Spin music

As a part of my routine, I go to spin class on Saturday mornings at Bally’s. I go to the 9:30am class. You can either show up at 7:00 (when the gym opens) to get a seat for the 8:30 class, or you can show up at 9:30 to get a seat for the 9:30 class. So 9:30 is my class.

I show up around 8:30 anyway just to warm up on the treadmill for a while and catch up on news and stuff on TV. People-watch. Wake up. It’s Saturday morning, after all.

Last Saturday I was not in the mood. Walking on the treadmill for 45 minutes was fine, and I had a TV with captioning that worked, and life was fine. But by the time I got situated on the bike, I started to think, “It’s beautiful outside. Why am I not riding my bike outdoors? I could have ridden into the city. I’m not into this class today. They already made us rearrange all the bikes. What a pain. I’m not in the mood to sprint. Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten since yesterday at 5pm. Maybe I should leave now, before class begins.” Of course, that would never happen, so I decided to grind my teeth and bear it.

And then class began, with a guest instructor.

And if you’ve ever attended or witnessed a spin class, you know it’s all about the music. And this spin instructor couldn’t have tailored the music better for me even if she had known I was coming.

The first “Oh my gosh I can’t believe they’re playing this in SPIN class, let alone at ALL” song was Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight.” I’m still not sure which is weirder: that it was chosen for a spin class, that I had coincidentally heard this song 3 other times on the radio this week, or that I still remember all the words from 1986.

The second oddity was Bryan Adams’ “Summer of 69,” which I’m sure you’ll recall, has already made an appearance in this blog. Very strangely, I was one of three people in the room who hadn’t yet been born in 1969. Strange in a different way, the instructor didn’t seem to understand that the song was not written in the summer of 1969, as Bryan Adams was 9.

The third notable song was not odd, but amazing in an “Oh my gosh this is another 80s song and it’s awesome and it’s kicking my ASS” way. And, come on, listen to it. It’s so me. Bonnie Tyler, “Holding Out for a Hero.”

Needless to say, by the end of spin class I was glad I stayed. Not that that ever varies.

Today’s spin class did not sweep me off my feet with its music, but I was quite surprised at the choice of Fleetwood Mac’s “I’m So Afraid.” Such a long, slow song. Until I remembered that “I’m So Afraid” also means a big, badass guitar solo by Lindsey Buckingham. The day is saved.