September arrived in Auckland with its usual spring identity crisis — technically warmer, practically still sulking. And while most sensible people ease gently out of winter, Nanny took one look at the calendar, ignored every piece of advice she’s ever been given, and announced a 30‑minute spin every day for the entire month. A bold move for someone who had just spent winter hibernating like a suburban bear. Unfortunately, she also forgot how dates work and accidentally started two days early, turning her spring challenge into a 32‑day cycling marathon. Classic Nanny: enthusiastic, determined, and immediately in over her head.
Spring in New Zealand technically begins in September, although in practice it behaves like a moody teenager — present, but not fully committed. The weather is still dicey, the mornings still rude, and outdoor exercise still very much a negotiation. Nevertheless, Nanny decided this was the perfect moment to set herself a challenge: thirty minutes of spin every single day in September. Winter hibernation was over; the wheels were coming out.
Now, Nanny is well aware of the warnings about rest days. She has heard them, nodded politely at them, and then ignored them entirely because she has been doing spin and RPM for years and knows exactly how to ease off when the legs start filing complaints. The plan was simple: 30 minutes a day, for 30 days. Except Nanny wasn’t watching the calendar and accidentally did spin on the last two days of August. So the challenge quietly expanded itself into 32 days of spin without a break. Excellent. A self‑inflicted endurance event.
The first few days went smoothly until Day 4, when Nanny realised she had done RPM the night before, had Pilates booked that evening, and still needed to squeeze in another 30‑minute cycle. The pipis were not impressed. Three fitness classes in 24 hours is bold, even for spring. Pilates that night was performed in what can only be described as the “struggle zone,” where the legs are present but not participating.
Day 5 was a very late spin — a recovery roll, really — but it counted. And surprisingly, things improved from there. Even in Week 2, when the same three‑class scenario happened again, the body handled it better. It turns out that doing 30 minutes of cycling every day eventually convinces the legs to stop complaining and simply accept their fate. Some days Nanny definitely did not add gears or push the pace, but she moved, and that’s what counts.
Halfway through the challenge, she realised she was actually going to finish this comfortably. She did have to give herself several stern “no excuses” speeches when the couch and a wine looked far more appealing, but the challenge remained. And she has done this challenge before — it’s a reliable kick‑start into summer.
Credit must also be given to Les Mills RPM and The Trip classes for keeping things interesting. Sprint remains off the table for now, but perhaps next month… after that long‑awaited rest day.
And so the big wheels keep turning, while Nanny methodically crosses off the remaining days until the rest day finally arrives — a small reward waiting at the end of a very determined September.
You are the star of your own story — may the force stay with you 🐘
