Are you offended ...

... by breast nipples showing through thin, sweaty workout attire? I've never given it much thought, but someone complained to me about this today.

I always wear a sports bra under my cycling shirt or other gym attire. I am a "perky" girl. Unless I wear a padded bra, my nipples always "pop" through.
No one has ever said anything to me in my 10+ years of teaching.
I do not show much/any cleavage, mostly because I am not well-endowed. I think many well-endowed female instructors, especially in indoor cycling and the bent over position, show way too much.
Basically, I say wear an outer top, keep it zipped up and tell your member to close his/her eyes if it's that distracting.

[Jon]

Yes, I'm offended by that -- but not as much as I am by class participants releasing the gaseous by product of bacterial activity in the large intestine, while near me.

[bluenoser]

Personally, I think the nipple complaint is what's offensive. Nipples poking through fabric are very different than exposed cleavage due to ill-chosen scanty attire. Women can't control whether or not their nipples will "do what they do" any more than we control the weather (if you know what I mean). I practically wear a combat bra to work at the gym, sturdy fabric, full support and coverage, and guess what? Sometimes those bad girls just won't stay put.

Guess most of us would have to resort to wearing baggy T-shirts if we're to avoid the "nipple thang."

Just my two, er . . .cents.

[madcyclist]

Guest,

je ne sais pas.

I am a visual person - I can't visualize what you are explaining. Can you post a picture (or several) of what you are talking about (especially of the "nipples popping through").

I can then make a better determination whether or not I would be offended.

Thanks.
--

[texasred]

You can always blame it on a wardrobe malfunction...

[Christian spinner]

madcyclist~
You must be a guy :lol: No free peep shows for you. You dirty dog! :twisted:
Keep riding and looking up!
Christian Spinner

[Nipsi98]

You can give her a choice... either you can turn down the A/C, or she could stop staring at your well defined pecs.
How does one see that in a cycle class anyway?

[AC]

I am offended that someone would be offended.

Hi-beams always on for better vision.

[Rex]

I'm going to pretend to not notice, perhaps, in case my wife is in the room... but secretly I'm thinking its pretty cool that you don't care.

I'd be uncomfortable if the shirt were white and actually "see-through"....

But I'd still not mind terribly.

[gonzosgirl01]

Dude, whatever motivates 'em.

My husband rides the bike directly in front of me, and I KNOW he ain't always thinkin' 'bout spinning. Sooo...if it motivates someone else in the bargain, so be it.

It's never bothered me, even as a (high beam :P ) female (!!). If you're comfortable with your body, why worry about it?

--Mandi

[spinnerpom]

LOL.!

I'm small but "perky", and I often have this "problem". Wearing dark colored workout tops helps, but once I'm sweating and my clothes get wet...well, not a lot I can do about it. No one's ever complained. Besides, when you're small-busted, anything that makes you look/feel more feminine is a bonus.

:lol:

[Cheeze]

No. If it (they) offend your eyes and your mind - don't look. Or are female nipples in a Spinning class the same thing as a car accident on the road. You can't stop yourself from slowing way down to get a good look - even though you are offended by it (them).

If you ladies would lay a slice of cheddar over each breast - the nipples would not show through. Problem solved. Janet Jackson tried this fashion tip but unfortunately she chose Swiss.

Just my slice of Cheeze

[AC]

Now putting cheddar cheeze on a woman's breast...that offends me.

I recommend something sweet or in the whipped cream family.

[madcyclist]

My Monday and Wednesday night classes have become a "meat market" so to speak. The ladies show and then the guys and then ladies and then the guys. It seems as though they look forward to it - my classes are full.

The room get pretty hot and, of course, articles of clothing start hitting the floor. The heat along with some jamming music (special mixes provided by moi) seems to be a recipe for some intense flirting and working out - nothing like bring some sexuality in class to lighten and spice things up.

The ladies seems not to mind "advertising" and I've notice in some of my last classes that the guys are doing the same - I notice more muscle shirts to match the sports bras in class. Everyone seems to be investing in cycling shorts and I doubt if it's for the function but rather a "fashion statement".

Hey, whatever works. It this is the incentive that gets them to get off their butts, then I guess it's not really a bad thing.

And from my vantage point? I prefer to have the front row with all ladies. I notice the guys prefer to sit in the back row too. Hee, hee ...

Offended? Naw, it just part of the game.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Or in this case, the cycling room.
--

[spin-up]

I've lost it... what forum am I on?

[AC]

PLHB - This one thread has a little emphasis on the L, with a tad of H.

Sorry MadCy...not much "meat" to market at 6AM, but the point I agree is that Spinning is not for children for a variety of reasons.

So you agree at least there is some benefit to Indoor Cycling vs. the outdoor variety? Nature provides 2 kinds of views depending on the venue...eh?

[spin-up]

listnen Maddy, not that I have anything against flirting in fact its my middle name, but not during my trainings

I think you'r mixing things up and this may become a little dangerous

anyway, if someone gets to your class for a good work-out and can't stand the heat of this dating class.... he has to get OUT?

[madcyclist]

So you agree at least there is some benefit to Indoor Cycling vs. the outdoor variety? Nature provides 2 kinds of views depending on the venue...eh?

AC, d'accord!

Yes, this is one of the bennie's of indoor cycling - a prolonged sustainable view from the front and behind. On the road all you see are cycling shorts from behind and from the front a zipper that is down with cleavage dangling (in some cases). Every once in a while you wonder what in the heck did you just see (a male or a female). But this is only for a few of seconds (as you pass her from the back or the front). But indoors, there is the view and you know what you're looking at - well in most cases (I think). 8)

Spinup, so far as someone getting "hurt". As long as no one is getting physically hurt and my classes are safe, there isn't much I can do about the flirting and what comes out of that. These are adults and if they can't conduct themselves as such (even in a flirtatious environment), then this male or female shouldn't engage in the activity. I'm not a baby sitter.

There is a couple I am watching though. I think both of them are married (and not to each other). But hey that's their thang. As long as they don't bring their quarrelling into my class, I can't worry about what they do outside of it. This is their business.
--

[Innercycling.com]

aaaahhhhh ahhhhhhh aaaaahhhh I like this poost, this post is really cool , aahh she said "nipple" this post is so cool.

signed
Beavis


Thanks for the family value entertainment writing. We will consider all of you as writers for our HBO/internet shows called "Sex in the cycle room" and the new hit "queer eye for the JGSI" and as usual "Don't call us, we'll call you"
Billy

[spin-up]

Madcyclist I think maybe I wasn't clear.. I don't think at all you are responsible for what your students do with eachother. Married or not, getting into affairs or not its THEIR responsibility and it happens all the time at any gym.

But what you ARE responsible for is giving a good training. Focus on how everyone is doing not just your front row. Sure a little erotic tension in class can help, it pushes, motivates some to try a little harder. The danger is when this is all they come for then you have to reduce on it. Dont say this is what they want - who is in charge of your class anyway?

For a lot of people sex and sport somehow fade into each other. The instructors responsibility is to draw a line (tempting as it is to go over, I totally agree...)

[spinnerpom]

OK, I'm weighing in here from Houston, Texas, on my laptop at midnight after a really long day of working on a Saturday...

but...here's the thing.

People who are physically active tend to be more "physical" in general. This tendancy toward physicality spills over from sports and working out...it spills over into sexuality. Fit, healthy people are naturally more sexual. And when you take that equation, put it into a co-ed situation in which people are mentally and physically stimulated by music and endorphines and being half-dressed, it's somewhat natural for sexuality to be lurking just beneath the surface.


Whether or not people ACT on those impulses is beyond your control, but in my experience, it's a situation that's a smoldering ember and a good workout is just gasoline on the fire. Add to that the fact that many of the people in my gym are mid-life; kids grown or at least pretty independent and a little marital restlessness going on. Definitely a recipe for sex or at the very least, fodder for a good soap opera.

Can't tell you how many flirtations and affairs and divorces and marriages I've seen happen right under my sweaty nose in Spinning class.

Sara

[spin-up]

so.... you will just stand by and let it happen? Wait untill this guy drops from his bike with heart problems, because he was showing off, doing 160 rpm with resistance all on?

Where's your responsibility?

Better, offer them a party or barbeque at your gym every 3 months to let the hormons out. But be serious about your training and be in charge. Spinning is NOT a piece of cake, riders have to keep focussed on themselves.

Sory guys for taking this topic away from the nipples.... had to get this of my chest...

Clarien

Stand by and let what happen? I'm supposed to stop people from flirting and fraternizing? Sorry, not in my job description. My responsibility is to conduct a safe class, not be the morality police of the health club.

And I'm not sure where the 160 rpm comment came from; maybe I missed something? Just because I see people flirting before, after and occasionally during my classes doesn't mean my classes aren't safe.

Just make sure there is condoms available

[madcyclist]

Spin up.

Because folks are coming to my class and flirt with each other means implies that I don't have control of my class? I'd like to hear your reasoning behind that one.

Mind you I said that they are flirting, not engaging in sexual activity (eventhough that would be interesting). The fact is the reason WHY these folks are drawn to my class isn't because how good I look in bibs, but rather my instruction style, the real world cycling knowledge I bring to the class which is outside of the regular aerobics routines, and my music. And yes, the folks KNOW that my classes are safe, fun, and effective. Because I am off the bike 75% of the time coaching off the floor, I watch and engage everyone (and that's what my riders like and want).

I agree with Guest and Pommie that the flirting is a by product of this environment. Controlling the flirting before and after my classes is NOT in MY JOB DESCRIPTION to manage. I am an INDOOR CYCLING INSTRUCTOR, not a marriage counselor or sociologist. My job is to deliver an efffective and fun class while maintaining a high degree of safety.

Like Guest, I too am also puzzled where "the guy doing 160 rpm who passes out with a heart attack" comment came from. I'm assuming you meant his was on his bike instead of doing something else in the back row at 160 rpm that made him pass out. (Didn't PEE WEE HERMAN pass out with a heart attack doing his thang at 160 rpm?) LMAO!!

Man, I'd hate to take one of your classes. Sounds like you're a control freak. A guy's eyes stray and he'll become a candidate for castration. Don't let a gal's eyes fall, she'll have to wear a chasity belt.

This is where I "draw the line": as long as the flirting doesn't interfere with the delivery of my classes, no harm done. I'm not going to try to control something that is out of my control - a lesson I learned a long time ago. These folks are ADULTS and they are accountable for their actions.
--

had to get this of my chest...

Just so long as it's perky.

Oops Maddy don't get offended.. my 160 rpm guy was just an exemple of what COULD happen if you watch your students take too much interest in each other and not focus on the training..

From your first entry I got the impression you got distracted so much by you beautiful front row and didn't pay much attention to the rest of your class... but you made that clear now and 75% off bike is more than I do.

Am I a control freak? Well yes I think so as far as concerned the safety in my class .... but we have lots of fun also.. Too bad you think that being a safe instructor means I castrate my students...

Sorry forgot to log in its early here...
Spin-up

[AC]

(Didn't PEE WEE HERMAN pass out with a heart attack doing his thang at 160 rpm?) LMAO!!

--

I don't think "RPM's" is a good quantitative measure of what PeeWee was doing, if we are speaking of the same Peewee. I believe he might have passed out after he was taken into custody. It's hard to imagine a guy making himself that happy that he passes out after doing that to himself.

[SPARKY]

Dear Readers (and writers).

Wow,.. interesting thread. We started in the very first posting of a complaint about nipples,.. and then by the end of the thread we are marching down the Pee Wee Herman path. Where was the transition?
I must have missed that que,... as even this late in the thread I'm still "on" the nipples.

(Sorry Pee Wee,.. no offense.)

SPARKY
P.S. I joined this site to learn,... and LEARNING is what I'm getting !!
Thanks for the insightul comments. I need to revisit the term "perky" too as I have not heard that in awhile. I am teaching a class tonite and I"m afraid all I'm gonna be thinking about is THIS DARN THREAD!! How can a guy concentrate?? I better watch my eyes tonite. I dont' want to get accused of leering,.......

[spinnerpom]

Stand by and let what happen? I'm supposed to stop people from flirting and fraternizing? Sorry, not in my job description. My responsibility is to conduct a safe class, not be the morality police of the health club.

And I'm not sure where the 160 rpm comment came from; maybe I missed something? Just because I see people flirting before, after and occasionally during my classes doesn't mean my classes aren't safe.

Sorry, my remote connection didn't automatically log me in...that was me, not Mad, who wrote the above post.

Sara

[madcyclist]

Sparky,

As you are learning, there is no telling where the road will lead to when you get a group of folks like this in a forum. Yes, the thread began with "nipples' and turned down the "Peewee Herman" path. Who knows where it will turn next?

That's what I like about this group, spontaneity. No telling what these witty folks will come up with.

And AC, from what I remember, Peewee was in the back of a movie theatre do his thang at 160 RPM (that wRist Per Min). Was it Caligula? I think it was the nipples he saw on the screen that triggered him into this frenzy.

Sparky, the lesson here: have your folks go at 160 RPM to get the nipples popping through the sports bras and the guys in the back to do exercises that strengthens their wrists. But make sure you maintain control and keep it safe.

LMAO!!
--

[SPARKY]

Maddy:

Great stuff. You are correct. It's like taking a group on an outdoor ride and deciding mid-ride to take a turn on a road YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN DOWN BEFORE. Ya never know whats down that unplanned road. Regardless of what happens,.. it will be a "learning" experience.

Let's call it "SPARKY's BIG ADVENTURE" and leave it at that.

SPARKY
p.s. oh, by the way,... I do tell my ridership to watch their wrists so they don't get tired/sore from bending them too much (downward) on the handelbars. I am talking about the BIKES's handelbars,.. right???

[spin-up]

I must admit I came on a little sharp (sorry sara) (still mad Mad?)

This is what happened a few months ago. I have this class, boy do I like it, so much energy, love and happines all over... Ok so here's this guy, mid 20s, very popular with the girls, not a regular though, he comes in every now and then. This 1 night he comes in and really goes for it - doing the 160 rpm, showing off, trying so hard to impress the girls up front. And they chear him, so he's going faster. I try 1 on 1 to cool him down but he's beyond that and I think 'o well do it the way you want then'.

And there he goes. He falls off his bike, on the floor. One foot still in the toe-clipp. Face is blue, legs are shaking. He's almost dead. I'll never forget the sight of this. Anyway we were lucky - we got him back.

I blame myself for this, for getting carried away by the atmosphere of the class and not being enough of a teacher. Guess I got a little bit more bitchy after that. And now you guys get that on your head...

Anyway I learned my lesson and now am very careful to draw a line. The focus in my class now is more on safety... afterwards we have a drink in the bar and catch up..

Sorry for judging.

NOW... Perky, can't wait to find out how you'll take us back to the original subject...

[spin-up]

sorry I meant Sparky

[SpinUP]

Dearest Spin-UP:

SAFTEY is the immediate issue (how timely). I met a gal yesterday who had an accident recently in a indoor cycling class. She has attended classes before so she is NOT a 1st timer. Early in the ride she went for her first standing run (first standing run for this particular class) and when she stood up the handlebars came with her. She fell forward and landed down by the base of the bike and one foot came out and the pedal came around and whacked her half way between knee and hip. She ended up with 16 stitches in her leg. Not a fun ride for her. She was still on crutches and I asked her what happend. Wow,. she sure gave me quite a story. And she has stitches and crutches to prove it.

Seems somebody took the handle bars ALL THE WAY UP and then just placed it back in the opening and it just sat there until the next class.
This poor gal did NOT check her pop-pins to ensure everything on the bike was secure. Not sure,.. but the instructor probably did not remind the ridership at the beginning of the class to check all settings and make sure all adjustments were secure. Very unfortunate. Now here is where I'll get some passionate postings. Was this SOLELY the instructors fault, SOLEY the riders fault or do they share the blame equally?? Either way we MUST provide a SAFE environment in which to ride. This was a STERN reminder for me to ALWAYS remind my ridership to CHECK THE BIKE AND ALL ADJUSTMENTS before the ride begins. I have heard of horror stories before,..... but this one really hit home when I had a face-to-face conversation with her just yesterday!! Your thoughts??

SPARKY

While I firmly believe that it is the instructor's ultimate responsibility to run a safe room and a safe class, and this includes the reminder before EVERY ride to make sure all pop pins are secure, I do feel that some onus is on the rider to use common sense and check for themselves that all systems are go. I would never hop on a bike and assume that everything was set for me unless I checked. If something breaks, well, that is unfortunate and sometimes does happen.

I blame them both, but I know that ultimately, the instructor will be held responsible.

[AC]

Someone riding at 160 rpm's or more, you standing by while they are cheered on by others in the class, and you think you are bitchy for stopping this? Actually you are not qualified to be an instructor for even thinking this is how a class should be conducted. What kind of profile for a group has this sort of movement where one person pedals as fast as they can while the others root?

What this is is dangerous and stupid and if you were certified JGSI, you are prepped in safe cadences to use especially for a newbie regardless of their appearence. You don't have to "focus"on safety if you just follow what you were taught to teach.

And if you feel insulted by this post, it is more insulting to know there are instructors who start out thining this is a good idea instead of just walking over and pulling the brake on the rider and asking him/her to leave.

AC,

If you haven't noticed the forum name is Cyclying Indoor. So this person dosen't have to be JGSI to post here. Maybe they aren't? I agree that that method of coaching is not safe and probably shouldn't be done. Are you the spinning police? And when did they ever tell you in your certification or any contuning ed classes that touching a members bike is ok? I seem to remember that was a big no-no. When i got certified by Mad Dogg.

I see this fourm getting more and more like the "spinning fourm" no wonder they took it away.

[SPARKY]

AC:

Great point. We were told it's a "no-no" to touch somebody's bike while riding. But in the above example,.. when should the teacher intervene?
I would get off my bike and tell the person to knock it off or else,....
if he/she kept going then I would pull up on the breaks and the hell with what MDA says. I would then ask the peson to leave. I would surely lose a rider,... but thats a GOOD trade-off for safety. Besides, we dont' need those kinds of riders in our classes anyway. The other riders would "get the point" real quick.

This advice is for ALL cycling classess,... MDA and others.

SPARKY

[AC]

If the member is going to injure themself, you should "touch the bike". The concept of touching the bike is relative to adding resistance to a riders bike, not braking it to pervent injury. There are also idiots who put their foot against the flywheel to add resistance to a rider's bike.

It has nothing to do with which certification you have. I have Schwinn and JGSI, and both keep cadences 110 or below, so what does that have to do with doing stupid acts as an instructor?

[madcyclist]

Hey Sparky,

See how the road turned again? We started our journey with "nipples that pop through offending people"; traveled through the Temptation Island; peeked at Peewee Herman; and now we're in neverland and touching the bike - speaking of neverland and touching, I wonder if we'll start taking about Mikey Jackson next?

Acutally I prefer the discussion about the nipples.
--

[SPARKY]

Mad:

I'll pass on the mickey jackson story. Not worth my effort. I don't think he "rides" a bike.................

I just need to learn the "environment" as each club has its own culture. I have taught at 4 different clubs,... and the ratio of female to male in the cycling classes is fairly consistent; two-thirds female,... one-third male.
I need to adjust and recognize the make-up of my audience. Most of the females want a good work-out too but have a tad more emphasis on the social aspects of riding. (They seem to be more aware of the music, WHO is in the class, the socio-environmentals, as I call them, aspects of the ride). I ride more with emotion than a mechanical ride (mechancial meaning more focus on things like cadence checks, heart rate monitoring, etc). I do address this but not to the same level of frequency as other instructors.

SEE?? I'm still learning AND listening !!!!

SPARKY

[spin-up]

Wow this is some heavy stuff to swallow with my cereal...

AC my dear friend why do you misinterprete my story? You make it sound like I stood by and applauded... Is my english so poor or you do this on purpose? Why are you so upset?

No I don't feel insulted I'm just curious.... from your entries I read before you sounded so reasonably... now why do you get so wild on this? I told you I feel guilty - even before you rubbed it in.

I started reacting on this post because I felt some instructors were in the risk of making the same mistake I made. This is what this forum is about isn't it? Share your cases so others can learn or take advantage of it. NOT share your cases and YES let's crucify this BAD BAD JGSI!

If you want to yell some more feel free to get to my email Clarien1@zonnet.nl

[spinnerpom]

LOL, I'm finally sitting down and reading this entire thread...very funny how many turns it's taken!

SpinUp, I think your initial post about the 160 RPM guy did read a little bit like you weren't in control of the class, and maybe some of us misinterpreted. Sounds to me like you learned a lesson from it, and that's the most important thing.

I know that if this guy had been in my class, I would have told him to stop. If he didn't, I would have turned on the lights and turned off the music and waited for everyone to calm down then tell them that if they choose to ride in a way that endangers them and puts me at risk, they are no longer welcome in my class. And I would have the full support of my management if I did so.

Finally, I would not have touched the knob if his legs were moving that fast. But I might have gone over there and put my hands on his, looked him in the eye and then surreptitiously leaned against the flywheel to slow him down. But only if nothing else worked.

Personally, I think turning off the music and turning on the lights would have accomplished everything without putting anyone at risk.

Just my 2 cents.

[AC]

OK..proobably should have read the address and read between the English, but whatever you do, you just don't sit there and watch.

I had a similar instance about a year ago. A very fit member was flying around way too fast. I went over and asked her what she was doing and she answered she wanted to get her heart rate up high. After some reasonabe dialogue (while the others just kept going with the lites down and music up) she just kept going at a pace that I felt was reckless and I just asked her to leave very quietly. She did. End of story. We spoke afterward and she understood what I was looking for and I never saw her in a class again.

Taking these classes is not for everyone mentally. There are some people who need to call attention to themselves and do things to either show off or show up someone. I don't have a lot of these problems because I can stare a hole right through your head if I want to to make my point. In any form of group dynamic that you lead, people need to know what you will and won't accept as behavior norms. This is done by being consistant, reliable and staying grounded in a base of knowledge.

[spin-up]

I wish I still had this confidence.... when you read about someone else's mistakes you think that is pretty stupid luckily that will NEVER happen to me... I would have done this, or that.

I thought so too, prepare my lessons like a perfectionist, make them safe, watch my people, interfere when things go wrong

Still, though being a control freak.... I slipped.

And even now I think this could happen to any of you... But please don't let me take your confidence away, just when the heat gets on in 26 riders' heads remember to keep yours cool.

Btw I wish I could also stare holes in peoples heads you have to teach me AC! When I do this they will laugh themselves to dead - do you need special eyes for this (mine are green)

[spinnerpom]

Spin-up, I hear you!!!! One piece of advice I would give, though, is that while you are in that room, on the instructor bike, you are the voice of authority. You are the expert on indoor cycling. I don't care if some guy in your class rides 300 miles a week on a $3,000 bike. Hell, I don't care if Lance Armstrong is in there. If someone's doing something unsafe it is not only your right but your responsibility to control it.

By positioning yourself as "large and in charge" you immediately gain the respect of your riders. Respect = control. Control = Safety. Safety = No injuries. No injuries = no lawsuits. It all goes full circle. You can be responsible for your class or you can be responsible as the defendant in a lawsuit. Just the way I see it.

Sounds like you have the right attitude...don't be afraid to speak up. Not everyone will like you for it, but everyone WILL respect you for it.

Sara

[spinnerpom]

Spin-up, I hear you!!!! One piece of advice I would give, though, is that while you are in that room, on the instructor bike, you are the voice of authority. You are the expert on indoor cycling. I don't care if some guy in your class rides 300 miles a week on a $3,000 bike. Hell, I don't care if Lance Armstrong is in there. If someone's doing something unsafe it is not only your right but your responsibility to control it.

By positioning yourself as "large and in charge" you immediately gain the respect of your riders. Respect = control. Control = Safety. Safety = No injuries. No injuries = no lawsuits. It all goes full circle. You can be responsible for your class or you can be responsible as the defendant in a lawsuit. Just the way I see it.

Sounds like you have the right attitude...don't be afraid to speak up. Not everyone will like you for it, but everyone WILL respect you for it.

Sara

[spinnster10]

Sparky, love, be careful of how you categorize your riders! :wink:
Generalizations can catch up with you!

I'll be watching you . . . :shock: