Studio Review: Ryde DC — Sweat Smarter

Jul 31

Jul 31 Studio Review: Ryde DC

Our latest studio review features Clarendon spin studio Ryde. If you've been in the area for a while you might have noticed that this studio recently re-branded from Revolve Cycle to Ryde. The studio's rebrand has a been a little confusing, in my opinion, and, as of this writing, their website is still straddling between both brands. All that said though -- the beat-based cycle classes themselves have stayed the same though they've painted the studio walls black and hired a whole new set of instructors.

Today I'll review what a class at the rebranded Ryde studio is like and share a discount on classes for you!

Studio: Ryde DC
Location: Arlington - Clarendon
Transportation Info:
- Metro: It's only 0.2 miles from the Clarendon metro station on Orange/Silver
- Parking: You might have luck finding street parking in the neighborhoods around the studio. If not there are a number of inexpensive garages close by.
- Bikeshare: Yes! If you want to ride a real bike before getting on a spin bike, there is a station just down the block at the corner of Fillmore & 10th St.
Class Taken + Class Length: I've taken over 50 rides at Ryde over the past few years! They mostly offer 45 minute rides that include a one-song arm workout. They also offer a few hour-long endurance rides as well.
Good for beginners? Yes! Like other spin studios, I would say that if you're comfortable being on a bike for just under an hour, then you can take this class. If you're new to spin, it can take a song or two to get used to riding on beat and figuring out the simple choreography. That said, the instructors are great about familiarizing everyone with hand positions, key choreography, and bike setup information before the start of each class so you'll get guidance if you're a first-timer.
Sweat Level: You'll definitely use the towel provided on your bike!
Sore After: If you've never done spin, you'll likely be sore a bit after class. The first few times I took spin it took me a while to figure out how to gracefully get in and out of the seat (a.k.a. the "saddle") so I was definitely sore from that after my first class or two. That said, if you spin fairly regularly you shouldn't experience a ton of soreness.
Vibe: Ryde is another beat-based spin studio where you ride to the beat of the music. Ryde frequently does theme rides that can be really fun so try to jump on good themes if that will get you going. (Just did an all Drake ride with Jordan and it was great!)

Like other studios, Ryde classes are mostly dark and bikes face a floor to ceiling mirror. You can expect a one-song arm workout towards the end and immediately after that you'll have a "lights out" song where all the extra candles are blown out and you just crank it out for one song -- it's usually my favorite part of class.

Each instructor has a bit of their own style, some preferring more choreography, some spending more time off the bike. Generally, I've found the classes to be pretty consistent with instructors and don't have a favorite/least favorite.

Amenities: Ryde offers lockers, shoes for rent for $2, and has one changing area. They also provide towels and have a water fountain (Pro Tip: Their water fountain is soooo slow so I always make sure to fill up my bottle before class.) Their bathroom is actually outside the studio and shared with other tenants of their building - not ideal.

One note about their bikes - they have relatively new Schwinn bikes. I find, however, that some bikes are calibrated better than others. Some classes I'll have to do a full turn on the resistance knob to get the resistance I want and other times I'll only have to turn the knob an inch and I'll be feeling it. My tip is that if you find a bike that works well for you - try and stick to that one in the future.

What To Wear: Like other spin classes - I'd recommend wearing a t-shirt or tank and legging or capris. My fiancé always wears hats to spin to serve as a sweat band so that's an option for you too! You'll need to wear spin shoes and can rent shoes for $2 each so you'll need to make sure you're wearing socks. For those very into spin shoes, they offer shoes with LOOK Delta cleats but the bikes can accommodate either those or SPD cleats.
What To Bring To Class: Bring a pair of socks and a water bottle!
Price:
- New Member Special: Buy one class, get one free for $24!
- Sweat Smarter Deal: You guys can get 10% off all packages with code "SWEATSMARTER"
- Drop-In Price: $24
- Shoe Rental Price: $2
- On ClassPass?: Yes! One note about ClassPass for Ryde and spin studios in general -- you're not able to book a specific bike when you reserve your class. If you're picky about where you sit, try to get to class early and ask to move to an open bike when you check in. I did that regularly when I was taking classes through ClassPass.
Try If You Like: If you like beat-based, non-competitive spin classes, you'll definitely enjoy this class. The format of this class is similar to Soulcycle, Zengo, etc. so if you're looking for a slightly more affordable alternative to those classes, Ryde is definitely worth checking out.
Sweat Smarter Summary: If you live/work in the Clarendon area, then definitely check out Ryde. Their location is great and the instructors always have kick ass playlists. Ryde is still working out some kinks so you may not always have exact consistency between classes, but you'll be guaranteed to break a sweat and feel good after taking class.