SoulCycle brings its cult brand of sweat to Vancouver

Eleven years after launching in New York City—and seemingly setting off the indoor-cycling craze that has since taken the fitness world by storm—SoulCycle has finally arrived in Vancouver. But how does the dedicated cycling institution, which is lauded for its full-body workouts, motivational instructors, and upbeat music, stack up to the city’s existing spots?

I had the chance to take a spin at the cult indoor-cycling studio’s new Yaletown location (1128 Mainland Street) last night (July 17), where myself and 50-something other media folks participated in SoulCycle’s signature 45-minute class. The experience was fun, sweaty, and gratifying, though not exactly groundbreaking in a city where, when it comes to indoor riding, we’re so spoiled for choice.

To be fair, the now 81-studio chain is often credited with sparking some of Vancouver’s most beloved spin establishments (Ride Cycle Club founder Ashley Ander has stated she was inspired to bring the exercise to Vancouver after attending a SoulCycle class in NYC), so I was stoked to test-pedal what is largely considered the granddaddy of indoor cycling.

I arrived at SoulCycle YLTN—you’ll find that SoulCycle likes to abbrev its ’hoods—15 minutes before our 6:30 p.m. class was scheduled to start. The studio is white, bright, and efficiently designed, though it quickly became crowded once the participants from an earlier class exited the single 57-bike room and began mingling with the rest of us.

The word “SoulCycle” is plastered on the wall behind reception in the company’s trademark sunshine-yellow Helvetica and there’s a small boutique at the front of the studio with SoulCycle- and Vancouver-branded workout wear. You can even purchase the same Jonathan Adler grapefruit-scented candles that the instructors burn during sessions for 50 bucks a pop.

After signing in and changing into our clip-in cycling shoes, we were herded into the spin room, where we met Bridge, a lean fellow rocking long side-swept hair that stuck together in thick strands once the sweat began to pour. As any cycling enthusiast will tell you, your spin experience is really dependent on the instructor, and Bridge—who showed no signs of jetlag after recently returning from a stint in Hong Kong—did a fine job in motivating us writers, editors, and bloggers who were probably feeling a little antsy from having to delay our customary post-work beer.

Like most spin studios in Vancouver, SoulCycle’s classes take place in the dark save for a few candles scattered throughout the room. The sessions are also conducted primarily to the beats of EDM and dance tracks (our playlist included Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and Celine Dion), and incorporate bodyweight exercises (push-ups) and light weights (bicep curls, shoulder presses).

True to SoulCycle’s “inspirational” mission, Bridge treated us to #fitspo mantras like “The only person you should be comparing yourself to is the person you were when you walked through that door”, which, as it turns out, sound a lot less corny when you’re hovering above a bike and not scrolling through your Instagram feed whilst nursing a food baby at 9 p.m. on a Sunday.

Overall, the spin class was challenging, but not deathly. Whispers and chatter after the class suggest that SoulCycle’s sessions are a lot more “chill” than those at the homegrown Ride and consistent with SoulCycles down south. (I personally found it comparable to my experiences at Eastwood.) As someone with little to no coordination, I'll continue to vouch for spin as one of the best group workouts you can do, largely because of the high-energy atmosphere and the ability to cycle at your own pace and resistance level.

With first-time classes at $20 and packages starting at $75, however, SoulCycle is one of the pricier options in town. If you’re interested in giving spin a whirl or are looking for a new workout spot, it’s worth a ride. But if you’re a regular spinner and happy with your current studio, I wouldn’t fault you for hanging onto your membership.