Turnstyle – Back Bay

Looking for a challenging but insanely fun workout? Look no further then Turnstyle. Their mashup classes are absolutely amazing and all of the instructors bring a great energy and excitement to the room. The best part? This is one of the most adorable cycling studios in Boston that delivers excellent customer service. Their front desk is so helpful whether it’s questions about the groupon or getting you signed in and set on the bike when you get in. (and big thank you to Nick for helping me with the Groupon via email — you are awesome!)
My favorite class was Steph’s 90s mashup. Like I wish they had that every week. That being said, Katie and Amanda S are also awesome. I like that they do arms and tap backs but there isn’t so much choreography that you can’t focus on the actual spinning. It’s a really good balance of cardio and isolated work.

I’ve been going to Turnstyle back bay for almost a month now, and I absolutely love it here!
I am a student so getting a student discount is such a plus and since turnstyle is a much more affordable way to spin compared to other places is such a plus!
I always get an amazing workout every time. And if you’re the type to not like those snobby lululemon loving workout classes, this is the place for you! But if you are one of those people I think it’s still a place for you.
The staff is always so friendly and willing to help. And every instructor truly pushes you to go the extra mile.
I will definitely continue to come here!

Just successfully completed my third class and I’m still in love. Each instructor teaches very differently but all the classes are challenging fun and live. I took a star because of parking. Yeah yeah yeah I know this location is off of Newbury Street and Boylston Street and it’s busy. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that parking is ridiculous and if you’re not lucky you’ll end up missing the class because you can’t find a parking spot. Any suggestions are welcome!

I thought I absolutely hated spinning before I took a class at Velo but that quickly changed. I was actually excited as the class started and I was hoooooked.
The staff is friendly and the class is fun! I always need help adjusting into the bike and they’re always super nice about it (they actually offered!)

I used to road bike a lot when I lived in Maine and now that I don’t have a road bike, I found that spinning is an incredible alternative. Eventually, I’m going to invest in one, but could definitely see myself buying the 3 for $ 30 deal or the one month for $ 99. On Groupon, there’s a deal for 3 classes for $ 35 and 2 classes for $ 20 on Living Social. These deals run out fast, but I am sure there will be other types on both sites!
The location is located across the street from the Prudential Mall in the back of the Fidelity building near the Apple store. I made the mistake of walking past the green door that had their label on it because I thought it was for employers, not customers! Use that door to enter basically. There are lots of cubbies to put your belongings in and lockers if feel more comfortable keeping it secure. There are no showers at this facility so wait until you get home!
Hands down, I had a very vigorous and fun workout with Allie. She emphasized to go at your own pace and I love that! It’s only my second time spinning so I pushed myself because it was a snowy Monday night and I didn’t come all the way down here for a spa day! I enjoy that’s a judgement free zone without anyone competing because a pressured workout stinks, let’s be honest. The music got me pumped up and energized for what was in store that night. Allie had us do push ups, bicep curls and other handweight work outs while cycling.
If you have the time after spinning, stay the extra 10 minutes to stretch before commuting home. It’s a great way to end your workout before walking to the nearby T stop.
The staff are both friendly and helpful. I always need help adjusting my bike and they told me it will take a couple times until I can do it myself. I’m so glad they are there to help with that!
Laid back, low key and no frills… that’s the type of atmosphere that Turnstyle promotes!

I absolutely love this place. The best spin class I’ve been to in a while. I initially bought the Groupon to test it out, but I ended up purchasing more classes and will continue to do so.
The classes are high energy, go by super fast, and everyone leaves drenched in sweat. It’s a great workout.
I’ve never tried the turnstyle studios, but now I will since they just acquired Velo-​city. An extra perk!
If you’re a new member, the first 3 classes are only $ 30, which is a great price, so I recommend checking it out!

Velo-​City has collaborated with Turnstyle and is now officially called Turnstyle. Everything is just as great as before, except now I will have three studios to choose from! I cannot wait to go to the one in South End, which should open in April 2016.

Today was my first time there and I am definitely coming back soon. I did my research and Vélo is the cheapest indoor cycling studio in the area, and in addition to that they offer a great discount to first time riders (my class today was $ 12). Besides the price, they have themed rides with pop music, which I personally love to listen to while exercising. Way better and more engaging/​inspiring than crazy club music in my opinion. My only complain is the fact that there are not enough restrooms. Summing up: convenient location, great price and awesome music. Worth giving it a try!

I can’t believe I haven’t written a review about velo-​city yet! I’ve been coming here on and off for the past year, mostly through classpass but sometimes I purchase classes from the studio. I’m not always a huge fan of spinning but I do love this studio; the people/​staff are friendly and it definitely has a more relaxed vibe than some of the others in the area.
The theme rides are great. I like knowing what kind of music to expect. Also I haven’t been here enough to name many specific instructors, but honestly I do not think I’ve ever had one that i did not enjoy. I remember once going to a class where Deepak bounced around and instructed while there was another instructor riding the bike. I have to say that was one of the best classes I’ve ever been to. he has SO much energy and it was very motivating!
The only thing I could really do without is the pushups on the bikes which never really made sense to me… but I just do not do them and feel like it’s the kind of studio where I won’t be judged for customizing my workout a bit.
The studio is basic. And not in a bad was… just that, it’s nothing fancy but still has a nice vibe. It’s in a basement but you don’t notice that when you’re spinning.
Pretty much what keeps this studio coming back is the pricing. It’s comparable in quality to other much more expensive studios (2x the price). They offer specials regularly, and you can usually get classes for around $ 12-​$ 15 on special if you’re on their mailing list. For people like me that think it’s ridiculous how much some spin studios charge, this place is right up your alley.
They do get crowded on weekends and occasionally evening nights, so book in advance!
UPDATE ³⁄₂₈ — They added self-​lock cubbies which was literally my only negative in my review! THANK YOU!!!

I really enjoy the classes at Velo City. The staff is very friendly and welcoming and the instructors are very energetic. I am giving this place a 4 start as I think they could improve their class structure. I have been spinning for a while and at some point I was an instructor myself. There are a few things instructors could do better in order to provide their riders with a better experience and better results. For example, there is too much emphasis on choreography and too little on posture and power. Asking the class to clap or keep hands off the saddle does not seem like a safe idea, specially for beginners, it also does not serve any purpose. The same goes for the «jumps,» there is no evidence these help in any way. In addition, I think instructors could spend a little time letting beginners know how to properly ride. When observing the room, I see many people severely hunched, with their knees sticking out or feet not facing forward. None of this are proper spinning postures and can be very harmful for the rider. I might sound obnoxious but posture is a huge part of getting the most of a spinning class therefore a quick speech about safety and proper posture would be helpful for those who have less experience with indoor cycling.
Besides that, I think Velo is a great studio and has a great potential to grow.

I hate cycling, and after taking a long break from spin I decided I wanted to get back into shape. Spin has always been the fastest way for me to do that. I looked up spin studios on class pass and found this studio my first week. I’m in love! This place is the bomb, awesome music, great instructors and the classes are fun and challenging. By far the best cycling studio I have ever been to in my life.

I LOVE Velo, and I LOVE the staff at Velo.
So yes, like a lot of the other reviews mention — it’s kind of no frills. But that DOESN’T mean it’s dumpy or unfinished — it’s just a different style, and I don’t feel like I need to get a blowout or a fresh mani before coming in. I love frills from time to time, but I’m a down to earth person at heart and Velo gets that about me.
They have free spin shoes to borrow, and have small necessities like water (they used to even have socks which I bought one time, not sure if they still do!) for sale.
Classes are great. I’ve LOVED some teachers and just really liked others, but I’ve never disliked a class or teacher. Some just click better than others. Last time I was there I took a class with Steph for the first time and she was awesome! Full of energy and the perfect amount of coaching and talking, I really appreciated her ability to keep the class going. I also really like Maggi and Dani.
The studio room is really spacious, and while it’s not stadium seating, it’s big enough that there aren’t really bad seats. Big mirrors, cool lights on the teacher’s seat, the whole sha-​bang. They also have a variety of hand weights… I think it’s 2 lb normally on the bike, and then 2 or 3 different, heavier weights up front. I normally go up one from the 2 lbs — push yourself!
THEY HAVE THE MOST FAIR PRICING. Seriously. They’re constantly running sales and promotions, and they’re not unaffordable to begin with. Plus, they deliver top notch customer service. My boyfriend had a package expire and realized 5 days later — he sent in an email and was able to get the last remaining class extended a little bit so he could get it in. I had purchased a LivingSocial a million years ago and forgot about it, and same thing — sent in an email and got a great deal on another package from the studio in light of the LivingSocial I failed to use.
And, yeah, speaking of which — I’ve never emailed them and NOT heard back basically instantaneously. Velo even has a phone number, which I’ve noticed lots of small studios don’t, since their desk isn’t always open outside of class times. When I email most studios, I normally feel like I’m just throwing an unstamped envelope out into the wind and hoping it makes it to someone who cares to respond. With Velo, I get a quality response ASAP. It makes a huge difference in your experience with the studio to know you’re VALUED.
My only tiny complaint is that they don’t have showers in the studio — BUT they’ve partnered with Adidas Runbase next door and you can shower there after most classes. Yay!
Bottom line? Go to Velo.

Lots of people love this place, which is great. I am not those people. I came here through ClassPass for an awesome theme class, and the music did not disappoint. This is totally their strength and they do it really well. The studio itself is a cool, underground, back alley Back Bay location which I really liked. The free shoe rentals are great and easy. While the class had great music, the studio was SO HOT I honestly feel like there should be a disclaimer. Sweating in spin is one thing, sweating and thinking you’re gonna die because it’s 85+ degrees is another. The class involved lots of choreography (which I personally find silly) and didn’t have any emphasis on form or pedaling to the beat. If you like «dance party on a bike» spin classes this is for you. If you like hot yoga and sweating profusely, this is for you. Also their prices for non-​classpassers seem super reasonable and probably the best deal in town.

I ALWAYS come to Vélo-​City when I’m in town — It’s the best place in Boston for a spin class that is also an actual workout. As an avid spinner and instructor, I have been to a ton of overpriced classes where the workout consists mainly of dance moves or is unmotivating.
Here, the price is right and they give you free shoes which really improves the experience. While instructors here do throw in tap-​backs and arms and push-​ups, they do it in a way that breaks up the class nicely but does not detract from the workout. I’ve never had a single bad experience with any instructor or their playlists, and the customer service is excellent. For example, one time last year the instructor for a theme ride was caught in horrible traffic because of snow, and couldn’t make it in time. The guy at the front desk (he might of been the owner?) hopped right on the instructor bike, taught class like it was nothing, and then gave everyone a free future class to make up for the fact that it wasn’t a theme ride.

I took my first spin class at Vélo-​City, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Not that I need any sort of sentimental reason to think that this studio is awesome!
It has everything you need when going to a spin studio: bikes (duh), a high energy playlist, enthusiastic instructors, and positive vibes. While some may consider the environment too low-​key or not as chic and sleek as other cycling gyms, I think that’s what adds to Vélo-City’s charm. You’re looking for a good workout, not to do a play-​by-​play reenactment of the movie Tron, right? Ok, maybe you sort of get that feeling when you ride here too but without all of the pressure!
Also, the themed rides cannot be beat. Beyoncé vs. Rihanna? Beyoncé, Britney, and Whitney? Beyoncé, Missy, and Janet? Beyoncé anything? Of course they have other musical themes but if you’re a fan of Queen Bey like myself then you might fall Crazy/​Dangerously/​Drunk in Love with Vélo-​City.

A really great cycling studio. Vélo-​City is similar in style and quality to all the centrally located studios around Boston, yet it far exceeds all others in customer service, atmosphere, pricing, and a unique advantage of flexibility in scheduling. The friendly and pleasant attitude among the staff is a bonus that adds to the overall experience.
The music selection is fun, the playlists are engaging and energetic. All instructors are amazing, though I especially recommend Jessie, Jackie, Nick, Deepak and Emily!
Highly recommend Vélo-​City for beginner, and advanced riders alike!

Love, love Velo. Been going here for nearly a year after discovering through ClassPass, and it’s exactly what I’m looking for: no frills, no pressure, affordable studio with good classes that make me break a real sweat.
Things you will get:
–Regular theme rides
–No pressure, no competition in your ride
–Super friendly and helpful staff/​instructors
–Easily accessible location
–Convenient class times (before work, after work, weekends– whatever fits your schedule they likely have)
–The best deal at a spin studio in Boston
Things you won’t get:
–High tech tracking equipment
–A fancy environment (no candles, spa atmosphere, etc.)
–Spin snobbery
I could see it not being for everyone, but definitely fits all my needs. Worth trying to see if it works for you!

Scaling my original review down for a couple reasons:
1. ³⁄₃ of my last classes have included so many choreographed moves, and they were each with a different instructor. I was hoping that I was just getting an instructor that really liked them, but it just keeps happening, with every single one. My last class EVERY single song with the exception of one had up/​downs (on a 2 second count– you dont gain anything by doing this), tap backs, around the worlds, you name it. Turnstyle sent out an interesting article maybe 7 months ago about the «benefit» of tap backs and so on Essentially, throw it in every once in a while, if you must, to break up the class. It defeats the purpose if it’s in every song. It gets boring/​annoying.
I want to spin and get lost in what i’m doing and turn my torque up and burn. I can’t do that when I’m focusing on going up every 2 seconds. I start to worry about being on a count and with the rest of the class instead of pushing myself to my personal best.
Sure, the moves are optional. But are you really not going to do them?
2. In my last review I mentioned how the songs always fit perfectly. I’ve felt that less and less lately.
There are people that totally love this kind of spin– it’s like Cyc Spin class. I just dont. So I either need to find an instructor that’s more my style (higher torque, focused) or just focus on the Flywheel/​B/​Spoke, Turnstyle Cycle classes.
**Front desk still awesome, Staff still very accommodating to new people by helping them adjust whenever they come.

All fun, no fuss spin club. Conveniently located in Back Bay near Newbury Street behind Shops at Prudential, Velo-​City is your destination if you:
1. Love jamming out to best beats ever (think Bieber vs. Calvin Harris, Britney vs. JT vs N’Sync, Beyonce vs. Nicki, etc.)
2. Enjoy focusing on your own progress (vs. competing on a group board)
3. Seek spinning in a judgment-​free, fun-​fueled zone
4. Keep things simple. You’re here to spin, not to spa
I chose Velo-​City for my first spin class EVER thanks to multiple reviews (go Unilocal!) that encouraged setting aside any reservations /​self-​doubt. Staff was friendly and helped me set up my bike, making sure everything was in place for a comfortable ride. The instructor Daniela led an unforgettable ride, really enjoyed her energy and prompts. All levels were present in the class, some experienced, some newer. Again, the time is for you. You ride for you.
This is a low maintenance, straightforward spin studio. No showers. Bathrooms double as changing rooms. Cubbies are directly in the lobby, where staff is always present.
If you’re curious about spin or are looking up to mix up your spin routine, definitely come check out Velo-​City!

Here are a few snippets from real conversations about Velo-​City between me and my friends:
-«I just bought a package. There is never a time I don’t want to do Velo-​City.»
-«(Class starts, the lights dim, music bumps, the black lights become apparent) THIS IS SO COOL!»
-«(Discussing the theme ride options) Whoa both of those spins sound amazing.»
-«Velo started giving you the option of searching by theme ride and then giving you all the times it’s offered so we can pick another one sometime.» «Yeeesss!!! That sounds so perfect.»
If you ever do have a question or concern, the owners are responsive and considerate in person and by e-​mail. In a world of declining concern for customer satisfaction and service, these folks get it right. They show true dedication to the quality of their workouts. Quality, value, and most of all FUN!

Wow! Love this spin studio! Tonight was my first time here but not my first spin class. I will definitely be coming back! Matt ran a great class– I was drenched afterwards! Loved the theme music and easy to follow directions! But above all they have incredible customer service. Every person who helped me, spoke with me, directed me, etc was friendly, helpful and so so nice. They were very accommodating. Love this little hole in the wall. Definitely coming back!

I love coming to this studio and the classes always fly by! I mostly attend classes on ClassPass but they also offer very affordable rides if you want to purchase additional packages outside of ClassPass. The studio does themed rides which is a great concept if you rely on music to workout (which I do). The music choices, instructors, location, cost and studio vibe makes this studio arguably the best spinning place in Boston. Staff is very friendly and accommodating!

Obsessed with this place! Completely unpretentious and welcoming. Rachel is the best instructor and I look forward to her classes every time! Allie is great too!

I am absolutely in love with this spinning studio. Located right in the heart of Back Bay just a block from Newbury Street, the location cannot be more easily accessible. Since SoulCycle hasn’t opened its Boston branch yet, I desperately needed to find a new place to spin. At first, I was nervous that Velo-​City wouldn’t meet my standards because the studio isn’t as posh as other more expensive studios; however, I was wrong.
First of all, Velo-​City is very affordable with many deals, packages, discounts — especially student discounts. Spinning classes should not be $ 30 each. The staff here is very friendly! I need help setting up my bike basically every time and never once does the staff become impatient.
The instructors are standard and all very friendly; some are better than others while others can be more energetic. However, they all get the job done, and you’ll leave Velo dripping in sweat.
Finally, I love how laid back and relaxed the environment is here. The crowd is nice; there is no weird competitive vibe. I don’t like being screamed at or stared at during my workouts, so I love how I can just do my own thing in the 45 minutes.
I almost don’t want to tell too many people about Velo because I’m afraid it’ll be harder to book classes. But seriously, Velo is awesome!

Caution – this review is coming from an «only-​Lulu-​wearing, über-​competitive, „spin snob“ type.»
That being said, I am a fan of Velo City (it took a while, but I realized this was a play on words – velocity. Get it???) I digress. I stand by the fact that SASY still has the best spin classes when it comes to intensity vs. price, however Velo City was there for me on memorial day when my gym and SASY were closed. Shout out to you! Factoring that in, I don’t think it’s worth it price wise unless you’re buying a hefty package; spin classes shouldn’t cost more than $ 10 but I can see how downtown real-​estate prices dictate otherwise. If you’re on classpass – this is definitely worth a visit.
The spin class style is something new that I was introduced to here – «choreographed spinning.» It involves a lot of arm work: bi and triceps targeting push ups. Personally, I think this type of nonsense is a great way to get hurt when trying to put the pedal to the floor and not concentrating on form but, whatever, the kids seem to be into it.
I’ve taken 3 classes with 3 different instructors and have found the music to be a toss up. Regardless, I always leave sweaty as hell so the job gets done. Am I going to come back now that my package has run out? probably not.

Looking for a no-​nonsense, fun, high intensity workout that will make you sweat and make the time fly by? Look no further than Velo-​city. I’ve been to numerous other studios in the Boston area and can honestly say that Velo is my favorite.
The vibe is incredibly comfortable and down-​to-​earth, and all the instructors and staff are helpful and make you feel at home whether it’s your first class or your 100^th. They offer free shoes, towels, filtered water, showers, and even beer after class if you’re up for it! I’ve done classes with numerous different instructors and can’t even pick a favorite because they are all awesome.
Will be attending classes at Velo-​city as often as I can!

Velo-​City is hands down THE best spin studio in Boston. I’ve been to a few others from Class Pass, but they do not compare! I loved Velo-​City so much that I ended up buying rides on top of Class Pass (since CP only limits to 3 visits per month).
Reasons why Velo-​City is awesome:
— Best bang for your buck. Velo-​City offers the most affordable rides, and even better — student rate. It helps with my loans…
— Simple studio. Gets the basics for you — shoes, bikes, ear plugs, water, BEER, etc.
— Great vibes. People here are super friendly and helpful! Not snobby like other studios I have gone to. They’re also super welcoming and offer to set up your bike.
— They offer deals with Gilt, holiday sales, Livingsocial, etc. In fact, they really don’t care so much about making money that they email codes to riders for even better deals than Gilt.
— You can pick which spin class to go to based on MUSIC. They have music themed spin classes which are awesome! So rather than going through a spin class with music you are not a fan of, you can pick ones that you can really groove to. Some of them are pretty creative (ie. T-​Swift & Calvin Harris vs her exes, diplo vs major lazer!!, America the BOOTYful on 4^th of July, etc.). There’s even a chalkboard in the hallway to make theme requests (or rejects!)
— Spacious, clean
— Great, fun, and motivating instructors!
— Cool black lights
This place is super addicting. Love the studio and staff here. I get so happy and energetic within 10 min of spinning!

I had my first ever spin class at Velo-​City and now I am addicted to spin! I have been to this place 3 times the past week!
The first class I went to, I did not know what I signed up for. But boy this class worked me out! If you like EDM music and clubbing, this is a healthy alternative away from the club scene. You can get your heart pumping and legs moving with the beat. It is a great feeling!
Each class has different trainers. Therefore, it mixes things up. You get to workout to different music sets and spin exercises. It is very easy to catch on and before you know it you are doing push ups on the bike and sprinting like crazy at max intensity!
If you are training for any long runs, this is a good workout when you are taking breaks from running. I noticed that my endurance got better after 1 week of spinning. When I was running a 4 mile run, I felt like I could keep going, even when I was running uphill, it did not feel as strenuous as it did in the past.
This place is in a basement in a back alley in Back Bay. They provide free spin shoes rentals and clean towels to use during class. They also provide storage space for your belongings. I wished they blasted up the AC in the classroom because it gets super hot and sweaty during class. Overall, I love spin!!! Can’t wait to come back for another class.

I am hooked to spinning after going for the first time a couple of days ago!!! I got a ClassPass and decided to try out spinning. I love this fast-​paced, high intensity workout! Velo-​City is located in the basement of the building right next to the Apple store. The spin room has about 30 bikes. The first time I went was a 5:30pm class and it was completely full. I like how everyone was so high energy and was really into the workout. They have free shoe rentals, a water machine, shelves to store your belongings, and clean towels for people to get before going in the spin class.
The instructor that led the class was really awesome. She was very enthusiastic and totally worked everyone out. I also love the music that she played. It was like going to the club in the afternoon! The lights were off, there were black lights, and there was an upbeat selection of EDM songs to make the workout more fun. I definitely got a full body workout!
You can burn up to 600 calories in 40 minutes of spinning! And it works out your whole body including arms, abs, glutes, and legs! It’s definitely a good workout! I just went again this morning, that’s how fun it is! I recommend trying a class here!

I LOVE Velo-​City. It’s somewhere between the really grungy, bare-​bones spin studios, and the fancy-​pants Flywheels and Soul Cycles of the world. Minimal frills, but still a great workout every time. I originally tried them with ClassPass but have also returned with a LivingSocial deal AND bought the starter 3-​pack. If it wasn’t springtime and I needed to do more indoor exercising, I’d definitely buy the $ 99 unlimited month. They’re that good.
PROS:
— Towels
— Free shoe rental
— Water cooler to fill your bottle
— Full-​body workout w/​1 – 2 arm songs during the 45-​min spin class
— Fun theme classes like «Boy Bands vs. Girl Groups» and «Chris Brown vs. Justin Bieber,» etc
CONS:
— The teachers can be hit-​or-​miss, as one time I had a girl who must have had the flu or something. So low-​energy. But other times they’re great! So it really depends.
— Classes are pretty close together, so the lobby can get cramped between classes.
— No lockers (but there are cubbies in the lobby, and this seems like a trustworthy crowd)
— Only 2 bathrooms/​changing rooms (but it’s such a chill place, I’ve changed my shirt in the hallway before instead of waiting in line)
[[basically all of my cons are nitpicky because they don’t really affect my experience… thus the 5-​star rating, still]]
Definitely give Velo-​City a go!

What Velo-​City lacks in technology, it definitely makes up in spirit and heart. Velo-​City has a down to earth vibe that is lacking in many other boutique studios. Instructors and staff are friendly and not at all intimitating. Without a doubt, what keeps drawing me back here are their theme rides which are always fun and frequently a little goofy. Gangsta Rap versus Disney and Mean Girls versus Pitch Perfect have been two of my favorites. Velo-​city does not take itself too seriously and that makes it a fun and pleasant workout experience.
My main complaint? While Velo-​city has all the laughs and fun you’d have if your best friend ran a spin studio in their basement-​it also smells this way. It seems to be lacking the technology to vent properly and thus later classes get really hot and smelly. This combined with the lack of showers can sometimes make it pretty gross-​but it is fine for earlier classes and they seem to be working on fixing this problem.
The choreography of the class can be hard to follow but I like that there is typically two arm songs.

Okay, so I got a 3-​pass on Gilt a couple weeks ago, and finally signed up for a class at 5:30 with Garrett. I planned on arriving at 5:15 as suggested to get all setup (I was new to the clipped in shoes). Fast forward to me sitting on the green line, sweating (before the workout lol) because I know I’m cutting it way too close.
I ended up rushing in at 5:33, class had started, and the fellas behind the counter told me someone had been on the wait list so they’d have to check if there was a bike available. Thank my lucky stars there was one bike left. I changed as fast as I could, got shoes, and one of the guys (didn’t even have time to ask his name!) brought me into the mostly pitch black class with a flashlight. He helped me adjust my bike height, and get my shoes clipped in. It all happened so fast, and even though I was embarrassed about being late and needing to be guided in there, I felt completely taken care of. By the time I started pedaling, I had (almost) forgotten it happened.
Garrett was SO peppy, and the music was A.MAZ.ING. I seriously was loving all the beats and the way she incorporated the arm weights was fantastic. I really felt like I was getting a thorough workout in the 45 minutes. Also, I loved that the lights were off. I’m usually constantly checking the mirror and focusing elsewhere, but this allowed me to put all my focus into the ride.
The ONLY thing I would say was that it was hard to hear her. She was mic’d, but the music was so loud, that mostly I was just watching her to follow along (rather than understanding the instructions). I can’t wait to try my next class, with enough time to setup!

I had a lot of fun in Allie’s class today. It was really dancy. I liked pedaling to the beat of the music. Allie was really energetic. I wish they had digital read-​outs on the bikes, but I have my own HRM so I can still track my own workout.
They have towels, and tons of shoes. You have to wear clip-​ins.

Velo-​City is a nice addition to the fitness community in Boston. This underground spin studio offers high-​energy spin classes that incorporate light arm weight work and some seated ab exercises. In general the music is upbeat and fun. It’s a new studio so the equipment and rental shoes are all in great shape.
My two main criticisms of the studio are first that the bins for your stuff are open and not lockable, so I do not feel comfortable bringing my purse or wallet. Even though there’s not a lot of foot traffic through the reception area, it would be pretty easy for a motivated person to make off with valuables. My other criticism is that a lot of the choreographers have frenetic styles that I find hard to follow. There are a lot of tap-​backs and ab crunches that are a challenge for my uncoordinated ass.
If you’re looking for spinning in Back Bay, definitely check out Velo-​City. Your first class is free.