I'm just going to start this off by saying I HATE group classes. I will do anything in my power to workout solo, away from as many people as possible. But one day someone told me about Ride, raving about how much fun it was and the amazing workout. I saw the first class free and thought I had nothing to lose.
Let me tell you... the first class is hell, and afterwards my legs were shaking. I didn't know anything about spin at all, from the shoes, bike adjustments, this new word called 'cadence' that seemed to be repeating out of every instructors mouth (white girl can't dance or catch a beat to save her life). So it was a pretty overwhelming experience. But the people at Ride are so kind and helpful, they set me up on a bike, explained how to adjust difficulty, fit me in shoes... It made the experience a little less stressful.
Here's what hooked me and makes spin addicting: It calms your mind. You can't think about anything else than what is going on in that room. What's important to realize is that the dark room, neon lights, loud music and motivational instructors is why this works. You can't look around the room and wonder what everyone else is doing, or wonder if you're doing things right, your mind can't wander to your job or life's worries... when you're at Ride, you're THERE, in the moment, the beat thrumming your ribs, and a coach pushing you to be your best.
I've now done around 100 Ride classes, and sometimes I dread it a little and buckle in a bit sleepy, but the endorphins kick in within minutes, and I always leave feeling calm and never like I had the same workout twice. It took a while, but I can finally keep 'cadence' and feel confident to sit closer to the front/middle. My best experiences are when I can feel the beat without looking at the instructor, close my eyes, let the music drown my thoughts and get lost in an amazing workout.
Next part: The instructors. This is very important for anyone who thinks that the workout was too hard, too easy, boring, fun... etc... Every instructor is vastly different in terms of the experience and workout intensity. I've found that there are motivational classes, boot camp like classes, beginner and slower classes, classes with a TON of choreography, some with little. I think I've taken classes from around 12 different instructors and I am partial to 2-3 because of my personality, workout and music preferences. So try a few different instructors to find your fit.
Pro tips:
-Front rows and middle seats are for more experienced riders for the simple fact that if you're working on cadence you sometimes have to look at the person's feet in front to help you. Someone off cadence in front of you can actually be a bit of a distraction (although I know last minute we can't always get the seat we want).
-Occasionally there are promotional deals with 10% off packages. I haven't gotten one in a while though, but I assume they are still around?
-If you come early, there are mats and rollers for stretching and abs (before or after class).
-If class is full and you're in the area, come to the studio and like 80% of time you can get a bike from no-shows.
Pros: Amazing workout, great facility, wonderful instructors, nice changing areas, clean bathrooms with lady products, apparel looks nice although I've never bought anything. They remember my name *heart eyes* which I really appreciate. Lots of cubby room. Shoe rental is FREE thank god.
Cons: The price increase was $4 ($20 to $24) which I thought was a bit much. I will only buy packages or when I get the 10% off deal. The elbow room is sometimes tight- I pick seats where I can do presses without bumping elbows. Sometimes the instructor needs to switch lead leg, occasionally only ass cheek will be burning.
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