A Virtual Island

The blog makes me a virtual island in that I know how many boats have visited my shores but no one leaves a direct impression in the sand that I can report back on. If I implore my cycle mates to leave a message in a bottle they might not visit my island at all and that alternative would sadden me deeply. So what is it that I would want?  Well, I only want one thing from fellow spinners and that is more readers but I do not want to appear I have some secret agenda because frankly I do not have one. This is not about money or even fame although it does give me flirting rights with the beautiful women in Woodbury KSC.  

If I were to say something in front of the class, I would probably want to thank them first. After that however, what would my purpose be? When I write an emotional post like I did on Tuesday I get caught in a web that wants to luxuriate in the space that has already evaporated. We have all experienced what seems like a great idea emotionally at night only fail to hold up logically when light of day appears. That is the space I found myself in the very next morning. It just didn’t seem like a good idea.  

So Jack, what do you want if you could have anything you wanted from writing KSC?  Do I really want suggestions or comments?  The quick answer is YES.  If they haven’t until now what is going to motivate them?  I have no answer is the conclusion I have come to.   Only I Still want more readers.  

Substance and Soul

These are two words that I just listened to on an audio book of fiction by a controversial talk show host that I won’t mention for fear that his politics will get in the way of the stunning detail of how he describes the human form when viewed by another human being. 

One of the things that particularly struck me was his use of words that we process only as feelings. He makes them moving images that print on the hard drive of our memories. He does it with (or so it seems to this reader) a diamond studded use of adjectives, without being pedantic in any way shape or form.

It got me to thinking about Kristen in particular. First because this blog is about her and her elite staff.  Furthermore, because I wanted to make a deeper examination into her attraction factor. I am not talking about her physiology which is too obvious to elaborate on. I am not even talking about her outward charisma either or even her expert call she plans in depth every night for. I am ruminating about how ethereally she captures our trust and devotion to attend her classes. It must be about the energy that she exudes and that we subconsciously pick up on. It’s not something that comes up in a conversation nor is it something we even give an askance thought to.  I think it is embodied in how we feel when we are within her proximity.  She often asks us if we trust her during class and even though this is about increasing the resistance on the flywheel, I think we trust her because of her authenticity. When one is authentic they have substance and soul.  One cannot carry it off just by acting some part. Oh one can for a time I suppose, but not day in and day out. Kristen is never superficial, she only varies her intensity. Some days she is more gregarious than Nick Swisher of the Yankees and other days she is flat out riveting every time she opens her mouth. There is no throw away dialogue that is uttered only various forms of endearment, challenge and my favorite a slice of Zen philosophy.  

I thought this was just about spin class. I guess we have more here than meets the 5 senses. It’s about substance and soul.

P.S. Kristen I hope we bring tears to your eyes like you do us. 

The Pedal Stroke

Ever been in a car as a kid and watched the car next to you, and it looked like the wheels were going backwards? That was the graphic image I got when I watched Michelle’s legs on her pedal stroke.  She certainly has tremendous power and speed. I think it might be about 150 Rpms. Maybe that’s an over estimate, I am not sure. Not long ago on the stationary bikes in the main room I can remember not getting past 80 per minute.  It is certainly conceivable that Michelle is double that speed. 

I had a chance to ask her about her sessions at Equinox and as I had chronicled, she is about power first and speed second not the reverse. She sees so many of us whirling around at breakneck Rpm's knowing there is no road on the resistance wheel. It serves no purpose she says. She is right too, because I have seen some of us pedaling so fast we are close to falling off our bikes. A little resistance goes along way not only making us stronger but more comfortable in the seat as well. 

My sincere hope in writing about Michelle is that you take another look at her technique. There is no mistaking her adroitness and if you give her a chance she will win you over like she has me. She prepares and delivers and it’s not the same newspapers from the day before or even the week before. 

Any one of you have heel pain?  Plantar fasciitis is the technical name and I have read about it on Webmd.com and I am not sure from my readings if it is from over use, my shoes being worn out or I just have not stretched enough. Michelle gave me an exercise and I will be religious about using it to help abate the discomfort, because I do not want to live even a week without my addiction.  

Did you notice if you did take the Corso Zone today that she got off the bike and wandered the aisles, albeit briefly. I hope she keeps doing that because it is inspiring and adds that element of contact that we all love. She is all business but that doesn’t mean we can’t get to know her just a little bit better. 

Debbie and Arthur who are aficionado's of KSC were there because they probably couldn’t get into Kristen’s 8:30. This is a great alternative, a great alternative. 

The Flirt

It’s Sunday and where else would you find me but spinning with The Blue Sapphire in her 1015 slot. Pound for pound the biggest little powerhouse this side of the Mississippi.  Or west for that matter, why discriminate geographically. 

Three of my most recognizable spinettes from KSC were here; Debbie H., Nancy K. and Green eyed Stacy. Stacy said my goatee looked good and that made this ancient mariner feel good. Nancy just back from her world tour, has been accusing me of flirting and I guess I would have to agree, since I am not dead just yet. However, I was hoping it was not that obvious.  We were also graced with Peter R. our club manager this morning and I couldn’t see from my vantage point how he fared but no doubt he was challenged and he got a firsthand dose of one of the clubs elite group exercise instructors. 

  My engineer friend to my right had her own take on the proceedings this last Sunday of the summer. She said that Carolyn had a drill sergeant air about her today. However you want to describe The Blue Sapphire, she always does what she does with a smile and her trademark blinking blue headlights. Carolyn connects with us emotionally and that is part of her appeal. Too many times I have seen some technically proficient instructors lacking this essential element even though their ride never disappoints. They all have charisma and I love how Kristen and Carolyn turn up the volume just right.  

What I have most recently found challenging are the intervals of seated to position #3. This move takes a bit of choreography and today was emblematic of The Blue Sapphire because she had it timed like a disc jockey. These breakaways are particularly challenging and get me quickly to the anaerobic zone. Ostensibly I used to think that this was just an exercise to break the rhythm of the road but now I know that there is a purpose to it. The other challenge, outside our intense hill climbs are when we hold our upper bodies still and just use our legs for the pedal stroke. This takes extreme concentration and strength.  

Thanks Carolyn for a great summer and fortunately for us we can pick up where we left off next Sunday. 

Early Morning Inspiration

Never too early is a great way to get into KSC. I saw two SUV’s heading into the Equinox lot ahead of me and I sprinted from car to door just in case they were numbers 9 and 10 for the TMW*. Fortunately that was moot and it is in first position I sit. I am here next to Sharon as we trade stories of being able to sleep and insomnia. The line quickly starts to fill in as we edge closer to class commencement and a few extra minutes here at the club is always better than talking to myself at home as my wife is deep in REM sleep. Flash the 10 bikes remaining have dwindled to 9 which was my intuition.

The Queen of Spin has arrived with her offspring that she so often speaks about, and they are blessed with the same beautiful countenance as their mother. Come on Jack, I better get it together as the minutes dwindle, but I love sitting here ruminating. Oh well a time and place for everything.  

Tomorrow in Carolyn’s class I will have two beginners starting their journey and I hope it “takes” with them as it has with me.  

I look forward to the end of the stress that KSC has in getting in to the class when the club is done with their expansion and maybe an end to the resentment I feel sometimes toward those that seem to have the same bike every time. 

Power and Speed

Have I lost my mind? Is there such a thing as being too close?  Is the fear I feel at the beginning of The Corso Zone real or totally a figment of my imagination?  I think the answer to the last question has both elements of reality and head game. It’s real in the sense that my body is experiencing abject fear and it’s my imagination because I am projecting about my previous sessions I have taken with her. If I ask my wife and close friends, they think I have lost my mind based on how many times I spin each week. Secondly,  if I do take the  #1 bike again I will don a a lead shield to protect me from the gamma rays. Although I am starting to feel hulkish.  

Today in the 830 slot which was to have been Damian’s, I spied that Michelle would be subbing. I tried not to think about Tuesday which was my last class with her in Roslyn, and blot out just how daunting 60 minutes is with her. I mean in the sense that you commit to an all out effort, the Corso Zone is for the elite spinner.  I am out of my league.  Suffice it to say that any of our instructors could blow me out of the water if they decided to turn on the pedal stroke, Michelle is in my opinion more suited for an athlete in top form. This will not keep me from taking her class, because I can mark my progress clearly in just how much time I spend in and out of the anaerobic zone. My friend Nancy K. told me that I can’t write about another instructor in KSC.  I said anyone in Kristen’s staff is part of her domain and so I concluded that I could do whatever I wanted.  

If you look purely at Michelle's  anatomy, fat does not exist on this woman’s body. If there is any at all  it must be just for flavor.  Someone must have lied to me when they said that she has 4 children. My jaw dropped, because it is inconceivable (no pun) to me. I suppose anything is possible with enough dedication and this young woman certainly has that. 

 At one point Ms. Corso asked us for more road, and I was about to call the construction crew because I was out of asphalt.  I could also see that Michelle is not as aloof as I had thought, because I witnessed several smiles  creasing her face today. Maybe I just didn't notice them before. 

I keep thinking about what one male spinner told me about Michelle, that she had only two speeds: fast and faster. A truly half-baked statement indeed. I can see why he may have concluded that because in the first session I took with her several months ago I went away scratching my head, because all I saw was a blur. However, in #1 today I got to hear her lesson plan in fine detail. Corso leads with power not with speed.  Speed is an integral part of her style, but only after you have mastered power. I didn’t try to match her pedal stroke speed, (which is impossible for me) and instead concentrated on discovering just how much resistance I could muster and still keep my pedal stroke from becoming choppy.  She kept emphasizing to keep a smooth pedal stroke, and with too much “red dial” it is not feasible.

 I learn more every time I spin with Kristen’s elite staff and spinning is beyond Zen it is and please forgive me a way of life.  Have I flipped? I don’t think so, because my life has never been more aligned than it is now, seven months in to this spectacular sport. I think more logically, attend to matters promptly and what is more important in a deliberating fashion as well.    

The Estrogen Field

Today in KSC, which was totally unplanned, I found a bike as late as 15 minutes before the start of class after a one on one workout with Rich Bianco. The open bike was pure luck of the summer.  I am so glad I took the spot because Evil Woman was at the top of her game. 

I am used to a smattering of men in every class of KSC, but today I found myself in a sea of muliebrity. It was a most singular experience. I have been amongst women in a concentrated space in an office setting and there is a palpable ‘feel’ when a man enters: The Estrogen Field. So here I was with 40 women atop our Schwinn’s and one might conclude that I was one lucky guy. There was plenty of eye candy, all for me but that fun  soon disappeared as we got down to the business at hand, Kristen was about to kick our collective asses; women and man. She did just that. 

It was distinctively quiet throughout the session and I felt compelled to let out some whoops and yells and when I found that I had no accompaniment from my fellowette riders I knew that my testosterone might not be well received in a sea of estrogen, but that was not going to stop me, after all I had to represent the male of the species. 

Kristen played not one but two songs; Evil Woman that had the chorus of ELO but a female covering the main lyrics (still good) and a hip-hop song that actually had me bellowing as well. But let’s be very clear it really doesn’t matter what music she plays because I always learn something, am motivated the rest of the day and the fat is just melting away.  

The Estrogen Field can be a dangerous place even for men of action like me.