Spinning Class in the A.M. - Advice??

[carres1973]

I am going to try my first spinning class in the morning. It is too late for padded bike shorts or padded seat so I know my "sit bones" are going to be sore.

However, what kind of shoes should I wear? I was thinking of wearing a thinner soled "dance" type sneaker as opposed to the aerobic or running ones. What do you all think?

I will definitely be taking my HRM to ensure I don't push so hard I keel over!

Carrie

 

[carres1973]

I guess I will never be one of the cool kids! I did my spinning class this morning. I didn't like it. I burned about the same number of calories in the 45 minute class as when I am doing a Cardio Coach. Problem is, I like doing the Cardio Coach a lot better. AND doing Cardio Coach doesn't cause my "sit bones" to hurt so much! Is there something I am missing? Maybe it is just a case of not everything is for everybody.

Carrie

 

[L Sass]

Hi Carrie. I am a spinning novice - having started only about a month ago. I will tell you that I did it as part of a "kicked-up-get-ready-for-STS" program, which includes a PT whom I adore. SHE told me not to be discouraged if I didn't love spinning right away -- said it took her about 4-6 weeks to really like it.

And I can tell you that I really appreciated that advice because I was NOT totally enamoured my first time thru, but I gave the goood ole' college try and surprisingly I am hooked. I got a padded saddle cover which helped a lot, and I also tried a bunch of the different instructors to find one whose cueing and workout I liked. And music is HUGE. I tried one instructor who gave me a kick butt workout, but chose punked out music and played it (IMO) WAYYYYYYYY too loud. So even though I liked her workout, these 2 factors have deterred me.

I guess my advice would be to keep at it for a set period of time, say 2x a week for about 3 weeks and then see if you feel differently. If not, who cares, you gave it a shot and it wasn't for you. At least you tried something new.

 

[Stebby]

Don't wear soft soled shoes! You need a good stiff sole for spinning. I'm probably way too late with this ... how did it go anyway?

 

[carres1973]

I definitely realized the first time I stood up I wore the wrong type of shoes! Overall, the class was ok. I got a good workout but I seemed to work a lot harder for the same amount of calories I burn doing other cardio (Cardio Coach, IMax, etc.). I FELT like I worked a lot harder than my HRM said I did.

ETA: And my "sit bones" are REALLY hurting!

Carrie

 

[tneah]

That pain actually goes away..I think you just get numb or something. I use a gel cushion that I used to bring to class, now I have my own spin bike at home and do the Spinervals workouts. I love to spin, there is a slight dread factor though..

 

[Beavs]

Don't feel bad if spinning is not your thing. I tried it and hate it to. I'm also not terribly encouraged by some masochist telling me it took them "four to six weeks" to remotely enjoy something. Life is short and there are lots of other fun workouts out there so if you don't get on the spinning kick fear not....you will find someway to sweat and curse and actually grin about it afterward without feeling like your bum is going to fall off

 

[Fit_mommy]

I took a spin class once a week for a while. I liked it but I felt like I was working harder with no better a result then when I run and I LOVE to run! I also have a hard time committing to a class time so it's just easier for me to hop on a TM or hit the road whenever I can/want to. The spin classes are always there if I want to take one....no need to force it though.

 

[andtckrtoo]

Basing a love or hate of spinning on one spin class is like picking a kick box video at random and deciding you hate kick boxing based on that one video. Every instructor is different - some very much so - and I've taken classes where I'm staring at the clock swearing much more than 1 minute has HAD to have passed. And I've had other classes where it was over before I felt I had time to warm up. My favorite was with an older instructor (she was in her late 40's but looked as if she were 30 max - gorgeous lady and TOUGH!). She had just gotten the sound track to 300 and wow!! We rode to the soundtrack the entire class and I felt I had just gone out and conquered Everest when I was done - and I was sooo ready to do more. So, try at aleast one other class - with a different instructor. You may find after another class you still hate it, but at least you tried.

 

[carres1973]

I may try one more class and see if I like it. I will definitely get biking shorts or a gel seat and proper shoes. It was a weird class. She turned the lights off halfway through for somre reason for one segment. She then tried to turn them back on but they are kind of like the stadium lights that take a while to warm up so most of the class was spent in the dark. At least no one could see the sweat dripping off my nose!

I will try a different instructor and then if that doesn't work, I will try other cardio that I actually like.

Carrie

 

[ivorygorgon]

Another vote for giving it another try. I am relatively new to spinning, but I am finding it to be a new passion. The instructor makes a huge difference! I usually go on Saturdays and I just love the instructor, the segments and the music. I went last night and it was just a so-so class, but a lot of folks were just loving it. I was kinda clock watching. She warmed the class up for 15 minutes before we even really got to some good hard spinning. I also didn't care for most of her music.

With that said, I think it is perfectly ok to not like a particular kind of work out, but I completely agree with the above poster who stated that deciding you don't like spinning after one class is like deciding you don't like kickboxing after trying one video.

Give it another shot!!

(I hated Cathe after my first work out, but I am a complete convert now, see what I would have missed if I quit after trying one video?)

 

[berry99]

I'm not going to add anything new to the thread, but just wanted to add my $0.02 also . Spinning really is instructor specific. I love the instructor at my old gym and she had great music. That really makes the time go by quickly. However, the gym that I belong to now has really bad spinning instructors so I just do CC or icycle workouts on the spinning bikes at off times. The instructors at my current gym have horrible music and they like to sing into the microphone to boot. WTH? Anyway, maybe give it another shot or two. If you don't like it, no big deal.

Also, about your sore bottom. Mine was sore for days after my first class, but it does get better.

Let us know how it goes.