makai1

What a hoot this thread has turned out to be!

OliveOyl

Bonnie, you haven't got the essence of a spin class...you must try it then write back! (That was a challenge). The classes are 45 minutes of intense biking. The bikes have a knob that adjusts the tension on the wheel to the point where you feel as if you are going up the steepest of steep hills. It can and is adjusted to the point where you can't turn the pedals sitting down...at which time you have to get up to keep them going and you can't stop--you have to keep it to the beat of the music, no slacking. You've got a drill sargeant instructor leading the class, "3 more turns on the knob--80% effort, push it push it" and you turn it 3 times and can barely move the pedals but you've got to keep going at that tension. If you aren't at it, everyone else in class can tell and you can't have that if you are in the least bit competitive. After 45 minutes you are soaking wet, dripping, instructor too, and ready to cry uncle. The music is great...I'll normally try to picture myself pedaling up a grade in Sedona or the like, then riding down envisioning the scenery in front of me. Keeps my mind off the pain.

I have worn a heart monitor during this and get up to 160 beats per minute in no time and maintain that...which is about where it is when I run. It is not a class for wimps, I guarantee. OK...take the challenge! I'm sure any club will give you one free trial. Bring water...mandatory.

bonniebroad

OliveOyl, I think there's wide variation in Spin classes from one facility to another, like any other form of exercise class. My daughter-in-law will only do work-out classes with certain instructors at her "Y" because she likes the hardest routines. But there's many ways to get a drenching workout....... doesn't have to be a Spin class. Depends upon how hard a given person works at whatever routine, I think!

Scarlett

Olive, I have always wanted to be a good fast Spinner, but I fail miserably, I am a slow and weak spinner~

Socks and clogs should only be worn with a long skirt (dirndle?) hee hee

Cigale, that guy with the shorts and black socks and sandals is smoking a cigar, isn't he ? LOL

cigalechanta

Scarlett, there was a wonderful New Yorker Cover, I bought several to laminate, kept one and the rest to my friends in France. It shows an American couple on Monet's bridge in t-shirts. a bit over-weight, baseball caps that say Monet. White sox and black shoes and his T says I love(h) Monet. She carries a Monet shopping bag.

here_today_gone2Maui

Bonnie, there are many Indoor Cycling programs, but a only Johnny G Spin® Class is a Spin class. When I travel I seek out true Spinning program. I have taken way too many indoor cycling classes that are a joke, especially those taught at many of the chain gyms. You can tell that the trainers are not trained as Spin instructors. If they do not require a heart rate monitor for the class, it is not a true Spin class. A big part of the Spinning program relies on closely monitoring your heart rate throughout the workout, bringing it up certian levels and then lowering it at intervals designed to maximize the workout. If you are not doing this, then, no, you are not Spinning.

And those sprints, crunches, pushups are done on the bike, while pedaling and maintaining a certain heart rate, and those 500 - 800 calories are burnt on the bike.

marigross

I must admit that I have recently worn the socks and sandals - while recovering from foot surgery! The nicest Clarks I could find. Still looks awful...at least I'm walking again. Maybe soon I can go back for Spin Class - not for wimps!

Diana

Having personally not worn socks and sandals since I was 2 (I agree with whomever said that was the appropriate age), I plan on not donning them again until I am at least 80 OR I am so dotty that my caregivers can put me in a tutu, Cat in the Hat headgear and hiking boots for their own amusement, and I won't care one way or the other.

Clothing should be all about what makes one comfortable and happy.

I have worn things over the years that were the height of fashion at the time (remember those lacy ankle socks worn with high heels, mini skirts and big hair in the 80's?) that I would not be caught in the privacy of my own home wearing now.

While I am a self-professed fashion snob whose mother wore gloves and carried a clutch well into the 70's, and whose father still - at age 80 - carries a walking stick and wears a straw boater in summer, I would never impose my rules for dressing on anyone else, or laugh (well, obviously laugh anyway) at someone else's fashion choices.

Frankly, some people do not care how they look or if what they are wearing is "in." They just want to be comfortable.

Maybe the people who are wearing things from high school - when they graduated in 1979 - or buying their clothes at the sidewalk sales at discount stores, or throwing caution to the wind and expressing themselves with "Big Johnson" t-shirts are the smart ones.

They are spending far less time making sure they have the "right" clothes, and their bank accounts are probably much better off for it.

This is America. Wear what you want (while realizing that some may find it mildly amusing).

Litespeed_Chick

Here today: That was hilarious...not sure I've ever seen thongs w/ socks, but now I have a mental image.

You're right, spin classes are quite variable....and are a venue for bringing out the worst in me vis a vis judging people based on my own predjudices. For example, I always look around to see who brought "real" shoes. Then I look for team jerseys to identify "posuers".

When the instructor comes in, I guage his/her level of body fat to decide if it will be a good class. If she makes us do anything weird like spin 140 RPM or jump in and out of the sadle every 2 pedal strokes, I pronounce her "not a cyclist". Then, my husband and I make fun of the music (why would someone encourage you to get your heartrate to 200 and then play "wind beneath my wings"?).

I always felt guilty about being such a snob, but now that I know about all the people who dissed my sock/sandals on the way in the club, I feel better about it. ;-)

bonniebroad

OliveOyl & Here_Today, I don't doubt that you are doing killer workouts, that I wouldn't even want to attempt, in your Spin classes. The confusion has arisen from the definition of a "spin" class...... Now, when I went with my niece and peaked in on her *Spin class* (I took a tour of the facility.....did not STAY with her most of the time), what little I SAW, it's true, was not as strenous as you describe. But, obviously, there's WIDE variation within what each place describes as a "spin class"..... as you point out, Here_Today. Whatever works for you is great....... my DIL loves kick-boxing routines, and does that two to three times per week, along with other things. My days of vigorous exercise are over, due to knee problems rearing their ugly heads but more power to all of you....... SWEAT ON!

missjanna

Hmmm still trying to figure this out...but I'm at the point of hey, whatever makes you happy! My thing is simply carrying my sneakers and socks in my gym bag and changing at the gym or before I leave work. (I usually wear heels or heeled sandals to work)

And kickboxing works for me! I've seen some spinning classes that could kill. (pedaling as fast as you can on the highest resistance, then standing while pedaling, then push ups while pedaling, forget it!) I'll stick to the stairmaster and the elliptical! LOL

independencedaybaby

I guess my realtor was right - location is everything. Sounds as though it depends on which part of the country (even which country) you hail from concerning the sandals/sock thing.

I think I saw the couple with the socks/thong sandals and leather vest with shorts in Winn Dixie just the other day. Here in the South, my mom would wait until we were safely outside in the car and say "Bless their hearts. I guess they just don't know any better, but they seemed like good people."

I had to laugh about the look of shorts worn by men with black socks and shoes. If we see that in NC, esp. in a small town, it's a sign usually that he's well-to-do and particular, hence he just can't bring himself to wear sneakers. It's usually linen bermudas with name brand polo shirt, dress shoes with black dress socks, often knee-highs/supports. Don't see it as much as once did, because more and more of them are switching to designer sneakers, white of course. And they must be squeaky clean.

My friend from England, college professor/scientist, wears Birkenstocks year round, with and without sandals. They look cute on her, but I'd feel like a dork and probably look like one too.

J_Correa

I guess I really started something with the spin class comment

So I guess the concensus is that it is tacky to wear socks with sandals while riding a bike - do I have that right?

bonniebroad

That about summarizes it, J_Correa, however vigorously you are spinning ............ (or not!);-)

cigalechanta

Some people can wear anything and look cute or chic. I have a friend who wears sox with sandels and everyone thinks she looks great. Of course she's young , beautiful and a great body.

bonniebroad

What a hoot that my little thread about my husband putting "used" socks on with his sandals.................... because he did not want to unpack the whole trunk to get his sneakers when his feet were getting cold, getting out to walk the dog at rest-stops........... before we got far South enough to have worn sandals, yadda, yadda, yadda!

Actually, they were tan "Nike" sandals with tan socks.......... so he didn't look that bad!;-)

mikemo

IMHO, very tacky!
M

jor

I enjoy wearing my socks without sandals, pants, and shirt. Just my white jockey shorts, cowboy hat and sun screen. Wish I could post a photo. \/

Rosemary1

It seems to me that some people probably wear socks with sandals when they're too lazy to take care of their feet, i.e. pedicure, dry, cracked, dirty, etc. In that case, I'd rather see the socks I guess. JMHO.

roothy123

All I can say is Ick, Ick, Ick! Leave the socks off, especially the ones that come halfway up your calf!