Spin Classes

[iLB]

booked for my first spin class on thursday, but im not sure what to expect? any spinners here who can enlighten me? (no sarky replies please lol )

 

[Joe24]

Im yet to try them, will start either this week, or next week.
I can spin already though, i went on a spin bike in the school gym and could spin faster then a spin instructor(a pe teacher thats done a course in it)
Other way to spin(how i got to spin my legs faster) was to ride fixed, do down a long steep hill with a spinny gear and you will spin
Going by the picture on spinning on the leaflet i picked up, there no nice young women that do it, and its just older bigger women

 

[RedBike]

You'll sweat buckets and you'll be on your last legs at the end of the hour.
However, that elderly lady at the front will somehow make it all look effortless.

 

[Noodley]

I go three times a week, very good fun and the time passes very quickly. And a good workout as well.

The class I go to has a number of differing phases: e.g. warm up, sprint, intervals, hills, intervals, hills, mountain, interval, warm down. A mixed class ability-wise, but everyone chats away at the beginning and grunts in the general direction of others at the end

 

[alp1950]

booked for my first spin class on thursday, but im not sure what to expect? any spinners here who can enlighten me? (no sarky replies please lol )

Enjoy. They're great fun. You'll find that every instructor is different- but this just adds to the variety. Your instructor should make sure your bike is properly set up, but if not make sure that everything is screwed up tight

Try this for some tips: http://331miles.blogspot.com/2009/01/beginners-guide-to-your-first-spin.html

Oh & and the mortality rate is tolerably low.

 

[Joe24]

I take it you have to use flats and straps?
Or does it depend on where you go as to if you can put your own pedals on?
Im tempted to turn up to my first one in full club kit, but maybe it would be better that when i do one i dont look like i should know what im doing

 

[PaulSB]

booked for my first spin class on thursday, but im not sure what to expect? any spinners here who can enlighten me? (no sarky replies please lol )

During the winter I do 4-5 sessions a week. Monday 45 minutes, Tuesday 2 x 45 minutes back to back and Thursday 45 minutes. If the weather is bad Saturday or Sunday I'll do another instead of getting the bike out. Spinning is good fun, will help you through the winter in that you should go into spring fitter. I found the main benefit is it improves my hill climbing. I can't get home from work in time to consider getting the bike out during the week.

The classes vary with the instructor, some do lots of short sharp bursts of a particular move, others do longer spells on the same move. I know one guy who literally takes the class on a ride through France, describes the road, the scenery, the cafe, the climb - close your eyes and you can see it! If you don't enjoy the class after a few sessions try a different class with another instructor.

If you find some of the moves don't suit you just do one that does as a substitute. Don't expect to do a lot of spinning, good instructors will give you a good mix and through in lots of tough hill climbs.

Wear decent shorts, same rules apply as cycling but you will sweat buckets or this can to sore upper thigh / groin. I wear old cyle shorts and sudocream. Lots of water, about 0.75l at least.

Finally when it comes to setting the resistance or gear go with what suits you rather than what the instructor says. Too low a gear and you're wasting effort. For example in tonight's class we used a base resistance of 2-3 but I was using 10. It's a very individual thing.

 

[cheadle hulme]

I take it you have to use flats and straps?
Or does it depend on where you go as to if you can put your own pedals on?
Im tempted to turn up to my first one in full club kit, but maybe it would be better that when i do one i dont look like i should know what im doing

The spin bikes in my gym take spd's.

 

[Joe24]

The spin bikes in my gym take spd's.

I hope mine do. I had SPD's and SPD-SL's(not on a bike so i would use those if i was allowed to put my own pedals on)
Be good if they did, im not much of a fan of flats and straps, my feet never sit right in them

 

[iLB]

thanks guys, when u say 'climb a hill' do you just mean standing up in the saddle?

 

[Noodley]

thanks guys, when u say 'climb a hill' do you just mean standing up in the saddle?

The bikes have resistance gauge and you turn this to increase the resistance. So it is harder to pedal - it can be sitting or standing. Usually both.

 

[Speicher]

Im yet to try them, will start either this week, or next week.
I can spin already though, i went on a spin bike in the school gym and could spin faster then a spin instructor(a pe teacher thats done a course in it)
Other way to spin(how i got to spin my legs faster) was to ride fixed, do down a long steep hill with a spinny gear and you will spin
Going by the picture on spinning on the leaflet i picked up, there no nice young women that do it, and its just older bigger women

I take it you have to use flats and straps?
Or does it depend on where you go as to if you can put your own pedals on?
Im tempted to turn up to my first one in full club kit, but maybe it would be better that when i do one i dont look like i should know what im doing

Some of us may be older and bigger , what makes you think we would be noticing what you do? or what you look like?

 

[Noodley]

Some of us may be older and bigger , what makes you think we would be noticing what you do? or what you look like?

It would be to detract from his skinny wee white legs....

 

[Speicher]

Much prefer brown strong, and older legs.

Remind me about spin classes at the Rugby Club.

 

[Noodley]

Much prefer brown strong, and older legs.

How about one out of three?