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HIBERNIA SPRING BASH
APRIL 8, 2001

IS SPINNING FOR YOU THIS WINTER?
By Jesse Piersol - mountainbikeRACER.com - Jesse has agreed to be our staff reporter for the Mid-Atlantic Super Series and we welcome her as our first team member.

A ribbon of white disco lights snakes across the floor, and in the semi-darkness my legs whirl around and my butt bobs up and down along with the legs and butts of those around me. In a room so heated by exertion that the mirrored walls are fogging over, my heart rate is pegged at a level at which the disco light seems to become part of the same sensation that throbs with Ricki Martin and the exquisite burn in my thighs. Just when I'm thinking that I can't take it anymore, that I have to stop, the instructor, Barb, barks out "Ok, up-up! Everybody sprint….SPRINT!" And somehow I manage a last surge of super exertion for the last 10 seconds of the song.

This is spinning.

If you find your winter workouts to be cold, wet, and unpleasant, or-worse yet-- non-existent, then spinning is the workout for you. The amount of quality exercise that you fit into 45 minutes to an hour is staggering. You'll leave the gym feeling like you can do anything (for an hour or two, at any rate, until the endorphins wear off).

Spin bikes are fixed-gear (like track bikes), and they have a heavy, weighted flywheel. It forces you to be smooth, but the real challenge is turning your tension way down and spinning your butt off while maintaining your form. No bouncing in that saddle, just smooth controlled circles super fast. As fast as you can. And then faster. And then you have to stand up and sprint, maintaining that supersonic cadence.

Ah yes, and then there's the head part. Part of the challenge of spinning is disengaging your regular ol' brain from the task at hand. I can hear Barb's voice now…"Had an episode with your boss today? Leave it behind, it's not in this room. Focus on your strength. Feel your legs connected to the pedals. Breathe. Stay here. Focus…" If you try hard enough, you can get in that "head space" where she wants you to be. The moments are fleeting and hard-fought, but it's the kind of mental exercise that enables you to suffer. And for me, anyway, that's where I need to be during intervals and racing.

Are you intrigued? You can learn more about spinning from your local gym, which probably has spin classes that you can take even if you're not a member. You can also check out www.spinning.com. For a real challenge, get some of your training pals and do a class together. Taking advantage your competitive drive adds an extra element to an already challenging workout.

And best of all? No cold toes (but bring a big towel and lots of water).