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TaKIN' It Easy

Spin class offers interesting alternative to traditional biking

By Michelle Martinelli

Created:
02/21/12 8:42pm

Last updated:
02/21/12 8:43pm

As far as a triathlon is concerned, I have very unique taste in which activities I enjoy and which ones I don’t.

Favorite: the swim. As a swimmer — spending most of my life in a competitive atmosphere — lifeguard and former swim coach, this one should come as no surprise. But most people would rather bike or run while training or double up on one of those legs rather than swim. Personally, I’d rather swim 3.1 miles than run it.

Least favorite: the bike, or so I thought. The phrase “just like riding a bike” makes riding sound easy, as if muscle memory from your childhood will get you through a race. Not a chance.

Swimming is natural to me. Running is natural to me. But biking is a different story because you never know when you’ll hit an uphill patch that will make your legs feel like they’re on fire.

Plus there’s always the risk of falling. I’ve never had a bad fall on a bike before, but I’ve seen friends wipe out, and it’s not pretty when you’re going at a fast pace.

My triathlon training class alternates themed weeks with swimming, running, circuit training and spinning classes. And despite not being a huge fan of getting on a real bike, the spin classes are really starting to grow on me.

The lights are dimmed, the music is blasting and the class’s instructor is running the show while yelling motivating things to you through a microphone.

You have to push yourself because you have control over the speed and resistance, and yes, the all-out sprints are hard, but there are resting periods. At the end of the day, it’s totally worth it to at least try a spin class.

IM Sports-West Sports West.html offers walk-in classes as well as season passes.

Once never looking forward to hoping on a bike, spin classes changed my perspective on riding and on that leg of a triathlon. It doesn’t have to be a chore if you keep it interesting.

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About TaKIN' It Easy

Desperately still needing credits after countless electives, sports editor Michelle Martinelli is taking a break from academic classes and is enrolled in seven one-credit kinesiology classes for the second semester of her senior year. Two days a week, she plays volleyball and has an aerobics class, and for another two days, she has swimming, triathlon training, general conditioning, bowling and step aerobics.

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