Spinning Studios

February 11, 2019

Spinning Studios

I recently had the opportunity to take a spinning class in NYC at Cyc Fitness, which is one of the many spinning boutique chains that have popped up over the last few years. SoulCycle and Flywheel are probably better known. I am struck by how much they cost, $25-35 per 45 minute session, and by how little you get. They do offer complimentary clip-in shoes, but I have a “bowling alley” phobia with wearing someone else’s shoes. You do get a towel.

The doors opened only five minutes before class started. If it was your first time or you needed any help getting your bike adjusted, you were out of luck. I tried to get in early, and was almost arrested. If you needed a good five to ten minute warm up, which is recommended, you were once again out of luck. We were jumping and climbing as soon as we started. The average age of the spinners was about 25 so it probably was not an issue, but it was jarring on this older and reasonably well-conditioned heart. As it turned out, I had the only aging heart in the class. Fortunately, I have my CPR certification, which I cannot knowingly say about my instructor.

The lights are not just turned down, they are turned off. If you are trying to monitor your heart rate or just want to know what time it is, bring a flashlight. Speaking of heart rate, it is hard to distinguish between your heart beat and the beat of the throbbing music crashing against your rib cage.

My biggest complaint is the their desire to do weight training on the bike. I know we are all busy and adept at multi-tasking, but I was taught that weight training should be done in the weight room. It actually provides very little weight training, could be dangerous, and interrupts a perfectly good workout. SoulCycle is well known for its little dumbbells.

One nice thing is that you don’t have to worry about being called out by name. There is no attempt or apparent desire to know anyone’s name.

The reality is that some of these studios, not all, are geared more to entertainment than instruction. The workouts are cleverly coordinated with the light show. The instructors are appropriately enthusiastic, but you receive very little instruction or information. If you want to know what the class’s objectives are, how to judge your heart rate, or monitor your perceived exertion, you would be better doing your own research on the internet before arrival. When it comes time to stretch, stretch fast. Right on cue, the music stops, the lights come on, and the cleaning crew comes in. Don’t linger too long. You may wind up in the trash. Clean up facilities are minimal because space is expensive. It is not a problem unless you sweat.

I am heading back to NYC this weekend, and have signed up for my first Flywheel class. The first one is free. I will be on the torque board. I look at it as part of my education as a Certified Spinning Instructor. Pray for me.