First Spin class in many years

[T_Boss]

Looking for some advice on attending my first spin class in years tomorrow.

 

I haven't really been on the bike or doing any serious training for the past 4 years, and I am literally in the worst physical shape I have ever been.....

 

Before this 4 year hiatus, I had never stopped training since high school. Basically from the age of 14 to 25, I did an average of 4 hours exercise a day, every day, whether athletics, swimming, hockey etc, and then from about 17 to 25, I took MTB pretty seriously, and rode about 650km a month on average during that time, over and above gym and some other cross-training, so I never really knew what it was like to not be fit. Then for reasons unknown, I stopped almost overnight, without changing my eating habits or anything else.

 

As a result, I have become massively unfit, and bloated from a lean 98kg to a fat 112 (I'm 1.8m tall, but heavy set) 

 

now I have decided to turn this situation around, and as part of that program, I will be in my first spin class in years tomorrow morning at 8 am. How do you go about pacing yourself through that? If I follow the pace of the class, I will probably die before the 45 minutes are up...

 

any tricks from the wise to help me through it?

 

 

[flymango]

Just do it! Spinning is a great alternative to real saddle time.

 

Muscle memory will get you back into shape quicker than you think - it's your mind that matters most.

[T_Boss]

Just do it! Spinning is a great alternative to real saddle time.

 

Muscle memory will get you back into shape quicker than you think - it's your mind that matters most.

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

 

Yep, hoping muscle memory kicks in. have done a few 20 odd km rides since Christmas, and felt okay, but find the roads a far more intimidating place than i used to 5 years back, So I will need to rely on the spin class to build up the saddle time between proper rides on the the weekend...

[BlinkFan]

Try a couple of different instructors to see which fits your style. Some instructors offer classes that really mimic real-life riding, while others cater for gym-tannies (little to no resistance, unrealistic cadence).

[HOEKVLAG]

So, how did it go?

[Fruity]

As flymango said, muscle memory plays a big part, as does your mind.

 

I did my first spin class last year when I joined Virgin Active. I didn't know anything about pacing myself in the class. I had an 'all or nothing' attitude, and my right quad muscle and left calf muscle was threatening to cramp from time to time, so I started taking Magnesium tablets, and I'm a smoker.

 

I would say take it in your stride to start with, until you're comfortable pushing yourself on the Wattbike. Just maybe let your ride instructor know that you haven't been in a spinning class in a while.

[T_Boss]

It went really well actually. got into the swing of things about 10 minutes in, and it felt pretty natural. 

 

I did take it relatively easy on the resistance but stayed pretty close to what the instructor was pushing. 

 

Will try to go in a little earlier next time just to get my position on the bike better.

 

I am going to be stiff tomorrow that is for sure. but I will do a light spin on one of the stationary bikes before my swim session tomorrow, just to loosen the legs...

 

Im pleasantly surprised by my heart rate management and recovery, given how massively unfit I am at the moment

[s14phoenix]

You are going to need to do something for core work also...

 

Toning, trimming and strengthening your core is the hardest to do  - I myself battle with this also and it is where most of our excess generally sits.

[Mr. G]

Try a couple of different instructors to see which fits your style. Some instructors offer classes that really mimic real-life riding, while others cater for gym-tannies (little to no resistance, unrealistic cadence).

 

I agree 100%, that crazy rpm nonsense is for clowns...