SoulCycle or Flywheel? These two pay-per-class cycling studios are the new craze in physical fitness. Some Hackley students are SoulCycle fanatics and others swear by Flywheel. These cycling competitors have major differences in the types of riders that each one attracts because each one has a completely distinct atmosphere. But there is one major factor that these spin giants have in common and that is that they are both excellent at helping you to burn calories, build muscle mass and get an overall great aerobic workout.
SoulCycle created the market where anyone can sign up for a 45-60 minute cycling class for $34 per session. There are no membership or monthly fees, but senior Annie Berning commented that “the per session charge is fairly expensive when you compare it to most gyms that offer all the spins classes you can possibly want for a more reasonable monthly fee.”
SoulCycle and Flywheel were both started by women. In fact, one of the three founders of SoulCycle left to become a founding partner in Flywheel. Today, SoulCycle operates nearly 40 locations concentrated in markets including NY, Chicago and Los Angeles. Hackley students frequent the Scarsdale and Greenwich SoulCycle. Flywheel has about 30 locations that are dispersed across more cities than SoulCycle. A new Flywheel is coming to Mt Kisco this winter.
Spinning is a form of high intensity interval training that requires anaerobic energy and forces you to work hard with little oxygen. Spinning also can deplete your stored carbohydrates and fat reserves. So be sure to eat a banana or another good carbohydrate before you spin. The benefits of spinning will be maximized with proper nutrition. You will build muscle, gain strength and see overall great results.
The major differences between these two spinning giants are as follows:
SoulCycle: SoulCycle makes you feel like you are in a spa. “Everything is white, clean, organized,” says sophomore , “and there are grapefruit scented candles everywhere.” SoulCycle creates a workout setting in which participants can forget the worries of the day. From the moment the class begins you feel like you are at a dance party. The vast majority of participants are women and many seem to go in groups. The workouts are set to music and include using resistance bands that hang over each bike and also upper body movements using light weights. The resistance wheel is unmarked thereby creating a more relaxed workout experience. “I love SoulCycle”, says sophomore Ally Petitti, “and I try to take at least three classes a week.”
Flywheel: From the moment you walk into a Flywheel studio you feel like you have entered a high end, techno-based fitness facility. The spinning room is compact, three-tiered and a U-shaped mini stadium set up around the instructor. A lounge next to the reception desk provides space for spinners to socialize before and after class. “The Flywheel riders seem particularly athletic,” comments junior Cate Goldsmith and rather than a party each class feels like a race. Unlike the unmarked resistance wheel on the SoulCycle bikes, the Flywheel bikes are equipped with a tech pack that has a resistance wheel marked with numbers. Flywheels instructors suggest a numbered resistance setting that changes frequently during the session. Each Flywheel studio also includes “Torqboards” which are screens that display each spinners total power output and ranks each one accordingly. (If a rider prefers he or she can elect not to have his or her stats displayed for the others to view). “Nothing is as turbocharged as Flywheel” contests senior. “The intensity and competitive atmosphere make each participant feel like he or she has won a race.”
