I was visiting a YMCA in a nearby town today 'cuz my usual workout facility was closed.
After a little track and weight room time, I got on a spin bike. I’d never been on one before. I liked it. Nice and smooth.
The bike was one of four positioned just off the edge of an elevated running track. They were positioned right up against a railing, facing the “sweat pit” below where svelt coeds (home from college) dashed on treadmills and spun away on their elipticals. It was gonna be a pleasant 70 minute spin before I had to meet my wife.
About 15 minutes in, I decided to do an out-of-saddle interval. I cranked down the tension and hopped out of the saddle. My left foot slipped out of the toe clip. By instinct, I just stopped pedaling. I guess I assumed the machine would freewheel. It didn’t. That huge flywheel just powered that crank and catapulted me by my right leg … up and over the handlebars and darned near up and over the railing headfirst into the sweat pit. I ended up with my crotch atop the handlebars and my chin just over the railing. It was a very close call. Woulda made a great video, I’m sure. Now I understand why they have that little red tab to brake the flywheel. They should tell you about these things in advance!
Yikes man, that could have been serious…normally they don’t have “spin” bikes just sitting out in the general population for that very reason, presuming that in a “classroom” setting there will be some basic instruction as to the do’s and don’ts.
Saturday I’m spinning along in a class, doing my own thing as per usual, and two bikes down I hear this “wham!”…a guy was riding on there, pretty big dude, perhaps 6’3 and 220-230ish…he basically sheared off the right hand pedal right from the crank. Just snapped it clean off. He too was fortunate not to get hurt and kind of laughed it off. The instructor seemed pretty nervous about the whole thing and was attentive to the situation without being too dramatic, if that makes sense…
So not only do we have to be careful outside, we have to watch out indoors as well. Damn.
I think my poor old mum will demand too much of my time. But if you stop by the Courtyard by Marriott in Covington, you might catch me in their little workout pit late in the evening. Hopefully I won’t biff in there.
