct you to a neat thread under the open titled "getting know you". Gives you a chance to learn more about us then our mothers - and tell us a tad more about you!
and welcome to the awesome world of cycling.
type "spinning" under the search tab in the toolbar and it'll direct you to a plethora of threads regarding spinning.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming: "Yeah Baby! What a Ride!"