Spinning classes without the membership - or the meatheads

[Aging Wannabee]

This place has two locations, Newtonville and Wellesley.

If you want to show up, Spin, and GTFO it can't be beat. Rates go down as you purchase bigger blocks of "rides" and some are good for a year so you can save them for next winter if it suddenly gets warm and dry in March (HA!).

I've only attended two sessions so far. They were both good, with personable, descriptive, encouraging instructors. Both were on a weeknight in Newtonville.

The place is clean and set up nicely. They stock about 20-25 Schwinn bikes. Wellesley is larger, with 32 bikes, I'm told. There were about 8 or 9 of us in each class. About 60/40 female to male ratio. Some obvious roadies, some just looking for a workout. I was surprised to hear the question " do you ride outside?"

Check 'em out. Not too many dirt dogs there, but it's better n' crushing your soul on a trainer.

http://www.spynergycyclingstudio.com/

And by the way... Time did NOT stop or go backward as in this case...
http://nemba.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22916

[jkcousins]

I've been to four of these classes. The 1.5 hour on weekends are good. The best instructor is Maddie. I was less impressed with the others at Wellesley location, but over all was good.

The classes I've been to (morning, weekend and tues evening) were very crowded, over 20 people. The Newtonville locale is nicer, IMO.

I approached one of the owners about possibly putting together a group and doing a private MTB specific class, but she said she didn't know what that would be. I would say, less cadence and more power work, I guess.

If anyone has thoughts on this, I'd be happy to pursue setting up a private series. Looks like this winter is not going to quit soon.
I've heard they do this kind of class in ARlington somewhere but that location doesn't work for me.
thanks
Joan

[Aging Wannabee]

I took Maddie's class Saturday. ouch. I'm no roadie, and I live here in the flatlands so climbing, especially out of the saddle, for 5 minutes at a time is not my forte'. This was only my 3rd class, so I really haven't developed the quick recovery she demands. I had to sandbag the last 1/2 hour.

Unfortunately I don't think they can simulate rocks and roots on a spin bike, or wheelie drops and skinnies either. I'm just looking to not be a bowl of jelly in April. I talked to the other owner and he thought that the way he taught was closer to MTB-ing than to road riding, what with all the quick standing bits and Intervals.

I think their schedule is a little sparse myself, especially the large gap between the last morning class and the only afternoon class on weekends, but I guess they schedule them when people show up.

I got the feeling that certain instructors had their following, but tried to customize to the general population of the class.

[jkcousins]

Yes I agree that the schedule could be better. My thing was I don't get why EVERY class is mega massive cadence all the way through, but I guess that's why they call it spin! Some of those people are going to need new hips like Floyd, spinning 130+ all the time.
That's good you talked to the guy, maybe I"ll try his classes. I thought someone on this board had talked about MTB classes, but maybe I"m wrong.

As for Maddie, there's no way I can stand for 5 minutes either, so I just do what I can. There is also a collegiate racer that teachers long class on sunday, I am going to try him, maybe this weekend.

[jkcousins]

There are spin classes at both Landry's locations, has anyone tried these?

My problem with it is hauling the trainer and bike, mat etc etc through the snowstorms. Seems like a pain.

[Aging Wannabee]

I don't have a trainer. Not going to get one any time soon. and I'd rather have a few friends over to my basement than go to Landry's & set up, but I could be wrong about that.

I think "Andy" teaches Sunday extended class at Spynergy Welleseley. He's no college boy. He atended Maddies class Sat. & I overheard him saying it was very different from his.

I get the feeling the collegiate racer you efer to is Andre. He teaches Monday nights I attended last night & last week. He's very cadence oriented. He says he used to do more of an interval thing at BC with hard Rock & Rap and if I talked to Bill about a weekend afternoon class like that he's be willing to teach it. He had one song last night that really worked for me. It wasn't Nirvana, but was "orchestrated" like their music. Think of Smells Like Teen Spirit. I don't know the muscal terms but kinda light and slowish on the regular singing, then hard & fast on the repeated part ( "with the lights out, it's less dangerous.."). He had us crank up the tension & stand for that part, then crank it back down & try to recover a bit, then do it again. Hefollowed it with a light, fast-spinning tune. Some doot-doot techno-trash.

Anyway, stay tuned. A regular riding buddy took his first ever spin class there last night and might be going Thursday. I'd love to get a groundswell of dirt dogs going & talking about it here. THEN we could help design a MTB specific class. Heck I'd like to try teaching one myself.

Bill-the-other-owner is sustituting Thursday. I'm not sure if he's really road/cadence oriented or not. Can you make it jkcousins? Three of us would be good. He's pretty cool & I hear flexible.

[jkcousins]

Wannabe:
Thanks for thinking of me, however its not likely I will be able to make morning classes except in special situations.
Are you planning on doing any weekend?

thanks
Joan

[Aging Wannabee]

I was talking about tonight at 6:30 PM. Bill, the co-owner is substitute teaching a class. I and another mountain biker will be attending.

Weekends are a crap-shoot. My wife and I are trying to get us both signed up for the special Superbowl Sunday 11 am class this weekend. I need to build up a little more endurance/recovery if I'm going to attend the extended classes.

[thecanoe]

I've been spinning there for 4 weeks now. Andy's class is good. I go on Tuesday and Thursday. He DOES do the 7 minutes climbing thing, but, I spin like I road or MTB ride, 30 second climb, sit and spin or seated climb, then repeat.
Bill on saturday morning is the best. His format is more like road riding and his music is good for this 60 year old.

[Aging Wannabee]

Bill on saturday morning is the best. His format is more like road riding and his music is good for this 60 year old.

Yeah,in Thursday night's class I really enjoyed his selection of The Doors' "Peace Frog" where he had us crank up the tension & pedal real slow, seated, then occasionally stand & run hard.

[thecanoe]

Just got back from Bill's Saturday morning class.
He had a lot of slow tempo climbing, standing for 10 seconds, sitting for 10 seconds, with lots of tension on the bike.
Definitely like MTBing.

[Aging Wannabee]

My wife & I took a class taught by Renu Shulka yesterday, at their Wellesley studio. It was a special "Superbowl Sunday" ride, not usually scheduled. This woman pedaled faster than anyone I've ever seen. The music was great, especially the Bollywood stuff from "Slumdog Millionaire". I had a hard time hearing her directions, but I got most of them. My legs still hurt today. Alex, the co-owner who I hadn't met yet made a point of introducing herself to us. I like the newtonville studio better, but I understand they are moving down the street in Wellesley. The class was packed. Only a couple empty bikes. It's no replacement for being out on the trail, but it beats watching former NFL players filling airtime.