Denise L.
Yelp
As with most other yuppie, trendy, brand-oriented, [insert adjective about businesses that bring increasing gentrification here] fitness studios, I won't lie - I was initially pretty skeptical of SoulCycle. However, a friend who loves SoulCycle in NYC convinced me to check out the 6:30 AM ride with Hayes, and my expectations were far beyond exceeded!
The workout itself is amazing. Check in about 15 minutes before the class starts (sign up online or call beforehand if it's your first time), grab some clip-in shoes, and head into the studio. There are friendly assistants that help you clip in and adjust your bike height if it's your first time, which is nice. I can't speak for the other instructors, but Hayes was fantastic - GREAT music selection (aka lots of Beyonce), encouraging, positive, but always pushing you to your limits. I'm not a huge fan of the metaphysical generalizations of life as it relates to spinning, but Hayes kept it mostly about encouragement of the actual workout, which I liked. He even got off his bike at times to encourage individuals or adjust their form, and was happy to chat with people after class, which really shows how much he cares!
Yes, there are certain aspects of SoulCycle that hold true to the rumors. It is very white, both in terms of the space and the demographics of the people who work there/people who take classes. It is definitely not cheap. People whoop and yell at 6:30 AM. Everything in the bathrooms, from the shampoo in the showers to the soap at the sinks, smells like grapefruit.
Grapefruit smells and lululemon-clad women aside, if you're looking for a challenging, calorie-torching workout with some amazing instructors, definitely give SoulCycle a shot! It's $20 for your first ride, so grab a friend and make it a fun experience.