1989Pre 

I have just recently joined a health club, but am having one, somewhat major, obstacle: The disco that they play at-volume, through big JBL speakers, in the cycling and "aerobics" classes. I would not bother you all with this seemingly-insignificant aspect of health club life, but I truly hate disco. Some of it even has tinges of rap mixed in. Help me.
At home, I have built my life around harmony and serenity. I listen to classical and new age (meditation) music.
Sometimes, the instructor even has a wireless microphone and is yelling all the time. I do not like people yelling to me. If someone yells, I usually ignore them.
I love the exercise and the training, but am feeling assaulted by the disco and yelling noise in these classes.
Is there a way of looking at this that will help me to accept this noise as a part of my life? I feel that this enslaught is a pennance of some sort. Maybe that is the way to think about it: The true cost of membership and of receiving such training.
Maybe I could think of it this way, "Feel fortunate. It could be hard-core punk they are playing". Am I just trying to find an excuse not to exercise? Or is the t-shirt that I saw recently correct?: Disco Still S****?
Can I wear hearing protectors? Is this accepted in these classes?

hcour

Disco? Crimeny. That's so 70's. I say put on some headphones and crank up the rock 'n roll. Or Mozart. Whatever floats your boat.

mcours2006

Get out and ride your bike on your own terms.

wolfchild

Workout and train at home and outside. That way you don't have to listen to music which you don't like. Personally I find any type of music distracting and irritating during a workout.

1989Pre 

Good advice. I'm going to have to bough out of it and buy my own exercise bike for winter. There's no use making myself miserable.

Machka 

Have you thought about politely suggesting some alternative musical choices? Most places I've been have welcomed reasonable suggestions.

Myosmith

I've got very eclectic music tastes so I rarely have a problem with whatever music is being played at the gym. If you want true harmony and serenity you must learn to accept whatever comes your way. Anyone can be tranquil listening to the birds in a remote forest at dawn. When you can be tranquil in rush hour traffic in New York, you are a true master.

Personally, I like something old school with a bit of kick when I'm training:

Seattle Forrest

My gym plays No Doubt. I feel your pain.

1989Pre 

I don't know too much about the type of headphones that I could use. Do you have any recommendations? I don't know how the new ones work.

TCR Rider

Whatever type you choose, earbuds or over ears, make sure they are noise cancelling if you want to block out the surrounding din.

hcour

Yep, I'd go with noise-cancelling earbuds. I use old-fashioned over-the-ear headphones at home so I'm not familiar with them.

https://www.google.com/search?q=nois...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Seattle Forrest

Do you have a smart phone? (Palm-sized flat thing with cat videos.) If so, you probably want bluetooth earbuds so you aren't connected to anything by a wire. If it's important to you, some are made with heart rate monitors built in.

awesomeame

That sounds like pretty much every gym everywhere. Get some headphones or earbuds and listen to whatever you want. Bose makes some great noise cancelling units which will cut out most of the outside racket.

Matt

berner

Man, a block party with Carlos Santana is my idea of a real good time.

zacster

This is why I train at home or outside. I've thought about trying out Peloton in NYC, but was kind of turned off when I checked it out. I probably will try a single session since I've never done a real spin class, and maybe all of my "Suffering" will have paid off to make a spin class feel easy. Or I guess it all depends on how much you put into it no matter what it is.

Trakhak

Music in headphones, whatever the claims with respect to noise cancellation, might not mask punishingly loud external music completely unless you turn your music up to potentially ear-damaging levels, so be careful if you take that route.

1989Pre 

"Noise cancelling"? That is a special designation? Bose makes these?
I kind of connect to what Trak is saying...I'd rather have no music in my ears while exercising.
I have some over-the-ear hearing protectors that are rated at 26dB, which I use on the farm in summer, so I'll give those a shot. I noticed that the foam "in-ear" protectors are rated a bit higher, at 32dB, so if the over-ear ones don't work, I'll try the foam ones.
The good news is that my health club has ok'd the use of hearing protectors! I am very pleased about this. I was actually surprised about it. I was expecting some resistance. (They said some members are already using them).
@zac: Yeah, I don't anticipate having to go through this for more than one winter: I just want to maximize my conditioning for one year/series of local time-trials. (You would think people who are serious about their conditioning/training would not want a carnival atmosphere).
@sea: I am not sure what a smart phone or a bluetooth is.

gregf83 

Noise cancellation is good for blocking out steady noise like aircraft engines. I don't think it will do much for disco or any other music.

Carbonfiberboy 

Peace comes from inside, not from outside. Eschew negativity, embrace acceptance. A good instructor will have chosen music with the proper beat for each exercise. Get with it and hammer those pedals. Try smiling, real big. If that can't work for you and you're a negative element in the class, don't attend. It's supposed to be a group ride with a similar vibe.

TCR Rider

Well said. I used to take a spin class where the instructor played an eclectic mix of music which was always on target for what we were doing at that moment. I didn't like all her selections but she gave a good class. I was there for a workout not for a music appreciation class.

These days for structured training I ride on a smart trainer and use Trainer Road and listen to a playlist where every tune is my favorite song.

Machka 

+1!!

1989Pre 

I take seriously all the elements that I allow into my life, maybe especially my music. I am not the only one who equates disco/rap and loud volume with lack-of-intellect. I do not ride with music, nor do I need music to motivate or guide me. To use supplemental aids in this way is to take the easy way out and not rely on one's own ambition.
I do not smile while I am training. What would I be smiling for? Imagining a funny joke? I don't get it. Do you see any competitive cyclists smiling while training or racing? I'd rather stay focused.
People who need high volume and brain-dead music are the ones I see who are not even breaking a sweat. I'm always the one trying hardest.
If you're looking for conformity or the type who is a pathological "follower", then you probably don't get along with people who call the shots in their life and think for themselves. @Machka, I am unable to read your comments and posts.

Machka 

Sad.

<<shrug>>

1989Pre 

With your "whatever" attitude, I can see why you need music to get you through a training session. Try turning off the music and using your own mind.

TCR Rider

When I take my whatever attitude outside I never ride with music. When I'm riding indoors I enjoy the boost a strong backbeat gives me but that's just me. I'm not so prickly that if I'm riding in a spin class I let the playlist ruin my workout. If I didn't have the mental fortitude to deal with it I wouldn't take the class.