Tag Archives: bike

Hitting A Dead End In A Maze (or Maybe I Should Have Had My Dad With Me)

Posted on January 31, 2013 | Comments Off on Hitting A Dead End In A Maze (or Maybe I Should Have Had My Dad With Me)

Yesterday I had a half day at work (because I’m working Friday night this week), so my friend who has been going to spinning classes with me and I decided that we were going to each make the investment and buy cycling shoes.

To rent shoes at SoulCycle costs $3 a class. Not too bad, but when I want to try to go every week, that $3 adds up quickly.

I had decided to go to Performance Bike to get shoes. I like that store, my dad likes it, and that’s where my mom and dad bought this really cute bike for my birthday.

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So my friend and I met there after I got off of work. When we walked in, we were greeted by a very nice salesman but he was busy helping someone check out. He pointed us in the direction of the cycling shoes and we figured someone would be over there soon to help us.

We got to the shoe area, and saw a lot of empty spaces.

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Those three empty slots on the wall? Those were the three types of shoes that I had picked out online that fit my criteria (velcro closures, road shoes not mountain shoes, and under $100). I was pretty frustrated, but was hoping a helpful salesperson would be along soon and would tell me they had more in the back or something.

Wrong.

The salesman who came to help us didn’t help at all. He didn’t seem to care that we wanted to try on those three types of shoes that they didn’t have. He said that if we found them online, we wouldn’t find them in the store. When I asked if I could have those shoes shipped to me, his response was “if you want to pay for shipping”. I asked if they did free shipping to the store and he said they did. Why wasn’t that offered to me? Also, the salesman offered no help when I asked what the European size equivalent to an American shoe size 8 was (I ended up looking it up on my phone).

I wondered if it was a mistake coming without my dad. He pretty much knows anything about bikes. He was with me when I got my cute bike and knew all the questions that I wouldn’t have thought of asking (and got them to add a kickstand for me). But I had spoken with my dad before this shopping trip and got all my dumb questions answered before I went. Now I wish he was there because I feel like he would have gotten something out of that salesman that my friend and I couldn’t because we didn’t know all the right things to say.

We both ended up walking out of the store with nothing. I didn’t want to give them my business. I’ve tweeted at the store, and I’m thinking of linking this post to them in an email.

This just reminded me so much of something Blake Robbins said on Inside Acting Podcast (I got to hear this twice, once at the recording and again on the episode). Life is like a maze. You know that somewhere in it, there is a place that the ball drops through. So if you hit a dead-end, you don’t give up. You aren’t in a maze where the ball doesn’t drop through. You just have to back up, take a different turn, and keep trying to find where the ball drops.

So maybe I hit a dead-end in this maze for my spinning adventure. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to give up. I just need to back up, look another way, and maybe order my cycling shoes from Zappos (I love them!).

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Posted in Fitness, Shopping, Tough Stuff

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Another SoulCycle Day (or Maybe I Really Have Found My Workout Addiction)

Posted on January 15, 2013 | 6 comments

I seriously had an amazing time when I went to SoulCycle for the first time last week. As soon as I left that class, I wanted to go back for more.

I’ve almost never felt this way about working out before. Maybe at Richard Simmons’ class, but even there I had some hesitation at times because the room was so crowded (and I have a tendency to get a bit claustrophobic).

I’ve been stalking the SoulCycle website for a couple of days now. I’ve also googled a couple of reviews on the place. And surprisingly, many reviews were negative. They complained about the price, crowds, bad customer service, and not feeling like they are getting a good workout.

I have to completely disagree with those reviews. I might not be the best judge of what is a good workout or not, but my friend who goes with me has run marathons and thinks it is, so I trust her.

With all my obsession with SoulCycle, I took the plunge and purchased a 5 class package (I have 45 days to use it). I also signed up for another class yesterday since I had the day off.

This class was very different from the first one, but just as enjoyable. First of all, the other class was full. Not an empty bike in sight. The second class only had 7 students when you include me. We all rode in the first row facing the instructor. I would never want to sit there if there are people behind me, but as long as there isn’t, I’m ok with it.

Also, we had a different instructor this time. His name is Sal, and I think he was a great teacher. Super motivating, always mentioning proper form (very good info for a newbie like me), and he emphasized making sure that you are doing what you can do but still pushing yourself.

I wasn’t able to do many of the standing moves again. When I do, I feel the bones in my right hip grinding and my left hip catching a little (which is a sign that the cartilage has begun to tear and I might need surgery sooner than I’d like). I can stand up for maybe 30-60 seconds at a time, but then I have to ride back in the seat.

After class, I went up to Sal to say thank you and ask him his advice on what I should do so I can do all the moves in class. He reminded me that getting to that point is my journey, and even if it takes me longer than most people to get there, the important thing is to work towards that.

That was exactly what I needed to hear. Even though I know that I should be comparing myself to myself and not to other people, it’s hard to do that when there are only 6 other students in the room.

I left that class wonderfully sweaty again, but I’m seeing that as a badge of honor.

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It proves that I made it through class and I’m getting stronger (and hopefully lighter) every day.

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Posted in Fitness, Fun Stuff

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My First Spin Class (or How HBO Might Have Helped Me Find My Perfect Workout)

Posted on January 10, 2013 | 12 comments

I was pursing twitter the other day when I saw something that a friend of mine retweeted. HBO was giving out free spin classes at SoulCycle to help promote the second season of “Girls”.

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I decided that I should check out the free spin class (I was a little mad when I found out the week prior, HBO was giving out free blow outs at Dry Bar) and found a friend who wanted to come too. I’ve been on the lookout for a form of exercise that I love. Walking is great, but the calorie burn is not what I need and due to my hip issues, I can’t run. The only workout class I’ve loved in the past was Richard Simmons, but due to the schedule I have at work, I can’t attend any classes. I might take a night off so I can go again, but it can’t be a regular workout for me now.

I got to SoulCycle about 20 minutes early. I wanted to have time to get everything settled and fill out any forms that I needed to do. And I have to say that the people who worked at SoulCycle Santa Monica are amazing. Lizzie was the girl who helped me get checked in. After filling out my form, she got me my rental bike shoes (yes Dad, I wore click in bike shoes!), and showed me how to use the passcode on the free locker. Lizzie also took this pretty funny “before” picture of me.

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There are no phones allowed in the spin studio, so I don’t have any photos of the set up inside. But I have to say that I lucked out on the bike that I reserved. There are three long rows facing the instructor’s bike, and on the sides there are 3 short rows on each side facing the side of the instructor’s bike. I was on one of the sides in the back and in the corner. That way, nobody was looking at me unless they turned to look at me. That made me feel way less self-conscious in class.

And what a tough class it was! I wasn’t able to do a lot of the standing up or other movements on the bike, but I never stopped pedaling (except when we did the weights since I’m not that coordinated yet). At first, the time seemed to go by slowly, but after one song, the time flew by. I was dripping sweat, but so was the instructor (whose name is Ben) so I didn’t feel weird about that.

My favorite moment of class was about halfway through when Ben mentioned that 3 people had already left the class, but the rest of us were kicking butt! I couldn’t believe that I outlasted 3 people. I was by far the biggest person there, and I was able to do more than 3 people. That kept me going and I was able to do faster pedaling and some of the standing after that.

And just because I did a “before” picture, here’s my wonderfully sweaty “after” picture.

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I’m still on such a high from that class. It is so high energy and supportive. I will totally be back! My only concern is the cost (it’s $25 a class). But I’m going to figure out a way to pay for them. I’d like to try to go 2-3 times a month to get the boost in my motivation that I’m feeling right now!

Thank you HBO for helping me discover a workout that I think will actually work for me! And SoulCycle, I’ll hopefully be back very very soon!

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Default ThumbnailAnother SoulCycle Day (or Maybe I Really Have Found My Workout Addiction) Default ThumbnailSharing My Soul (or My Dad’s First Spin Class) Default ThumbnailSharing Some Soul (or Another Day Another Friend At Spin Class) Default ThumbnailA Smile In Spin Class (or Sometimes The Little Things Are Big) Default ThumbnailKicking Butt (or Feeling Extra Tough In Spin Class) Default ThumbnailJoining The 500 Club (or A Special Workout Class)

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Posted in Fitness, Fun Stuff, Weight Loss

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Trying to Gain The Fitness Bug (or I Wish I Was More Motivated)

Posted on November 28, 2012 | 6 comments

I’m not doing too shabby on eating better. I eat breakfast every day (normally some toast with peanut butter and some fruit) and I’ve been pretty good about trying to bring my lunch to work. Dinner is still a bit tough because I never want to cook when I get home after leaving work at 9pm, but my parents just bought me a slow cooker, so hopefully that will change soon.

Where I’m struggling is working out. I like to go hiking, but with my current schedule, it’s tough to find time to go. Maybe that could change when I’m unemployed for a few months. I’ve tried yoga, and while it’s fun, I don’t think I’ll continue on a regular basis after my Living Social deal is done. It’s pretty expensive. I like doing 5Ks, and I’m signed up for another one next year already, but I need something to do on a regular basis.

I have a fitness bike in my house that I really like. It’s right in front of my tv so I can catch up on my shows while I work out. I try to get on it 3 days a week, but lately that’s been tough. Part of it was my travel schedule and trying to fit everything in before I went home for Thanksgiving. I find it easiest to workout on the days where my shift starts at noon. I can work out when I wake up and have time to shower before heading to work. Since it’s in my house, I don’t have to worry about driving to a gym or if I have gym clothes without holes.

I’m pretty steady in my bike workouts, but I want to push myself more. It’s hard to self motivate, especially when you are working out alone in your house. I started by wanting to add more minutes to my workout. But now, I want to try to increase the resistance. I’m going to try to go slow (that’s what worked for increasing the time), but I wish it was easier.

I know plenty of people who are essentially addicted to exercise. They crave it every day. I want to be one of them. I just don’t know how to get there.

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Posted in Fitness, Tough Stuff, Weight Loss

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