Flywheel Sports – South Lake Union

The class is great. Gave me a good work out&sore butt. However, they only have two showers! There were many people in class and people left early to get a jump start for the shower line. The price of the class is nearly $ 30 for 45 minutes so I would not want to cut the class sorry for getting into the shower. I tried waiting in line– but there were quite a few people before me. During the 10 minutes I waited there the same people in shower still stayed in there.
All their showers and changing rooms are single person, unisex. Even changing rooms had a long line& people took their time in there.
It would have been much better if they had separated locker rooms for men and women, and showers with only showers but not the mirrors and vanity for doing make ups and stuff. Move those things outside of the shower! So more people can do it at the same time & people take less time in the shower!

I was really happy with the friendliness of the staff here. I’ve been to flywheel before but I always think of how a first timer would feel walking into a facility. The greeters at the front seem to love their jobs, and are really helpful with checking in and getting set up. This facility is really clean and user friendly. I love the high energy of the classes and always look forward to a flywheel workout. I can usually find parking in the surrounding area too which is nice. Highly recommend!

I’ve only been here once but it was a great experience. I hope one day another location opens up closer to my house. The environment was so nice and everyone was so helpful. I really felt like I got an excellent workout and enjoyed myself while doing it. The music selection during my class was fantastic.
My running group organized a night where we could come and try this for the first time. I have been wanting to check it out for years, but lacked the motivation to do it on my own. We are in search of cross training type activities to incorporate into our fitness routines. I had a general impression of how things worked here and was excited to be able to participate in the leaderboard. I have my own stationary bike at home and have done a few cycling classes at various locations, but these do not compare to this type of setting.
It was super easy to sign up online. I was worried about parking, but that turned out to be much easier than I anticipated. I was surprised to find that clip on shoes were used and that they were waiting for me in a cubby when I arrived. I couldn’t quite figure out the computer sign in but the desk person helped me out and gave me a tour. She also let me know to ask for help with adjustments when I got to my bike. I really appreciate the maps of the bike area and how simple the lockers are to use. I even really love the smell of the towels.
My only complaint is that afterwards I was hoping to get more information about prices. I knew it was expensive, but was directed to the website rather than given the info by the person I asked. I’ll definitely give it another shot if it comes to my area or if I can find a friend to join me.

Great workout! Good instructors, good music and great atmosphere! Highly recommend this place for spinning. It’s a good cardiovascular exercise and great for anyone who’s looking to lose weight or strengthen their legs and gluts. There is an arm section, short, but challenging and good for toning the shoulders.
Look forward to these classes!

I’m updating my review to be a 5. Premium facility, premium instructors (and staff!) and all-​around epic experience, in terms of a workout. And über clean. Wow. I have been going since the very beginning, abandoned for a bit to save cash, and came back– it’s worth the money. All the instructors vary on their styles– you can almost always count on an upbeat and inspiring mix.
Unfortunately, the shower and locker room situation sucks– so don’t count on efficiently getting ready before going to work here. You’ll wait in line and be totally rushed when you do get into the shower.

I love flywheel and flybarre! It has been part of my weekly routine for almost 3 years now. The instructors are the best! For flywheel my favorites to take are Paige, Aina, Kristen and Stephanie. For flybarre my favorites to take to take are Anja and Meghan. This is the one workout place that makes you feel like part or a community and makes you want to come back. A plus– if you are early or cooling down after class take a look at the retail! Always perfectly laid out and up to season! Yay flywheel!

I have done both flybarre and flywheel. Both require lots of technique. It is a little rough for beginners. The instructors are well trained and are motivated. A great way to sculpt your booty. They have water, hair ties, lotions, etc. No excuses for the booty of your lifetime!

While I only go to this gym 3x a month through Classpass, I absolutely love it. High tech lockers, cold water stations, towels, showers, and everyone that works there is so nice! Alex Sweeney is my favorite instructor — she is super motivating and her classes are always a highlight of my day.

As promised, I’m updating my review after taking more instructors. I looked on the website and I think I have them all covered except one or two. I think there’s a big discrepancy between the top instructors and the bottom instructors, but this was the case at Equinox in Chiacgo as well. If you’re looking for a quick (45 minute), effective (burn 500+ calories with heart rate monitor), fun and convenient (I work at Path, so if you’re near SLU) workout this is the place for you. I’ve been buying classes, but will most likely get a membership. After talking with some people since coming to the studio everyone is in agreement that the studio is nice, the workouts are great, the environment is fun and that they need more changing rooms/​showers. Anyway, if you’re looking to try your first class (which is free) here’s the instructors top-​bottom. IMO.
Aina/​Matt: These two seem like veterans and people I seek out every Sunday when I can see the classes for the week. Every class I’ve been to is awesome and quite the experience. Use your free class to check them out! They’re better than any instructor I’ve taken in Chicago (Equinox/​Flywheel/​Soul) and Seattle (live, love, flow /​Denali /​24 hour /​Zum).
Vallaree/​Barb/​Kristen: All 3 taught good classes as well
Stephanie: Class was okay, I just prefer larger classes and this class was small
Jessica: Her class was okay but wasn’t a fan of her motivational tactics
JJ: His class was a lot of rock music. If you like rock music then check it out but just not for me.
Alex: Would love to come to 7am but her class is hard on my knees and not very fun
Heather: Heather is one of the nicest instructors. I enjoy her passion.
Jay/​Asher/​Ray: I felt like I wasn’t riding to the beat at all during these classes and was confused
Once again, I’ve only been riding here for around 3 months so I’m sure things will change. Overall Flywheel is 5 stars. I’m sure its out of their control and up to corporate how many showers they have so I will update my review to be 5 stars. I’ve been into fitness/​outdoors for years and truly enjoy having fun working out at Flywheel instead of running on my treadmill in my garage or riding in the rain! Yes to Flywheel!

Arrived to class close to the start time and as a beginner I wish that staff was a bit more helpful/​informative. I asked for help with one of the lockers and couldn’t get any assistance, luckily another person taking the class was able to help me out. Overall 4 stars because it was a blast once I got in the room! They have the lights dimmed and the music going strong, which I loved. The instructor, Matt, was motivational and fun!

I finally tried out Flywheel! They say comparison is the thief of all joy, and I tried really, really, really hard not to compare Flywheel to SoulCycle. I guess I like my workout a bit more cultish (CrossFit, SoulCycle). I had a good workout at Flywheel but time seemed to have crawled to a stop during class. I didn’t feel like I ever got «into it,» I felt like I was moving, nay… struggling along, waiting for my 45 minutes to be up. SoulCycle makes me feel like a damn warrior trying to push my own physical boundaries. Flywheel makes me feel like a chubby kid trying to lose 15 lbs. I didn’t get the «high energy» that everyone else is talking about, but that might have to do with the music selection, which is very much a personal preference. I felt so uninspired about my own performance that I jogged around Greenlake after my Flywheel class today.
Aside from Flywheel and SoulCycle, I’ve also tried spinning classes at a couple local gyms. At all these spinning classes, I don’t remember the bike seat being so damn uncomfortable. I was getting really cranky about my butt hurting from the bike seat. Yes, it’s entirely possible I was sitting on it weird.
On the upside, the facility is spacious and clean, and they have a good onboarding process (people to help you get set up in the studio with water, towel, locker, and your bike).

LOVE LOVE LOVE FLYWHEEL!
Great workout
Facility is SUPER clean
Instructors are great and challenge you
Never boring
SUPER nice changing rooms and showers
SUPER COLD WATER! (always a plus)
If you couldn’t tell already, I love this place and I always leave feeling like my ass got kicked, but in a great way :)

Flywheel Sports in South Lake Union has to be one of the nicest (and cleanest) boutique gyms I’ve been in. They have more than enough lockers to go around, well stocked bathrooms with hair ties, dry shampoo and more, towels, showers, changing rooms, water dispensers and areas where you can just lounge around before class.
Classes make me feel pumped up and challenge me. The instructors here are great too. Sometimes I feel like the music can get a little too loud for my liking though.
Even though I come here through ClassPass, I think the cost is justified due to the classes and amenities offered. I will most likely even pay for a class when I do reach my max visits via CP.
*EDIT 09/​05/​15*
I highly recommend Heather’s themed rides. They’re every Thursday at 4:30 pm and they’re a lot of fun!

Flywheel’s «Fly45» class is one of the best cardio workouts I’ve ever taken in my life. Who knew an indoor cycling class could be so fun — the time just flies by!
The Flywheel experience is unlike any other fitness studio I’ve been to in Seattle. Buying and reserving classes can all be done online, and you can also check in to your class using your phone. Your online profile also includes your shoe size, so when you arrive for your class, your cycling shoes are waiting for you in the cubby corresponding to your bike number. The stadium layout is pretty darn cool too. Every bike has a good view of the instructor, and the lights go out when class starts to help you focus on your own workout. After each class, your performance stats will post to your Flywheel account, so you can track your progress over time.
The Flywheel instructors are very motivating, and they push you to give it your all during those 45 minutes. The instructor will recommend torq and RPM ranges to hit, and he or she will aim to match the beat of the music to each portion of the workout. The instructor will also spend a short amount of time leading the class through an arm workout. I think instructor preferences ultimately come down to their music choices, and how well they craft the class to maximize your power output. But regardless of instructor, you will break a good sweat during a Fly45 class, especially if the class is full. Don’t forget to pick up a towel before entering the stadium — you’re gonna need it!
Even though the Flywheel experience seems to minimize interactions with the staff, I’ve found the staff to be very helpful, especially before my first ride. During my first visit, I got a tour of the facility, and the staff gave me a few good tips on how to adjust my bike before class started.
As other Unilocalers have mentioned, Flywheel classes are VERY expensive — a single ride costs $ 28! Flywheel offers preferred employer discounts on class packs and memberships, but even those options still have pretty steep price tags. Thankfully, Flywheel is part of ClassPass, and ClassPass members can take 3 classes per month. However, the downsides to signing up via ClassPass are 1) reservations fill up fast once they open up on Sundays, and 2) you have no control over your bike assignment.
All-​in-​all, I’m a fan of Flywheel. The spin classes are definitely challenging, but I emerge from their classes feeling accomplished and in a great mood. I have yet to try a FlyBarre class, but for now, I’m reserving my ClassPass quota for only Fly45 classes.

I’m pretty spoiled; I started cycling at a boutique studio in my home city and I quickly realized how much I was taking for granted when I came for a ride at Flywheel while passing through Seattle.
Entering Flywheel at 6:45am is entering crowded, noisy horde. I checked in on their app – lovely – but this meant no real opportunity for interaction with studio staff. I requested a pair of shoes and then mentioned it was my first class. They half-​heartedly gestured to change rooms, and let me go. My fellow classmates were no more helpful. I’m used to a community and welcoming smiles. This was the iPhone Republic and everyone was squeezing in one last email as they saddled up. No hellos and no one selling or extolling the virtues of Flywheel.
Rather than use the convention Schwinn bikes that most studios use, Flywheel has their own computer readout and refers to gears as ‘Torq’. There’s also the earning of ‘power points’ all of which goes to your status on the Torqboard, which I understand is all about data and gamification, but I found silly and antithetical to why I cycle. I heard no mention of conquering individual goals – the mantra here was cut more from the typical gym mould of pushing yourself and competition. You can opt out of the Torqboard, which I did, but that doesn’t stop you from getting your stats standardized as a percentile rank. Nor does it change a cramped setup that doesn’t give you much space and packs a heap of riders in so close the instructor is unable to walk through the bank of cycles. At my home studio, it’s very common for the instructor to get off the bike and give each rider some personal encouragement. The cramped stadium-​style studio only allows for a small gangway. The instructor got off and dashed down the aisle, but this was hardly the personal affirmation and encouragement I’m used to.
Where I’m used to having staff who come in to refill water halfway through, that’s not offered here. When you are done, the challenge begins – Flywheel has, astoundingly, only 2 showers for all those bikes. Given this, many riders were jumping off their bikes early to get to the showers quickly. That’s too bad. I like when we can all stretch together; I like when I can say ‘thanks’ to the instructor and debrief with my fellow riders. That was not to be here – the enterprising were dashing off to claim those coveted showers and the studio would need to be turned over immediately for another mass of cyclists making for a noisy crowd of people coming and going.
You can laugh at the idea of a relaxing cycling space, but why do I need to be addled before a workout? Shouldn’t I be prepared to bring my best self? Shouldn’t I be competing with my own goals, not a silly computer screen? Cycling has come far – there are studios that now incorporate dance, yoga, and meditation to their workouts. This Flywheel workout just felt unoriginal and uninspired, taking all the eye-​roll inducing tropes of group gym classes and tossing them on a bike.

This place is pretty great. Awesome facilities. Friendly front desk attendants and amazing, high-​energy instructors! I love that the lights are turned down low and everyone is focused on their own personal progress. The classes are fun and easy to get in-​the-​zone, and the music the instructors play is always motivating and upbeat. Last Thursday’s class played so many fun ’90’s and ’00’s hits… i was a happy flywheeler. :o)
I love how perfectly timed the music is to all of the uphill climbs, speed increases, etc. The instructors do a great job of planning the classes. I would seriously come all the time if it fit my budget a little better. but I will continue to do my three classes per month via ClassPass!

It’s summer time and Fly Wheel Sports South Lake Union is NOT managing the temperature of the studio. It gets close to 80° and your indoors and there is no meaningful air movement and the ventilation is poor. I love the class but their studio and temperature management is incredibly poor and it’s not even the middle of summer yet. They have two small fans that would barely be functional in someone’s home that they use to move air. #fail (@soulcycle). #flywheel
It’s shocking that they’re good with everything else but managing the temperature of their studio and the airflow. It’s inexcusable at the price they are charging for the class.

After my three months I have in fact downgraded my rating. Primarily because while the facilities are nice, online registration is convenient, and you generally get a good work out in classes… it is absolutely not worth that much money. Not at all.
I also got repeatedly horrible headaches in both the barre and spin classes that I didn’t get in other work outs, I assume because they play the music so loud. I didn’t love the culture here and people were generally kinda snobby.
For anyone who’s wondering physically speaking… after 3 months of doing ~3 spin and ~3 barre classes per week… there’s been no «magical» transformation.” I definitely feel fit, but this is nothing that couldn’t be accomplished elsewhere for much much much less.

Very clean and modern facility. Feels like a much more technologically advanced spin class. Instructors are nice and reserving your bike in advance online is a very cool feature. The bikes allow you to see your torque and RPM and gives a strength measurement at the end. Mine is pretty low but I hope to climb up the ranks eventually.
Overall, recommended for the calorie burn and modern amenities.

I tried their free class a while back and have meaning to come back to take another class. The facilities are pretty clean. Since it was my first time there, the front desk people helped me with selecting a shoe and also using their locker. Everything here is very high tech. The lockers don’t even need a key. It locks on its own with a code.
When we got inside, I love that the room becomes dimly lit because you don’t feel self conscious about working out with a large group of people. Basically, you feel like you’re racing yourself in the room yet you know that there are a lot of people there working out with you — giving you a kind of moral support. The instructor was very high energy and would say stuff to encourage you to work out harder and push yourself to your limits. While working out, I thought I was going to pass out because it was intense. It was probably one of the most intense work outs I’ve had ever. The music is really loud and pumps you to also work out harder (feels kind of like a night club).
The one critique that I have about flywheel is that it is so darn expensive. It is like $ 25 a 45 min session. My monthly gym membership is less than this. I understand that they need to charge more for cleaning/​using their equipment but I feel like the profit margins are rather large. When I was young, the price of a ticket to Disneyland was $ 20 (factor in inflation). I just think the price is so unaffordable that this service is unavailable for the common masses. I just don’t have the disposable income to spend more than $ 100 for four classes. Plus, you would have to come here more than 5 classes per month to actual see the result. That is quite an investment.