Spin Classes ....The Devils exercise?????

[howieduck]

I love spinning but could never get a space in a class! At my peak though I did about 15 hours a week. I have been ill for a while with a liver problem but Now I have bought a spin bike and am starting to so an hour before work each day to gently break myself back in. Love it!

 

[Saluki]

Same here in God's Own County. For £25 a month I can go to any one of a dozen gyms in Leeds, any one of a dozen pools (including the international pool) and all the yoga/pilates etc classes, without any further charge. As Saluki says, better equipped than the private gyms. It's a bit more if you want to go on weekday evenings, but still a huge bargain.

We have a scheme called 'Passport to Leisure' which gives discounts. Its available for £5 a year fee for anyone who is unemployed, long term sick, retired or a student. There are other qualifying things too but I forget what they are. The excellent thing is that the Passport holder's spouse/partner can have one too, even if they are working. Apparently a lot of Local Authorities run this scheme. Even if you are not a member of the local leisure centre it gives around 1/3 off the price of using the gym or the pool or other facilities. I think that its an excellent idea. I had a passport to leisure when I was in London to use the Ealing or Brentford pool and gym facilities as I was still technically a student.

 

[ASC1951]

We have a scheme called 'Passport to Leisure' which gives discounts. Its available for £5 a year fee for anyone who is unemployed, long term sick, retired or a student. ..

My Leeds Card does something similar, including 20% off this wonderful establishment http://www.hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk/

The only downside is the embedded photo, which seems to have substituted the head of a grumpy turtle.

 

[Saluki]

My Leeds Card does something similar, including 20% off this wonderful establishment http://www.hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk/

The only downside is the embedded photo, which seems to have substituted the head of a grumpy turtle.

In my picture I look like Myra Hindley

 

[ASC1951]

I did consider, in a mid-life crisis moment, getting a professional photograph to use on all these ID cards ... then I realised that at the other end of the arm everyone would still see the grumpy turtle.

 

[marzjennings]

Mrs Gti once persuaded me to go along to her spin class so I took my heart-rate monitor and decided to try to make the best of it as a training session. My worst fears were confirmed when the instructor turned out to be a shouty woman who put on some loud music and berated us through a microphone attached to her head; very distracting when I was trying to follow my usual routine of warming up then putting in some sprints to max HR. Eventually she started coming round the semicircle of riders, staring them closely in the eyes and shouting right in their faces... when she got to me and saw my expression she did a sort of "Hmmmm... best not...." and carried straight on to the next person. Horrible it was, absolutely horrible. I'd rather be slogging up a 20% slope in the Bowland fells with sleet blowing down my neck and another 25 miles to go before a hot bath than do that again.

Why go to a spin class and do your own thing? I'd have thought this distracting to other attendees and disrespectful to the instructor. If you have your own routine then do it in your own time.
I think you're missing the point of a spin class.

 

[Globalti]

Why go to a spin class and do your own thing? I'd have thought this distracting to other attendees and disrespectful to the instructor. If you have your own routine then do it in your own time.
I think you're missing the point of a spin class.

Damn right I was! I was determined to hate it and I think I did a pretty good job of showing my disdain. Mrs Gti never quite forgave me for that stunt.

 

[marzjennings]

Damn right I was! I was determined to hate it and I think I did a pretty good job of showing my disdain. Mrs Gti never quite forgave me for that stunt.

Ahh, now I get where you're coming from.

To be honest I only used to go to spin classes for the view.

 

[Globalti]

I see where YOU'RE coming from!

 

[ThinAir]

Spinning is awesome - fact!

This.

 

[edindave]

I enjoy spin classes and this winter I'll probably do like last year and take out a 3 month David Lloyd membership, from Dec to Feb, then pack it in.

Last winter I did 3-4 spin classes a week, and threw in some stationary bike and treadmill when I couldn't make the class times. Sufferfest videos were good for that! I do like going for a sauna after a session too.

It's expensive, but it's only for three months, and in my view it more than compensates for the lack of daylight and decent outdoor miles.

Rest of the year though? Rather be outside!

 

[srw]

Spinning is hideous - it takes all the joy of cycling (scenery, fresh air, quiet, freedom to go at your own pace) and squeezes it away. My PT used to make me do one-on-one spinning every so often, until one time I lost my cleats on a standing sprint and a second time I started sulking from sheer boredom. I never understood why I should pay him £40 to do something he loved and I hated.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Sorry it's the great outdoors for me or if not, this winter will see me on a turbo trainer at home with some band/music screaming at me through my headphones.
The thought of paying to sit in a class of sweaty people does nothing for me. I can get that on the underground.

 

[Mattonsea]

When I'm at the local leisure centre and I see the spin class come in with the clean cleats and the music pumping I get a
funny feeling of sorrow for them, just buy a bike and you get the exercise and the romance of the open road. I am a bit of a
masochist and it has taken snow to get me on the turbo.

 

[Sittingduck]

It's not a replacement for riding outside. It's a supplement for badasses!