Spinning - what to expect?
MaggotPig
Posts: 89 Member
I'm going to a spin class at 8pm on Wednesday. I've never been spinning before. I've never even been to a group exercise class before!
What should I expect? I'm fully expecting to die. I'm going to have an ambulance on standby for 8:05pm!
What should I expect? I'm fully expecting to die. I'm going to have an ambulance on standby for 8:05pm!
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Get there early and tell them you're new. They'll get you all settled in. It's a hard workout but you should just go at your own pace. Don't feel like you have to keep up; rest when you need to. You'll have a great time.0
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Get there early and tell them you're new. They'll get you all settled in. It's a hard workout but you should just go at your own pace. Don't feel like you have to keep up; rest when you need to. You'll have a great time.
Going to try and get there early but I work until 7pm in the next town over and then have to drop the dog home first (he comes to work with me every day) - I'm more stressed out about getting there on time than I am about actually doing it I think! I'm going with a friend so it should be ok....!0 -
Expect your butt to hurt <~ and that's coming from someone with plenty to spare!
Definitely get there early; depending on your gym, you may want to see if you can pre-register for the class. Spin tends to fill up very, very quickly.
Make sure to tell the instructor that you're new, and he'll help you get your bike properly situated. Pretty much everything on those things is adjustable.
I was certain the first several classes that I would topple over and cause some sort of domino effect with the bikes, but it never happened. You'll do great! Takes lots of water and a towel and you'll be good to go.
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Expect your butt to hurt <~ and that's coming from someone with plenty to spare! Definitely get there early; depending on your gym, you may want to see if you can pre-register for the class. Spin tends to fill up very, very quickly.
Make sure to tell the instructor that you're new, and he'll help you get your bike properly situated. Pretty much everything on those things is adjustable.
I was certain the first several classes that I would topple over and cause some sort of domino effect with the bikes, but it never happened. You'll do great! Takes lots of water and a towel and you'll be good to go.
I hadn't even considered the fact that I might fall off!
My biggest concern is my back hurting - I usually use the sitty down bike rather than the sitty uppy bike as my back quickly starts to ache due to an old injury0 -
Sleeveless shirt, towel, and water - you will sweat a lot! I didn't think that little bike with make me sweat more than running on a treadmill but it sure did.0
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never seen anyone fall off dont worry. second session i was ready with my gel seat. found the seat so uncomfortable. i expected us only to be sitting down then she made us stand up and wow i felt it. take your water and also a towel. enjoy its a great work out0
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1 - get their early enough that they can set your bike up...it needs to fit right for you to enjoy your ride; take a pen and paper so you can write down your bike settings for the next outing
2 - it's your ride, go at your pace.
3 - all instructors are different so it's hard to say what to expect...i spin some in the winter when i don't necessarily feel like getting out on my bike...one instructor can be very different from the next...for example, one of the instructors at the studio I go to likes to do tons of climbing...climb, climb, climb...it's like 90% of the class...conversely, one of the other instructors likes to do a lot of flat racing tempo type of stuff with some small hills here and there...two very different spinning experiences.0 -
You won't die! I can 99% guarantee it! I teach spin and in my opinion, it is much less daunting than any other group fitness class! The lights are low, the music is up, and you can go at your own pace and nobody will know. Use the instructor as a guide and do what you can. If you think you might not be able to get there early, adjust the seat high enough so that your leg is only slightly bent when your pedal stroke is all the way down (if you don't know what I mean, Google how to set yourself up on a spin bike). If your back gets sore, just sit up from the handlebars and take a break. As far as what to expect during the class, every gym and instructor is very different but you'll probably be doing some combination of "hills" (turning the resistance knob up, either seated or standing), "sprints" (pedaling fast) and riding out of the saddle with just a little resistance. If I know I have newbies, I make sure to give them the option to stand or stay in the saddle. I want to give you a great workout but I don't expect you to perform like the regulars in the front row who come 5 times a week! I'm happy to help if you have more questions!0
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It's going to be a great, hard cardio workout!
Get there about 10 minutes early and have the instructor help you set up your bike.
Make sure when the instructor tells you to "stand up" on the bike, you have enough resistance on the wheel to support your weight. Otherwise you could injure yourself.
Your butt is going to be REALLY sore... but keep going. After 2-3 classes it wont be sore anymore.
Have fun, and keep going back. 0 -
Thanks everyone, I feel a little better now I find going to the gym a real chore and I get bored easily. I think group exercise will be the way forward for me but I've never yet had the courage to actually go! I've lost 115lbs so far, and in order to keep it up, I'm going to need to find some sort of exercise that I enjoy! 0
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Have a wonderful time. Tell us how it went.0
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After years of spin classes here's my advice:
1. Some people have been going to that same class for a long time and they have laid claim to a particular bike or a particular spot in the room. If you take "their" spot they might say something or passive-aggressively resent you. That's just the way it is.
2. I like a spot right in front of the fan because I work hard and sweat a LOT.
3. If you wear loose, baggy clothes they won't be very comfortable. I wear spandex shorts, a road jersey and cycling shoes to every class. I also take 2 water bottles with me and drink a lot. And a towel.
4. Pedaling as fast as you can never gave much exercise. Turn up the resistance and dig deep.
5. Stretch before, stretch afterward.
6. Learn how the bike should be adjusted for you by reading and talking to several other resources. I never trust spin class instructors on bike fitment.
7. It can get loud. Your ears might ring afterward.0 -
You can't peddle backwards on a spin bike, only forwards. If you forget, well, you could get hurt.
I miss spinning. When pregnant with my third, I did spin class until I was 7 months along, it was my healthiest pregnancy ever. Can't afford a gym membership now, so no spinning for me. I love love LOVED it! Have fun!0 -
a couple of years ago, A friend and I set a goal to try every class our gym offered at least once. It was so great...but then we found some we loved and never made it too all of them (Spin is one I haven't made it to). I still am in Pilates twice a week from that goal. I enjoy classes for the instructor forcing you out of your comfort zone...and the fact that it is typically at least a full hour.
Have fun! Looking forward to your story after you go!0 -
I'm going to a spin class at 8pm on Wednesday. I've never been spinning before. I've never even been to a group exercise class before!
What should I expect? I'm fully expecting to die. I'm going to have an ambulance on standby for 8:05pm!
Wear a good pair of padded cycling shorts with padding that covers your sitbones. It helps. A wicking T-shirt is nice too.
Bring a towel and water.
Arrive early and talk to the instructor. You should be able to expect the instructor to set you up properly on the bike. You do need to get the fit right. Just as a very general comment about that. When the instructor has set up your saddle height. Get on the bike and pedal for a minute or so to settle in. Then place your right heel on the pedal and extend your leg so that the pedal is in the 6:00 position. Your leg should have a very slight bend at the knee. Your knee should not be locked straight, nor should it be quite bent ... just a slight bend. Adjust the saddle height again if necessary. Then replace your foot on the pedal, with the ball of your foot on the pedal, and cycle.
You can expect that the instructor is going to bellow at you to go faster and turn the resistance up, etc. etc. But you don't have to do that. If you feel uncomfortable with anything they are telling you, do something else. I mean, really uncomfortable, not just "oh dear, I'm a bit tired".
For example, some instructors like to suggest cranking the resistance way up so you are mashing with all your might to turn the pedals. That's OK when you're standing, but not when you are sitting ... it can damage your knees.
Other instructors like something called "jumps" which are a complete and utter waste of time. I just remain standing through those.
Hopefully you'll get a good instructor who will give you a good variety of standing (climbing) and sitting while pedalling fast against some resistance.
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Thank you again for the replies - very useful tips! I'm even more sure that I'm going to die now! Need to be prepared as I'll have to get ready at work before I leave - I don't have any cycling specific clothing yet but I'm hoping that cycling in some form or another will become "my thing" because running really doesn't appeal to me! If it's something I'm going to continue, I can look into proper gear (I may actually be able to get something that fits now!)
I have a heart rate monitor so I will be able to foresee my impending demise. My only slight concern is that my heart rate does run at a slightly higher rate than one would expect but I've had a lot of investigations into my heart and everything has come back fine besides a higher number of ectopic beats than would be considered normal. I was discharged with no further treatment required and they were happy so I should be ok on that front, but at least I can be sensible about how far I push myself.
There's talk of a kettlebells class on Monday as well
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Expect to have a very sore undercarriage for a few days
Spinning is just riding a bike to no where 0 -
As others have said, your butt and other bits will probably hurt a lot to start with, the first time I went it felt proper bruised! I would go early and tell them you're new and ask the instructor or someone to help set up your bike, adjusting the height etc to suit you will make a big difference. At the end of the day, you control the resistance on the bike so if the rest of the group are going too hard, just turn the resistance down then try to put it back up when you feel like you can. Best to take it slow and build yourself up. And take a towel/water for all the sweating! Enjoy 0
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Thank you again for the replies - very useful tips! I'm even more sure that I'm going to die now! Need to be prepared as I'll have to get ready at work before I leave - I don't have any cycling specific clothing yet but I'm hoping that cycling in some form or another will become "my thing" because running really doesn't appeal to me! If it's something I'm going to continue, I can look into proper gear (I may actually be able to get something that fits now!)
I have a heart rate monitor so I will be able to foresee my impending demise. My only slight concern is that my heart rate does run at a slightly higher rate than one would expect but I've had a lot of investigations into my heart and everything has come back fine besides a higher number of ectopic beats than would be considered normal. I was discharged with no further treatment required and they were happy so I should be ok on that front, but at least I can be sensible about how far I push myself.
There's talk of a kettlebells class on Monday as well
I just wore workout/running gear for my spin class, like a tank top, capris and trainers. Funnily enough I used to do Spin on a Monday and Kettlebells on a Wednesday, a mixture of strength training and cardio is always good
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So. Spinning. (Now that I've consumed some chocolate after nearly crying because I couldn't open the wrapper!!)
Awful. Completely awful. Verging on torture. I couldn't keep up. I was fully prepared for sweat. I was expecting pain. I'd envisaged standing up. I should have anticipated sprinting. But nothing could have prepared me for hovering! I managed one round of standing (without falling off and causing a domino effect). I even managed to hover. Once. My undercarriage has been assaulted in unimaginable ways. Those men must have the gooch of a rhino. Torture. Awful.
But I'd go again. No one cared that I couldn't keep up. No one cared that I nearly died of calf cramp halfway through. No one cared that I was sweating from places I didn't even think possible. I cycled for the full 60 minutes (plus 10 minutes prior with the instructor to make sure the bike was adjusted correctly). Biggest issue was my back due to an old injury - legs were fine (bar the cramp which is a result of my back injury!)
I'd go again when I'm not 3 months into a gynaecologist bleed from hell and as white as a sheet, barely capable of standing up without feeling like I'm going to keel over. I'd go again when I've not done a 12 hour day at work!
Kettlebells on Monday!0 -
Congrats on going and surviving. Yeah, nobody cares if you keep up, stand up or up the resistance. That comes with time.
Enjoy kettlebells!
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So. Spinning. (Now that I've consumed some chocolate after nearly crying because I couldn't open the wrapper!!)
Awful. Completely awful. Verging on torture. I couldn't keep up. I was fully prepared for sweat. I was expecting pain. I'd envisaged standing up. I should have anticipated sprinting. But nothing could have prepared me for hovering! I managed one round of standing (without falling off and causing a domino effect). I even managed to hover. Once. My undercarriage has been assaulted in unimaginable ways. Those men must have the gooch of a rhino. Torture. Awful.
But I'd go again. No one cared that I couldn't keep up. No one cared that I nearly died of calf cramp halfway through. No one cared that I was sweating from places I didn't even think possible. I cycled for the full 60 minutes (plus 10 minutes prior with the instructor to make sure the bike was adjusted correctly). Biggest issue was my back due to an old injury - legs were fine (bar the cramp which is a result of my back injury!)
I'd go again when I'm not 3 months into a gynaecologist bleed from hell and as white as a sheet, barely capable of standing up without feeling like I'm going to keel over. I'd go again when I've not done a 12 hour day at work!
Kettlebells on Monday!
Brilliant!
I know when I used to go I was so much concentrated on my form and keeping up with the instructor that I paid no attention at all to the other riders. Plus I always got there early so I could get a bike at the back of the room
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seriously get some proper shorts though...there's a reason cyclists wear padded cycling shorts.0
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cwolfman13 wrote: »seriously get some proper shorts though...there's a reason cyclists wear padded cycling shorts.
Actually it wasn't so bad. If it's something I'm going to do regularly then I will when I'm a bit smaller. I'm still 17st (238lbs) currently and while my top half is diminishing rapidly (I have bones visible!), my bottom half is still huge!
My back was the real issue and it's always going to be. Need to work on core strength I think.0 -
Congratulations! I've done a couple of spin classes and definitely sit in the back! Until I've lost a bit more weight, it hurts my right knee to stand while spinning. I loved the two I went to, but the Y changed the schedule to times that I can't make it - waiting on the September calendar to come out! I love kettlebells, as well, even though the one class I went to had more floor action (kneeling, planking, etc.) using kettle bells for my taste. She said it wasn't usually like that, but I'm afraid to go to another class! The floor does not like this fat old lady!0 -
atypicalsmith wrote: »
Congratulations! I've done a couple of spin classes and definitely sit in the back! Until I've lost a bit more weight, it hurts my right knee to stand while spinning. I loved the two I went to, but the Y changed the schedule to times that I can't make it - waiting on the September calendar to come out! I love kettlebells, as well, even though the one class I went to had more floor action (kneeling, planking, etc.) using kettle bells for my taste. She said it wasn't usually like that, but I'm afraid to go to another class! The floor does not like this fat old lady!
Instructor man suggested the back so we (I went with a friend) could go at our own pace without feeling pressured to keep up. I purposely positioned myself as far from the door as possible as the socialphobe in me said there's no way I would walk past everybody to leave halfway through!0 -
considering you cna set the gear/ resistance as low as you want and you cna o it at your own pace, then nothing to fear. Hope you get consistent with it. Do use the spin bikes outside of classes.0
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