Tues 22nd January

The 10am 'Spinning' class was fully booked - twelve 20-to-30-something young girls, only two guys (one 30ish, the other 50-ish) and me! I was the only beginner so the slender instructress (SI) helped me adjust a bike for leg and arm length, then after a quick explanation of 'today's session plan' the music started and we all started pedalling.
The warm-up was fine - adding a little extra tension to the wheel every few minutes - until the instruction was given to CLIMB! Up they all went: standing on their pedals, adding more tension at regular intervals until the 'top of the hill' was reached; then with tension partly released and still standing on pedals they raced 'downhill and along the flat' - their legs going round in a blur, spurred on by the SI to go even faster. I wasn't party to much of this but pedalled on at my own pace testing various degrees of tension and trying to stand up every so often - but with little success! A slight lull followed when water was gulped and sweat was towelled away - during which we all continued to pedal!
Next came the 'jumps': 10 revolutions standing, 10 revs back in the saddle - repeated too many times to remember! Again I tried to join in but decided my own style would have to do as the class moved on to other frenetic routines. At least I kept pedalling for the full 45 minutes -with quite a degree of vigour too - and have to admit it was probably the best workout I've ever had.
Not one to be beaten, I have booked another class: next week on Wednesday at 7am!