Have you ever gone out on a date and had such a great time, that the whole next day, it's all you could think about? You grin when you remember the twinkle in his eye? You giggle when you relive the conversation you had?
Well, that's how Clara and I felt about our experience this past week at #Spinco. (Yes, we just likened a first date to a date with a spinning class. That's how awesome the class was!!) We had dates with our bikes (number 8 & 9) to be exact, and let me tell you, unlike most dates that turn into 3rd and 4th date disasters, our bikes did not disappoint!
Let's just take you to the beginning, to where our love story began:
Spinco: Canada's largest spinning studio opened up a studio in our very own Oakville, Ontario, and we couldn't wait to try it out and report back to you. We'd spun a few times before, and due to the delusions of grandeur we possessed, we thought of ourselves as fairly proficient riders. I mean on the totem pole of spin expertise, we thought we ranked pretty high. We now hang our heads in shame.
The #Oakville location is appealing and alluring, to say the least. It's clean, modern, and sleek, but is careful to still invite you to ride, and banish intimidation. It is owned by Rebecca Pointon, who also happened to be our instructor. Charming and engaging, she took us through the entire process, and made us feel at ease, all before effectively kicking our ass during class.
Whether you're a pro cycler, or a newbie at the pedal revolution, there's something you need to know: The mental workout is just as intense as the physical. There were the obvious appeals to Rebecca's spin class: The killer music, the beat-inspired lighting, and the camaraderie that exists when a group of strangers sweat, groan, and grow together. This class, though, boasted something a bit extra: military style motivation. While keeping my pedal strokes regulated to the beat, and tasting the sweat I was drenched in, there came a time ( or 10) when I thought to myself, if I don't turn that dial and add more resistance, who would really know?
Then it happened:
Rebecca dismounted from her bike, and started walking the perimeter of the class. Declaring to all of us how strong and amazing we were. How our presence made her a better instructor, and that we were capable of anything. It was like she was hearing the voice inside of my head telling me to quit, and she shut that down like a blackout in August.
Without even thinking, I turned that dial, ignored my quads who were screaming death threats at me, and just rode into the strobe-lit sunset. It was a glorious, painful achievement that I am still reeling from.
A few days later, Clara and I still send each other little inside jokes about biking and spinning, The pain in my legs as I sit down to use the washroom is a delightful pain that I wish for you all to have, and we are already making plans to further that pain with more classes.
Spinning is a marvellous workout, and coupled with some strength training, a bestie that doesn't judge you when you walk funny after class, and an incredible studio and team like the one we were lucky enough to experience at Spinco Oakville, we highly and exceedingly recommend you get your spin on!! Tell them RBG sent you.
Pictures courtesy of @_peonyphotography. Thanks for ALWAYS making us look badass, even when we just look... bad