Below
is a blog post I wrote for the Mashpee Fitness Center. To see the original, visit the Mashpee Fitness blog.
Arrive early.
Proper
bike set up is extremely important for safety and injury prevention. Class
begins on time so arrive 10-15 minutes early to ensure enough time for the
instructor to help get you oriented.
Drink lots of water.
It is
recommended by Spinning to drink 40 oz of water for a 40 minute spin
class. 8 oz of water about 30 minutes before class, 24 oz during
class, and 8 oz within 30 minutes after class. If you get to the
point where you feel thirsty, you are already enduring the early stages of
dehydration.
Bring a towel.
You
will sweat! Some fitness centers will supply towels to their
members. If you are unsure, it’s best to bring your own just to be
safe because I guarantee you will want one!
The bike seat isn’t that bad!
Don't
be intimidated by the small & narrow bike seat! It only takes a few classes
to get used to it. To improve your comfort, wear bike shorts or bring a padded
seat cover to class.
Wear a heart rate monitor.
A good
instructor will incorporate heart rate training into the ride. It
adds another element to your training and allows you to see your progress and
continual improvements to your fitness. Benefits include: improves
fitness levels, more efficient training, avoid over-training, less chance of
injury, increases metabolism & fat-burning efficiency, and most importantly
– you’re in control of your workout and intensity.
Go at your own pace.
The
best part about a spin class is that anyone and everyone can experience a great
workout from beginners to seasoned athletes. The instructor is there
to motivate and guide riders through a class but it’s ultimately up to you to
choose the intensity. Some riders never get out of the saddle – and
that’s ok! I always say – you can do what you want as long as you’re
pedaling!
Most importantly... Have fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment