As some of you may know, I am a cardio junkie but a late bloomer on the cycling scene. I took my first cycling class in 2016 and only for 30 minuets at a time. It took me a full two months before I felt I was ready to sit still for an entire class.
Two of my favorite East Coast workout buddies were visiting when one of them, Laura ( a recent barre phanatic turned cycling lover) suggested we go to FlyWheel in South Lake Union. Always a good sign when a visitor forces you to try new gyms in your own city!!
When my alarm went off at 4:15 AM for our 5:00 AM class, I wasn’t exactly excited but missing a class with Laura and Jay was not an option. When I arrived at the studio, I was immediately impressed. The SLU studio has high ceilings with an open, welcoming area where you can check in, grab cycling shoes if needed and also look through the FlyWheel merchandise. The locker area behind the front desk is a good size (not huge but not too tiny) and also has easy access to water and the rest room. The studio itself is built with stadium seating and is the perfect dark space we all love when we are cycling and sweating at 5:00 in the morning.
The instructor was very friendly and super excited to have my friends from Boston in town. One of the things I like about the studio was they also had a staff member dedicated to getting clients set up on their bikes, helping them get towels and answering any questions that might come up. This allowed the instructor to focus on preparing for class and also mingle with the clients.
As many of you know by now, FlyWheel is very data driven. Your online profile keeps track of all the data that is tracked throughout class through the heart monitor you wear. The data also appears on the screens in the studio throughout the class. You always have the option to hide the data during class, if preferred.
The class flew by for me. The energy, the music and the workout were a good combo for me. The only challenge I had was trying to translate the data on the bike to the RPM and watts I am accustomed to at my gym. I may have been on a very forgiving bike but often felt the instructor’s guidance on power numbers were not as challenging as I liked. I found I was constantly adjusting or adding power throughout the ride. One thing I did like was the 5 minute arms workout in the middle of the class. Initially the 6lb weights sounded light but given the length and the workout, it ended up being a good challenge towards the end.
As someone who normally does not go to cycling studios, I made a mental note to only attend early classes or classes that would not be filled to capacity. The bikes are fairly close to each other so it is very possible that you would be sweating and breathing on your neighbor! Just a small note but one worth mentioning given my sensitivity to being too close to people when I am sweaty and smelly!
Workout Scale:
Cardio: 4/5
Core: 2/5
Legs: 3/5
Arms: 1/5