I decided to change things up a little this week.
Instead of going to my usual 6pm Spin class on Wednesday evening – I went tonight instead, and will be attending a yoga class on Wednesday (instead of my usual Monday yoga class).
Tonight’s spin sesh was at a different branch of the YMCA – one closer to home, but further from work…which means driving like a bat out of hell to get there by 6 when class starts.
The driving force for this change-up? The YMCA by my house just got new bikes in January.
Did you hear that? BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW SPIN BIKES!
The whole class gets to ride these gems:
Let me just tell you, these things are SMOOTH! It seriously feels like being on a actual bike.
Well, except for the whole “I’m pedaling but not really going anywhere” thing…details…
Anyhow, I don’t quite know how to put it into words…the fly wheel and crank respond more like a real crank & wheel out on the road. If you pedal too fast for your your current resistance setting you’ll “get ahead” of your bike & need to either add resistance, or slow your cadence. Just like the real thing! A much more realistic “ride experience” if you will.
In contrast, the YMCA branch I usually go to has bike like this:
Yeah, they’re that bad…noisy, old, and not so pretty. But they’re BIKES, and all the parts work…so it’s OK, right?
Another difference between the two branches?
My regular class is held in a separate room with a fabulous instructor lots of black lights and a thumping stereo system. It’s basically like we’re at a rave.
Not my actual class, but you get the idea.
Whereas the gym I was at tonight has a “studio” set up in the corner of the fitness center…with regular lighting…new-to-me instructors…and a so-so stereo system. (To be fair, I’m sure the stereo system is just fine – but since it’s in the middle of the fitness center, the music can’t be blasted.)
No blasting music + bikes in a crowded fitness center = One Distracted Eggplant.
But those BIKES – they make up for the downfalls, right??
Even thought I had some trouble focusing due to people walking in & out/chatting/dropping weights/etc., I still had a great workout! The instructor was a bit different than I’m used to, but still motivating with a variety of music and a great set planned. The hill climbs were great, the sprints were great, I was sweating like a beast, and that BIKE was just so…NICE…and SMOOTH!
So now I’m a bit torn: Do I stick with the tried-and-true Wednesday night class with rickety bikes and a rockin’ spin atmosphere? Or spice things up and start spinning on Tuesdays with the fancy schmancy bikes and an old boom box in the corner of the room?
Seriously. I can’t decide. I’ve been agonizing over this since I got home. (I tend to over analyze things…clearly…)
Maybe I’ll just give it the old Three Sips test: No decision until I give the close-to-home class three tries.
…Speaking of Three Sips…I think I still owe y’all another Zumba class, don’t I? Look like I totally bombed that one…Oopsie!
WHAT ABOUT YOU: Have you ever tried to decide between an “old flame” and a “new love”? What factors helped you pick between the two? And I’m being metaphorical here…unless you have a juicy story to tell…
Oh those yellow bikes – they suck. When I lived in SRQ I would ride those too. But I did love the rave effect.
The evelyn sadlier branch y which was closer to me when I moved to Siesta Key was nice – the newer bikes but less rave scene and more old people.
give and take.
The Y here in Tampa has the newer bikes, dark room, loud music, but no rave.
We might need to start our own spinning gym to get exactly what we want, eh?
I’ve heard Evelyn Sadlier has the best bikes in the SRQ y’s…it’s just way too far from home & work for me.
And yes, I would TOTALLY open a spinning studio…but I’ve got to win the lottery first.
I find that my mood before class tells me which one I prefer. If I am dreading going to class or just not feeling it, I start to realize that might not be the one for me. The best exercise is the one you stick with, I say!
That’s a really good point Morgan! I bet after a few rounds of the new class I’d be able to tell whether I “craved” it the same way I do my regular Wednesday class.
As your “regular” spin instructor, my opinion is that you should do both Tuesday & Wednesday spin classes!
As a personal trainer, I can tell you that spinning back-to-back does not have the same negative effects that running back-to-back can have.
So jealous of the pretty, shiny, new spin bikes!
I had a feeling you were going to tell me to take both classes Kristen!
I have the same predicament with the pools that I have access too.
1. one is pretty, clean, warmer, they provide towels and hair dryer
2. the other one is rusty, not so clean, cold most of the time and I have to bring towels and hair dryer
I still end up at the second option most of the time, because it’s just more conveniently located to work and I have more swim buddies there… Every now and then, I do option one, especially if I am not feeling swimming to start with, I need a little something to get myself in the pool at all!
About your road cycling question. The backcountry roads that I normally frequent are really in the backcountry and only very lightly traveled. We also have a big cycling community and people are getting more and more used to the cyclists on the road. That doesn’t mean, there are no incidents (accidents, but also the usual yelling and honking etc), but for the most part, it’s alright. I normally try to remember pepper spray when I am on my own, but on the ride when I came across that pack of dogs, I didn’t have anything on me. I guess, I got lucky that time.
I would love to go to a gym that gives out towels! It’s just so convenient…and that’s usually one of the things I tend to forget…
Sounds like you live in a pretty cycle-friendly area. My city is BAD when it comes to that stuff. Drivers just don’t care – or pay attention – I even know people that have had bottles of soda thrown at them while they were in a bike lane!
I have gotten soda thrown at me, saw a fire cracker being thrown into a group of cyclist regrouping at a stop sign, yelled at, honked at, know several people that have gotten mooned, played chicken with… So, I had my share of scary cycling adventures. But when I look at how much mileage, I put in on the bike, it’s not that bad, all things considered. Besides, I am getting better and better in finding little traveled roads and I think, people in the area are getting more conscious about cyclists on the road, because there are so many. Oh and sometimes, I have my camcorder mounted on the bike, mostly not even switched on… but it helps, when people think they get caught on camera!
We get a lot of the super loud blasting air horns that scare the hell out of you & make me jump/swerve. That and lots of careless drivers that just don’t give a damn. Glad you’re in a fairly bike-friendly area!
Hi! I just stumbled on your blog today!
I LOVE SPINNING! It has become my new addiction since I joined my gym. My gym has the brand new pretty bikes in your first picture. I must say I never tried any other type of spin bike but I am pretty addicted to spinning since I started.
I am really keen on always giving everything another try. I tried zumba also and absolutely hated it but I promised myself I’d try it at least one other time just to make sure it wasn’t an off day or a particularly bad experience. I think you owe it to yourself to try it one more time in your close to home class before you decide for sure which one you want to do. Or is it possible to just rotate between the two classes every other week to add some spice to your life?
Thanks for stopping by Caity!
After thinking about it more, I think I’ve realized that for me a good instructor is more important than fancy bikes – but I may end up rotating a bit going to my “regular” class most of the time and throwing in the close-to-home gym when the urge hits me. Although I’m definitely a little jealous that you have the fancy bikes in your gym…a good bike + a good instructor would be AMAZING!