A Tripp and a Half

After two days off from spin I was itching to get back aboard my Schwinn and since it was Tripper Tuesday I had to get a little extra dose and I snuck in to the 8:30 late. I spied with a little help from my friends an open bike in the 4th row so I got a half hour taste of the packed Lavender Palace before I took my regular spot in the 9:45.  Energized and high as always Tripp had us amped and considering the lack of watts these past 8 days we all needed to plug in to Mr. Effervescence.

We are fortunate that we can get a little diversion to the Human Tragedy that we are witnessing all around us even if its just for a Tripp and a half.   

Blinded By the Light

Pure energy can’t be seen only felt and that’s what goes on for me when I take Tripp Doherty’s class. Sure we hear him and we see him gesticulating in his own inimitable style but as I have said many times before its not necessarily what he says or how he moves it’s the energy he embodies. 

From my spies in Mamaroneck I hear that they’ve been blinded by the light and a growing addiction for Tripp has them holding hands and singing in unison as if it was a revival meeting. Spin class? Holding hands? What’s up with that? Has this small hamlet taken the magic from the Lavender Palace? Stay tuned because I am your double agent. 

My Friend Tripp Doherty Part 256

It’s been a great Tripp these past 3 years. We watched a man who wears his heart on his sleeve lend us his soul like magic each morning. He’s given us way more than just an energy field when he’s at the top of the key. It’s love potion number 9 that seems to envelope us in our own force field. 

What has penetrated for me is that when we come together in the Lavender Palace all our troubles seem to become what they really are: Situations. I can at times engage in self-talk that is not only deleterious to my vocational life but to my personal life as well. Tripp is one of those people that have helped me keep my “situations” right size and in this way I can handle just about anything. This ain’t no disco but it’s also not just a spin class. 

Tripp had his image ceremonialized last night at Lululemon in Manhasset  and the photographer who captured him in motion got it just right.  Congratulations Tripper for all your efforts, your love and dedication from us your devotees.  

Able to Leap Tall Buildings in a Single Bound

When you see a manager in the dugout you have to feel for him because he can’t swing for his players nor can he field ground balls and line drives. He is in essence held captive and can only react after the fact and although he can anticipate he can never actively be involved in what is transpiring.  

Not the case with Tripp Doherty he can lead by living example in the Schwinn we are in. We can emulate his pedal stroke and he is with us not just our witness.  I usually put my outstretched hands out to feel the energy in the room and beyond the vibration there is the palpable energy from all of us talking back to Doherty in the silent language of love and respect that we hold for him.  That would normally be an overstatement anywhere else but not here, because it is simply true. 

When he climbs the wall he’s is our illustration that anything is possible all we have to do is think it and we can scale any height any obstacle any situation.  

The Spider Dance

All the ingredients were in play in the 8:30 edition of Tripper Tuesday. The energy ran high voltage and you could sense it right from the get-go.  Tripp on takeoff announced that he was going to avoid the AT40 at all costs and broke into a discography that had us on a visceral trip through time.  We were rocking we were rolling and when he plated Born to Run by you know who I spied out of the corner of my eye one of the stars of the Lavender Palace although he was the most diminutive of all and was without one pedal stroke. 

It was a small tan spider and with each note he pranced about as if he was doing his own version of the Safety Dance. Moving with footwork as only a spider could because after all he did have a ‘leg’ up on us all. 

All of Tripper’s classes are filled with his charisma but today he caught lightning in a bottle and whether it was him, the music, we the riders or our little eight legged friend this was vintage Mr. Mayhem. 

Mamaroneck

A field TRIPP to Westchester this past Thursday with Mr. Excitement was well worth the drive. The morning journey had me late but I caught the last few minutes of his 8:30 and by the time the 9:45 class rolled around a nearly full studio of new riders were witnessing the energy, the enthusiasm and the sheer magic that is Tripp Doherty.  

I think its neat to look around at the faces of the new students because in some ways we take it for granted back at home base what we have in Tripper.  The open mouths, the smiles are great but when he has the whole CS singing and gesticulating to Sweet Caroline its something else again.  

After class a very tasty treat came my way. Nearby the Mamaroneck EQ is a hot dog stand that is simply out of this world called Walter’s. Tripp and I downed not one but two of the double franks on one bun with a special mustard. I know we are supposed to eat healthy but we just couldn’t resist one of life’s simple pleasures: the Hot Dog. It was scrumptious.  

The sun goes down and the stars come out and I was glad I came.  

The Look

There are many looks of love. It takes on many shapes, sizes and colors. It also has many depths as well. There is paternal love, sibling love, parental love, companion love and of course romantic love.  

And although this is hardly a spin blog story I have found many friends I have grown to love in my friend Tripp’s class. There’s something I never knew about group exercise and that is you grow close to people you hardly know. And although we don’t necessarily break bread with each other or see each other at holiday gatherings we are more than just acquaintances.  

Spin on Tripper Tuesday is always a blast because we can workout hard to our hearts content and it up to us to take the lead from our exuberant host Tripp Doherty. I am going to take a road trip to Mamaroneck this Thursday to see a new set of faces and maybe make some new acquaintances and make some new  friends as well.