Spinning makes me dizzy...

I've been looking to change up my work-out routine.  Since I'm planning on running a few more 5Ks this year, I wanted something to really challenge my legs.  While visiting my sister in Minneapolis, we went to the Y up there (seriously better than ours!!) and tried a spinning class.  Let me just say, those bikes are much more complicated than they should be.  Seriously, what's with all the knobs??  Salli had to walk me through how to prepare my bike.  So the instructor starts walking around before class talking to us, making sure we all know what we're doing and she sees me.  Now, when I packed for this trip, I just grabbed the first t-shirt in the drawer.  It happened to be a Iowa Hawkeye t-shirt.  And I was in Minnesota.  Oops.  Then she tells me she played basketball...for Iowa State.  Double oops.  I think she made the class extra hard special just for me.

So we started pedaling away.  I thought it wasn't bad, for the first 30 seconds or so.  Then it started getting harder...and harder...and harder!  By the time the class was over, I was surprised my legs didn't buckle.  I sweat like a cow/moose/pig/sweaty person.  (whatever is super sweaty!).  But it was a great work-out!  So as soon as I got back to Ankeny I looked up the classes at our Y.  I found a spinning class that would work for me.  So off I went.  Now let me just say that the Ankeny Y is a bit on the old outdated used broken-in side.  So their bikes were not anything like the ones in Minneapolis.  So right off the bat I felt like a total moron.  I finally got the bike where I needed it and off we went.  As I looked around the room, there were a few people wearing some serious biking gear.  As first I thought "really? You look dumb".  But then after a few minutes I realized why biking shorts are a glorious thing.  My butt hurt like crazy!  Seriously.  Every time we had to go up and down on the seat I thought I was going to die.  I was sure I was going to have a bruise the next morning in a very bad place.  Alas, all was well in that regard.  So here's what I've learned about spinning class...

• Contrary to what the name says, "spinning" has nothing to do with turning in circles.  Before I went to a class, I honestly thought there was some circle movement.  That's sort of why I'd never done a class before.  Dumb?  Yep.  
• Always take a towel with you.  The amount of sweat coming off my face was rather disgusting...but good in a way.  It's like calories running out of my body.  
• Water is a must!  Oh my word, with the amount of sweat you've GOT to replenish the body.  
• When you have to go up and down on the bike, sit gingerly.  Seriously.  Owie
• Make sure you're wearing cute underwear.  Sound weird?  Well, take it from me.  You're pants may start to ride down a little as you move and you may show your underwear to the person behind you.  This could be quite embarrassing if you happen to be wearing granny panties.  At least if you are wearing something cute it's slightly less embarrassing.