Flywheel Sports – UWS

Incredible, ass-​kicking workout; kind, helpful, wonderful staff; beautiful facilities; and, of course, fabulous instructors. I alternate spin and barre classes, so I only ride here 2x a week. But I spend all week looking forward to it – that’s how fun, positive, and energizing this place is!

I know I know, another person sucked down the spinning hole, but I really love my Flywheel classes! Spinning with 48 or so other people in the pumping music and darkened room is an incredible way to burn calories in a high intensity/​low impact format. What Flywheel offers for the competitive person in me is the ability to see actual numbers in class vs. the ambiguous, «½ turn, quarter turn» of other cycling classes. It’s fun to have a pr and push to beat it each week. Additionally to have the metrics all contained on your account online so you can look at your history.
The digital «TorqBoard» is also a great opportunity to be motivated and inspired by other people in your class and offers friendly and fun races to push yourself to levels you haven’t reached before. It also provides an opportunity for fun names… yeah mine is VoldeTorq.
The facilities are always clean and tidy and water, towels, and shoes are provided to you with each class. Beyond those basics the studio has hair ties, bobby pins, and even earplugs if the music is a little too loud for you. It’s easy to take a shower after or even just freshen up with the complimentary dry shampoo, spray deodorant and face wipes. On the way out the door you can grab a banana or an apple to fuel the rest of your day.
Tips: If you hit 2000 power points in the month you get a special treat, sometimes a shirt (though January was a calendar, not the best ever: p) Try the Fly60 on Wednesdays to get an added 15 minutes, my favorite class, more spin for your buck.

Definite 5-​stars for the workout and facilities! I went to the Sunday 12:30 class with Matt and it was a great way to start my Sunday. As a new student, Matt was very welcoming and came over to my bike to personally explain the equipment, make sure that everything was the right size, and help me clip my shoes in (I had never used spin shoes before!). The workout itself was very challenging, but left me feeling incredibly accomplished (and sore the next day!). I like that Flywheel includes a short arm exercise in the class as well, at least in Matt’s class.
As lots of reviewers have already mentioned, the facilities are great. The electronic lockers are very easy to use, shoes and towels are provided, and there are lots of other little amenity-​type perks (free apples and bananas, water, toiletries, etc.).
A quick note for Class Pass users (like me!), while you have to register an account with them, you do NOT need to reserve a bike — Class Pass does it for you. I messed that up the first time and ended up with two bikes! One reserved through Class Pass and one through their own system. The front desk people were really nice and fixed it for me, but in the future, they basically said that if you sign up through Class Pass, don’t do anything through their website.

I’ve taken class at a few different spin class places. I took a class from Zack the other night and loved his style of being friendly but still firm. He’s great at motivating you to keep going while also making him laugh. I’ll definitely keep coming back

As a bike racer who travels I SUFFER from the terrible hotel gym bike. You know the bike I’m talking about. The upright or even WORSE recumbent Precor nightmare with the seat that the could accommodate an elephant and works muscle groups you didn’t even know you had.
For years, I paid a silly amount of money to go to any Equinox in the country so that I could attend their spinning classes anywhere I traveled. It was like bleeding money. I have a gym in my house, so I rarely used the home location, so I eventually resigned my membership and just sucked it up and started running when I traveled until I found Flywheel.
WOW!!! Where have you been all my life Flywheel. I’m not sure why people even bother comparing Flywheel to Soulcycle. Flywheel has no comparison. I attended my first class on Saturday. Jill was the instructor and I was BLOWN away by how different the experience was. It was the closest thing to a real cycling interval workout I’ve done in a spinning class. Her music was sick… from beginning to end, she had so much energy, the room had so much energy and I got my ass kicked.
From beginning to end the whole process for the uninitiated was so simple. I found them on line, signed up, picked a location, picked a class, picked a bike and that was it. On Saturday morning, I got there early and a nice young dude showed me around… a) there’s the cubby where your free cycling shoes are; b) there are the changing rooms and showers; c) there are the lockers; d) there are the free water bottles; e) there are the free bowls of free apples and bananas; f) when you’re ready to get on the bike, let us know and we’ll help you get set up.
Then there’s the Torque Board. If you’re competitive like me, you can choose to put yourself up on the torque board. Essentially, each bike has a dashboard that displays your torque, cadence and current. Your torque is kind of like how much power your putting out. If you choose to put your torque up on the board, you can see how you measure up against other females and males in the class. Depending on who your instructor is, sometimes they will have «races» during the class which is quite fun and challenging. Jill did it, Cedric did not.
Then, there’s the app. The app immediately displays all your stats after the class. You have information on your torque, cadence, total power, average torque, average speed, average RPM, max RPM, total distance, etc. You can also see your class rank in descending order. Using the app, you can sign up for classes and keep track of your stats.
The showers and changing rooms are well equipped with everything you need… shampoo, deodorant, tampons, bags for your wet clothes, ear swabs, towels, etc. No one seems to use them because everyone probably lives close by.
I took Cedric’s class on Sunday morning and he too was great. Maybe a little more like a regular spinning class, but same amount of energy and great playlist.
The beauty of Flywheel for me is that they have locations all over the place Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Florida, LA, North Carolina, Philly, Seattle, Texas, NorCal, DC and even Dubai. For a traveler for me… this is heaven. They have several NYC locations. I can’t say enough about these guys. They’re all about service. You won’t be disappointed. I promise.

Loved this left there feeling like a million bucks. Water and towels available clean showers this may just become a new routine for me

Love this studio. Consistently has amazing instructors and fun challenging classes. The studio is clean, the staff was so nice and the clients are all engaged and having fun. I’ve gone to about 20 classes here and always get excited walking in the door.

This is a great studio for stadium biking! They have nice facilities as well, two changing rooms, two bathrooms and showers. The instructors are great! Specifically I recommend John Wellman, Kara, Alex T, or Ryan.
Kara is great at giving instructions and rpms that challenge you. John Wellman plays great 80s music, he doesn’t go very fast but does a good amount of hills that are challenging. Alex plays really good current music and keeps the energy high. Ryan’s class is ALOT of fun he plays great music and really challenges you. You forget you’re in a class!

I’ve been to several Flywheel studios, but this is BY FAR my favorite. They have fully-​stocked showers, bags for your gym clothes, the traditional bowls of bananas and apples, etc– and in addition to this (in their immaculate gym space) they also have one thing the other studios don’t: Bree Branker’s 8:30 AM on Friday mornings.
Bree’s playlist is on point, her workouts are always varied, and she is 100% the most motivating, inspiring instructor I’ve ever had. I 150% recommend her class to ANYONE who hasn’t had a good spin experience– she will change your mind.

Been going to Flywheel through Classpass and I love it! Always a consistently good workout and everyone seems to have fun. The spirit is energetic and motivational but not overly competitive.
This is my favorite of all the locations I’ve been because it’s the most spacious. I love the «stadium» format (which I think is the format of all flywheel studios), so you can always see the instructor.
Always nice to not have pay to rent shoes. And the free WATER is the best. I hate lugging around water when I am already carrying so much around. Nice touch.
Pretty soon I will be buying packages to supplement :)

Right before Thanksgiving, I decided I was tired of being a couch jockey. As a lazy, out of shape, tired, mushy-​middled, novice, I went to Flywheel. I had tried another studio for my first time and had a bad experience, but Ryan M and the folks at the UWS studio had me do a complete 180!
You walk up the stairs to find a brightly lit waiting/​locker area where you are greeted by friendly staff. You can either check-​in with them, or you can use one of the self-​serve screens. When checking-​in you have the option of joining the «Torq Board» which allows you to compare your progress to your classmates, or you can opt out and compete with yourself. If it’s your first time, you may want to pass on the Torq Board as it can be intimidating watching veteran riders put up killer numbers.
Once you check-​in, you can find your FREE rental shoes in the cubby under the kiosks if you put your shoe number into your on-​line profile. Water & towels are also free unlike most other studios. There are over 50 cubby sized lockers in which you can store your belongings with a code. There are also coat hooks & a rack for those cold winter days/​nights. Behind the lockers, there changing only rooms, WCs and shower rooms for your utilization. (One little thing that I hope they change is that you never know if they are occupied or vacant.) The shower rooms have Bliss shampoo, conditioner & body wash as well as other sundries such as spray deodorant, hair bands, & bags for your dirty clothes.
There is also a retail section with tanks, riding shorts/​pants, t-​shirts, hoodies, sox, headbands & the like. You can purchase them at the front desk & the cost will be charged to your on-​line account. The retail can use a massive facelift… Not just at UWS, but for all of Flywheel. It looks as if they are going for a boutique type of feel, but they fall short. There is no consistency in style, color, or branding (why not use the big blue circle with «Fly» in the center?) as there is at Soul Cycle. Also, the quality of the clothing is mediocre at best (with the exception of the sox), it’s overpriced & you can’t buy anything on-​line, which in 2015 is an epic fail. (Please fix this. Big loss of revenue!)
If you are a first-​timer, definitely let the the staff or instructor know. They will help you set up your bike & yes, this matters. If your seat is too low/​high, your hips/​knees will be sore. Same goes for the height of the handlebars. There are also what I call «ass protectors» in a basket the front of the room (self-​explanatory). Most instructors will make a point of advising you to do your best and not worry if you can’t make the marks. Trust me, you won’t for a while, especially if your last regular exercise was solely the flight of stairs from the subway to the street! They will also show you the difference between the positions, but I advise people to watch an on-​line video BEFORE class to maximize your experience.
Each instructor has his/​her own feel. It’s like trying on shoes, you will find ones that get the job done and ones that make you feel fantastic. Ryan M’s beat is awesome. (I hesitate to say it because I don’t want to end up getting boxed out of a class, but he kills it every time!) He keeps it interesting by changing his music regularly. He goes everywhere from mash-​ups of classics like Fleetwood Mac/​80s Madonna to techno beats with Arianna Grande/​Ellie Goulding. Never a dull moment. He pushes you to go places that are uncomfortable for your own good which for a sloth like me was exactly what I needed.
As for what you do in the class: First a warm up period, then sprints, a bunch of monster hills, back to a mix of sprints & hills, followed by arms (see below for more on this), then 2 last songs to really get your heart pumping, & finally a cool down stretch. When you ride there is a LCD screen to the left of the bike where you can see how much you are adjusting youryour torq (aka: resistance) & RPMs (how many spins of your legs per minute) to simulate an actual ride. There is also the dreaded current number (how hard you are working at a point in time) which Ryan uses to drench you in sweat & the power which is the total amount of ass-​kicking you’re doing in class.
The arms are about ¾ of the way into the class & involve a 2 and/​or 4 pound weight bars. They are used to strengthen puny biceps, triceps & the like. I will often do some of the ams, but due to my lack of coordination and predilection to smack myself in the forehead, I will ride for most of it. (Note: I have NO large motor coordination!)
I can not say enough about the positive impact Flywheel has had on me: My cholesterol has dropped 40+ points, my clothes fit better, much less of that jiggly crap that one acquires doing nothing for years & it gives me something to look forward to during my drone of a work day! I go 2−3x/wk & have tried other instructors/​Fly studios, which rock, but UWS is the best!
Bottom line: HIGHLY recommend!
(1^st class is free)

What can I say about this place… it’s the real deal. I recently took a class with Ryan Makely via ClassPass and it was just brutal. I found the class really challenging and just so awesome in many ways. I really do love everything about this place.
1. The front desk staff is really friendly and super helpful. All of my questions were answered and I got a tour of the place. I found the staff to be really informative about form and function, and cycling in general.
2. The entire facility was super clean. From the bathrooms to the changing rooms to the studio. I was really impressed with this because they had so many full classes back to back, but yet they had the staff to keep things going and clean. This is also a spacious studio. I never felt packed in or totally put out by sweaty bodies all over you as people pass by.
3. You don’t have to pay for water or shoes. I was running late for my class and I forgot both. They also provided fresh fruit to snack on, which is a really nice touch. Fly also provides the same amenities as SoulCycle — i.e. ear plugs, hair ties, gum, etc.
4. The bikes here are amazing. Ryan takes you through all of the queues that you need to hit in terms of numbers, power, torque, etc for each song. I did find it hard to adjust and keep up at times, which is just something for me to work towards. It’s not exactly like SoulCycle (which is fine). You aren’t always focused on class unity and doing your 1,2 1,2 to the beat with the class. You have to really work it to hit those numbers. Fly also has a leader board to see where you are compared to your classmates. It gives you something to strive for and you are certainly going up against some advanced riders. I also like that the studio is setup tier style for each row. That way the person in front or back of you isn’t all over you. I was in the third row and had a good view of Ryan. The placement of the bikes is well done and not too over crowded.
I think Ryan is really great. He’s a skilled rider, fit and really motivating. His music selection was really good and while I felt low at points during class as I struggled, he kept me going. His class was hard and he didn’t pull any punches. I was so sore the next day. I also like the fact that Ryan worked it on the bike. He didn’t just bark orders. He put in work and suffered right along with the class. I really like this location and will be back for sure. Weirdly enough, this was a full class and I didn’t feel that emotional connection and energy that you typically get from the vibe of a SoulCycle class. It is hard to explain unless you have experienced it before. I think this just might be all in the instructor. Fly feels more like everyone is in their individual race to the top, their own world and it’s every man for himself.

I switched from Flywheel from SoulCycle after quitting the awful NYSC and starting up with ClassPass. So far, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my Flywheel classes. While it does not have the «up in da club» feel of SoulCycle, sometimes that’s a good thing (i.e. it’s not insanely hot within the first 5 minutes of pedaling, the lobby is spacious and open, and it’s ok if you can’t dance). My favorite part is actually knowing that I’m keeping up with the workout (rather than aimlessly turning the knob left and right). The instructors play great music and are super motivating. I’ll be back again and again!

I’ve tried several different spin studios throughout the city this year and Flywheel is still my favorite. Even though you control your speed and resistance at every studio, I just feel like I get a much more intense workout at Flywheel than the others. I love how you can show up with just your gym clothes and everything else is taken care of for you. The instructors here are also my favorite out of all of the other studios. It is definitely pricey, as are all of the boutique workouts in the city, but it’s gotten my butt in shape! (Literally.)
The only con is there is no real locker room. There are restrooms, of course, and shower stalls, I believe, but it is really easiest to show up ready and go home to shower after.

Attended my first ever Flywheel class with a girlfriend who had a guest pass– loved it!
Pros:
* What a beautiful, clean, and luxurious studio! I showed my boyfriend pictures of the waiting/​changing rooms and he thought it was a modern boutique hotel :) Complimentary bottles of water, towels, hair ties, Flywheel shoes (that lock into the bike pedals for easy riding) and fruit. Showers are stocked with Bliss products and other essential toiletries.
* Friendly and attentive staff– when the class starts they walk around the studio making sure everyone is comfortable and knows how to lock their shoes in
* My 45 min class with Danny Zapata was awesome– he is super energetic, plays club-​music (half EDM, which always helps), and he pushes everyone to their full potential during the workout!
* Front score-​board that shows overall score of the most powerful (registered) Flywheel members– gets that competitive ambiance going
* No locks needed– they have their own automated system
Cons:
* I had no idea about torque, power, or the controls on the bike so I was always a step slower in following the instructors’ directions throughout class. I wish there was some kind of basic information for complete newbies like myself.
* The WC/​Showers/​Changing Rooms need the airplane-​style locks where people can see whether they are occupied, as guests are left guessing and keep having to turn the handles
* Although the personal shower rooms are a very nice touch, I overheard people complaining that there aren’t enough showers. I found myself frantically rushing through my shower knowing someone was waiting outside. They need some shelf space for personal items because I had to dump everything on the floor

I didn’t think it was possible to like flywheel even more! Haha. But this studio is beautiful and spacious. The entrance is a little hard to find because I was expecting it to be much larger, but there’s only one door and then a stairway heading up.
The lady at the front desk was extremely helpful — the shoes she gave me felt a little damp so I brought it back to exchange and it turns out it was probably just the weather/​humidity but she felt a few pairs for me. She then led me to my bike, helped me adjust, and was just all around really friendly. I also like how even though I used classpass, she asked me for my username so I could be on the leaderboard. They didn’t do that at Lincoln last time. but next time I’ll know to ask.
I took the 630AM class with Darryl today — it was surprisingly empty but that helped lead to a more personal feeling and it was still a great workout. The class felt a little awkwardly paced (i.e. I was a little confused when the actual «push» was and when we were doing regular pedaling so I was off-​beat a lot, but I think it’s just his style I need to get used to. and maybe being more awake next time would help.)
Great studio, class, people, amenities.

Solid 5 stars is my rating for Flywheel Sports.
It is a great neighborhood gym. I love the work out that I get here. It lives up to the hype, I loved the experience. It was perfect! The whole place is very clean, low-​key, comfortable vibe. Friendly staff. The guys who work here are awesome.
Overall it is a fantastic spot!

Perfection.
I absolutely love FlyWheel and the way it makes me feel before, during, and after the workout. The studio itself is very sharp, modern, and clean. You don’t have to bring a lock for the lockers, they provide spin shoes if you need them, and the changing rooms have everything you could need: from hair clips (oh wait, I don’t have hair) to body butter, you definitely feel welcomed. Before you enter the spinning studio, water and towels are provided for you. The staff that works here is also very friendly.
Come here promptly because the workouts start on time. Each bike is connected to a meter that records your torque (resistance) and RPM. Each meter then is connected to the system that can record your progress online or on the iPhone app. You can also opt in or out of having your score on the main screen in the workout room which appears maybe like five times throughout the workout and during the «races» which are essentially timed moments to prove your speed to the rest of the class.
I have to recommend going to one of these three instructors because they are my favorites after a year of spinning with FlyWheel: Kari N., Ryan M., and Danny Z. Each one will push and motivate you to do your best. Kari isn’t the loudest, but she is my favorite. Her zen-​like attitude and precision with the beat of the music will motivate you to do well. Ryan is probably the most popular here and for a reason. He is full of energy and very personable. Danny is similar to Ryan in his way of instructing — lively and has a great selection of music.
After the workout, I usually feel like a million bucks. An intense cardio workout will usually do this to you but one with FlyWheel makes it even better. I usually hop in the showers here where towels, soap, shampoo and conditioner are provided.
Again, I highly recommend FlyWheel. Everyone is welcome here.
Edit: Prices went up to $ 34/​class. Oof, so expensive! And the unlimited classes option is $ 800/​month?! Wow…

I am thoroughly enthused with Flywheel!
The instructors really know how to push you, and they do a great job with the music. (They might as well be DJs outside of the class.) The space is clean and calming. With the method of semi-​anonymous leaderboards, there’s also no annoying competition — except the competitiveness you feel with yourself.
All I wish is that they had more class deals, as ~$ 30/​pop can be pricey over time.
Oh, but it’s so worth it.

I guess I’ll go ahead and be the first guy to review the UWS flywheel. After I was one of only two in my class, it only seems appropriate.
I purchased a book of 5 classes on Gilt city at a pretty nice discount and took my first class this week. I now see why is it expensive. Aside from the great work out, you are getting a lot of other perks and amenities. Since other reviews detail them I won’t go into too much depth.
The place is spotlessly clean, every staff member is friendly, and the way you can register online and check-​in upon arrival makes working out a breeze (well signing up anyway).
The free water, towels, combination lockers and help are all nice touches. The workout was intense and I only did the 45 minute one. I’m not a big biker so it made it even harder. I’ll have to beat my power scores next time. You can checkout how you did online when you get home or see how you stack up to classmates if you opt in to have scores displayed during the class. I’m sure glad I dodged that embarrassment.
I look forward to my next class and may even buy more when these 4 run out.