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Soul Cycle Tribeca: First Visit

Soul Cycle!

My first trip to Soul Cycle. 8:30AM class in the new Tribeca location. I've biked down there to join my friend P., editor of a certain big daily email publication, who is in turn joining her friend D. who is editor of a certain big design magazine, who happens to be there with her husband, J., editor of a top culture-and-politics website. No doubt, the Soul Cycle press department is responsible. Or it could simply be that, we're on Warren Street in Tribeca, where media power people run wild in high end fitness studios.

Presently, the lights are off, the candlels are lit, and the many, many friendly service staff have left the room leaving Todd, our instructor, front and center. Todd has been imported from California, I later learn. He pushes us through a few sprints and hills, outlining what makes Soul Cycle different ("We work the whole body!"), and also managing to strike an effective empathetic tone: "Uncomfortable is good," he says. "That's how you get change. I've been there. Oh, I've been there. " Given how fit Todd looks, I do wonder if he's really been there, but it's all going reasonably well. I'm hanging tough, and I achieve a serious groove with a song called "City Life" by a band called Fallen Angels.

Then the weights come out. "Pick up your small weights," says Todd, and sure enough, there they are in my cup holder, (the one not occupied by the complimentary bottle of mineral water). Tiny one pounders. Ha! But after ten minutes of military presses, curls, and triceps extensions — while peddling — I'm in pain. Through the pain I note that this is a good idea — mixing weight work in with the spinning — and I wonder why other spin teachers don't also do it. The class winds down with a sprint (or was it a climb?) backed by Earth, Wind, and Fire's "September."  Todd tells us to close our eyes, and I do, and then we're done.

After class, I shower, (with all the amenities), and have some fresh pineapple there for the taking in the lobby, along with coffee and croissants. All the media people hang around and chat. And so the verdict? Everyone is glowy and happy. Without question, Soul Cycle is a high touch and high quality experience. (I overhear one friendly, gorgeous reception person say she "Loves her job!")  But I do also sort of wonder whether, with such a chic clientele (and a clientele of a certain age and income bracket), the studio will be able to offer the kind of hardcore, body crushing, populist rides led by the great teachers in gymland — the classes where people spontaneously scream and yell, or wave their towels as though at the Superbowl or a rave. But maybe Soul Cycle isn't going for that, and maybe the big city is big enough to have a a spin studio for every demographic and vibe. To be determined.