Ride Cycle Studio

I got the new client special. I called ahead to see if I could extend the time you took to use it because I’m in the habit of one class a week. They were super nice and flexible and said «yeah it shouldn’t be a problem» on the phone.
Anyway… I go in, after paying, in my fitness gear and the girl working said no it’s not flexible at all you have to use up the 3 classes in two weeks. I explained that I called before hand and they told me something different and she asked her manager and came back and still said no. She gave me an extra 2 days… Though I still had to move my schedule around for it. The whole interaction was super uncomfortable. Usually when you call ahead of time like that and they say something different they accommodate their mistake.
They sounded like a friendly laid back studio on the phone but when it came down to it that new client special was new client awkward.

Great option for barre classes. The teachers give you a good workout while mixing up the exercises and focus of each class.

Outstanding fitness studio run by supportive and efficient fitness enthusiasts. Carolyn’s classes are fantastic! She’s a perfect mix of militant, enthusiastic and broadway-style/80’s dance party fun and fitness — a great teacher who breaks down the routines simply, but you feel it the next day. The classes pass quickly and all of the sudden, I have new muscles! A great spot for fitness-​class enthusiasts. Love it.

I keep coming back here because of the Yoga Fusion class taught by Christine Wall on Mondays and it’s close to work also. It’s a good combination of yoga and pilates with weights. It’s a very tough 75 minute workout. Also I like the bike and barre combo class offered. The studio has the bike studio (hence the name) across the hall from the yoga studio, so you may hear the music overlapping with the yoga music when 2 classes are going at the same time, which doesn’t really bother me. The check in process is pretty fast because they use an iPad for self-​check in.
Definitely part of my workout rotation!

I tried Ride Cycle Studio with the special $ 40 promotion where I tried an unlimited number of classes for one month. I went everyday for that month and LOVED it. The spin teachers are motivating and it is a rigorous workout. The core and upper body is worked while on the bike, by incorporating various movements. The spin room is dark, which I like and it is intimate, only two rows of bikes. The barre classes use 2 and 3 pounds weights, but there are high repetitions so it is an effective way to tone. I came from a gym where I used 5, 10 and 12 pound weights. Despite the light weights, I am toning and building endurance due to the high number of controlled reps. Balls, bands and other toning equipment is also incorporated into classes. I have only tried one Yoga class (so far) and it was a positive experience. About three months ago I paid to join Ride Cycle for 1 year! I still go everyday (well…almost everyday), feel good and am enjoying the studio.

I looooooooove Ride Cycle so much & am soon SAD I AM LEAVING back home.
I come here mostly for Barre with Elise through Classpass. Elise is the best!!! She switches up her class every single time & you’re breaking a sweat! It’s tough but your booty will look so lifted and juicy it’s insane.
All the barre class & all the instructors are great.
I think I cry every-​time we do abs and hate my life but I always look forward to class & love the feeling when I walk out of there with a cold towel.
Extremely inviting environment to explore fitness if you’re new or advanced everyone is so sweet!
Give Ride Cycle Studio a try, your body will thank-​youuuu
x

I had always hated the bike… Until RIDE changed my life– Now I am obsessed! This is not your typical cycling class. The instructors inspire and motivate without being corny, and they keep you engaged by moving you around the bike, in and out of the seat, and make you work your core and arms. The music is cutting edge and fun with great beats. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming between not just the staff and owners but other clientele. RIDE offers a truly unique experience and I thank them for opening up a whole new way to stay fit for the rest of my life!

Mom always said «don’t judge a book by it’s cover» but you know, we all do! That’s why for years I’ve driven past RIDE in what seems from the road to be a semi-​abandoned building with masking tape in the windows for a makeshift sign and I thought «NO WAY». But when I started searching for a cycle studio I came across RIDE and saw that this little place with glowing reviews and beautiful pictures was at the same address as my «judged book cover». I had to check it out! RIDE is a true gem and I’m so thrilled that I found it! It may not look like much from the road but once inside, it is beautiful and clean, as a great vibe, and both the staff and members are super welcoming and friendly. As a newbie everyone made me feel very comfortable from the start and even though I barely made it through my first spin class (it is as hard as people say) I’ve now been going regularly for several months and have seen some pretty impressive results. I’m hooked! The bike to barre style classes are my favorite as well as the cardio barre and Vinyasa yoga. Elise’s energy is infectious and inspiring and she’ll have you forgetting just how hard the work out is (well, almost.). Chris’ spin classes are intense but very addicting and Carolyn’s cardio barre classes will leave you thoroughly exhausted and elated and searching the schedule for when you can come back for more. They mix up each class so even if you go every day you won’t get bored with the same routine and they offer modifications for most moves so you can customize each workout to your own abilities. The towel service during, and cold scented towels after each workout is a nice touch and I love that they have some weekend evening classes that offer wine/​beer afterwards which just underscores that these folks don’t take themselves too seriously and can live a little! Overall RIDE offers a fantastic value, a super kick @$$ workout and an easy, fun environment. The first class specials they run are a steal so check this place out!
I have to disagree with one of the other reviewers — this place absolutely does have AC! I’m super sensitive to heat during a workout and I have no problem at RIDE. In fact the bike I usually choose is right in front of an AC vent. Fans are placed around the room such that you can pick a bike that is going to get lots of air or very little — so you can choose based on your preference. Now, if you go to a spin class that starts right on the heels of another class it will be balmy! But with 20 people throwing that much heat for 45 minutes into a room in the summer, there’s not an AC system in the world that’s going to cool it down in 5 minutes before the next class starts. Even so, I’ve been to those classes and my super heat sensitive self is just fine.

Tried a Ride On class in this studio for the first time. The instructor was great and the music fun and upbeat — no complaints there. What they should mention in their class descriptions, however, is that their studio has no air conditioning — or at least that’s how it seemed since the entire studio was balmy. This basically turned the spinning class into a VERY hot spinning class. It also took a place in a small enclosed room that only intensified the heat and unless you were seated right next to the couple of small fans, they did nothing to make the room cooler.
I’m all for hot yoga since movements are slow. Hot spinning, however, is just miserable. I work out all the time and I had trouble breathing and almost walked out several times. I also don’t think I got that great of a workout since I couldn’t push as hard as I normally do — you get a fake sense that you’re working out hard but it’s just sweat from the heat.

RIDE is a great fitness value!
Compared to other boutique fitness studios, there is a greater variety in class type (spin, barre, yoga, and combos), and the prices are reasonable. The music and instructors make classes fun and the studio is always clean and welcoming. As an added bonus, the first class is complimentary for local clients and towel service is included!

I have lived in chapel hill for 8 years now and tried out many gyms and fitness centers in the area. Ride is my absolute favorite. I love the variety of classes they offer: spin, yoga, barre, and combination classes (cycleates, cardiobarre, bike + barre). My favorite is the bike to barre combination class, it gives you the BEST workout and is probably the main reason I have stayed with this studio. I also enjoy the express classes on days when I have a full schedule. They offer lots of morning class options which allows you to get your workout in early while still having a variety of classes to choose from. Elise and Chris, the owners, are fantastic. They teach many of the classes and make an effort to get to know each of their clients. It is nice to see owners involved in the studio, which is definitely not the case at other fitness studios in this area. They give 100% in every class they teach and sometimes they teach 2 or 3 classes in a row. Chris and Elise pay special attention to the small details that can greatly enhance a workout: cold washcloths infused with essential oils are offered during each workout, free water bottles if you forget your own, and they let you try out the clip-​in spin shoes for a couple rides if you are interested. As with all boutique workout places, prices are steep but the bike-​to-​barre class makes the price worth it — basically you are getting two 45 minute workout classes for the price of one! Also, they offer a substantial discount for students. At the least, you can try the first ride free and then get the first 30 days for 30 dollars.

What a great studio! Everyone is friendly and welcoming and really makes an effort to know you by name. The spin classes are great, fun music. cool space and a good amount of fans to keep you cool enough to allow you to work hard. I really like the combo classes. both bike to barre and cycleates. You get a good cardio workout along with resistance training, which I wouldn’t do on my own. I am very active and already in good shape, and I got a great workout. But their classes are great for all levels and my friend who is a less regular exerciser who came with me also really enjoyed it.

I took a free trial class here and have nothing bad say anything bad about it. The people were nice, the studio was clean, and the location is great. However, I didn’t feel as though it was «my style». It was a very peaceful, yoga-​like environment and I generally prefer more fast-​paced spinning classes. That being said, I’m sure that people with different preferences would love it here!

Ride Cycle has become my favorite yoga and cycle place! I’m more of a yogi, but Elise’s cycle/​barre class is amazing, and I’m now addicted! I used to go to cycle classes and stare at the clock, not at Ride. The music is upbeat, and Elise keeps you motivated to keep pedaling. She also understands that I’m a beginner and encourages me to go at my own pace, which I love.
Also, try Christine’s yoga class! I have followed Christine (I’m a stalker, ha) around the Triangle because her yoga class is absolutely amazing. Challenging, blissful and making you want to come back for more. Her playlist is always wonderful! After classes (barre and yoga) they provide yummy, cold washcloths that have been soaked in essential oils. It’s so relaxing to lay it over my eyes in Savasana, or wipe off my face for a pick me up.
Go check out this place, I promise you will fall in love with the space and the people. It’s such a beautiful, inviting and cozy space. Show up, make a friend and get your workout on!

RIDE is a fantastic addition to the Triangle Fitness community! We recently used our «first ride free» as well as the 2 weeks for $ 32 newcomer’s special (actually, we only used a week of that, because Christmas is for gluttony not fitness, obviously). The studio is pretty new (there haven’t been a ton of people when we went) but it’s one of those local businesses where it’s worth being an early adopter. Since there aren’t any reviews yet, I’ll go for the super detailed review. Actually, who are we kidding. I love super detailed reviews.
First, some general things, then a review of the specific classes we tried.
–It’s located by Pomegranate Kitchen, sort of near the Bicycle Chain. Don’t put it in the GPS, it will be wrong! My iPhone put me on 40. Just call if you have trouble, but basically enter like you are going to Office Max or whatever that store is.
–They have both SPD and Keo Look compatible bikes, and all the SPD bikes have shoe cages for regular sneakers. There are only 4 Look bikes –the majority are SPD.
–Both the cycle room and yoga room are beautiful. Definitely a much better vibe than taking classes at the local gym. Seriously beautiful. I love the vibe of the place — that fitness doesn’t have to be stuff or laminate, that it can be hip and fun. RIDE’s atmosphere makes it seem like a great place to go for a fitness date pre-​drinks with a sigfig or a friend.
–They have a shower (repeat). They have a shower. This makes morning classes fantastic. There is only one shower/​bathroom combo, so if there is a class after yours, you should politely wait until they start to use the shower, since you’ll be taking up the only bathroom.
–It is very clear that Elise and Chris (the owners) are super passionate about their business. We had great chats with both of them when we took classes, and you can definitely feel the influence of their past experience in fitness (Elise’s barre teaching experience, discussed below).
Now a recap on the specific classes we tried:
Ride On with Chris: Fantastic class. The «ride on» classes have about 48 minutes of cycle with 12 minutes of strength training /​mat work. Chris played great music that covered a pretty wide genre and spanned multiple decades. His mat work was strength focused (there were a lot of push ups). I love the model RIDE has adopted of fitting cardio+strength into the same workout.
Ride On with Elise: Also fantastic, my favorite so far. We took her class at 7am, and her energy and enthusiasm was contagious. Elise teaches a great spin portion (she puts together a really well balanced class and is really comfortable with the mic set). Her mat portion has a lot of Pilates/​barre influence, which sucked in that way that all awesome things suck: it was hard but good for me.
Ride OM with Rhian: 30 minute ride + 45 minute yoga. A great, tough 30 minute cycling class followed by 45 minutes of yoga. Rhian is a great teacher (you can definitely feel her David Swenson training in her style). Honestly I was so exhausted from the ride portion that I can’t really comment on the music, but that’s a good thing.
Other classes to check out:
Bike to Barre: similar to Ride OM, but with a Barre class. Great for people that are into that style (Pure Barre)
The honestly *only* negative thing I have to say is that as a pretty new business, their schedule is somewhat limited still. They only have one class each on Saturday /​Sunday, and about 4 classes during weekdays. I think this will definitely fill out more as they get more clients.
THE QUICK AND DIRTY RECAP: Great new cycle studio. Definitely worth trying the 2 week pass at the least, but I encourage you to add it to your New Years Resolution fitness investment.