I'd like to dedicate this workout to Wildbull, since I've been reading about his spinning workouts forever...but it wasn't that super of a workout, so don't be TOO flattered, Bull. But also don't take it personally, because a little bit of flattery is intended.
So I tried "spinning" today at the gym. It's a bike class. Good cardio, right? The instructors tell you when to crank up the resistance on your bike, and they urge you pretend to go up hills, and sprint, and do little modifications with where you put your arms, alternate which leg you push harder with, stand up and pedal, encourage you to yell and make other guttural noises and "give it all you've got" etc. while loud music that you don't like POUNDS in your delicate, classically trained ear.
I was feeling shy, so I walked in and told the instructor that I was new (i.e. I didn't even know how to adjust the bike). I didn't want to be too conspicuous, so I told the perky guy I didn't want to be in the front row. He smiled and took me over to a bike on the far side of the room. Almost everybody was on the other side, directly facing me, so instead of having one person behind me to witness my ignorance, the entire class stared at me for the whole workout. Backfire!
Oh well, I tried to look like I knew what I was doing, but the fact was that I spent most of my mental energy during the class trying to manage the annoyed pain signals that were coming from my posterior region--regarding a certain hard bike seat drilling into my skeletal system. This feeling began after about ONE minute of riding, and increased steadily throughout the 60 min. class. Quiet desperation was the name of the game. When will it ever END?!? I talked with the instructors about it after. The bubbly guy, Bob, recommended I use a gel seat cover next time. The tough Ellenesque chica believed that I just should let it hurt for 3 or 4 more classes, and that apparently through some kind of nerve damage or bum callus, the bones in my hiney wouldn't be able to detect the pain any longer. Hiney calluses. Necessary for good health? Not so sure.
It was nice that they had 2 instructors, though, so that one could yell at you while the other one would play the air guitar to the blasting music. Yes, this is MY kind of workout. This is me. Humk-ough! Excuse me, I just puked in my throat.
So in conclusion, I hate spinning, and the only way I would EVER do it again is if there were some kind of caged lion...er...trying to get to me, and...um...the only way to try to (but not really) get away from him...was on a stationary bike*. Then I would do it. But don't hold your breath.
*This is a reference to the fact that before I started running, I used to tell James the only reason I would run distances like he did was if I lion were chasing me and I had no other choice. | 