T. Kenji Sugahara

Gack.

Instructors should know a roadie or biker when they see one- unless
they see you doing something completely atrocious like facing the
wrong way on the bike, they shouldn't be telling you where to put
your hands.

Being an instructor I'll tell you doing only spin during the winter
is only good for short interval racing. Even in an hour class you're
likely only getting 20-30 minutes of real cardio. If you aren't
careful you have to be aware that it could mess with your pedal
stroke- especially if you tend to favor one side. That said, I think
the benefits of spin class are great. While you can put in base
miles while riding outside, spin classes are a great way to stress
your anaerobic/high aerobic system. I know there's studies that
actually say some stress is suggested during the winter.

Spin class is also a great place to get converts to cycling.
hehehe. I've convinced more than a few people to pick up bikes. A
couple of them have even dropped running to cycle- and even race!

Kenji

On Feb 1, 2007, at 8:47 AM, Malcolm, Gary wrote:

>
> Thomas,
>
> This year, for the first time, I purchased a 4 month membership at
> a gym in
> Eugene just for the spin classes. I promised the wife that I would
> not train
> at night and to tell you the truth, it's been flipping cold lately.
> So most
> weekdays I haul my butt out of bed at 4:15 and spin for 30 or 40
> minutes by
> myself and then take a 60 minute spin class. (I just walk by the
> muscle
> fatties as they are grunting - or lounging - away... pointless)
>
> I don't know about your classes but the gals at Gold's Gym are
> ruthless
> monsters. Outside of a race, I have never consistently worked as
> hard as I
> have when an otherwise pleasant aerobics instructor is screaming in
> my ear
> that I need to 'dig deeper', or 'I thought you were a bike racer?',
> or 'Is
> that all you've got?' Admittedly I turn up the tension more than
> the typical
> spin junkie... Or perhaps I'm just lucky.
>
> And then I end the workout with a 10 minute sauna. Pleasant.
>
> You may judge for yourself the results of a mud and ice free
> training regime
> on the 18th.
>
> Gary "$pinMonkeeG" Malcolm
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas Hoffman [mailto:t.hoffman10@verizon.net]
> Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:15 AM
> To: 'Evan MacKenzie'; 'Heather VanValkenburg'; obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] OT- Social Hour at the Squat Rack
>
>>>> He said he has a bike that he occasionally rides to the gym, but
> apparently the thought of doing something other than driving to the
> gym to
> work out was completely foreign to him. What kind of society do we
> live in
> that people think like this?<<<
>
> I went to a spin class at Bally's and the instructor chewed me out
> after
> because I didn't follow his specific instructions as to where to
> put my
> hands. I was using the bars to stretch my back during a cool down
> section
> of the work out.
>
> It was funny because a few months earlier I had sold the guy some
> shoes. He
> had just earned his "SPIN CLASS" teaching certificate. We asked
> him how
> much he rides his bike, I don't think he had one. Or had any
> interest in
> cycling.
>
> It is to bad that so many folks have this attitude about spin class vs
> riding outside. If they can do Spin class three days a week, they
> will
> certainly have no problem riding outside. I bet a few of them will
> be able
> put some serious hurt on the rest of us at PIR.
> Maybe we should go an a recruiting spree. Help these folks being
> oppressed
> by Corporate Gymnasium free themselves from the persecution of
> monthly dues,
> sweat covered weight benches and mildewed locker rooms.
>
> YES! FREEDOM! THY NAME IS OBRA!!
>
>
> .oops...gotta go... the squat rack just opened up..
>
>
> Thomas Hoffman
> RE/MAX equity group
> 503-495-5607 Direct
> 503-475-3417 Cell
> www.tomshometeam.com
>
> Check out this great Listing!
>
>
> Click here to view your eCard
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-
> bounces@list.obra.org] On
> Behalf Of Evan MacKenzie
> Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 7:57 AM
> To: Heather VanValkenburg; obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] OT- Social Hour at the Squat Rack
>
> Losers.
>
> I've always wanted to do this, but never have.
> You walk up to someone in the gym and ask them "Hey, what what they
> are
> training for?" I'd bet you 9 out of ten would look at you dumbfounded
> because they don't want to admit that it's just vanity (That, and
> they don't
> know what dumbfounded or vanity mean). Then you say, "No, I mean,
> what sport
> do you do that you are lifting weights for? Are you a cyclist, do
> you play
> football or soccer, you know?"
>
> "Uh, I'm just here to lift weights."
>
> "So you don't actually do anything then?"
>
> "Uh, I guess not."
>
>
> My wife and I started going to spin class last fall when the days got
> shorter (boring!). The instructor was complaining because when the
> Hillsboro
> Aquatic Center (which has a pool, weight room and other fitness
> stuff) was
> closed DURING THE SUMMER, he didn't have anywhere to work out. He
> said he
> has a bike that he occasionally rides to the gym, but apparently
> the thought
> of doing something other than driving to the gym to work out was
> completely
> foreign to him. What kind of society do we live in that people
> think like
> this? That is SO WRONG!
>
> OK, that's the end of my Thursday morning rant.
>
> -Evan
>
>
> ------------- __o
> ---------- _ '\<,_
> ----------(_)/ (_)______Get on your bikes and ride!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-
> bounces@list.obra.org] On
> Behalf Of Heather VanValkenburg
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 8:53 PM
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] OT- Social Hour at the Squat Rack
>
> Enough about number sizes and onto a very serious issue...
>
> WHAT'S WITH ALL THE GUYS (I don't see women doing this) AT THE GYM
> THAT COME
>
> TO JUST HANG OUT? Seriously, they come in, they hang out and talk
> to their
> buddies, (usually in the way), they LOOK like they might be there to
> workout, since they are wearing the approprite workout attire, but
> they
> don't lift a single weight. I mean, you don't just accidentally
> drop by the
> gym to hang out, right? What's up with that?
>
> Does this happen where you work out?
>
> Are you one of THEM?
>
> What should we call THEM?
>
>
>
> -Heather VanValkenburg
>
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