Spin Class: Redo

I decided to try spin class again. I HATED my first spin class. But it's been two years, so I decided to give it another chance.

The class was fine. I liked that the lights weren't turned off.

The bike was relatively easy to use (and you didn't have to clip in your shoes.) And I liked that the class burned A LOT of calories: 352. (Yesterday's bare class was 206, and I considered it a far better workout.)

What I didn't like.

No arms. It was all legs.

I couldn't hear the instructor. The music was loud. I couldn't hear her mic and I was right in front of her. I missed a lot of the directions. Was she saying to sprint? I think I missed this one a lot. Was she saying to turn the gear up or down? I think she mumbled some too.

She also didn't explain what things were. Bouncing? Jumps? How exactly are you moving from sitting to standing so fast? Why are we doing this?

But what I really didn't like was that ycling hurts my crotch and upper thighs. It feels like getting punched. I couldn't find a way to sit so it didn't hurt. Was my bike wrong? The teacher adjusted me before class so I thought it was right. I guess that's why people wear padded bike shorts.

About four people left the class before it was over. Was it too hard? Did they have a final exam to go to? I don't know.

Verdict: Spin class is officially not for me. I hated the punched in the crotch feeling of the bike. I needed more arm work. (did like this class better than the last one, but found the instructor very mumbly.)

There are lots of workouts I like, or will tolerate. Spin class will not be on my rotation of workouts. I took this class because it was free and I thought it would be a good workout.

If you go:
• Go early and have the instructor help you set up the bike (maybe show you how to use the gears)
• Wear athletic shoes
• Bring a towel and you can set your water bottle down on the bike within arm's distance.
• Ask how to avoid the punched in the crotch feeling because I would like to know.

Spin Class

I tried my first ever spin class today.

Sadly, no spinning wheels or faeries were involved. Just stationary exercise bikes, girls wearing Lululemon and clip in bike shoes. (Doesn't spinning sound more magical than sweating on an exercise bike?)

It was a free class at Revolution offered through Lululemon. I did not know what to expect at all. But I decided to try something new.

You go in and sign in with which bike you want. Huh? I asked the front desk girl where to go. She told me to go to the center, so I picked second row center. She then handed me some black shoes that clip into the pedals.

The shoes might have been the hardest part of the class. It was hard to clip them in and out. That will take some getting used to.

It was slightly dark in the room, and a handful of girls (maybe 8) trickled into the class. (It was the day of the football game. That's where everyone was).

The instructor came in and we started pedaling away. We pedaled, and sat up off the seat, we cranked the resistance up and down, we used the weights and did some arm work. I was wary about cranking up the resistance, so I did cheat a little. It was my first class and I just wanted to make it through the hour. (I only do 20-30 minutes on my exercise bike at home. I've never tried an hour.) We pedaled so fast the metal on the shoes burned my feet and I was worried about spinning off the bike….or really just slowing down without injuring myself.

I do exercise bike at home and thought I was really on to something doing weights. Apparently they do it in spin class too ;)

There was a lot of yelling in the class. Possibly because I was about six feet away from the instructor. I think it was supposed to be encouraging, but it was a tad too boot camp for me. Also, cleavage. If you go to spin class, don't wear a tank top. Most of the class is leaning over the bike and you'll show your cleavage. I saw a lot of instructor cleavage and it was just distracting/ not what I wanted to see.

I asked a girl next to me why the class was dark. She smiled and said she liked to listen to the music and just zone out. And we did a lot of that. I'm not sure I liked dark classes.

Verdict: An okay class. I would have preferred a different instructor and the lights on. I'm actually not crazy about cycling. (I don't want to get those saddle bag thighs I've seen on some women cyclists). The studio was clean and nice and if spinning is your jam, then this is the place. I think I just like being upside down more.