Spinning - what to expect?

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Replies

  • MaggotPig
    MaggotPig Posts: 89 Member
    Currently dying of leg cramp - any advice gratefully received!!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    It depends what the cause it, just might be doms/ sore because of not being used to it. Just rest really, some ibuprofen can be used. once you do more then your body will adjust and get stronger so dont just leave it to spin classes.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    kami3006 wrote: »
    dfhoop32z19i.jpg

    Congrats on going and surviving. Yeah, nobody cares if you keep up, stand up or up the resistance. That comes with time.

    Enjoy kettlebells!

    Oh how true is that! :D If it didn't hurt so much, I'd LOL!

    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!

    Good strategy! I didn't realize that sitting in the back basically "trapped" me into not leaving, hah! @999tigger - they keep the class with the spin bikes locked when there's no class :(
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Not in any of the gyms ive been a member of. perhaps its personal.
  • TnTWalter
    TnTWalter Posts: 345 Member
    don't forget a water bottle and a towel for sweat. have fun.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,699 Member
    edited August 2015
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    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!

    Hovering ... never seen the point. I don't do it. That's another one like jumps where I just stand through it all.

    Undercarriage ... that's why I wear padded cycling shorts. Get some. But make sure the padding is wide enough to cover your sitbones. Try them on before you buy.

    Keeping up ... you don't have to. Where are they going to go? :grin: You don't have to sprint as fast as they suggest ... not yet anyway. You don't have to stay standing as long as they want ... not yet anyway. Try what they suggest, but as I mentioned earlier, if you're really struggling, ease back. It's not like they're going to leave you behind on an empty country road in the middle of nowhere.

    Cramping ... drink more water. Have a good drink before you start, then sip about once every 10 min.


    Keep it up ... it does get better. Or ... um ... maybe it stays the same, but you just work harder ... or something. :smiley:

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,699 Member
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    Currently dying of leg cramp - any advice gratefully received!!

    Drink water
    Consume electrolytes (eat something salty)

  • MaggotPig
    MaggotPig Posts: 89 Member
    I've had a wander and eaten some cheese and crackers - should top the sodium levels up, and I ate cereal and a banana when I got in so glucose and potassium should be good too.
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    Currently dying of leg cramp - any advice gratefully received!!

    You mean just muscle soreness? You're going to hate my suggestion, but walking really will help. I know it's the last thing you probably feel like doing (except maybe spinnning ;-) )

    Not soreness, cramp as in involuntary contraction of the muscle. It's currently 2:20am and since I had a salty snack, I've actually been ok :)
  • texasf1ght
    texasf1ght Posts: 70 Member
    Am I doing something wrong? I always hear how hard spin classes are, and my friends swear by them. I don't find them all that intense (cardiovascular wise). I know that my settings are challenging because my legs are burning, but I'm not huffing and puffing, and I'm not crazy sweaty.

    I really want spin to work for me because I've got plantar's fasciitis and heel spurs and even though I love running, it's become really painful.

    Anyone have pointers on what I might be doing wrong?
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,622 Member
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    Awful. Completely awful. Verging on torture.
    ...
    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).
    ...
    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!

    Welcome to spinning! ;)

    You kept pedalling through the entire first class. That's what the cool kids do. Yay, you!

    And about the gynae thing: Go again next week, if not sooner (if your back can take it, and keep skipping the moves that most mess with your back if you need to) . . . if you keep going, your under-parts will rapidly toughen up. If you go rarely, it will hurt every stinkin' time.

    I love spin. It makes me feel so alive: Sweat, sore muscles, heart pounding, all that crazy stuff.

    Bet you're gonna like kettlebell!
  • Becca_250
    Becca_250 Posts: 188 Member
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    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!

    <3 Congratulations for going :smile:
  • MaggotPig
    MaggotPig Posts: 89 Member
    So, the morning after the night before.

    The salty snack definitely helped my cramp, will have to remember that for future reference.

    This morning I'm surprisingly ok! Legs are fine. Nether regions are much better than expected. Back is achy but nothing a few days of not lifting huge dogs at work won't fix.

    I think group classes are definitely the way forward for me - I got much more out of last night than I would going to the gym for an hour on my own.

    Next step: work to improve core stability and cardiovascular fitness
  • fjrandol
    fjrandol Posts: 437 Member
    I'm so glad to hear that you had a great experience! Core stability for me has been vastly improved thanks to Pilates; might be worth checking out. :smile: It really does make a difference being in a group setting like that!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited August 2015
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    I've had a wander and eaten some cheese and crackers - should top the sodium levels up, and I ate cereal and a banana when I got in so glucose and potassium should be good too.
    MaggotPig wrote: »
    Currently dying of leg cramp - any advice gratefully received!!

    You mean just muscle soreness? You're going to hate my suggestion, but walking really will help. I know it's the last thing you probably feel like doing (except maybe spinnning ;-) )

    Not soreness, cramp as in involuntary contraction of the muscle. It's currently 2:20am and since I had a salty snack, I've actually been ok :)

    yeah, something salty usually helps...but some cider vinegar cut with water also works here...one of the few legitimate "health" uses for cider vinegar. I get that cramping in my calves all of the time in the middle of the night and I go shoot some vinegar and water and all is well.

    any time you've done vigorous exercise, you should make sure you properly hydrate, to include replacing electrolytes. I will often bring coconut water along with me for a long ride...and I usually swig some pickle juice when I get home. when I participate in events, there's usually pickles and whatnot available at the SAG stations...I gobble 'em up.
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