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    Cardio Party on Two Wheels

    Michelle Obama's fave cycling studio opens a Houston location and it's a cardio party

    Cari Shoemate
    Cari Shoemate
    May 12, 2016 | 4:15 pm

    SoulCycle, one of the first indoor cycling studios launching a decade ago in New York and a favorite of First Lady Michelle Obama, has opened in River Oaks and has just announced plans for a September expansion to the Woodway Collection on Voss.

    “I love it when my girls join me for a little SoulCycle,” the First Lady said in a video posted on Twitter last year. Encouraging all Americans to stay active when she talked about the candlelight classes, saying, “We all are in the dark, moving to the beat on the bikes. We love it.”

    I was excited to try my first class last week and to meet with instructor Austin Cope for the lowdown on the uber-popular chain. Indoor cycling (or spinning) is a great cardio workout that burns a lot of calories and strengthens your lower body with resistance.

    Being in the fitness industry, I’ve taken my fair share of spin classes so I was wondering, what makes SoulCycle so special? Houston has several cycling offerings including Revolution, Ryde, and Ride in the Heights.

    “It’s really like a community and you feel like you are part of the group” Cope said. “It’s a fun workout with fun choreography and it burns a lot of calories.”

    The studio itself is very fun and fresh with a nice check-in area and small boutique featuring SoulCycle brand workout gear, everything from bike shorts to even Jonathan Adler SoulCycle candles. All of the instructors and staff were very friendly, upbeat, and seemed to really care about the students. When I told one of the employees that I just had a baby she gave me a high five for “getting back in the game” so soon.

    Expect crowds because this is the place to be and there is a sea of fitness enthusiasts waiting for the doors to open so they can hop on their bike. Sure, there are lots of hip, fit 20- and 30-somethings but there are also people of all ages and sizes. Cope assured me that the classes really are for all-levels. They even accept kids under 18 with their parent’s permission. So, you don’t have to be super-fit to take a class.

    The first thing I noticed in the studio was how close together the bikes are. There isn’t much space between your bike and your neighbor’s so be prepared to rub sweaty elbows once the class gets going. But, Cope says, “There is something to be said for about 50 people riding together. It’s that pack mentality and you feel the energy in the room.”

    For newcomers, staff members are there to help with your setup. They will show you how to adjust your bike and how to clip in your shoes (cycle shoes are required and you can rent them there or bring your own), so don’t be afraid to ask.

    Once the class started, I really felt the energy and I liked the instructor’s enthusiasm. Each instructor has his/her own unique playlist of music and they change it for almost every class (you can preview their playlists online). But, if you don’t like loud music — you might be turned off by the class. I really liked it and I personally need to have good beats for working out. Although it’s implied that you can kind of zone out and relax while you cycle to the beat, don’t expect a zen or mellow environment by any means.

    Most of the classes have the same format — spinning on the bike and then finishing with a mini-set of arm exercises with light dumbbells. I have to say, one thing I didn't like was the “crunches” or mini-pushups that the instructor had us do on the bike. The form was just bad and it’s hard to cycle and bounce around on the handlebars at the same time. But, most people seemed to really get into the groove and as long as you don’t find it uncomfortable or feel it straining your back or neck, go for it.

    I would advise that at any time during the class if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it (that goes for any class or studio). The good thing about SoulCycle is that if you don’t want to do the crunches or do all the standing hill climbs you don’t have to. Nobody will come around and yell at you or adjust the gear knob on your bike to make it harder.

    If you are looking for a fun twist on cycling and want to workout to some good music, this is the place to be. I also like the fact that the classes mix in a little upper body strength training because many cyclists only cycle and work their lower body and you need balance.

    You should always mix things up and try new workouts. Or, aim to try a new studio like SoulCycle once a month to keep your muscles challenged (that’s how you get results) and to invigorate your mind, or in this case your soul.

    Cari's tip for cycling

    • Reserve your bike ahead of time when you signup online (or on the app). Choose one in the back if you have an injury or you don’t want to stand out. Or if you want to show off your skills or new Lulumons, pick one of the bikes next to the instructor.
    • Bring plenty of water. You will sweat — a lot!
    • Dress the part. Don’t show up wearing running shorts or a low-cut top. Stick to form-fitting pants or shorts and a top that doesn’t hang loose.
    • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If your bike isn’t setup correctly, your whole workout will be off and you may feel sore in all the wrong places the next day.

    SoulCycle rolls into Houston with plans to expand.

    SoulCycle cycling class NEW PHOTO
      
    Courtesy photo
    SoulCycle rolls into Houston with plans to expand.
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    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Houston billionaire ranks among top U.S. landowners and more popular stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jun 14, 2025 | 11:01 am
    HMNS Great Outdoors Gala 2022 Russell and Glenda Gordy and Red FJ Cruiser
    Photo by Jenny Antill
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including a look at one of America's top landowners. Plus, the sad closure of a pioneering steakhouse and a popular pizzeria makes plans for Houston. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head here to plan your weekend.

    1. Houston oil-and-gas billionaire ranks among America's top 100 landowners. About one-fourth of the country’s mega-owners of private land have ties to Texas, either living here, owning land here, or both. The highest-ranked Houston-based landowner is oil-and-gas billionaire Russell Gordy.

    2. Houston's pioneering South American steakhouse will soon shutter in River Oaks. Sad news for inner loopers who are fans of plantain chips, wood-grilled steaks, and Houston’s best tres leches. The River Oaks location of South American steakhouse Churrascos will close Monday, June 16.

    3. Texas Monthly's BBQ Snob dishes on the magazine's new top 50 list. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the magazine’s new list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas.

    4. 'Famous' Bronx-based pizza chain fires up 3 Houston locations. A New York-based pizza chain has big plans for Houston. Called Singas Famous Pizza, the restaurant will soon open three locations in the area.

    Singas PizzaSingas Pizza is coming to Houston.Photo courtesy of Singas

    5. Texas slides down the list of best U.S. state economies for 2025. Texas' robust economy may be showing some cracks. Texas now ranks as the state with the eighth best economy, four spots lower than one year ago, according to a new report.

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