FIGHT THE RESISTANCE

Teaching Spin is very similar to being a radio presenter.

I know this because I once presented a two hour breakfast show for the popular and well regarded (in community radio circles) Burnage FM. (Popular with two students and a local takeaway company who donated a free pizza to the winners of our ‘What did you have for your tea?' competition. We didn't have any callers, let alone winners so my co-host and I won every week.)

As a Spin Instructor 

• You have to talk pretty much constantly for 45 minutes. However you can't see the faces of anyone you're talking to/shouting at (as instructor spotlight is blinding and sweat gets into eyes so everyone is fuzzy blur after first track)
• You have to be funny (but no one will ever laugh because they are either traumatised by being in a spin class, completely out of breath or being serious Front Row Spinners (FRS). (These guys do not smile, laugh, cough or breathe and often decide to do their own thing completely. They will be sprinting on a hill climb and vice versa. I am baffled. Also they will wear barely any clothes and have towels with their own initials sewn in.)
• You have to have a couple of amusing background stories about things that have happened to you during the week (to entertain spinners whilst they are setting up their bikes).
• You also have to introduce the next track and let people know what's about to happen during it: (Difficult when have playlist of 350 tracks and only Spotify knows what's coming next but keeps me on toes) 

E.G ME: ‘Next up we’ve got a serious hill climb but Craig David’s in the house and I don’t know about you but I’m over the moon with the return of some UK Garage...!'
SPINNERS: Cough, drink water, make weird noises like they’re going to be a bit sick.

ME: Cool! Well… here we go.

As a result of the constant talking, trying to be stand up comedian, making sure that everyone is still alive and actually teaching spin sometimes I have no control over the phrases that come out of my mouth. This week my top 4 have been...

• 'Just an inch can make a big difference boys' - Said this by mistake in Shouty Gym to lunchtime class of 26 men when trying to encourage them to turn their dial to make the hill steeper.

• 'Stay with me!' (In style of paramedic). Said in Busy Gym in desperation at end of a long track when someone looked like they had fallen asleep in back of class. 

• FIGHT THE RESISTANCE - Said in Posh Gym in middle of hill climb when I got overexcited. 

• Singing in perfect harmony (third above) to Lenny Kravitz's 'Fly Away'. Was so pleased, surprised and impressed with self did it for every chorus. Spinners didn't look pleased or impressed, did look a little surprised though. 

Over and Out.