Not Just Spinning My Wheels

It’s ironic that this post was initially scheduled to go up yesterday because “boredom” is the last word I would use to describe the past 24 hours. Without going into too many details, I’ll share that an immediate family member ended up in the hospital but has since been discharged and all is well, though some testing needs to be done. Now back to the topic at hand.

Many of my friends and family members are baffled by how I find riding a stationary bike enjoyable, not to mention doing it nearly daily. I completely understand how it could seem weird, you’re not physically going anywhere, there isn’t scenery, it is more or less formulaic, etc., BUT there are so many reasons why not one of these “cons” (for lack of a better word) are an issue for me. (Note: No one seems to think that doing barre multiple times a week would get boring so I never get asked about that and will not discuss it here. Suffice it to say, it doesn’t.)

First, it goes without saying that not everyone will like the same method of exercise so there are people for whom indoor cycling will never be enjoyable. Totally valid. I will usually try anything once but then if it’s not for me, no biggie. Ok so we’ve established that I like spinning, I also like pizza but couldn’t eat it everyday without getting sick of it, so what is the secret sauce?

Ready to ride.

As I wrote in this post, I mix it up when it comes to instructors. My regular schedule consists of 4 different spin instructors, each of whom have very different personalities, styles, and musical leanings. Of course there are some overlaps, but in general, it is a totally different experience with each of them. What is more, who is in the class varies depending on the instructor. There are people I know I will see in X’s class, those I know I will see in Y’s class, those I know I will see in both, etc. Thus, even the social element stays fresh.

On a personal level, each day I am in a different place, both mentally and physically (aren't we all?). Hence, I am always looking for different things from my ride and myself. One day I may be pedaling out work stress, other days I might feel really strong and want to set a PR or challenge myself to hit a torq/RPM combination that I've never gotten before. After yesterday's medical drama, I went into class today needing to decompress, let the energy of the room carry me, and sweat out my worries. I was quieter than usual, kept my eyes closed more, and would look to my family for strength during pushes. That's not to say that I've never done any of those things before, but not in the same way or all at once with the specific emotions I was feeling behind them. In a lot of ways, I've travelled so much farther on those stationary bikes than I could ever go on the road. Journeys aren't always measured in miles, though according to my Flywheel Dashboard I've gone 31,356.84 miles in the past 6+ years (I have no idea how accurate that is but it sounds good so I'll take it). On those bikes I have gained confidence, found life-long friends, and broken out of my comfort zone many times over, and to me that is just as, if not more, satisfying than any trip I could take in the real world. 

I still regret not buying this shirt. [IG: @jessonpointe]

How do you keep your workouts fresh?