As an avid cyclist, it feels odd never having been to a spin class; it’s like being at a family reunion and not knowing the cousin that everyone is talking about. So when I met our incredible Coach Amy, I knew this was my chance to try this indoor offshoot of the sport that I love.
The class was set to start at 6:00am, early but not impossible. My alarm went off and I sprang up to start the day:
Getting ready proved to be more challenging than I had thought. Never having been to a class, I was completely in the dark as to what to expect when I got there. I went with cycling gear rather than regular gym attire; I figured that the gear that can get me through a century should also be able to get me through a 1-hour spin class.
As I was heading out the door, with car keys in one hand and coffee in the other,
I caught a glimpse of my beautiful new bike, George, sitting all alone in the corner.
I thought of how cold it has been, how icy the roads and bitter the winds, and how sad it made me that on the first day of dry roads I was getting in my car to drive to the gym, to go inside and get on a stationary bike. That is when…decisions were made.
20 degrees has never felt warmer. As I rode off, I sent my best thoughts to those who were stuck in traffic, on the way to the gym to ride their bikes inside. Some day, I promise that I will take a spin class, but today was not that day.
Tailwinds!
Whitney McKiddy
You did not miss anything!! I took up biking last summer and decided to try a series of 5 spin classes this winter to stay in shape and keep up my conditioning. What a disappointment! Being on a stationary bike in a room with loud music and my stats up on a board competing with other spinners was not my thing. So, out of the package of 5 classes I did 3 and concluded this is not for me. Hoping to bike outside today in NJ where weather is 46 degrees at 2pm with 13 mph winds. Beats spinning any day.
I would rather ride outside ANYTIME! But, living in the Midwest, it can get pretty brutal outside at times. Try to find a “Pedaling With A Purpose” class somewhere. It is NOT a spin class, but tailored more to cyclists with the focus on base miles, endurance, sprints, drills, and lots of interval training! You will improve over the winter, and be ready for the spring outside riding when it gets here. You don’t have to be a racer to take the class either – just a cyclist who loves to ride!!!