If you’re anxious about your first spin class, I put together the top 13 (who needs round numbers?!) things you need to know before you go!
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1. Show up EARLY
If this is your very first Spin class, DO NOT show up 3 minutes before a class starts and expect to be able to figure it out. You need to show up at least 15 minutes early so your can get acquainted with the class, talk to the teacher, and set you bike up. Setting the bike up the first time can be a bit of a puzzle. Let the front desk person or instructor know, so they can show you how to properly set the bike up so you don’t get injured. Once that’s complete, pull out your phone and take a picture of the settings. Trust me you will forget by the time you come back for your next class.
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2. Clips or Cages?
Chances are, if it’s your first spin class you probably don’t already own spin shoes. Call up the studio and ask them if they have bikes for beginners with cages so you can wear your own sneakers or if they rent spin shoes so you can try them out. If you DO have spin shoes for some reason, you’ll want to check whether your shoes are compatible with the clips, otherwise, you won’t be riding anywhere, and if you’re renting, again make sure you show up early so an instructor can show you how to clip in and out.
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3. Stretch!
I ALWAYS need to be stretching whether it’s in the morning or after a long walk, I am prone to injury and have issues like plantar fasciitis. While most classes I’ve been to DO offer a warm-up and cool down, I know my body needs MORE. So even though I’m not the newb in class anymore, I still show up 15 minutes early so I can stretch, and jump on the bike for a little extra warm up time. Also, if your tailbone or sitz get sore after class, make sure you’re doing enough to exercise this hard to stretch area.
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4. Towels
You’re gonna be sweating like Sean Hannity after he was revealed as the mystery third client. Only this probably won’t get your tangled up in any sort of treasonous activity with foreign governments. But I digress! Where was I? Oh yes, sweating! Before you show up make sure your class offers free towels. If not, you gotta bring one cause, ew.
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5. Resistance
You don’t need to be Wonder Woman on your first ride… or your tenth, you just gotta give some effort. The great thing about Spin class is that YOU control the resistance (the little knob on the bike). Are your quads screaming at you and you need a lighter ride? Cool, don’t crank it up. Or maybe life is crazy and you need to work it out by turning up the resistance as if slogging through wet sand. Cool, dude. You do you! Whatever you need to do, to it. But remember you should ALWAYS have some resistance on so you don’t hurt yourself… especially when you come up out of the saddle. Be safe!
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6. Lighten up!
Ease up sister, there’s no need to clutch the handles like it’s Black Friday and you got the last deal on a tv. Lighten up! Hold on enough so that you steady yourself, but don’t white knuckle it, your arms and shoulders will thank you!
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8. Gel Cushion
Unless your ass is made of steel, your butt (and vagina, let’s be honest) is probably gonna be begging for mercy half way through your first class. Why? Cause those bike saddles are NOT comfortable. I get that you don’t want to put too much cushion on a seat that will be used (and sweated on) by thousands of people in it’s lifetime. BUT COME ON. Since, sadly, spin bike saddles are not made of clouds or even like cushy a beach cruiser, you gotta improvise. Let me introduce you to my best Spin friend: the gel cushion. This little baby has gotten me through many a’ mile and I would kiss it if I hadn’t sweat a few buckets of liquid from my booty directly onto it. You’re welcome for that visual. Depending on the bikes your spin facility uses, this is a one-size-fits-all sort of situation. Place the gel cushion over the saddle, tighten the drawstring and the ties and you’re ready to roll! I can’t recommend this cushion enough… and it’s cheap!
Buy it on Amazon here.
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9. Padded Shorts
It’s fashion, Brenda!
Yes, I did just recommend a gel cushion and now I’m recommending padded shorts. And yes, that pic makes it look like a baboon butt (they’re inside out). I don’t know about you but my sitz bones (and tailbone as I’ve found out) are very sensitive and not very cushy. I’ve seen some women ride the saddle like they were born there and have no feelings in their private areas. I am NOT one of those women. I have the gel cushion AND padded shorts for a reason. Yes, you might feel like you’re wearing a diaper or a mega huge overnight pad, but yo’ azzzzz will thank you.
10. What to Wear
Athletic gear, obvs. Because of the motion of spin classes, you’ll want to strap on a really great sports bra, one that minimizes bounce and keeps you cool. Same with your shirt and tights / shorts. They invented moisture-wicking fabric for a reason. And that reason was Nikki in a Spin class.
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11. WATER!
I bought a bigger knockoff S’well bottle just because of spin, my small 17oz S’well was NOT enough. You gotta stay hydrated and cool and water is your best friend. Check out this 25oz stainless steel water bottle plus this pop top, so you don’t lose the lid mid-ride. I have both brands and they’re exactly the same, only one is about 30 bucks cheaper!
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12. Just Give In!
Ok, you’re there. You did the hardest part, which is showing up. Now all you have to do is make it through the next hour. How do you do that? Repeat after me: JUST GIVE IN. It will not help you to be looking at the clock every two seconds, it will not help you to count how many songs you’ve riden to and then do the math on how many songs you think you have left (ME!), it will not help you to think about all the work/life/home crap you need to do. You’re there, you’re wearing your padded diaper, you got the water, now stop resisting and just RIDE.
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13. Don’t Leave Early!
Please don’t be that person who jumps off their bike as the cool down is beginning and heads out. You’re distracting and kind of a disrespectful to the whole class and teacher. You can spend an extra two minutes listening to P!nk and doing stretches with the rest of us, PAM! Oh when you do leave make sure you wipe down your seat either with your towel or the provides anti-bacterial wipes, cause we all see who doesn’t and WE KNOW, PAM!
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Ultimately, this is YOUR ride. I know it took me at least a month to build up the courage to step into my first spin class, and even after I was up on the bike I was worried I couldn’t hack it. But that’s the best part of spin, I learned each class is what YOU make it. You get exactly what you put into it. Spin is a personal exercise regime within the context of a group class. Everyone is there to ride on their own terms and you’ve got this!
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Do you spin? What are your tips to newbies? Share your fave gear too!
All GIFs via Giphy
