On Bender’s recommendation, I checked out the classes available at our gym. I didn’t know that they had any spin classes, but as it turns out they’re on every day – in some cases there’s 3 classes to cater for everyone’s schedule! So saying you “can’t find the time to go” doesn’t really stack up.
And, much as I wanted to back out using my normal excuse – that I wouldn’t know anyone, hadn’t done it before, etc etc – I remembered my resolution to be bold, and bravely fronted up for the 7:30 PM session. I actually arrived 10 minutes early to catch the end of the previous class, so I’d have some idea what the whole thing was about.
Anyway – about 35 minutes and 700 calories after starting, I was very glad that I took the class. I was skeptical about how many calories you could burn on a bike, but my heart rate stayed constantly in the 150 – 180bpm range. That’s workin’! Also, there wasn’t many people there at all, maybe 8 (the class before ours had only 3 people in it!) – so the instructor gave me plenty of pointers on improving my form. It was just fantastic. I’ll definitely be going back for more.
Good call, B!
4 comments
I have considered doing spin a few times, but figure with the perfect weather we are having at the moment there is nothing better than getting on a real bike and belting out a few k’s. And those that say spin is a better work out – I have been monitoring my rides and can maintain an average heart rate of around the 150bpm.
I just got my wide behind back into the gym (actually the just opened a gym here, a Gold’s) and started on the Bikes. We have a movie room, so while I am losing and building back endurance, I go in there and watch a movie and ride… we have great bikes, so you can set the program to hilly or what have you. I forgot how much I enjoy riding and this shall get me back on track to health!
Dude. I’m glad you enjoyed it.<br><br>I also find to with our classes we have a different instructor and they all have their own style. With some we do a lot of sprint interval training and others we do some massive hills. This kind of variety keeps me body guessing what’s next.<br><br>Back home when I used to ride my bike I wasn’t exactly adventurous. I used to ride the same circuit all the time. Sure it knocked the guts out of me but I’m sure it could have done with a little variety.<br><br>Anywho, classes are good fun. Go do one if you can.
Jason – I used to think that way too, but trust me a spin class is much harder than any ride that I’ve done myself. The bikes are better suited to a hard work-out because you literally <i>cannot</i> stop pedalling. Plus you have the guy up the front motivating you to push yourself harder. My average heart rate was 167bpm (according to the watch).<br><br>Melissa – Movie room! I like it! Hopefully they’re not showing something like Lord of the Rings though, you’d pass out before they even left The Shire!<br><br>Bender – I completely agree, there’s at least 3 different instructors that take the Spin class, and each class is called something different (Spin / Spinning / Spintervals / etc). Can’t beat a bit of variety!